Carlota Quintal and Joana Oliveira
The purpose of this paper is to assess the association between socioeconomic status and child overweight/obesity in Portugal and to evaluate income-related inequalities in its…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to assess the association between socioeconomic status and child overweight/obesity in Portugal and to evaluate income-related inequalities in its distribution.
Design/methodology/approach
Data come from the last Portuguese National Health Survey (2005/2006) – sample of 6,903 observations. To define child overweight/obesity, the International Obesity Task Force cut-offs for body mass index (BMI) were used; the logistic regression analysis was adopted to explain the risk of overweight/obesity and inequality was measured by means of concentration curve and index.
Findings
The evidence obtained points to income-related inequalities in child overweight/obesity favourable to the better-off. The probability of child overweight/obesity was lower for higher income households, but up to a certain point a positive association between income and caloric food intake was found. The concentration index obtained was −0.072 (p-value<0.001).
Research limitations/implications
Some data limitations, no information on: physical exercise; sleeping habits; parents’ education and BMI; age is coded in groups. Although the data are from 2005/2006, the current analysis is useful to future works aiming to discuss the impact of the economic and financial crisis which occurred after these data were collected.
Social implications
It is important to tailor policies targeting child obesity/overweight in order to tackle not only the prevalence of this disease but also its distribution.
Originality/value
Drawing attention on inequalities in child obesity/overweight in Portugal as the vast majority of studies have focussed on prevalence. The middle income effect is an issue raised in this work which deserves further investigation.
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Joana Morgado Oliveira and Carlos F. Gomes
This study explores how excellence models can leverage digital transformation on the path to sustainable development in organisations.
Abstract
Purpose
This study explores how excellence models can leverage digital transformation on the path to sustainable development in organisations.
Design/methodology/approach
A survey was used to study the different facets of digital capabilities and their impact on sustainable development success of organisations holding an external recognition from the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM). Partial Least Squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) combined with Necessary Condition Analysis (NCA) were used to analyse data.
Findings
Internalising excellence practices is decisive in mediating effective digital capabilities to achieve sustainable development. To achieve high levels of sustainable development success, organisations must achieve high levels of excellence practices internalisation, which are much more important than the excellence model external recognition.
Research limitations/implications
This study addresses essential issues with theoretical and practical value but is limited to a sample of organisations with EFQM recognition in two countries. Future studies should address different organisations and cultural environments.
Practical implications
The findings are relevant for organisations facing digital transformation and sustainable development challenges. They are essential for managers leveraging digital capabilities to capitalise on practices and processes and achieve Sustainable Development Goals. Organisations can benefit from a multidimensional approach to digital capabilities when struggling against external challenges.
Originality/value
This study closes a research gap regarding the impact of digital capabilities on sustainable development success. It is the first empirical study to combine sufficiency and necessity conditions analyses to explore the mediating role of excellence practices internalisation and one of the first to address digital capabilities from a multidimensional perspective.
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Pedro Nascimento, Tiago Oliveira and Joana Neves
In the 21st century, excessive use of hedonic information systems (HIS) has become commonplace, making HIS use reduction a more viable option for many users than complete…
Abstract
Purpose
In the 21st century, excessive use of hedonic information systems (HIS) has become commonplace, making HIS use reduction a more viable option for many users than complete discontinuation. Even so, there is no systematic revision on this matter. This systematic literature review aims to examine previous studies on HIS use reduction, identify their limitations and point out future research directions.
Design/methodology/approach
We adhered to the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, ultimately analyzing 52 papers published between 2010 and 2024, with the majority disseminated after 2021.
Findings
The primary findings indicate a gradual shift from focusing on internet research to exploring social networking sites, with consistent attention on gaming and mobile device usage. Moreover, there is notable diversity in the theoretical foundations of scholarly research in this area as well as in the antecedents, consequences and control factors. Additionally, factors such as awareness, social norms, fatigue, privacy concerns and self-efficacy play the most significant roles in reducing the use of HIS. Finally, this article identifies gaps and opportunities in the field and employs science mapping to uncover the four predominant themes that form the basis of this research domain.
Originality/value
As far as we know, this article marks the inaugural comprehensive systematic review of current research on reducing HIS use, intending to make a dual impact. Initially, the authors meticulously outline HIS use reduction systematically and thoroughly, offering theoretical insights. Second, they delve into potential research areas and contributions concerning this phenomenon to address the gap in understanding the effects of reducing HIS usage on individuals.
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Thalles de Freitas Castro, Simone Fátima Gomes, Fernanda Cacilda dos Santos Silva, Fernando Luiz Pereira de Oliveira, Joana Ferreira do Amaral, Helena Dória Ribeiro de Andrade Previato, Renata Nascimento de Freitas and Ana Carolina Pinheiro Volp
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of acai pulp consumption on biometric parameters and inflammatory biomarkers (sCD40L, CCL5, TNF-a and CRP) in apparently…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of acai pulp consumption on biometric parameters and inflammatory biomarkers (sCD40L, CCL5, TNF-a and CRP) in apparently healthy women.
Design/methodology/approach
Nutritional intervention was performed with women who consumed 200 g of acai pulp daily during 30 consecutive days. Firstly, they were divided into two groups: normal weight and overweight related to BMI. Then, such volunteers were subdivided into other two groups according to values below or above the median of sCD40L.
Findings
sCD40L (ρg/mL) concentrations increased in overweight volunteers post-consumption of acai (964 ± 542) compared with the same volunteers pre-consumption of acai (633 ± 187, p = 0.03), and the CCL5 concentrations (ρg/mL) decreased in volunteers with sCD40L concentrations below median after the treatment (4.1 ± 1.5) when compared in same volunteers before the treatment (5.8 ± 1.8, p = 0.02). Protein consumption (g) reduced in volunteers with sCD40L concentrations below median after the intervention (96.6 ± 44.5), when compared before the intervention (96.7 ± 33.8, p = 0.03).
Originality/value
This paper concluded that the acai consumption can modulate the inflammatory profile in both stratified volunteers according to the BMI and the sCD40L marker median.
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Pedro Nascimento, Tiago Oliveira and Joana Neves
This investigation delves into the elements influencing social networking sites (SNS) use reduction behavior through the lens of the cognitive-affective (CA) model to understand…
Abstract
Purpose
This investigation delves into the elements influencing social networking sites (SNS) use reduction behavior through the lens of the cognitive-affective (CA) model to understand the driving forces behind the decline in SNS use.
Design/methodology/approach
Following the CA model, this research introduces a theoretical framework that integrates the emotions of regret and guilt along with the principles of cognitive dissonance theory. The proposed theoretical framework was subjected to empirical validation, utilizing 453 responses gathered from Instagram users.
Findings
The results suggest that the emotions of regret and guilt have a favorable impact on users’ intention to decrease their SNS usage, with cognitive dissonance exerting an indirect positive influence through these emotions. Additionally, further examination unveils that fear moderates the connection between users’ SNS addiction and the CA components.
Research limitations/implications
Additional cognitive and affective responses may influence the intricate relation between SNS addiction and SNS use reduction intention.
Originality/value
This research contributes to the existing body of knowledge on the information system use lifecycle by examining shifts in user behavior, notably the transition from excessive use to the adoption of use reduction strategies. Furthermore, it sheds light on the intricate role of cognitive dissonance in elucidating the intention to reduce SNS use from the perspective of the CA model. Additionally, this study advances our current understanding of how the fear of negative consequences arising from excessive usage plays a role as a moderating factor in elucidating the underlying internal factors related to reducing SNS usage.
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Barbara de Lima Voss, David Bernard Carter and Bruno Meirelles Salotti
We present a critical literature review debating Brazilian research on social and environmental accounting (SEA). The aim of this study is to understand the role of politics in…
Abstract
We present a critical literature review debating Brazilian research on social and environmental accounting (SEA). The aim of this study is to understand the role of politics in the construction of hegemonies in SEA research in Brazil. In particular, we examine the role of hegemony in relation to the co-option of SEA literature and sustainability in the Brazilian context by the logic of development for economic growth in emerging economies. The methodological approach adopts a post-structural perspective that reflects Laclau and Mouffe’s discourse theory. The study employs a hermeneutical, rhetorical approach to understand and classify 352 Brazilian research articles on SEA. We employ Brown and Fraser’s (2006) categorizations of SEA literature to help in our analysis: the business case, the stakeholder–accountability approach, and the critical case. We argue that the business case is prominent in Brazilian studies. Second-stage analysis suggests that the major themes under discussion include measurement, consulting, and descriptive approach. We argue that these themes illustrate the degree of influence of the hegemonic politics relevant to emerging economics, as these themes predominantly concern economic growth and a capitalist context. This paper discusses trends and practices in the Brazilian literature on SEA and argues that the focus means that SEA avoids critical debates of the role of capitalist logics in an emerging economy concerning sustainability. We urge the Brazilian academy to understand the implications of its reifying agenda and engage, counter-hegemonically, in a social and political agenda beyond the hegemonic support of a particular set of capitalist interests.
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Joana Bessa Topa, Conceição Oliveira Nogueira and Sofia Antunes Neves
Despite the high prevalence of immigrant women at the national level, studies on migration have been indifferent to the gender perspective. The purpose of this paper is to discuss…
Abstract
Purpose
Despite the high prevalence of immigrant women at the national level, studies on migration have been indifferent to the gender perspective. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the engagement of Ukrainian immigrant women, one of the most expressive nationalities of female immigration in Portugal, on maternal and child healthcare services, exploring their perceptions and experiences in these contexts.
Design/methodology/approach
On the basis of critical and social constructionism assumptions, this research focusses on discourse. Assuming that immigrant women have access to different resources, as well as different competences to interpret and intervene within the context they are in (Topa et al., 2010; UNFPA, 2006), the best method to deeply understand their experiences was to analyse how discourse is organized and how it creates and produces meanings that become practices (Nogueira, 2001a). The present study adopted a qualitative methodology for collecting (semi-structured interviews) and analysing the data (thematic analysis) and was based on discourses of ten Ukrainian women, living in the metropolitan area of Oporto, who were pregnant or were mothers in Portugal.
Findings
Ukrainian women were misinformed about their legal rights and free access to maternal health services. Some dissatisfaction emerges among them with regard to the quality of information provided by health professionals and their communication skills. Their opinion is that they are given limited access to medical specialties, especially in primary care and that their doubts are inappropriately clarified during medical appointments.
Originality/value
This research also argues that cultural and intersectional considerations are fundamental to promote inclusive health policies for immigrants.
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Elisabete Neves, Vítor Oliveira, Joana Leite and Carla Henriques
This paper aims to better understand if speculative activity is a factor or even the main factor in the run-up of oil prices in the spot market, particularly in the recent price…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to better understand if speculative activity is a factor or even the main factor in the run-up of oil prices in the spot market, particularly in the recent price bubble that occurred in the period from mid-2003 to 2008.
Design/methodology/approach
The methodology used is based on an existing vector autoregressive model proposed by Kilian and Murphy (2014), which is a structural model of the global market for crude oil that accounts for flow demand and flow supply shocks and speculative demand oil shocks.
Findings
From the output of the authors’ structural model, the authors ruled out speculation as a factor of rising oil prices. The authors have found instead that the rapid oil demand caused by an unexpected increase in the global business cycle is the most accurate culprit. Despite the change of perspective in the speculative component, the authors’ conclusions concur with the findings of Kilian and Murphy (2014) and others.
Originality/value
As far as the authors are aware, this is the first time that a study has used as a spread oil variable, a speculative component of the real price, replacing the oil inventories considered by Kilian and Murphy (2014). Another contribution is that the model used allows estimating traditional oil demand elasticity in production and oil supply elasticity in spread movements, casting doubt on existing models with perfect price-inelastic output for crude oil.
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Célia Sampaio, Maria do Céu Taveira, Joana Soares and Ana Daniela Silva
Success in the transition between the university and the labor market is an important indicator of the adaptation of newly graduates to the worker’s role in life. This study aims…
Abstract
Purpose
Success in the transition between the university and the labor market is an important indicator of the adaptation of newly graduates to the worker’s role in life. This study aims to describe the validity and reliability of the University-to-Work Success Scale based on its internal structure and relationship with measures of career success, protean career orientation and life satisfaction in newly Portuguese graduates.
Design/methodology/approach
Using an online protocol, responses were collected from 576 graduates for less than twelve months (74.1% women), aged between 20 and 64 years (M = 25.8, SD = 6.693). Instruments included a socio-demographic questionnaire and measures of transition success, career success and life satisfaction.
Findings
The internal structure of the scale was evaluated through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses that supported a four-factor hierarchical structure with a good fit. The reliability of the factors evaluated by Cronbach’s Alpha was satisfactory. The scale consists of 29 items divided into four subscales (professional insertion and satisfaction, confidence in the future of career, income and financial independence and adaptation to work).
Practical implications
These results support the use of the scale as a valid and reliable measure to assess success in the transition between university and the labor market in newly Portuguese graduates.
Originality/value
This study is very important because this measure can serve as a basis for both preventive and corrective career interventions and policies. The preventive approach can help graduates in their transition to the labor market by promoting career resources. The corrective approach can include re-evaluating organizational integration practices after employment, with an emphasis on promoting gender equality.
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Joana Neves, Ofir Turel and Tiago Oliveira
While social networking sites (SNS) have many positive aspects, they can have several adverse outcomes, among which privacy violations are a vital concern. The authors first posit…
Abstract
Purpose
While social networking sites (SNS) have many positive aspects, they can have several adverse outcomes, among which privacy violations are a vital concern. The authors first posit that concerns regarding privacy violations can drive attempts to reduce SNS use. Next, the authors note that these violations can have two sources: peers and the social media provider. Thus, there is a need to understand how this complex system of privacy concerns affects use reduction decisions. To do so, this paper aims to examine the separate and joint roles of institutional and peer privacy concerns in driving SNS use reduction.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on privacy calculus theory, the authors propose a theoretical model to explain SNS use reduction, with institutional and peer privacy concerns as independent variables. The authors empirically examine the research model using a sample of 258 SNS users.
Findings
This study reveals that institutional and peer privacy concerns independently increase one's intention to reduce SNS use and that institutional privacy concern strengthen the relation between peer privacy concern and the intention to reduce SNS use.
Originality/value
Research thus far has not examined how the two facets of privacy work in tandem to affect 'users' decisions to change their behaviors on SNS platforms. Considering the unique and joint effect of these facets can thus provide a more precise and realistic perspective. This paper informs theories and models of privacy and online user behavior change.