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1 – 10 of 32Shaun Liverpool, Ken Fletcher, Tahira Kaur Chopra, David Jay, Faye Walters and Linda K. Kaye
The number of university students seeking mental health support is rapidly increasing. To provide additional psychological support to students accessing well-being services, this…
Abstract
Purpose
The number of university students seeking mental health support is rapidly increasing. To provide additional psychological support to students accessing well-being services, this study aimed to pilot a mental health Web application (app) called Orpheus®.
Design/methodology/approach
Guided by student consultations, a multi-methods approach was adopted, including an examination of in-app data, chart reviews of routinely collected student information and interviews with mental health practitioners. Usage data were analysed descriptively. Changes in mental health outcomes were examined using means, standard deviations and reliable change indices for anxiety and depression scores. Inductive and deductive thematic analysis was conducted on qualitative data from staff interviews and student feedback.
Findings
A total of 26 students registered an account with 39 completed app visits. On 37 of the 39 (94.9%) occasions, students reported reductions in the intensity of unwanted negative emotions. Statistically significant reductions in the average pooled anxiety and depression scores were observed. Of the 15 students who completed pre- and post-routine outcome measures, between 20% and 60% showed reliable and meaningful symptom improvements. Students reported that the app was helpful and easy to set up and use, with no adverse events. Practitioners highlighted barriers and facilitators related to the technology features, situational contexts and individual differences.
Originality/value
Integrating Orpheus in real-world settings resulted in promising implementation processes, potential for future uptake and positive outcomes. However, ongoing research, staff training and app testing are needed to further improve the implementation processes for digital mental health interventions.
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Faye Horsley, Emily Birrell, Grace Gouldthorp, Danisha Kohli, Faith McLackland and Ellie Taylor
Research indicates that children’s early experience of fire can influence what and how they learn about fire. In turn, early fire-learning can influence how people come to use it…
Abstract
Purpose
Research indicates that children’s early experience of fire can influence what and how they learn about fire. In turn, early fire-learning can influence how people come to use it later in life, including whether they engage in maladaptive use, i.e. firesetting. Little is known about the underlying mechanisms of fire-learning, which was the basis for this study. The research question was: “how do adults educate children about fire in the UK/ Ireland”? The purpose of this study was to explore the child fire education process from an adult perspective.
Design/methodology/approach
Semi-structured interviews was conducted with 21 fire-educators who had regular contact with children. Data was analysed using abbreviated grounded theory. Steps were taken to ensure reliability and validity, including a Cohen’s Kappa calculation, indicating an agreement level of 0.9 between two raters.
Findings
Four core themes were identified: the fire narrative, enabling growth, risk management, and communication, from which the fire-learning process model (F-LPM) was formed.
Research limitations/implications
The main limitation is the nature of the sample, in that it was diverse and self-selecting.
Practical implications
The findings are discussed, including how they offer support for social learning theory (SLT) perspectives on fire-learning.
Social implications
The social construction of fire (i.e. the way fire is viewed by society as a whole in the UK/ Ireland) is discussed in depth, and cultural variability is highlighted. Suggestions are made for how the societal view of fire and, consequently, how adults convey this to young people, could be better balanced.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study in the UK/ Ireland to consider how adults educate young people about fire from a concurrent perspective. This is important given that research indicates early experiences of fire can impact how people later go on to use it (including maladaptive use in the form of firesetting).
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‘Countrymindedness’ is a resonant but perhaps manufactured term, given wide currency in a 1985 article by political scientist and historian Don Aitkin in the Annual, Australian…
Abstract
‘Countrymindedness’ is a resonant but perhaps manufactured term, given wide currency in a 1985 article by political scientist and historian Don Aitkin in the Annual, Australian Cultural History. Political ideology was his focus, as he charted the rise and fall ‐ from the late nineteenth century to around the 1970s ‐ of some ideological preconceptions of the Australian Country Party. These were physiocratic, populist, and decentralist ‐ physiocratic meaning, broadly, the rural way is best. Aitkin claimed the word was used in Country Party circles in the 1920s and 1930s, but gave no examples. Since the word is in no dictionary of Australian usage, or the Oxford Dictionary, coinage may be more recent. No matter. Countrymindedness is a richly evocative word, useful in analysing rural populism during the last Australian century. I suggest it can usefully be extended to analyzing aspects of the inner history of Euro‐settlement in recent centuries.
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Psychological research on fire has focussed primarily on its misuse in the form of arson and firesetting, which reflects a tradition in forensic psychology for focussing on risk…
Abstract
Purpose
Psychological research on fire has focussed primarily on its misuse in the form of arson and firesetting, which reflects a tradition in forensic psychology for focussing on risk and pathological behaviour. However, this is inconsistent with the strengths-based approach because it fails to account for positive aspects of fire and law-abiding/ healthy interactions with fire. This study aims to explore the psychology of non-criminalised forms of fire use. It is predicated on a novel, dimensional, conceptualisation of fire-related behaviour – the continuum of fire use (CoFU; Horsley, 2020, 2021).
Design/methodology/approach
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 adults who use fire in law-abiding forms. Data were analysed using techniques informed by grounded theory. Steps were taken to ensure reliability and validity, including a Cohen’s Kappa calculation, which indicated an agreement level of 0.8 between two raters.
Findings
Four core themes were identified relating to the benefits of fire on psychological well-being, namely, immediate gratification; hope and empowerment; self-concept and emotional security.
Research limitations/implications
Drawing on findings from this study, a theoretical framework of the psychology of non-criminalised fire use is presented. This is a preliminary conceptualisation and more work is needed to address this under-researched topic.
Practical implications
The findings can inform the work of forensic practitioners. They highlight the importance of considering service users' positive interactions with fire, alongside maladaptive/ criminal use. This has implications for the assessment of fire setters, as well as rehabilitative approaches.
Social implications
It is argued in this paper that a society-wide approach is key to firesetting reduction. More specifically, findings can inform the development and refinement of early intervention programmes, which focus on supporting young people to develop a healthy relationship with fire.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to explore the psychology of non-criminalised forms of fire use. It is predicated on a novel, dimensional, conceptualisation of fire-related behaviour – the continuum of fire use (CoFU; Horsley, 2020, 2021a, 2021b).
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Faye X. Zhu, Walter Wymer and Injazz Chen
This paper explores the impact of information technology (IT) on service quality in the consumer‐banking sector. It proposes a service quality model that links customer perceived…
Abstract
This paper explores the impact of information technology (IT) on service quality in the consumer‐banking sector. It proposes a service quality model that links customer perceived IT‐based service options to traditional service dimensions as measured by SERVQUAL in the context of customer perceived service quality and customer satisfaction. The model also incorporates several variables affecting customers’ perceptions of IT‐based services, and was tested by a structural equation modeling approach using sample data collected from retail bank customers. The results indicate that IT‐based services have a direct impact on the SERVQUAL dimensions and an indirect impact on customer perceived service quality and customer satisfaction. The analyses also show that customers’ evaluations of IT‐based services are affected by their preference towards traditional services, experiences in using IT‐based services, and perceived IT policies.
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Sampa Chisumbe, Clinton Ohis Aigbavboa, Erastus Mwanaumo and Wellington Didibhuku Thwala
Mostaque A. Zebal and Faye Hall Jackson
The purpose of this paper is to explore and identify the cues that shape the purchase of local retail apparel clothing brands in an emerging economy. The study further develops a…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore and identify the cues that shape the purchase of local retail apparel clothing brands in an emerging economy. The study further develops a conceptual framework for the cues that shape the purchase of local retail apparel clothing brands.
Design/methodology/approach
A focus group methodology is used for data collection from the local retail clothing consumers in Bangladesh. Data collected for this study were coded and categorized using inductive reasoning methods and similar responses were identified from a prepared data matrix. The results were presented in narrative while preserving the authenticity of participant response.
Findings
Three cues were identified that shape the purchase of local retail apparel clothing brands in Bangladesh. First, consumers buy local retail apparel clothing brands due to the product authenticity (product quality, product uniqueness, apparel fittings, apparel durability, color combination, attractive design, comfortability and reasonable price). Second, consumer cosmopolitanism (urbanization of people, migration and overseas travel, and access to cable television and international channels) positively related to the purchase of local retail apparel brands in Bangladesh. Third, consumer ethnocentrism (superiority of local made brands over imported foreign brands, moral obligation for purchasing local products and patriotism) is a contributory cue responsible for the success of local retail apparel clothing brands in Bangladesh.
Originality/value
This study is a first of its kind to significantly enrich the consumer behavior literature related to local retail apparel branded companies and their implications.
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To me, diversity is a concept that evolves over time. I was born in Kunming, China. It was only when I started my doctoral study in London, I realized that diversity is so foreign…
Abstract
To me, diversity is a concept that evolves over time. I was born in Kunming, China. It was only when I started my doctoral study in London, I realized that diversity is so foreign to my culture. I left Kunming, which is in a province of the greatest ethnic diversity, when I was 1 year old and returned to Chinese societies where the Hans, the majority, shape the culture. When I was five, I moved from Shanghai to Hong Kong where I received my entire schooling.
Sampa Chisumbe, Clinton Ohis Aigbavboa, Erastus Mwanaumo and Wellington Didibhuku Thwala
Sampa Chisumbe, Clinton Ohis Aigbavboa, Erastus Mwanaumo and Wellington Didibhuku Thwala