title: Consumer adoption of sustainable shellfish in China: Effects of psychological factors and segmentation

authors: Wang, Ou

subjects: Science & Technology

abstract: China's large and increasing demand for aquatic products has had a significant effect on the sustainability of global water ecosystems. This study explored the effects of psychological factors and segmentation on Chinese consumers' adoption of sustainable shellfish. Data were collected by using a web-based questionnaire in three Chinese cities: Beijing, Guangzhou and Chongqing (with a total sample size of 643). Descriptive analysis, cluster analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling were used for data analysis. Chinese consumers' subjective norms, personal norms, attitudes toward shellfish and attitudes toward water environment were significant psychological factors influencing their purchase intentions toward sustainable shellfish. Two consumer segments were identified: Sustainable-shellfish-pioneer (47.28%) and Sustainable-shellfish-conservative (52.72%). These two segments had significant differences in the purchase intentions for specific sustainable shellfish species, the effects of psychological factors on purchase intentions toward shellfish, and socio-demographic distributions (including income, occupation and marriage status). These first hand findings can help global shellfish producers, marketers and policy-makers to develop appropriate sustainable development strategies and policies for their shellfish resources when exploiting the huge market.

text: Consumer adoption of sustainable shellfish in China: Effects of psychological factors and segmentation China's large and increasing demand for aquatic products has had a significant effect on the sustainability of global water ecosystems. This study explored the effects of psychological factors and segmentation on Chinese consumers' adoption of sustainable shellfish. Data were collected by using a web-based questionnaire in three Chinese cities: Beijing, Guangzhou and Chongqing (with a total sample size of 643). Descriptive analysis, cluster analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling were used for data analysis. Chinese consumers' subjective norms, personal norms, attitudes toward shellfish and attitudes toward water environment were significant psychological factors influencing their purchase intentions toward sustainable shellfish. Two consumer segments were identified: Sustainable-shellfish-pioneer (47.28%) and Sustainable-shellfish-conservative (52.72%). These two segments had significant differences in the purchase intentions for specific sustainable shellfish species, the effects of psychological factors on purchase intentions toward shellfish, and socio-demographic distributions (including income, occupation and marriage status). These first hand findings can help global shellfish producers, marketers and policy-makers to develop appropriate sustainable development strategies and policies for their shellfish resources when exploiting the huge market.

year: 2019

title: How the COVID-19 pandemic affects transgender health care - A cross-sectional online survey in 63 upper-middle-income and high-income countries

authors: Koehler, Andreas

abstract: Background
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, access to medical care is restricted for nearly all non-acute conditions. Due to their status as a vulnerable social group and the inherent need for transition-related treatments, transgender people are assumed to be affected particularly severely by the restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods
As an ad hoc collaboration between researchers, clinicians and 23 community organizations, we developed a web-based survey in German that was translated into 26 languages. Participants were recruited via community sources, social media channels, and snowball sampling since May 2020. The present sample is based on the data collected until August 9, 2020. We assessed demographical data, health problems, risk factors, COVID-19 data (e.g., contact history), and the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on access to transgender health care services. To identify factors associated with the experience of restrictions, we conducted multiple logistic regression analysis.

Results
5267 transgender people from 63 upper-middle-income and high-income countries participated in the study. Over 50% of the participants had risk factors for a severe course of a COVID-19 infection and were at a high risk of avoiding COVID-19 treatment due to the fear of mistreatment or discrimination. Access to transgender health care services was restricted for 50% of the participants. Male sex assigned at birth and a lower monthly income were significant predictors for the experience of restrictions to health care. 35.0% reported at least one mental health condition and 3.2% have attempted suicide since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Discussion
Transgender people suffer under the severity of the pandemic due to the intersections between their status as a vulnerable social group, their high number of medical risk factors, and their need for ongoing medical treatment. The COVID-19 pandemic can potentiate these vulnerabilities, add new challenges for transgender people, and, therefore, can lead to devastating consequences, like severe physical or mental health issues, self-harming behavior, and suicidality.

text: How the COVID-19 pandemic affects transgender health care - A cross-sectional online survey in 63 upper-middle-income and high-income countries Background
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, access to medical care is restricted for nearly all non-acute conditions. Due to their status as a vulnerable social group and the inherent need for transition-related treatments, transgender people are assumed to be affected particularly severely by the restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods
As an ad hoc collaboration between researchers, clinicians and 23 community organizations, we developed a web-based survey in German that was translated into 26 languages. Participants were recruited via community sources, social media channels, and snowball sampling since May 2020. The present sample is based on the data collected until August 9, 2020. We assessed demographical data, health problems, risk factors, COVID-19 data (e.g., contact history), and the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on access to transgender health care services. To identify factors associated with the experience of restrictions, we conducted multiple logistic regression analysis.

Results
5267 transgender people from 63 upper-middle-income and high-income countries participated in the study. Over 50% of the participants had risk factors for a severe course of a COVID-19 infection and were at a high risk of avoiding COVID-19 treatment due to the fear of mistreatment or discrimination. Access to transgender health care services was restricted for 50% of the participants. Male sex assigned at birth and a lower monthly income were significant predictors for the experience of restrictions to health care. 35.0% reported at least one mental health condition and 3.2% have attempted suicide since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Discussion
Transgender people suffer under the severity of the pandemic due to the intersections between their status as a vulnerable social group, their high number of medical risk factors, and their need for ongoing medical treatment. The COVID-19 pandemic can potentiate these vulnerabilities, add new challenges for transgender people, and, therefore, can lead to devastating consequences, like severe physical or mental health issues, self-harming behavior, and suicidality.

year: 2021

title: Overcoming ‘Being’ in Favour of Knowledge: The fixing effect of ‘mātauranga’

authors: Mika, Carl Te Hira

subjects: knowledge

abstract: It is common to hear Māori discuss primordial states of Being, yet in colonisation those very central beliefs are forced into weaker utterances. In this process those utterances merely conform to a colonised agenda. ‘Mātauranga’, a tidy term that overwhelmingly refers to an epistemological knowing of the world, colludes nicely with its English equivalent, ‘knowledge’, to further colonise those core contemplations of Being. Its plausibility relies on an orderly regard of things in the world. In education, historical and current practices of schooling pave the way for things in the world so that they amount to mātauranga for Māori, and even the term ‘ako’ will conspire in its own way. Both Novalis and Heidegger have the ability to identify subtly colonising philosophies, and may even propose some theoretical solutions for Māori.

text: Overcoming ‘Being’ in Favour of Knowledge: The fixing effect of ‘mātauranga’ It is common to hear Māori discuss primordial states of Being, yet in colonisation those very central beliefs are forced into weaker utterances. In this process those utterances merely conform to a colonised agenda. ‘Mātauranga’, a tidy term that overwhelmingly refers to an epistemological knowing of the world, colludes nicely with its English equivalent, ‘knowledge’, to further colonise those core contemplations of Being. Its plausibility relies on an orderly regard of things in the world. In education, historical and current practices of schooling pave the way for things in the world so that they amount to mātauranga for Māori, and even the term ‘ako’ will conspire in its own way. Both Novalis and Heidegger have the ability to identify subtly colonising philosophies, and may even propose some theoretical solutions for Māori.

year: 2012