The Democratization of Luxury Products with Influencer Marketing

Female influencers, who are enthusiastic about disclosing their lifestyles to the masses on social media on topics ranging from giving personal skin care to themselves at their homes to matching different outfits and creating combinations for date nights as the latest fashionistas, to preparing diet and healthy meals for having a fit body shape, or showing how to exercise to have a balanced work-out, try to change the lifestyle habits and the conversation topics in the lives of many young people by presenting themselves as opinion leaders, view affecters or digital penetrators (Deniz, 2021, p. 49). Lifestyle influencers who prepare make-up tutorials in which they set the new trends by also adding parts from their own lives such as going shopping and purchasing different outfits, and going for a meeting with a group of friends at a restaurant with a luxurious product such as a bag, not only help the dissemination of brand awareness, but also motivate young people to try new masstige products by inciting them to hedonic shopping. Many lifestyle influencers are fond of luxury products and they prepare vlogs in which they open a special luxury product such as a bag and this can be named as a transformation of luxury products because these special goods that address to the elite become visibly available to the masses through social media, which is a populous tool. This research aims to show what influencer marketing is in fact about and how influencer marketing creates brand awareness of luxury products by showing these products as a part of influencers’ lifestyle. The results show that influencers’ introduction of luxury products on social media helps the democratization process of luxury products.

Comparison of the General Dietary Habits and Lifestyle between Before and During COVID-19 among the Saudi Adult's Population in Riyadh

Background: The global outbreak of COVID-19, for which there is few evidence-based effective vaccines or treatments available yet, has led to many attempts to find alternative options. Objective: This study aimed to compare the general dietary habits and lifestyle between before and during COVID-19 among the Saudi adult population in Riyadh Methods: It was a cross-sectional study, targeting the Riyadh population, from 16 May 2020 to 16 June 2020. The study comprised a structured questionnaire design that inquired demographic information examples include:(age, gender, place of residence, and health status); dietary habits information (daily intake of certain foods, food frequency, number of meals/days, and number of times drinking the tea and coffee); lifestyle habits information (physical activity, sleep quality, time that spend using the internet, social media and electronic devices for fun daily and stresses) using Google form. A total of 1,193 participants have been included in the study aged over 18 years. Results: During the COVID-19 period, a significant increase in the number of meals eaten daily, the number of times of fruits and vegetable intake, the number of sweets, cakes, and biscuits, the number of hours of sleep per day, the time using the internet and social media were observed more than at in the before COVID-19 pandemic period. However, the number of running exercise or physical activity were significantly reduced. Conclusion: In this study, the dietary and lifestyle habits have changed among the Saudis during the COVID-19 period. Future large-scale similar studies should be undertaken to confirm the results of the study.

Relationship Between Lifestyle Habits and Health-Related Quality of Life of Recently Diagnosed Breast Cancer Patients: A Comparison Between Younger and Older Women in China

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between lifestyle habits and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among different ages who were initially diagnosed with breast cancer (within the first 2 weeks) and to determine the contribution of lifestyle habits factors on HRQoL.Methods: Patients with breast cancer were recruited from 22 hospitals in 11 provinces or municipalities in northern and eastern China. The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast Cancer (FACT-B) was used to measure HRQoL. Chi-square test, ANOVA, and multivariable generalized linear models were conducted to identify the differences in HRQoL between two age groups (age <50 years and ≥50 years) and to evaluate the contribution of lifestyle habits factors on HRQoL of patients with breast cancer.Results: About 1,199 eligible patients with breast cancer were used for analysis. Younger women (aged <50 years) appeared to show lower scores than older women (aged ≥50 years) in HRQoL subscales, including emotional well-being (p = 0.003), functional well-being (p = 0.006), breast cancer subscale (p = 0.038), and FACT-B Total scores (p = 0.028). Tea and alcohol consumption and being very satisfied with sleep and current life were the strongest predictors of higher HRQoL in younger group. Meanwhile, no coffee consumption, frequent participation in physical activities, high sleep satisfaction, and current life satisfaction were the key predictors of higher HRQoL in older women with breast cancer.Conclusion: The relationship of the nine lifestyle habit items with HRQoL differed among younger and older women. The associated variable of low HRQoL can help clinicians take intervention early in order to improve the prognosis of patients with breast cancer.

Fear vs humor appeals: a comparative study of children's responses to anti-smoking advertisements

PurposeThis study aims to examine the different effects that the fear and humor appeals in anti-smoking advertisements for children have on their affective reactions to the advertisements, on their beliefs about smoking and on their behavioral intentions to smoke.Design/methodology/approachThis paper presents the findings of a qualitative research study conducted in Italy with children aged from 8 to 11 years.FindingsThe results indicated that the humor appeal is a useful method for conveying a social theme in a pleasant way and creating a likable character that becomes an example for children to imitate; however, it is necessary to employ the fear appeal to make children reflect carefully about the negative consequences of smoking.Research limitations/implicationsThis study examined only children's behavioral intentions derived from anti-smoking advertisements, but future research should also examine their real behaviors after a period following repeated viewing of public service announcements about smoking prevention or other social issues.Practical implicationsUnderstanding how different types of appeals can influence children represents an important result for the prevention of youth smoking and the promotion of healthy lifestyle habits during childhood.Social implicationsUnderstanding how different types of appeals can influence children represents an important result for the prevention of youth smoking and the promotion of healthy lifestyle habits during childhood.Originality/valueFew studies have examined the impact of social advertisements on children, and particularly little is known about the effectiveness of fear appeals on this group.

An Assessment of Impact of Higher Education on Oral Health Knowledge, Practices and Lifestyle habits

Aim: To assess impact of higher education on oral health related knowledge, practices, and lifestyle habits among faculty of King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia. Methods: In this descriptive study, a self-administered questionnaire including socio-demographic, oral health awareness, practices, and oral health status questions was distributed among faculty. Descriptive statistics, linear correlation, ANOVA, Independent t-test and logistic regression analysis were used using SPSS. A two-sided significance level of ≤ 5% was implied. Results: Fifty eight percent were males and 91% married. Mean age was 42.8±8.07 years. 66.5% had PhD, 42% were assistant professors. 22% had hypertension, 13.5% diabetes mellitus and elevated cholesterol (23%) and 10% were current smokers. 21% consumed soft drinks, 67% dairy products and 71% fruits daily. Most of the faculty (≥81%) showed a robust oral health related knowledge and 75% practiced oral hygiene measures and 65.5% visited dentist regularly. Almost half (49%) reported dental caries, 66% fillings, 31% gum bleeding, 55% missing teeth, and 24% had artificial teeth. There was a statistically significant difference between females and males regarding lifestyle habits and oral hygiene practices with a mean difference of (p<0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed a significant difference (p<0.001) with respect to gender, income. Conclusion: In this study, majority of the University faculty had an acceptable oral health related knowledge, and demonstrated good oral hygiene practices with a significant impact of gender on oral hygiene practice and life style. Key words: higher education, oral health knowledge, practices, lifestyle, university faculty.

Association of anxiety-depressive disorders with irritable bowel syndrome among patients attending a rural family practice center: a comparative cross-sectional study

BackgroundComorbidity of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and psychiatric disorders is common, and the prevalence of at least one psychiatric disorder has been reported as high as 80% among patients with IBS.AimsTo explore the association of anxiety-depressive disorders with IBS and its different subtypes, and to evaluate the associations of lifestyle habits, dietary habits and sleeping quality with IBS.MethodsA comparative cross-sectional study was conducted at the AL-Mahsama Family Practice Center, Ismailia, Egypt. It was carried out between October 2019 and October 2020. Participants were categorised into 175 patients with IBS, diagnosed using the Rome IV criteria, and 175 patients without IBS. A semistructured questionnaire was used to collect data on sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle habits, dietary habits and sleep quality from both groups. The Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale was used to assess anxiety symptoms, whereas the Beck Depression Inventory Second Edition was used to assess depression symptoms.ResultsThere was a high statistically significant difference between both groups with regard to age, education, occupation and socioeconomic status (SES), being a smoker, being physically inactive, having sleep disturbance and having irregular meals; being either obese or overweight was more reported in the IBS group. There was a high statistically significant difference in the rate of anxiety and depression between patients with and without IBS. Mild, moderate and severe anxiety were reported in 37.1%, 42.9% and 20.0% of patients with IBS while most (80.0%) of the patients without IBS reported mild anxiety. Regarding depression, mild, moderate and severe depression were reported in 60.0%, 14.3% and 25.7% of the patients with IBS while most (82.9%) of the non-IBS participants reported mild depression.ConclusionsThe study shows a significant association between anxiety-depressive disorders and IBS, but no significant associations between anxiety-depressive disorders and IBS subtypes.

Factors Related to Locomotive Syndrome in School-Aged Children in Okazaki: A Cross-Sectional Study

The relationship of locomotive syndrome with other physical characteristics and lifestyle habits in children has not been fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of children’s locomotive syndrome, and to determine its relationship with the above-mentioned factors. This was a cross-sectional study of 285 elementary school children who volunteered to participate in a medical checkup for physical function. Data was collected via medical examination, clinical measurements, and questionnaires. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to determine the relationship (odds ratios; ORs) of participants’ characteristics, physical functions, and other outcomes determined by questionnaire on locomotive syndrome. The following factors were related to locomotive syndrome: older age (OR = 1.421, 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.039, 1.945]), male sex (OR = 4.011, 95% CI [2.189, 7.347]), and more time spent watching television per day (OR = 1.281, 95% CI [1.001, 1.640]). These results may assist in the encouragement of children to perform appropriate physical activities and avoid unhealthy lifestyle habits, reducing the occurrence of locomotive syndrome.