Radiophobia - useful concept or ostracising term?

The term ‘radiophobia’ has been a cornerstone in much of the nuclear discourse over the past 70 years and has been used extensively by proponents of nuclear technologies to dismiss fears of radiation as being emotional overreactions to a risk that is actuarially very low, and that this stems from public ignorance. Despite its longevity in nuclear discourse, little attention has been afforded to the term, its history, and the factors that underpin the extreme divergence in risk perception that the term de facto refers to, threatening to severely hamper any efforts to redress said divergence. This article will explore these factors, mostly sociopsychological in nature, and conclude that the powerful affective imagery associated with radiation, compounded by various heuristics and biases, renders public discomfort with ionising radiation from nuclear power plants rational – despite the fact nuclear energy is actuarially the safest energy source available. The article will note that whilst its often ostracising usage towards the public should render the term obsolete, radiophobia can still be regarded as a useful concept to try and explain the extreme risk perception divergence that exists between nuclear experts and the public. This would, however, require a paradigm shift that acknowledges the complex historical and sociopsychological factors that have shaped radiation into becoming a uniquely feared process. Such an acknowledgement will likely be a prerequisite for any efforts towards normalising humanity’s relationship with radiation, and would require considerable changes in communication practices.

Systematic Processing of COVID-19 Information: Relevant Channel Beliefs and Perceived Information Gathering Capacity as Moderators

Applying the risk information seeking and processing (RISP) model, this study investigates the sociopsychological factors associated with systematic processing. Results reveal interesting moderating effects for relevant channel beliefs and perceived information gathering capacity. These findings suggest that science communication surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic needs to attend to the target audience’s beliefs about specific information channels, as well as their ability to process relevant information. However, the unsupported hypotheses also call for scholarly attention on the applicability of the RISP model to non-Western cultural contexts.

Role conflicts and role overloads in the doctor's activity as a socio-psychological problem

Currently, the leading socio-psychological problem in modern health care is role overloads and role conflicts among medical professionals. Role-based problems can lead to neuropsychiatric stress and become a source of professional stress for doctors. Therefore, in order to provide social assistance and support to doctors, it is necessary to study the sociopsychological factors that determine role conflicts in the professional activity of a doctor and further implement a socially oriented approach in the conditions of modernizing the modern healthcare system.

Evaluation of sociopsychological factors of HIV vulnerability in youth of Russian South (according to the data of behavioral research)

Aim. To evaluate the links between the individual gender ideology, sexual statements, relationship system characteristics and the vulnerability of heterosexual HIV infection. Materials and methods. Behavioral questioning, based on sampling of 239 students (mean age 20 years). Results. Among both young men and women, there was detected a correlation between loyalty to conservative gender ideology and justification of sexual abuse against women as well as characteristics of interpersonal relations, reducing motivation to use of condoms. Conservative gender ideology significantly raises vulnerability of young women against HIV-infection through their justification of sexual abuse and domination of men. Egalitarian gender ideology is essentially connected with the statements, aimed at less risky, as for HIV infection, sexual practice. Conservative gender ideology supports orientation of youth to behavioral models, elevating vulnerability against HIV infection in heterosexual contacts: refusal from use of condoms, resistance to recommendations for decrease of risk. Conclusions. Conservative gender ideology significantly increases vulnerability of young women against HIV infection through their justification of sexual abuse and domination of men. It is useful to include determination of a number of sociopsychological characteristics into the procedure of behavioral studies in the framework of epidemiological supervision of HIV infection, which can indirectly increase vulnerability of youth against HIV infection. There were offered content changes in programs, directed to decrease of risk among youth.

Attitudes towards Biobank Donation Among University Community

Worldwide significant efforts are invested in building biobanks—specialized facilities for storing biological materials for research and medical purposes. The successful functioning of biobanks depends directly on people’s willingness to donate their biological materials. Fragmentary empirical studies of people’s attitudes toward donations to biobanks have been undertaken in Russia. The goal of this study was to measure at titudes toward biobank donation among Russians population and to evaluate potential sociopsychological factors that play a role in a person’s readiness to become a donor. Data from 542 students and 254 scientific staff at St. Petersburg State University were collected from group-administered paper-and-pencil and online surveys respectively. Both students (74%) and scientific staff (52%) indicated a relatively high level of readiness to become biobank donors. Regression analysis showed that refusal to be a biobahk donor was correlated significantly with being university scientific staff vs. students, no previous awareness about biobank, need for relative’s or friend’s opinion before decision making, presence of payment for donation and type of requested biological material.