Towards a better understanding of socially responsible behavior among young Saudi Arabians: The case of energy saving

Energy consumption in Saudi Arabia is still almost three times the world average today, and the government is seeking to instill a culture of energy saving in the rising generation. Our research's main objective is to expose young people's explanatory attitude antecedents towards energy saving. Indeed, with reference to the current global context of dwindling resources, it is relevant to identify the levers of action to guide consumers towards socially responsible behavior. A quantitative study among 217 young Saudi Arabians and modeling structural equations highlighted the significant impact of subjective norms, cognitions resulting from awareness campaigns as well as the power of habits and the need to preserve comfort. This research has important implications for a country orienting its strategies towards greater social responsibility.

BUILDING IDENTITY IN GLOBAL REALITY: A POSTCOLONIAL STUDY ON RAJAA ALSANEA'S BANAT AR-RIYADH

This study aims to examine the novel Banaat ar-Riyadh (Girls of Riyadh) from the perspective of globalization using a postcolonial approach. This novel was written by Rajaa Alsanea, a Riyadhi girl who moved to the United States of America and then published her novel in Lebanon. The novel was written in the form of a series of electronic mails sent by four young Riyadhi girls who discuss the contestation between traditional Saudi Arabian norms and American norms. Fittingly, this study uses postcolonial theory, with the theoretical framework of globalization as a basis for investigating the aspects identified in the theory, such as mimicry, inferiority, and hybridity, and applies deductive qualitative method from a globalization perspective. The results of this study indicate the influence of American culture on the lives of Saudi Arabians. The influence of American culture is obtained through Saudi people, both men and women, who study and work in the United States. It is the relationship between Arab culture and American culture that influences the Arab way of thinking, which leads to certain behavioral changes. Some Arabs, previously compliant to their traditional values, display behavorial changes that are inspired by Americans, especially American women. Arab women who are supposed to constantly obey state rules, want changes which they adopt from American culture. Penelitian ini bertujuan meneliti novel Banaat ar-Riyadh dari perspektif globalisasi dengan mengambil pendekatan poskolonial. Novel ini ditulis oleh Rajaa Alsanea, seorang gadis Riyadh yang pindah ke Amerika Serikat lalu menerbitkan novelnya di Lebanon. Novel ini berbentuk rangkaian surat elektronik yang dikirimkan oleh empat sekawan gadis-gadis Riyadh yang membicarakan kontestasi antara norma-norma tradisional Arab Saudi dengan norma-norma Amerika Serikat. Oleh karena itu, penelitian ini menggunakan teori poskolonial, serta globalisasi sebagai landasan untuk melihat aspek-aspek yang dikemukakan dalam teori tersebut, yaitu mimikri, inferioritas, dan hibriditas, dengan metode deduktif kualitatif yang ditempatkan dalam perspektif globalisasi. Hasil dari penelitian ini menunjukkan adanya pengaruh budaya Amerika pada tata kehidupan sebagian orang Arab Saudi. Pengaruh budaya Amerika itu diperoleh melalui orang-orang Arab Saudi, baik laki-laki maupun perempuan, yang menempuh studi dan bekerja di Amerika. Keterhubungan antara budaya Arab dengan budaya Amerika inilah yang memengaruhi pemikiran orang Arab, yang kemudian berdampak pada perubahan perilaku. Orang Arab yang semula berpegang teguh pada aturan-aturan tradisi kemudian menginginkan perubahan-perubahan yang mengarah pada pada perilaku orang Amerika yang mereka lihat, terutama pada perempuan. Perempuan Arab, yang diharuskan patuh pada aturan-aturan yang dibuat oleh negara, menginginkan perubahan-perubahan dengan mengadopsi budaya Amerika.

Sex and Culture Differences in Cultural Intelligence: A Study Comparing Saudi Arabians and Egyptians

Cultural Intelligence (CI) refers to the motivation and ability to understand and deal with cultural differences. As such, it is assumed to play a role in the effectiveness of social contact and communication between people from different cultures. Given its relevance to international relations, it is imperative to test which individual and group factors are associated with CI. Therefore, in the present study we examine cross-cultural and gender differences in CI. In one of their classes at their university, students ( N = 829) from Egypt and Saudi Arabia completed a multidimensional measure of CI. The results showed an interesting pattern of interactions between country and gender, which indicated that Egyptian men did not significantly differ from co-national women, but Saudi men scored significantly lower than women. We suggest that the different patterns of results in the two countries may partly arise from different levels of exposure to different cultures and partly from subtle differences in the constitution of the samples. Knowledge of individual and group differences in cultural intelligence may potentially contribute to explaining differential levels of success in individuals or countries in dealing with cultural differences.

Comparative Occurrence of TLR3 and TLR7 Polymorphisms among Healthy Individual of Various Population

Background: Toll-like receptors (TLRs) act as mediators of an innate immune response to infectious agents. The risk for chronic infection and the development of cancer can be potentially influenced by the genetic variations in the TLR genes. TLR3 and TLR7 genes have been associated with susceptibility to several infections and immune diseases. Human population is very diverse. There are significant variations in the TLR3 and TLR7 polymorphisms among ethnic groups. Variations within the population are associated with the disease outcome. Hence, we aimed to compare the occurrence of TLR3 (rs5743312 C/T, rs3775296 C/A, and rs3775291 C/T) and TLR7 (rs179009 and rs179008) polymorphisms among healthy individuals of various populations. Method: Genotyping TLR3 (rs5743312 C/T, rs3775296 C/A, and rs3775291 C/T) and TLR7 (rs179009 and rs179008) polymorphisms were done in 158 healthy controls from Western India by utilization of PCR-RFLP. Result: In our study population, the prevalence of TLR3 rs5743312 CC, CT, and TT genotypes were found to be 67.1%, 31.0%, and 1.9%, respectively, whereas genotype distribution of rs3775296 C/A polymorphism was 65.2%, 31.6%, and 3.2%, respectively, and rs3775291C/T was 59.5%, 32.3% and 8.2%, respectively. The occurrence of TLR7 rs179008AA, rs179008AT, rs179008TT genotypes and rs179008A, rs179008T alleles in the healthy individuals were found to be 81.0%, 16.5%, 2.5% and 89.24%, 10.75%, respectively. The prevalence of TLR7 rs179009AA, rs179009AG, rs179009GG genotypes and rs179009A, rs179009G alleles in healthy individuals were 63.3%, 29.1%, 7.6% and 63.3%, 36.7%, respectively. The frequency of TLR7 polymorphism was compared with Italian, Asian, European, African, German, and France populations. The frequency of TLR3 polymorphism was compared with Asians, Caucasians, Taiwanese, Caucasians and Saudi Arabians, Poland, Taiwanese, Italy, Taiwan, Estonia, Asia, and the Caucasus. The inter-population differences were observed in the distribution of TLR3 and TLR7 polymorphisms. Conclusion: The prevalence of TLR3 and TLR7 polymorphisms suggested that genotype-phenotype studies should be conducted among population to address the innate immune responses against pathogens.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) toward the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic in a Saudi Population-Based Survey

Background: The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has affected all regions and countries with varying impacts based on infection rates and the associated fatalities. This study aimed to assess knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) toward the COVID-19 pandemic among Saudi Arabians. Methods: The study utilized a cross-sectional research design. Web-based questionnaires’ link was sent via emails and social media and sample was 5483 respondents. Purposive sampling ensured only those participants that met the inclusion criteria. Validity and reliability were checked. Results: Most respondents, 67.9%, were aged between 18 and 35 years and highest level of education university. The findings based on the study objectives indicated a high level of knowledge about COVID-19, which indicated early detection can improve treatment by 4701 (85.7%), the disease can be treated at home 84.6%, the disease can be prevented and avoided when precautions are taken 96.8%. Moreover, 37.2% of the respondents still used herbal products to prevent and treat the disease, and 72.1% indicating immediate visit the physician when there are symptoms. Conclusion: Promoting public knowledge about COVID-19 by the Ministry of Health is paramount in defeating this disease. Providing more education and awareness for public to comply with WHO’s recommendation is recommended.

Analysis of cultural values of young Saudi citizens towards segmentation of commercial advertisements

Advertisement, being one of the most effective marketing tools, induces customers to purchase their products and encourages them to behave in a certain way. This study focused on the relationship between demographic and cultural values of young Saudi Arabians. Primary data was collected from a total of 284 respondents from the Riyadh region using an online survey. The survey questionnaire was adopted from previous relevant studies and modified according to the objectives of the understudy by considering the cultural values apparent to Saudi citizens. The corresponding sub-items were also designed on a 5-point Likert scale. Based on the theoretical aspects presented in the literature, the hypotheses were formulated to find the substantial contributions of the sample data. The correlation using SPSS revealed that gender and marital status had no relation to the segmentation of advertisements, whereas other vital cultural factors such as religion, language, manners and customs, social institutions, aesthetics, and traditions demonstrated a strong linkage with segmenting firms’ advertisements. The study revealed important implications for international product advertisers and market communicators. It also provided several directions for future researchers.

General Introduction of the Shura Council in Saudi Arabia and Parliamentary Diplomacy

Aim: The thesis aims to evaluate the role of the Shura Council in Saudi Arabia's transition and identify if Shura Council can be a catalyst for change in the nation's foreign policy. Saudi's economy is over-relying on oil production, which increases the Kingdom's vulnerability due to uncertainties in the oil markets and other risks. Saudi's vision 2030 aims to decrease Saudi Arabia's dependence on oil and expand the Kingdom's economic resources. The vision 2030 is anchored on three pillars: solidifying the Kingdom's locus in the heart of the Arab and Islamic nations; the quest to become an international investment powerhouse; the Kingdom's strategic site with the capacity to be a hub that connects three continents Africa, Asia, and Europe.Method: The thesis adopts literature review as the main method to establish the composition and effectiveness of the Shura council its design functions.Findings: As currently constituted, the Shura council cannot freely champion effective foreign policies and regulations that support the Kingdom's goals. Shura council is fully under the kings' absolute power, denying them the opportunity to meet their democratic mandate.Concision: The Shura studies and interpret the laws, development plans, and the annual reports of Ministries and Government Sectors. Hence, the council also proposes and amend laws. As long as the Shura Council Members are still King's appointees, the political, social, and economic reforms that Saudi Arabians are eagerly waiting for will take decades to come by. Human rights violations are still evident.Recommendations: The study recommends constitutional monarchy adoption, need for human rights, and fundamental freedom laws to be upheld and allow public participation in legislative process. Strengthening the parliament's oversight roles require the Kingdom to grand Shura Council's independence granting power to partake a vote of no confidence, hearing, interpellation and make committees of inquiry where need be to help Saudi to attain vision 2030 goals.

Association of Environmental Risk Factors and Personality Traits With Risky Driving Behaviors in a Sample of Young Adults From Saudi Arabia

Road traffic accidents represent a serious problem in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), with rates of such accidents far exceeding the rates in developed nations. Even so, there remains relatively little knowledge regarding the driving behaviors among Saudi Arabians. The current study sought to address this gap in the literature by examining the environmental and trait-based contributors to risky driving behaviors among male and female drivers in the KSA. To do so, a sample of college students from a large university in the KSA was analyzed. The results revealed that delinquent peers, low levels of self-control, and higher levels of driving anger were associated with involvement in risky driving behaviors for both male and female drivers. Understanding the interconnections among peers, self-control, anger, and risky driving behaviors may provide some insight into how to reduce risky driving behaviors. Focusing on ways to reduce exposure to risk factors for risky driving behaviors may be one strategy for reducing these types of driving behaviors.

Ethnic Differences of Corneal Parameters: A Cross-Sectional Study

Purpose: To investigate the ethnic differences of corneal parameters in Arabs and other ethnicities. Methods: This study recruited 250 Saudi Arabian participants, 18–45 years of age. The McMonnies questionnaire was used to exclude participants with dry eye. The KR8800 auto refractometer (Topcon, Japan) was used to measure the refractive error. Oculus Keratograph 4 topography was used to assess 16 corneal parameters, including the k-readings, horizontal visible iris diameter, mean eccentricity index, asphericity, corneal shape factor, corneal flattening factor, sagittal height, sagittal curvature, and vertical palpebral aperture. Results: A statistically significant difference was found between male and female participants. Corneal parameters were compared to other ethnicities, including Caucasians and Asians, and those of Mongoloid origin. The horizontal visible iris diameter was wider in Saudi Arabians than in Asians but similar to Caucasians. The sagittal height was deeper and the corneal shape factor was higher than in the other ethnicities, and the eccentricity index was lower than that in Caucasians and Asians of Mongoloid origin. Conclusion: Our data provided normative corneal parameters of Saudi Arabians that may be useful for ophthalmic clinicians and designers of contact lenses. Furthermore, the parameters suggest that the corneal characteristics of Arabians are distinct from those of major ethnicities.