Validation of the Scale Knowledge and Perceptions about Edible Insects through Structural Equation Modelling

Edible insects have been suggested as a more sustainable source of protein, but their consumption varies according to geographical and sociocultural influences. Focusing on the different aspects that can influence people’s attitudes towards edible insects (EI), this work aimed to carry out the statistical validation of an instrument aimed at assessing different dimensions of this field: the KPEI (knowledge and perceptions about EI) scale. The instrument consists of 64 questions distributed by the following dimensions: Culture and Tradition, Gastronomic Innovation and Gourmet Kitchen, Environment and Sustainability, Economic and Social Aspects, Commercialization and Marketing, Nutritional Characteristics, and Health Effects. The data were collected in 13 countries (Croatia, Greece, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, and Turkey). The validation of the KPEI scale was made through Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The results revealed two acceptable models, both retaining 37 of the 64 initial items, distrusted by the seven dimensions as: Culture and Tradition (5 items), Gastronomic Innovation and Gourmet Kitchen (5 items), Environment and Sustainability (8 items), Economic and Social Aspects (5 items), Commercialisation and Marketing (4 items), Nutritional Aspects (6 items), Health Effects (4 items). Both multifactorial models resulting from the CFA/SEM analyses showed approximately equal goodness of statistical fit indices with values of Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA), Root Mean Square Residual (RMR), and Standardized Root Mean Square Residual (SRMR) partially zero and values of Goodness of Fit Index (GFI) and Comparative Fit Index (CFI) approximately one, i.e., very close to a perfect fit. For the first-order model, the ratio between chi-square and degrees of freedom is χ2/df = 13.734, GFI = 0.932, CFI = 0.930, RMSEA = 0.043, RMR = 0.042, SRMR = 0.042; and for the second-order model χ2/df = 14.697, GFI = 0.926, CFI = 0.923, RMSEA = 0.045, RMR = 0.047, SRMR = 0.046). The values of composite reliability (CR = 0.967) and mean extracted variance (MEV = 0.448) are indicative of a good fit. Finally, the reliability analysis indicated a very good internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.941). These results confirm the successful validation of the KPEI scale, making it a valuable instrument for future application at the international level.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Validation of the scale knowledge and perceptions about edible insects through structural equation modelling

Edible insects have been suggested as a more sustainable source of protein, but their consumption varies according to geographical and sociocultural influences. Focusing on the different aspects that can influence people’s attitudes towards edible insects (EI), this work aimed to carry out the statistical validation of an instrument aimed at assessing different dimensions of this field: the KPEI (knowledge and perceptions about EI) scale. The instrument consists of 64 questions distributed by the following dimensions: Culture and Tradition, Gastronomic Innovation and Gourmet Kitchen, Environment and Sustainability, Economic and Social Aspects, Commercialization and Marketing, Nutritional Characteristics, and Health Effects. The data were collected in 13 countries (Croatia, Greece, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, and Turkey). The validation of the KPEI scale was made through Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The results revealed two acceptable models, both retaining 37 of the 64 initial items, distrusted by the seven dimensions as: Culture and Tradition (5 items), Gastronomic Innovation and Gourmet Kitchen (5 items), Environment and Sustainability (8 items), Economic and Social Aspects (5 items), Commercialisation and Marketing (4 items), Nutritional Aspects (6 items), Health Effects (4 items). Both multifactorial models resulting from the CFA/SEM analyses showed approximately equal goodness of statistical fit indices with values of Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA), Root Mean Square Residual (RMR), and Standardized Root Mean Square Residual (SRMR) partially zero and values of Goodness of Fit Index (GFI) and Comparative Fit Index (CFI) approximately one, i.e., very close to a perfect fit. For the first-order model, the ratio between chi-square and degrees of freedom is χ 2/df = 13.734, GFI = 0.932, CFI = 0.930, RMSEA = 0.043, RMR = 0.042, SRMR = 0.042; and for the second-order model χ 2/df = 14.697, GFI = 0.926, CFI = 0.923, RMSEA = 0.045, RMR = 0.047, SRMR = 0.046). The values of composite reliability (CR = 0.967) and mean extracted variance (MEV = 0.448) are indicative of a good fit. Finally, the reliability analysis indicated a very good internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.941). These results confirm the successful validation of the KPEI scale, making it a valuable instrument for future application at the international level.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Community Adaptation Patterns in Facing The Condition of Pandemic Covid-19

The covid-19 pandemic which is endemic in almost all countries requires all citizens to adapt to this pandemic situation. Corona Virus can be directly transmitted to human through the environment such as air, surface of plastics and clothes, physical contact such as shaking hands, being in groups, doing activities outside home, and lack of self-hygiene discipline. This situation requires the community to change their usual adaptation patterns. Therefore, people are guided to change their adaptation patterns to new adaptation patterns. This study aims to analyze the adaptation patterns in society in the co-19 pandemic conditions. This research uses mixed method by combining quantitative and qualitative research methods. Data collection techniques using in-depth interviews, questionnaires and analyzed using a one way anova statistical. The results of a one way anova analysis on the aspects of forming the adaptation pattern, the calculated F value is 14,611 with a significant value of 0.000 (sig <0.05), it can be concluded that there are differences in the aspects forming the adaptation pattern. The results showed that the majority of 135 respondents had adaptation patterns in the aspects of self-objectivity and self-acceptance that is being realistic after knowing oneself so that they were able to accept their circumstances. There are different patterns of community adaptation in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic conditions, where the aspects of Self-knowledge and Self-insight have significant differences from the Aspects of Self-objectivity and Self-acceptance. Respondents who have become participants state that they are changing their adaptation patterns to new adaptation patterns, namely: 1) participants seek insights into virus outbreaks through valid sources. 2) follow health protocols. 3) Stay calm and don’t panic. 4) participants hope to be able to carry out routine activities, while maintaining personal health and hygiene.Keywords: Adaptation patterns; community; COVID-1

Community Adaptation Patterns in Facing The Condition of Pandemic Covid-19

The covid-19 pandemic which is endemic in almost all countries requires all citizens to adapt to this pandemic situation. Corona Virus can be directly transmitted to human through the environment such as air, surface of plastics and clothes, physical contact such as shaking hands, being in groups, doing activities outside home, and lack of self-hygiene discipline. This situation requires the community to change their usual adaptation patterns. Therefore, people are guided to change their adaptation patterns to new adaptation patterns. This study aims to analyze the adaptation patterns in society in the co-19 pandemic conditions. This research uses mixed method by combining quantitative and qualitative research methods. Data collection techniques using in-depth interviews, questionnaires and analyzed using a one way anova statistical. The results of a one way anova analysis on the aspects of forming the adaptation pattern, the calculated F value is 14,611 with a significant value of 0.000 (sig <0.05), it can be concluded that there are differences in the aspects forming the adaptation pattern. The results showed that the majority of 135 respondents had adaptation patterns in the aspects of self-objectivity and self-acceptance that is being realistic after knowing oneself so that they were able to accept their circumstances. There are different patterns of community adaptation in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic conditions, where the aspects of Self-knowledge and Self-insight have significant differences from the Aspects of Self-objectivity and Self-acceptance. Respondents who have become participants state that they are changing their adaptation patterns to new adaptation patterns, namely: 1) participants seek insights into virus outbreaks through valid sources. 2) follow health protocols. 3) Stay calm and don’t panic. 4) participants hope to be able to carry out routine activities, while maintaining personal health and hygiene.Keywords: Adaptation patterns; community; COVID-1

Early environmental quality and life-course mental health effects : The Equal-Life project

Background: There is increasing evidence that a complex interplay of factors within environments in which children grows up, contributes to children's suboptimal mental health and cognitive development. The concept of the life-course exposome helps to study the impact of the physical and social environment, including social inequities, on cognitive development and mental health over time. Methods: Equal-Life develops and tests combined exposures and their effects on children's mental health and cognitive development. Data from eight birth-cohorts and three school studies (N = 240.000) linked to exposure data, will provide insights and policy guidance into aspects of physical and social exposures hitherto untapped, at different scale levels and timeframes, while accounting for social inequities. Reasoning from the outcome point of view, relevant stakeholders participate in the formulation and validation of research questions, and in the formulation of environmental hazards. Exposure assessment combines GIS-based environmental indicators with omics approaches and new data sources, forming the early-life exposome. Statistical tools integrate data at different spatial and temporal granularity and combine exploratory machine learning models with hypothesis-driven causal modeling. Conclusions: Equal-Life contributes to the development and utilization of the exposome concept by (1) integrating the internal, physical and social exposomes, (2) studying a distinct set of life-course effects on a child's development and mental health (3) characterizing the child's environment at different developmental stages and in different activity spaces, (4) looking at supportive environments for child development, rather than merely pollutants, and (5) combining physical, social indicators with novel effect markers and using new data sources describing child activity patterns and environments.Peer reviewe

Wood in psychiatric in-patient rooms may reduce the length of stay for patients

Objective – To outline a study of healthcare outcomes for psychiatric patients within an in-patient psychiatric ward. The planned study was initiated as a follow-up of the design process, where emphasis was made to use interior surfaces of wood in a new Swedish psychiatric building. Background –The influence of the physical environment for treatment outcomes within somatic care has been acknowledge for decades. Today there is also a growing amount of research within the field of psychiatric health facilities. View of, and access to, nature have shown to be of major importance. Recent research suggests that wood in patient rooms may have a healing effect. Research question – Does the use of wood in psychiatric in-patient rooms have positive health outcomes, such as reduced length of stay for patients and reduced stress levels? Method – The quantitative study will be executed in a new Swedish psychiatric building with 96 in-patient rooms in 4 wards. Each ward is divided into modules (6 patients/module). The study has a comparative approach: treatment outcomes in a module where patient rooms with wood covered facade-walls (n=2) will be compared to rooms with painted plaster façade-walls (n=2) and artificial wood panels (n=2). Patients in the module, intended for a special but general diagnosis, will be placed randomly in rooms with or without wood surfaces. All patient rooms are én-suite rooms. The staff is identical between rooms. All patient rooms have identical orientation. Results – An outline of a study in a psychiatric hospital is presented. This includes aspects related to research design, participation from patients, ethical considerations and statistical power of the planned experiment. Final outcomes from the study will be carried out after the new psychiatric building is inaugurated in 2020. Conclusion – Choice of building material can be an important measure to include in the design of health facilities. The study will provide new insights into what materials can be used and how they should be used to maximise possible beneficial health effects. Several aspects of architectural design can influence users in the built environment. Thus, there can be confounding factors influencing patients´ health and psychological well-being.publishedVersio

Tailoring Engagement with Urban Nature for University of Sheffield Students’ Wellbeing

The prevalence of common mental health issues amongst university students has continued to increase, with the number of students declaring a pre-existing mental illness doubling since 2014/15. This has resulted in an increased and unmet demand for university student support services. Students suffering from mental health issues are more likely to drop out and underperform academically. This thesis explores what type of nature based interventions could support University of Sheffield students’ wellbeing. Using a mixed methods approach, this thesis addressed four research questions: (1) What nature based interventions are currently available to University of Sheffield students in South Yorkshire? (2) How do a walking intervention and an app intervention in urban nature compare in terms of their effect on student wellbeing? (3) How did participants experience these interventions? (4) How should engagement with the natural environment be encouraged for university students’ wellbeing? The use of expert interviews details the current procedures and availability of nature based interventions. An intervention study was designed to improve university students’ wellbeing through encouraging regular engagement with nature. This aimed to facilitate nature connection and attention restoration. The intervention compared a specially designed mobile phone app and walk activity. This is the first study to detail the lived experience of university students’ engagement with nature, to include follow-up measurements and a detailed evaluation. This resulted in findings in relation to noticing the negative and positive aspects of nature, and the viability of introducing novel nature based interventions for this population’s wellbeing. Statistical analysis presented a mixed result in nature connection and quality of life outcome between the interventions. Critically, the qualitative results presented opportunities to improve university student’s engagement with nature through green space design in coordination with interventions. Thematic analysis revealed the importance of campus green spaces designed to facilitate social and academic activities

Factorial structure of the Manchester short assessment of quality of life in patients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders

Purpose Subjective quality of life is a central patient-reported outcome in schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. The Manchester Short Assessment of Quality of Life (MANSA) is an established and widely used instrument for its assessment. The present study is a secondary analysis of large schizophrenia studies and aims to establish the factorial structure of the MANSA with a rigorous two-step methodology. Methods A sample of 3120 patients was randomly split into two datasets; the first includes two thirds of the patients and serves as the calibration sample (N = 2071) and the second includes one third of them and serves as the validation sample (N = 1049). We performed an exploratory factor analysis with the calibration sample followed by a confirmatory factor analysis with the validation sample. Results Our results for both samples revealed a model with adequate fit comprising two factors. The first factor encompasses eight items measuring satisfaction with a variety of life and health-related aspects of quality of life, whereas the second consists of four items assessing satisfaction with living environment comprising living alone or with others, accommodation, family, and safety. These two factors correlate in a different way with socio-demographic characteristics such as age and living conditions. Conclusions Future trials and service evaluation projects using the MANSA to measure quality of life should take into account that satisfaction with living environment may be distinct from satisfaction with other life and health-related aspects of quality of life

The Concept of Neighbourhood in Contemporary Residential Environments: An Investigation of Occupants' Perception

The dwelling occupant satisfaction is related to the efficiency of the combination of numerous factors stemming from the qualitative and quantitative aspects of the various components of the residential environment. Those components exist at a whole scale ranging from an interior space within the housing unit to the whole urban environment. This study aimed to explore the immediate social and physical environment around the dwelling unit, which is often referred to as “neighbourhood”. In addition to the physical space that the concept reminds, the term neighbourhood is also used to describe a socially distinguished area depending on residents’ perception. In the traditional sense, this physical space is outlined with virtual boundaries that are traced differently in the minds of each individual according to the life style and type of social interaction and the type of use of the physical environment. The perceptions of residents’ in relation with this neighbourhood area are also affected with both physical and social characteristics of the concerned environment. This paper aimed to investigate the situation of the neighbourhood concept in contemporary urban residential environments by making use of the data obtained from two distinct independent housing researches conducted in Turkey. The analysis and evaluation of the findings together with an overview of the literature reflecting the traditional and contemporary neighbourhood concepts in Turkish residential environments, reveals that changes are about to occur in the definition, creation and experiencing of the neighbourhood issue. The evaluation of the literature, manifestos and approaches of most housing institutions and policy builders in the contemporary world expose a rather increasing interest to the issue of neighbourhood as the concept constitutes an important component of residential satisfaction. The findings of this study indicate that the neighbourhood feeling in contemporary urban environments is now less dependent on the sharing of common close physical residential environment due to housing initiatives driven by liberal / random land use options, financial viability and profitability. The benefits expected of the use of the close physical environment is disregarded due to possibilities obtained with increasing mobility and transportation facilities. The remote activities and life styles of dwelling occupants become the basic factors that shape the social environment. The segregation of the close social environment from the close physical environment is a major source for residential environment dissatisfaction. A conclusion drawn from the findings is that the physical properties of the close built environment may act as sources of dissatisfaction if the residents’ perception of neighbourhood notion is disregarded during residential environment design. Hints to increase dwelling occupants’ satisfaction from the residential environment lies in redefining the neighbourhood concept through creating adequate, functioning, distinct, value added common spaces that ease admittance and social interaction. However, those spaces shall be a part of the urban tissue. The long-term effects of physical segregation, clustering of the residential environments, creating of sprawl type settlements shall be re-evaluated

Are income-related differences in active travel associated with physical environmental characteristics? A multi-level ecological approach

Background: Rates of active travel vary by socio-economic position, with higher rates generally observed among less affluent populations. Aspects of both social and built environments have been shown to affect active travel, but little research has explored the influence of physical environmental characteristics, and less has examined whether physical environment affects socio-economic inequality in active travel. This study explored income-related differences in active travel in relation to multiple physical environmental characteristics including air pollution, climate and levels of green space, in urban areas across England. We hypothesised that any gradient in the relationship between income and active travel would be least pronounced in the least physically environmentally-deprived areas where higher income populations may be more likely to choose active transport as a means of travel.<p></p> Methods: Adults aged 16+ living in urban areas (n = 20,146) were selected from the 2002 and 2003 waves of the UK National Travel Survey. The mode of all short non-recreational trips undertaken by the sample was identified (n = 205,673). Three-level binary logistic regression models were used to explore how associations between the trip being active (by bike/walking) and three income groups, varied by level of multiple physical environmental deprivation.<p></p> Results: Likelihood of making an active trip among the lowest income group appeared unaffected by physical environmental deprivation; 15.4% of their non-recreational trips were active in both the least and most environmentally-deprived areas. The income-related gradient in making active trips remained steep in the least environmentally-deprived areas because those in the highest income groups were markedly less likely to choose active travel when physical environment was ‘good’, compared to those on the lowest incomes (OR = 0.44, 95% CI = 0.22 to 0.89).<p></p> Conclusions: The socio-economic gradient in active travel seems independent of physical environmental characteristics. Whilst more affluent populations enjoy advantages on some health outcomes, they will still benefit from increasing their levels of physical activity through active travel. Benefits of active travel to the whole community would include reduced vehicle emissions, reduced carbon consumption, the preservation or enhancement of infrastructure and the presentation of a ‘normalised’ behaviour