Unpacking Cultural Variations in Social Anxiety and the Offensive-Type of Taijin Kyofusho Through the Indirect Effects of Intolerance of Uncertainty and Self-Construals

This paper presents two studies that aim to unpack cultural variations in general social anxiety and the offensive-type of Taijin Kyofusho (OTKS) – a type of social anxiety characterized by the extreme fear of offending others. Cultural variations in the expression and manifestation of social anxiety are well established; however, the mechanisms underpinning this relation are unclear. The present studies use the Parallel Multiple Mediation Model to study how social anxiety and OTKS are jointly shaped by self-construal and intolerance of uncertainty. Study 1 compared Euro-Canadians and Chinese migrants in Canada. Results showed a mean group difference in OTKS, but not social anxiety, with the difference mediated by intolerance of uncertainty (IU). Study 2 tested this pattern of multiple mediations in Japanese, Chinese and Euro-Canadian cultural contexts. Results showed significant differences among these three cultural groups on both social anxiety and OTKS via multiple mediators (e.g., independent vs. interdependent self-construals and IU). Findings in both studies revealed that OTKS seems to be a psychopathology that is not specific to Japanese participants. The underlying mechanisms and processes of OTKS are also significantly different from social anxiety. Significant cultural variations in social anxiety and OTKS between Chinese vs. Japanese cultural contexts were observed in Study 2. These studies demonstrate the conceptual and empirical advantages of using more complex models to unpack the psychological mechanisms shaping cultural variations in social anxiety and OTKS

Sex differences and HIV status of tuberculosis in adults at a rural hospital in southern Ethiopia: an 18-year retrospective cross-sectional study

Background. The aim of the study was to compare the epidemiology, clinical characteristics and treatment outcome of tuberculosis (TB), including HIV status, in women and men in southern rural Ethiopia. Methods. We conducted a register-based retrospective cohort study covering the period from September 1998 to August 2015. Results. We included records of 2252 registered TB patients: 1080 (48%) women and 1172 (52%) men. Median age was similar for women and men: 27.5 years and 25.0 years, respectively. Median weight in women was 43.0 kg (interquartile range IQR: 38.0, 49.0), significantly lower than in men (50.0 kg, IQR 44.0, 55.0; p = 0.01). Extrapulmonary TB was significantly more common in women than in men (34.1% versus 28.7%; p=0.006). Treatment outcomes were similar in both sexes: in 70.3% of women and 68.9% of men, TB mortality was slightly lower in women than men (4.7% vs. 6.5%; p=0.08). In patients with TB, female sex was independently associated with low weight (adjusted aOR: 0.91; 95% CI 0.90, 0.92), less mortality (aOR: 0.54; 95% CI 0.36, 0.81), and lymph node TB (aOR: 1.57; 95% CI 1.13, 2.19) Conclusion. Lymph node TB was more common in women. Treatment outcomes were similar in both sexes, but women had a lower mortality rate

Global, regional, and national burden of disorders affecting the nervous system, 1990–2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

BackgroundDisorders affecting the nervous system are diverse and include neurodevelopmental disorders, late-life neurodegeneration, and newly emergent conditions, such as cognitive impairment following COVID-19. Previous publications from the Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factor Study estimated the burden of 15 neurological conditions in 2015 and 2016, but these analyses did not include neurodevelopmental disorders, as defined by the International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-11, or a subset of cases of congenital, neonatal, and infectious conditions that cause neurological damage. Here, we estimate nervous system health loss caused by 37 unique conditions and their associated risk factors globally, regionally, and nationally from 1990 to 2021.MethodsWe estimated mortality, prevalence, years lived with disability (YLDs), years of life lost (YLLs), and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), with corresponding 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs), by age and sex in 204 countries and territories, from 1990 to 2021. We included morbidity and deaths due to neurological conditions, for which health loss is directly due to damage to the CNS or peripheral nervous system. We also isolated neurological health loss from conditions for which nervous system morbidity is a consequence, but not the primary feature, including a subset of congenital conditions (ie, chromosomal anomalies and congenital birth defects), neonatal conditions (ie, jaundice, preterm birth, and sepsis), infectious diseases (ie, COVID-19, cystic echinococcosis, malaria, syphilis, and Zika virus disease), and diabetic neuropathy. By conducting a sequela-level analysis of the health outcomes for these conditions, only cases where nervous system damage occurred were included, and YLDs were recalculated to isolate the non-fatal burden directly attributable to nervous system health loss. A comorbidity correction was used to calculate total prevalence of all conditions that affect the nervous system combined.FindingsGlobally, the 37 conditions affecting the nervous system were collectively ranked as the leading group cause of DALYs in 2021 (443 million, 95% UI 378–521), affecting 3·40 billion (3·20–3·62) individuals (43·1%, 40·5–45·9 of the global population); global DALY counts attributed to these conditions increased by 18·2% (8·7–26·7) between 1990 and 2021. Age-standardised rates of deaths per 100 000 people attributed to these conditions decreased from 1990 to 2021 by 33·6% (27·6–38·8), and age-standardised rates of DALYs attributed to these conditions decreased by 27·0% (21·5–32·4). Age-standardised prevalence was almost stable, with a change of 1·5% (0·7–2·4). The ten conditions with the highest age-standardised DALYs in 2021 were stroke, neonatal encephalopathy, migraine, Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, diabetic neuropathy, meningitis, epilepsy, neurological complications due to preterm birth, autism spectrum disorder, and nervous system cancer.InterpretationAs the leading cause of overall disease burden in the world, with increasing global DALY counts, effective prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation strategies for disorders affecting the nervous system are needed

The Firm Sрeсifiс аnd Mасrоeсоnоmiс Vаriаble whiсh Influenсe Сарitаl Struсture Deсisiоn: Аn Emрiriсаl Study оn (Ethiорiаn Insurаnсe Рrivаte Соmраnies)

The  аim  оf  this  study  is  tо  emрiriсаlly  investigаte  the  firm  sрeсifiс  аnd  mасrоeсоnоmiс  vаriаble  whiсh  influenсes  сарitаl  struсture  deсisiоn  in  рrivаte  insurаnсe  seсtоr  in  Ethiорiа.  In  оrder  tо  асhieve  the  intended  рurроse  emрlоyed  the  exрlаnаtоry  reseаrсh  design  аnd  quаntitаtive  аррrоасh.  The  seсоndаry  dаtа  were  оbtаined  frоm  NBE,  Аudited  finаnсiаl  stаtement  аnd  MоFED,  mасrоeсоnоmiс  fасtоrs  соvering  the  рeriоd  оf  15  yeаrs 2004-2018.  The  раnel  dаtа  were  аnаlyzed  with  а  fixed  effeсt  regressiоn  mоdel  with  the  helр  оf  EVIEWS version,9.The  findings  shоws  thаt  liquidity,  аsset  tаngibility  аnd  рrоfitаbility  were  signifiсаnt  negаtive  effeсt  оn  leverаge,  whereаs  size  оf  соmраnies  wаs  signifiсаnt  роsitive  effeсts  оn  leverаge  аnd  externаl  fасtоr  GDР  wаs  signifiсаnt  negаtive  effeсts  оn  leverаge.  The  emрiriсаl  findings  оf  the  study  соnsistent  with  рeсking  оrder  theоry  exсeрt  size  оf  соmраny.Therefоre,  mаnаgers  оf  these  seсtоrs  shоuld  соnsider  the  imрасts  оf  these  signifiсаnt  vаriаbles,  аnd  fоllоw  рeсking  оrder  раttern,  tо  reаlize  орtimum  сарitаl  struсture  whiсh  mаy  minimize  the  weighted  соst  оf  сарitаl  аnd  inсreаse  the  wоrth  оf  firm

International Trade Barrier Index 2019: The Health and Price Effects of Indonesia's Trade Restrictions on Rice

Indonesia is restrictive when it comes to trade policies and these restrictions affect access to rice, which is a problem as it is the staple food of the country. The existing barriers have contributed to raising the price of rice significantly, which also affects people’s calorie intake due to their inability to fulfill nutritional needs of food for their families, especially the poor. The most prominent cause behind the high rice price is due to the high prioritization of domestic food producers’ welfare and capacity, as mandated in various regulations following the Food Law No. 18/2012. In order to establish trade grounds, the regulating concept that prioritizes domestic food development should be adjusted to provide more affordable food

International Trade Barrier Index 2019: The Health and Price Effects of Indonesia's Trade Restrictions on Rice

Indonesia is restrictive when it comes to trade policies and these restrictions affect access to rice, which is a problem as it is the staple food of the country. The existing barriers have contributed to raising the price of rice significantly, which also affects people’s calorie intake due to their inability to fulfill nutritional needs of food for their families, especially the poor. The most prominent cause behind the high rice price is due to the high prioritization of domestic food producers’ welfare and capacity, as mandated in various regulations following the Food Law No. 18/2012. In order to establish trade grounds, the regulating concept that prioritizes domestic food development should be adjusted to provide more affordable food

Assessing the Impacts of Climate Variability on Rural Households in Agricultural Land Through the Application of Livelihood Vulnerability Index

Climate variability adversely affects rural households in Ethiopia as they depend on rain-fed agriculture, which is highly vulnerable to climate fluctuations and severe events such as drought and pests. In view of this, we have assessed the impacts of climate variability on rural household's livelihoods in agricultural land in Tarchazuria district of Dawuro Zone. A total of 270 samples of household heads were selected using a multistage sampling technique with sample size allocation procedures of the simple random sampling method. Simple linear regression, the standard precipitation index, the coefficient of variance, and descriptive statistics were used to analyze climatic data such as rainfall and temperature. Two livelihood vulnerability analysis approaches, such as composite index and Livelihood Vulnerability Index-Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (LVI-IPCC) approaches, were used to analyze indices for socioeconomic and biophysical indicators. The study revealed that the variability patterns of rainfall and increasing temperatures had been detrimental effects on rural households' livelihoods. The result showed households of overall standardized, average scores of Wara Gesa (0.60) had high livelihood vulnerability with dominant major components of natural, physical, social capital, and livelihood strategies to climate-induced natural hazards than Mela Gelda (0.56). The LVI-IPCC analysis results also revealed that the rural households in Mela Gelda were more exposed to climate variability than Wara Gesa and slightly sensitive to climate variability, considering the health and knowledge and skills, natural capitals, and financial capitals of the households. Therefore, interventions including road infrastructure construction, integrated with watershed management, early warning information system, providing training, livelihood diversification, and SWC measures' practices should be a better response to climate variability-induced natural hazards. Keywords: Households;  Livelihood Vulnerability Index; climate variability; Tarchazuria District   Copyright (c) 2021 Geosfera Indonesia and Department of Geography Education, University of Jember This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share A like 4.0 International Licens

Ask and you might receive: The actor–partner interdependence model approach to estimating cultural and gender variations in social support.

As an essential part of close relationships, social support is a dynamic interactive process. This paper aims to simultaneously investigate social support seeking and provision behaviours using the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM). 92 friendship dyads participated in this study. Supportive vs. negative friendship qualities were used to predict different support seeking and support provision behaviours during an experimental task. Cultural and gender variations were also examined. Results showed that self-reported friendship qualities influence support seeking and provision behaviours intrapersonally and interpersonally. Female participants were more likely to provide emotion-focused support than were male participants. After accounting for friendship qualities in the dyads, there was no evidence of cultural group differences on support seeking or provision behaviours among same-sex friends. These results demonstrate the conceptual and empirical advantages of using APIM to unpack cultural and gender variations in social support processes

On dynamic contexts and unstable categories: Steps towards a cultural-clinical psychology

This chapter discusses the lead author’s research program at the intersection of cultural psychology and clinical psychology from 1997 to 2017, emphasizing work conducted with one or more of the co-authors—former graduate students who are now independent researchers. After a brief consideration of formative research experiences, the chapter begins with research on the dynamic contexts of migrants undergoing acculturation. Much of this work challenges essentialized cultural groups, although it also tends to rely on standard measures of psychosocial adjustment. In contrast, the next part of the chapter covers research on the unstable categories of psychopathology observed when cultural variation is taken seriously. Much of this work challenges essentialized diagnostic categories, although it also tends to rely on standard group comparisons. The chapter’s final major section describes the development of cultural-clinical psychology, proposing a research agenda that would combine dynamic views of culture and psychopathology with implications for clinical practice