scholarly journals Using Structural Equation Modeling to Assess the Links between Tobacco Smoke Exposure, Volatile Organic Compounds, and Respiratory Function for Adolescents Aged 6 to 18 in the United States

Author(s):  
Bonnie Shook-Sa ◽  
Ding-Geng Chen ◽  
Haibo Zhou
Vaccines ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 582 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kendall Pogue ◽  
Jamie L. Jensen ◽  
Carter K. Stancil ◽  
Daniel G. Ferguson ◽  
Savannah J. Hughes ◽  
...  

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage the world, with the United States being highly affected. A vaccine provides the best hope for a permanent solution to controlling the pandemic. However, to be effective, a vaccine must be accepted and used by a large majority of the population. The aim of this study was to understand the attitudes towards and obstacles facing vaccination with a potential COVID-19 vaccine. To measure these attitudes a survey was administered to 316 respondents across the United States by a survey corporation. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the relationships of several factors with attitudes toward potential COVID-19 vaccination. Prior vaccine usage and attitudes predicted attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination. Assessment of the severity of COVID-19 for the United States was also predictive. Approximately 68% of all respondents were supportive of being vaccinated for COVID-19, but side effects, efficacy and length of testing remained concerns. Longer testing, increased efficacy and development in the United States were significantly associated with increased vaccine acceptance. Messages promoting COVID-19 vaccination should seek to alleviate the concerns of those who are already vaccine-hesitant. Messaging directed at the benefits of vaccination for the United States as a country would address the second predictive factor. Enough time should be taken to allay concerns about both short- and long-term side effects before a vaccine is released.


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 477-490
Author(s):  
Bryan A. Kutner ◽  
Jane M. Simoni ◽  
Kevin M. King ◽  
Steven M. Goodreau ◽  
Andrea Norcini Pala ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Fuad A. A. Awwad

This article examines the necessary skills that students need as they graduate and enter the labor market, such as effective communication, relationship building and teamwork, leadership and management, and creative and critical thinking, among others. Some debate exists over the level at which college students develop their employability skills and the degree to which higher education institutions are effective at preparing their students to meet labor market requirements. Therefore, to offer additional insights into the debate, this study investigates the perceptions of College of Business Administration (CBA) students in the United States of their employability skills and how they developed those skills. Using a Likert-scale survey, 303 student-participants self-reported their skill levels in different employability skill competency areas. Confirmatory factor analysis was one of the structural equation modeling techniques used to explore and measure the skills that undergraduate students needed for employment. In the United States, higher education has become more expensive and students are graduating with considerable debt. Therefore, higher education institutions must be willing to address the issue of employability after graduation and find new and improved ways to develop their students’ ES, such that abilities to conceptualize that had the strongest influence on employment.


2021 ◽  
pp. 009385482199351
Author(s):  
Molly Mccarthy ◽  
Rick Trinkner ◽  
Phillip Atiba Goff

Recent research in the United States has argued that the threat of confirming the “racist cop” stereotype may paradoxically increase the propensity for coercive policing by depressing officers’ self-legitimacy. The current study aimed to assess the influence of the threat of the “racist cop” stereotype on officers’ self-legitimacy and their attitudes toward force in an Australian policing jurisdiction. An online survey was completed by 306 frontline officers in Queensland, Australia. Structural equation modeling was used to assess the influence of stereotype threat on officers’ attitudes toward force, and the extent to which this is mediated by perceptions of self-legitimacy. The findings confirmed previous findings, with increased officer perceptions of stereotype threat associated with increased support for coercive policing, mediated by reduced self-legitimacy. The findings are discussed with reference to how the validity and salience of the “racist cop” stereotype can be diminished.


2016 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 688-702 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelsey L. Autin ◽  
Blake A. Allan ◽  
Meenakshi Palaniappan ◽  
Ryan D. Duffy

The present study examined the cross-cultural validity of instruments used to assess the experience of searching for, having, and living out a calling. Using a sample of 336 Americans and 327 Indians, we used structural equation modeling to assess measurement invariance of three common scales used to measure calling: the Calling and Vocation Questionnaire (CVQ), the Brief Calling Scale, and the Living Calling Scale. Results showed partial measurement equivalence for the presence scale of the CVQ, indicating that it may be a valid measurement of within-group differences among Indian participants. Analyses on remaining scales showed borderline support for equivalence of factor structure and failed to demonstrate validity of cross-cultural comparisons. Implications for researchers and clinical practitioners are discussed.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 91 (2) ◽  
pp. 460-463
Author(s):  
David E. Nelson ◽  
Jeffrey J. Sacks ◽  
David G. Addiss

The authors analyzed data from a national survey of 2003 directors of licensed child day-care centers to determine employee smoking policies, measure compliance with state and local employee smoking regulations for child day-care centers and state clean indoor air laws, and to estimate the extent of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke in these settings. Forty states regulated employee smoking in child day-care centers, but only three states required day-care centers to be smoke-free indoors. More than 99% of licensed child day-care centers had employee smoking policies that complied with the appropriate state or local smoking regulations. Nearly 55% of centers were smoke-free indoors and outdoors, and 26% were smoke-free indoors only. The best predictors of more stringent employee smoking policies were location in the West or South, smaller size, independent ownership, or having written smoking policies. Despite the presence of strong smoking policies at the majority of licensed child day-care centers, more than 752000 children in the United States are at risk for environmental tobacco smoke exposure in these settings. Health care professionals and parents should insist that child day-care centers be smoke-free indoors and, preferably, smoke-free indoors and outdoors.


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