Problem-Focused Coping Strategies Used by Victims of Gender Violence Across the Stages of Change

This study compares the problem-focused emotion regulation strategies used by 200 female survivors of intimate partner violence (age: M = 40.16, SD = 11.27, 18 – 66 years) to cope with violence throughout various stages of change (SOC). It examines the relationship between problem-focused coping strategies and positive and negative affect, and the impact of these variables on the different SOC. Results suggest that victims differ and are flexible in the use of strategies throughout the various SOC. During the initial stages, victims tend to use passive/maladaptive behaviors that hamper change, while in the later stages they use more active/adaptive strategies to leave the abusive relationship.

Why Do We Harm the Environment or Our Personal Health despite Better Knowledge? The Knowledge Action Gap in Healthy and Climate-Friendly Behavior

Non-communicable diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes, or depression, result from an interplay of physiological, genetic, behavioral, and environmental aspects. Together with climate change, they are arguably among the most significant challenges mankind faces in the 21st century. Additionally, the bidirectional influences of climate change and health on each other are undisputed. Behavioral changes could curb both climate change and the spread of non-communicable diseases. Much effort has been put into information campaigns in both fields, but success has been limited. In the following, the knowledge action gap is compared and analyzed in healthy and climate-friendly behavior from a practical point of view and the supporting theoretical models are highlighted. The analysis shows that self-efficacy plays an essential role in both areas of research for effecting behavioral changes. The models of ‘Planned Behavior’ and ‘Stages of Change’ seems helpful and can be applied and adapted to explain behavioral changes in health and climate changes settings. We compared two previously unrelated research fields to uncover new avenues for further study and stimulate fruitful transdisciplinary discussion. Future directions on how behavioral medicine and climate change research can learn from each other are discussed.

Stages of Change in Physical Activity and Neighborhood Walkability Among Older Adults living in the Urban Setting

Insufficient physical activity (PA) is considered an independent risk factor for chronic diseases. Although older adults living in lower-income areas often experience obstacles to walking locally, few studies have compared their walking experiences and the degree of readiness to change on engaging in PA. The purpose of this study was to compare perceptions of neighborhood walkability by the stages of change among older adults living in a lower-income community. Participants were recruited in 2018 at a regional health clinic in Flint, MI. To be eligible, participants had to be over 65 years old and Flint residents. Of the 132 participants, the mean age was 69.74 (SD=5.00) years old. The majority of respondents were female (66%); African American (77%); single, divorced, or widowed (75%); and educated below a GED level (84%). The results showed that older adults at the pre-contemplation/contemplation stage (PC/C) were less likely to perceive the availability of sidewalks on most streets and more likely to complain about much traffic along the street than those at the action/maintenance stage (A/M) (p<0.05). After controlling for covariates, multiple regression analysis showed that those at PC/C were less likely to state that their neighborhoods were accessible (β = .17*) and to perceive the presence of walking hazard (e.g., lack of sidewalks) (β = -.17*). Those who engaged in PA less than 30 minutes per day perceived the neighborhoods were accessible (β = .23*). Findings suggest that it is essential to develop friendly support systems and accommodations to encourage walking in lower-income communities.

Development of accounting science in the light of economic and social transformations

Introduction. One of the integral components of human economic life is economic accounting – a system of creating information about economic activity, which proves the history and genesis of the accounting science development. The study of theoretical and methodological approaches to the functioning of accounting in the past and the assessment of current practices through the prism of the transformation of the social system will predict the development of accounting science and practice in the future.Goal. To identify the impact of economic and social transformations of mankind on the development of accounting as a science and practice. To analyse the historical transformations of the reflection of production and accounting processes in society, to define the concept of «accounting» not only as a phenomenon, but also to understand its deep essence, to identify trends in the development of accounting activities.Research methods.The main research methods were general scientific empirical, logical and historical methods of cognition of socio-economic processes, historical and monographic analysis, logical method, methods of comparison and extrapolation, as well as methods of grouping, generalization and classification, systemic and structural approaches. Collectively, the research methods used allowed to draw reliable conclusions and recommendations. Results. The dependence of the development of accounting practice and methodology on social formations, economic transformations and user needs is proved. There are three stages of change in accounting theory, which are characterized by «accounting revolutions» by analogy with the industrial and scientific revolutions. The genesis of the development of post-industrial society allowed us to conclude that in the middle of the twentieth century. the basic methodological principles of the new formation system are formed, different from the traditional industrialism, which are accompanied by a qualitative change in the place of theoretical knowledge and information in society and economic life. Based on the analysis of trends in the development of accounting knowledge, a forecast of its development in post-industrial society is made.Perspectives. We see the prospects for the development of accounting science and methodology in its reorientation to the internal needs of enterprise management, which requires a creative and innovative approach to creating information resources, obtaining management information and forecasting.

Consumer behavior in the digital environment under the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic: the importance of the health factor and business transparency

Introduction. With the onset of quarantine caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, changes in consumer behavior are evident, such as increased panic and more conscious behavior focusing on health and avoiding potential threats. Therefore, the study of consumer behavior in such conditions is an urgent and timely task.Purpose. The study aims to analyze changes in consumer behavior in the digital environment under the influence of events caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.Method (methodology). The theoretical and methodological basis of the study were general scientific methods of scientific knowledge: theoretical generalization, systematization, analysis and synthesis. The authors investigated trends in consumer behavior in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The main stages of change in consumer behavior are analyzed. The steps of the transition of companies to communicate with consumers in the digital environment were singled out. Factors such as health care and openness (business transparency) have been identified as determinants of trust in businesses in times of crisis. Brief statistics on the global consumption of products in various fields are presented. In particular, the positive dynamics in the growth of Internet users’ search queries for the purchase of health products are revealed. A comparison of the number of search queries in the Google Trends service for thematic terms of the research: «product delivery» and «health» within the Ukrainian market and in the world. It is determined that a new direction of word-of-mouth marketing is gaining popularity, which is an effective tool for communication with consumers in the digital environment through social networks and various cyberspace sites. Results. The authors identify the main trends in Internet marketing in recent years and make recommendations on marketing tools for future strategies of companies in the digital environment. The findings can be helpful to experts in the field of product promotion on the Internet and practicing marketers in the area of innovative services, which are gaining popularity in the wake of global trends in consumer behavior.Perspectives. In further research, the authors should focus on quantitative marketing research of consumers’ attitudes to companies’ product offerings and their willingness to cooperate, supported by the developed marketing programs.

Integrating the Extended Theory of Planned Behavior With the Stages of Change to Predict Exercise Among Chinese People With Type 2 Diabetes

Background: There have been very limited prospective studies examining social-cognitive models within stages of behavior change in the exercise domain.Purpose: We examined the utility of the theory of planned behavior (TPB), incorporating self-identity and descriptive norm constructs, to predict exercise behavior across the stages of change, in individuals with type 2 diabetes.Methods: Data were obtained from a longitudinal study. Multi-group structural equation modeling was used to estimate the association between extended TPB constructs and exercise within different stages groups.Results: 647 individuals completed a self-report questionnaire at baseline and at 3 months follow-up. The extended TPB model explained 8–15% variance of exercise behavior and 42–81% variance of exercise intention within three stages groups in the cross-sectional design. The extended TPB model explained 4%-13% variance of exercise behavior and 42–66% variance of exercise intention in the longitudinal design. Intention was significantly related to exercise behavior in the pre-action and action stages. Self-identity, perceived behavioral control and descriptive norms were stronger predictors of intention in different stages.Conclusion: Discontinuity patterns in the extended theory of planned behavior for the different stages groups were found. Intention was a significant predictor of exercise in the pre-action and action stages at 3 months.

Intervention for promoting intake of fruits and vegetables in Brazilians: a randomised controlled trial

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a nutritional intervention to promote fruit and vegetable (FV) intake. Design: A randomised controlled community trial was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a 7-month nutritional intervention and to promote FV intake, separately and together. All participants attended physical exercise sessions. The intervention was based on the transtheoretical model and Paulo Freire’s pedagogy. The interventions included group educational sessions, motivational cards and informational materials. The primary outcome was a change in FV intake (g/d), and secondary outcomes included stages of change, self-efficacy, decisional balance and knowledge on FV. All data were collected face-to-face; and FV intake was assessed using a validated brief questionnaire. Setting: Health promotion services of Brazilian Primary Health Care. Participants: 3414 users of Brazilian Primary Health Care (1931 in the control group and 1483 in the intervention group (IG)). Results: At baseline, the average daily FV intake was 370·4 g/d (95 % CI 364·2, 376·6). The increase in FV intake (23·4 g/d; 95 % CI 6·7, 40·0) and fruit intake (+17·3 g/d; 95 % CI 5·1, 29·4; P = 0·01) was greater in the IG among participants in the lowest baseline intake. Participants in the IG also showed progression in the stages of change (P < 0·001), increased self-efficacy (P < 0·001) and improved knowledge of FV crops (P < 0·001). Conclusions: The nutritional intervention was effective in increasing FV intake and fruits intake among individuals with a lower intake at baseline and in maintaining FV intake among those who reported consuming FV as recommended (400 g/d).