Reflections of affect in studies of information behavior in HIV/AIDS contexts : an exploratory quantitative content analysis

Information seeking and use are critically important for people living with HIV/AIDS and for those who care for people with HIV/AIDS. In addition, the HIV/AIDS context is characterized by significant affective or emotional aspects including stigma, fear, and coping. Thus, studies of information behavior in this context should be expected to take account of emotional variables. In information behavior scholarship, emotional variables have been marginalized in favor of a focus on cognitive aspects, although in recent years greater attention has been paid to the affective realm. This study used quantitative content analysis to explore the degree to which information behavior studies across a range of disciplines actually include affect or emotion in their analyses. Findings suggest that most studies pay little or no attention to these variables, and that attention has not changed over the past 20 years. Those studies that do account for emotion, however, provide excellent examples of information behavior research that can lead the way for future work.http://www.journals.elsevier.com/library-and-information-science-researchhb201

Sexual self-concept, stigma & shame following a chlamydia diagnosis

The portfolio has three parts: a systematic literature review, an empirical study and a set of appendices.Part one is a systematic literature review in which empirical literature relating to the sexual risk taking behaviour and sexual self-concept is reviewed and critically evaluated. It aims to present an understanding of how dimensions of sexual self-concept can influence sexual risk taking behaviours. Recommendations are made for future research and clinical implications are discussed.Part two is an empirical paper exploring the relationship between sexual self-concept, stigma and shame following a Chlamydia diagnosis. People attending a sexual health clinic for the treatment of Chlamydia were approached to participate in the study. Quantitative data were collected using a cross sectional design. The clinical implications and methodological limitations are also discussed and areas requiring further research are identified.Part three comprises the Appendices to support the work in the first two parts and a reflective statement of the research process

The motivations and outcomes of consumer engagement with online sexual health communities

PhD ThesisThe continuous improvement in living standards has resulted in increasing attention being paid to personal health. The definition of health nowadays no longer refers only to physical or mental health, it also includes sexual health. Sexual health is not only understood in a narrow sense as Sexually Transmitted Diseases (hereafter STDs), but also the enjoyment and satisfaction of having sex with partners. Positive sexual experiences are beneficial to both physical and mental health (Hensel et al., 2016). Although, despite it being an important part of our lives, sometimes sexual health is difficult to discuss due to the stigmatization and discrimination associated with STDs, which can affect patients’ intention to seek a doctor’s advice, leading those patients in need to ignore their illness for fear of unfair treatment which in turn can lead to serious physical outcomes and psychological burdens. The National Health Services (NHS) is under enormous pressure from an increasing demand for consultation; in 2020 more than 60 million people were listed as registered with the NHS (NHS Digital, 2020). This sometimes results in patients not being able to seek medical attention promptly or having only a short consultation time, which is sometimes not sufficient to properly address an individual’s health concerns, and more specifically their concerns about STDs. By gathering users from multiple backgrounds and experiences to form a virtual online community, Online Sexual Health Communities (OSHCs) provide a platform for information sharing and the exchange of emotions (relating to sexual health). Combining the advantages of a virtual environment such as unrestricted time and space, OSHCs not only provide a convenient and effective consultation with users who may have similar health issues but also reduce the pressure on the NHS (Nagendra et al., 2020). Despite the relevance of health communities in today’s societies, the reasons why consumers engage with OSHCs has rarely been studied, nor has the consequences of such engagement on consumers’ psychological and physical wellbeing. This study believes that learning about the motivations and outcomes of OSHC engagement is conducive to enriching the existing engagement literature in the field. From a practical point of view, it provides a more comprehensive guide for those establishing, or seeking to establish, OSHCs. Accordingly, a clear understanding of a user’s motivation for engaging with an OSHC iii can better help the founders of sexual health forums in improving their online communities. Furthermore, understanding the outcome of their engagement can help public organizations understand their influence on individuals’ wellbeing. Scholars are calling for qualitative research on the impact of social media on consumer behaviour and societal wellbeing (Davis et al., 2016; Shensa et al., 2017). The present study lies within transformative consumer research, which focuses on significant social issues and challenges (Davis and Ozanne, 2019). Interviews were chosen for data collection due to their ability to uncover underlying motivations, beliefs, attitudes, and feelings (Rubin and Rubin, 2005), particularly in discussions involving sensitive or embarrassing topics (for example, body image concerns and self-esteem) (Malhotra et al., 2007). The author of this thesis conducted semi-structured interviews with 20 participants from one of the most popular OSHCs on Facebook namely PrEp Facts: Rethinking HIV Prevention and Sex. Data were analysed through both manual coding and NVivo. Ten themes emerged from the interviews including eight motivations and two consequences of engagement, which enabled the development of a conceptual framework of engagement with OSHCs The contributions of this study can be viewed from both a theoretical and practical perspective. Theoretically, this study provides a conceptual framework regarding the motivations and consequences of consumer engagement. This study sheds light on eight motivations: information quality, information quantality, social support, fear, source credibility, convenience, online community quality, and privacy concerns. There are two outcomes of consumer engagement with OSHCs (health empowerment and entertainment), which contribute to the existing literature. Specifically, this study offers a comprehensive understanding regarding consumer engagement towards OSHCs, which can help online community moderators develop a better virtual environment based on consumer demands. Future research around this subject should use quantitative research methods to further verify the model developed in this study

Discrimination and Health: Measurement and Impacts on Ontario’s Transgender Communities

Discrimination may contribute to poorer health outcomes experienced by non-dominant social groups. While discrimination and health research has flourished over the past two decades, little attention has been paid to the assessment of multiple forms of discrimination, nor to the health effects of discrimination for transgender persons in Canada. Therefore, this thesis examines the impacts of discrimination on health behaviours among transgender persons in Ontario and develops a new instrument set for evaluating self-reported discrimination irrespective of attribution, the Intersectional Discrimination Index (InDI). The first four manuscripts draw on data from the Trans PULSE Project, a respondent-driven sampling survey of transgender Ontarians aged 16+ conducted in 2009-2010 (n=433). Analyses were weighted using RDS-II methods, and odds ratios or prevalence ratios were estimated from logistic regression models to identify the impacts of discrimination, social exclusion, and gender transition. The first manuscript investigates correlates of both past-year HIV-related sexual risk and sexual inactivity among transfeminine (male-to-female spectrum) persons. Genital surgery for gender transition was independently associated with lower odds of both outcomes. Discrimination was not associated with sexual risk overall, but sensitivity analyses found that correlates differed by type of sexual risk behaviour. The second manuscript examines HIV-related sexual risk among transmasculine (female-to-male spectrum) persons who are gay, bisexual, or have sex with men. Known correlates of sexual risk among cisgender gay and bisexual men were similarly predictive of risk in this population, including sexual abuse, stimulant use, and depressive symptoms. The third and fourth manuscripts focus on heavy episodic drinking (HED) and illicit drug use, respectively, among all transgender Ontarians. HED, cocaine use, and amphetamine use were more common among transgender Ontarians than expected based on the age-standardized reference population. HED was associated with transmasculine gender and sex work, but not with discrimination. Illicit drug use was associated with anti-transgender violence, homelessness or underhousing, and sex work. The final manuscript describes the development and validation of the InDI, which includes three components measuring anticipated, day-to-day, and major discrimination. The bi-national validity and reliability study found consistent evidence of construct validity and test-retest reliability. Finally, implications and future research directions are discussed

The Effects of Incongruity, Production Pacing, and Sensation Seeking on TV Advertisements

This study addresses an important area of research that has fascinated advertising professionals who are eager to make more attractive ads: understanding how the viewing audience perceives and processes television advertisements. Ad incongruity, the introduction of unexpected elements that are atypical of a given ad category, and production pacing were tested to explore the roles of these stimuli in capturing higher levels of arousal, which can produce both better evaluations and clearer memories of ads. Sixty subjects, who were recruited from among undergraduate students at Cornell University and patrons of a local shopping mall, participated in an experiment in which a set of TV ads was shown. Participants then answered questions immediately following exposure to the ads, providing data pertaining to sensation seeking, ad evaluation, arousal, and memory. The ads themselves represented six different conditions: incongruent and slow paced, incongruent and medium paced, incongruent and fast paced, congruent and slow paced, congruent and medium paced, and congruent and fast paced. The main findings involved Lang?s limited capacity model. It was found that the mental capacity or cognitive load required to process incongruent fast-paced ads exceeded study participants? cognitive capacity to process the information in such ads. When ads with both fast paced and incongruent elements were shown, participant?s memory for that particular kind of ads declined. The study provided confirmation of Lang?s (2000) limited capacity model. The study?s contributions include a key finding pertaining to incongruity effects that should help to resolve discrepancies in the literature on incongruity. As expected, incongruent ads were evaluated more positively, and were more arousing and better remembered than congruent ads. Production pacing also had some effect on participants. As pacing increased, participants remembered better and ad evaluations tended to be more positive. However, ad type had a significant influence on the processing of ads. Car ads were evaluated more positively, were more arousing, and were better remembered than over-the-counter drug ads. There were no significant relationships between sensation seeking and incongruity or sensation seeking and production pacing

REACTANCE THEORY AND SELF-CONSTRUAL IN THE EAST AND WEST

Using psychological reactance theory (Brehm, 1966) as an explanatory framework, this dissertation experimentally tests the effects of appeal type, restoration type, and self-construal on freedom threat perceptions, reactance arousal, and receptiveness of health risk messages on two different populations (Taiwan and U.S.A.) within Western and Eastern cultural contexts. Self-construal and culturalism constructs are applied to examine the influence of culture-related issues on the manifestation of psychological reactance. Relative to culturalism, several findings indicate self-construal is more predictive of reactance arousal and its associated effects on the processing of persuasive health risk messages. Moreover, the positive association between threat perception and reactance arousal may be less apparent then previously assumed. Finally, as found in previous research, the effectiveness of restoration postscripts at reducing reactance was affirmed; however, the nuanced nature of their effectiveness requires some qualification: Each of the five restoration postscript methods used in this study was effective at reducing perceived threat to freedom only in combination with its correspondingly appropriate message appeal type. The ramifications of these results for the effective design of public service announcements (PSAs) targeting risky health behaviors in emerging adults is discussed, and recommendations are offered for producing successful PSAs advocating substance abuse prevention and safe sex within Western and Eastern cultural contexts

Cross-cultural evidence for the influence of positive self-evaluation on cross-cultural differences in well-being

Poster Session F - Well-Being: abstract F197We propose that cultural norms about realism and hedonism contribute to the cross-cultural differences in well-being over and above differences in objective living conditions. To test this hypothesis, we used samples from China and the United States. Results supported the mediating role of positive evaluative bias in cross-cultural differences in well-being.postprin

Values and need satisfaction across 20 world regions

Poster Session F - Motivation/Goals: abstract F78Intrinsic valuing predicts the satisfaction of psychological needs (Niemiec, Ryan, & Deci, 2009). We conceptually replicate and extend this finding across 20 world regions. In multi-level models, Schwartz’s (1992) self-transcendence value was positively related to autonomy, competence, and relatedness satisfaction, even when controlling for the Big Five.postprin

Fear of Longevity: Everyday Struggles in the Pharmaceutical Age of AIDS, Taiwan

Through an ethnographic study of civil society organisations (CSOs) in Taiwan, this research endeavours to explore how Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and biomedical approaches to controlling the epidemic have framed everyday life amongst ganranzhe (HIV infected individuals) and feiganranzhe (HIV uninfected individuals) from tongzhi (Comrades, LGBT populations) communities whose members are labelled as populations at risk. The health regime of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)/AIDS in Taiwan, I argue, redistributes state power to local social bodies where the decentralised governance of sexual minorities and social deviants is exercised through compassionate voluntary labour. Moreover, this health regime has escalated and engendered everyday struggles which the affected endure and will continue to confront. In the face of ongoing social and physical suffering amongst vulnerable individuals, living longer is not necessarily the ideal which everyone prioritises in their everyday lives and connections with others. In the early days of AIDS, prior to the availability of triple cocktail therapy in 1997, the diagnosis of disease was an inevitable death sentence. Longevity was desired, but unattainable, by ganranzhe. In contemporary Taiwan, when ganranzhe can access pharmaceuticals which enable a prolonged life with prevention and treatment of HIV-related symptoms, an unexpected fear of longevity has emerged. Living longer, I argue and conclude from stories told by research participants in this study, is not necessarily desirable when the everyday struggles facing ganranzhe are not mitigated, and will continue through that longevity. There is an established scholarly discourse in anthropology and sociology critiquing the impact of global agencies on local responses to HIV/AIDS through their directed provision of funding support. The absence of foreign subsidies to the CSOs in Taiwan society provides a contrasting example of the development and direction of HIV/AIDS programs independent of direct global funding. This thesis argues that the state, even without international monetary aid, has become proficient at drawing on the culture of the tongzhi community to collaborate with CSOs and as a result to productively exercise its power over individuals. CSOs, working with the state, have crafted culturally sensitive programs for AIDS control and prevention which function as less coercive apparatuses to monitor, intervene and govern daily lives amongst the targeted populations. Universal approaches for curtailing the AIDS epidemic are after all not transparent healthcare measures where health amongst individuals of local communities are protected and improved. Global agendas on HIV/AIDS response can generate unforeseen adverse consequences which may burden the already social disadvantaged even further

Online courses for healthcare professionals: is there a role for social learning?

Background: All UK postgraduate medical trainees receive supervision from trained supervisors. Training has traditionally been delivered via face to face courses, but with increasing time pressures and complex shift patterns, access to these is difficult. To meet this challenge, we developed a two-week massive open online course (MOOC) for faculty development of clinical supervisors. Summary of Work: The MOOC was developed by a group of experienced medical educators and delivered via the FutureLearn (FL) platform which promotes social learning through interaction. This facilitates building of communities of practice, learner interaction and collaboration. We explored learner perceptions of the course, in particular the value of social learning in the context of busy healthcare professionals. We analysed responses to pre- and post-course surveys for each run of the MOOC in 2015, FL course statistics, and learner discussion board comments. Summary of Results: Over 2015, 7,225 learners registered for the course, though 6% left the course without starting. Of the 3,055 learners who began the course, 35% (1073/3055) were social learners who interacted with other participants. Around 31% (960/3055) learners participated fully in the course; this is significantly higher than the FL average of 22%. Survey responses suggest that 68% learners worked full-time, with over 75% accessing the course at home or while commuting, using laptops, smart phones and tablet devices. Discussion: Learners found the course very accessible due to the bite-sized videos, animations, etc which were manageable at the end of a busy working day. Inter-professional discussions and social learning made the learning environment more engaging. Discussion were rated as high quality as they facilitated sharing of narratives and personal reflections, as well as relevant resources. Conclusion: Social learning added value to the course by promoting sharing of resources and improved interaction between learners within the online environment. Take Home Messages: 1) MOOCs can provide faculty development efficiently with a few caveats. 2) Social learning added a new dimension to the online environment