The effects of nonstandard work schedules on workers' health: A mediating role of work‐to‐family conflict

This study examined the relationship between nonstandard work schedules, work‐to‐family conflict, and health status in the USA adult population. Based on pooled data from the 2006, 2010, and 2014 General Social Survey (N = 4,108), this study found that nonstandard work schedules were associated with poor self‐rated health and increased days of poor physical and mental health. Also, results from the causal mediation analysis indicated that the relationship between nonstandard work schedules and health status was significantly mediated by work‐to‐family conflict. These findings suggest that work‐to‐family conflict may be an important mechanism through which nonstandard work schedules affect workers' health status.     

Examining the role of sense of community: Linking local government public relationships and community-building

This study examines the relationship between factors central to community building, including local government-public relationships, sense of community, positive Word-of-Mouth (WOM) toward community, and community participation. A national survey of U.S. respondents (n?=?447) was conducted through MTurk. The results indicate that the effects of local government-public relationships on positive WOM and community participation are mediated by individuals’ sense of community. This study advances the relationship-management scholarship by demonstrating that managing government-public relationships is ineffective in community-building when a sense of community is absent. In addition, the results of this study may benefit government public relations practitioners who are interested in public engagement.     

Generalized growth curve models for longitudinal data in application to a randomized controlled trial

Growth curve analysis is beneficial in longitudinal studies, where the pattern of response variables measured repeatedly over time is of interest, yet unknown. In this article, we propose generalized growth curve models under a polynomial regression framework and offer a complete process that identifies the parsimonious growth curves for different groups of interest, as well as compares the curves. A higher order of a polynomial degree generally provides more flexible regression, yet it may suffer from the complicated and overfitted model in practice. Therefore, we employ the model selection procedure that chooses the optimal degree of a polynomial consistently. Consideration of a quadratic inference function (Qu et al., 2000) for estimation on regression parameters is addressed and estimation efficiency is improved by incorporating the within-subject correlation commonly existing in longitudinal data. In biomedical studies, it is of particular interest to compare multiple treatments and provide an effective one. We further conduct the hypothesis test that assesses the equality of the growth curves through an asymptotic chi-square test statistic. The proposed methodology is employed on a randomized controlled longitudinal dataset on depression. The effectiveness of our procedure is also confirmed with simulation studies.     

Cyberbullying,internet and SNS usage types,and perceived social support: a comparison of different age groups

This study examined the relationship between cyberbullying and perceived social support, usage of the internet, and usage of social networking services (SNS). Whereas previous research has generally focused on adolescents, the current study attempted a comparative analysis among groups of adolescents, university students, and working adults. The analysis showed a positive relationship between usage of the internet for information and cyberbullying victimization, as well as a negative relationship between the usage of SNS for reading purposes and cyberbullying perpetration and victimization. Experiences with cyberbullying as perpetrator and victim were found to be more numerous with higher numbers of online friends, while a negative relationship was observed between offline perceived social support and acts of cyberbullying. For the adolescent group, acts of cyberbullying were more common with less reading of SNS. For university students, a positive relationship was found between perceived social support and acts of perpetration and victimization. For working individuals, acts of perpetration and victimization were found to be more common with larger numbers of online and offline friends. In all three groups, a negative relationship was found between acts of cyberbullying and offline perceived support. Theoretical and managerial implications as well as directions for future research are discussed.     

Change detection in the mean of a white Gaussian process by the backward standardized sum

A statistical method for detection of a change in the mean of a white Gaussian noise process is developed in this paper. The decision function of the method searches for the maximum of the backward standardized sum in a moving window to detect the change. Statistical properties of the decision function are derived to set the detection threshold. The derivation of the mean delay function and the optimal size of the moving window is also presented. The performance of the proposed method is compared, in terms of the mean delay for the detection, with that of the exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA). The mean delays of the cumulative sum control charts are also compared for benchmarking. The performance comparison is carried out by evaluating the average run length functions and by simulations. The results conclude that the mean detection delay of the proposed method is shorter than that of the standard EWMA for the same Type I error probability.     

Bullying victimization,negative emotions,and substance use: utilizing general strain theory to examine the undesirable outcomes of childhood bullying victimization in adolescence and young adulthood

Bullying victimization has been directly associated with a variety of negative outcomes, but there are still many unknowns as to how deleterious emotional states resulting from victimization influence other undesirable events. The current study draws on Agnew’s general strain theory to examine multiple outcomes of youth victimized by repeated bullying prior to adolescence. Data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 were used to examine indicators of diminished moods and negative emotions on substance use for bullying victims in adolescence and again during young adulthood. Findings from various LISERL models indicate that bullying victimization directly increases diminished moods for males and females in adolescence. Additionally, childhood bullying victimization directly increases substance use in adolescence and young adulthood for males but not females. Finally, diminished moods in adolescence and negative emotions in young adulthood increase substance use for females but not for males. Policy implications and limitations for this analysis are discussed.     

Does diversity matter? exploring workforce diversity,diversity management,and organizational performance in social enterprises

This study explores the dynamics of workforce diversity, diversity management, and organizational performance in social enterprises. Semi‐structured in‐depth interviews were conducted with 14 individuals working in the social enterprise sector in Los Angeles, California, including both top management and regular employees. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis rooted in grounded theory. Overall, high levels of diversity in gender, race/ethnicity, education, and sexual orientation were identified in social enterprises, while low levels of age and value diversity were found. Workforce diversity and diversity management were reported to be crucial factors that positively influence organizational performance. Although interviewees considered diversity management to play an important role in promoting organizational performance, they were less likely to implement diversity management themselves. By providing important insights into workforce diversity, diversity management, and organizational performance in social enterprises, this study contributes to an understanding of the dynamics and provides suggestions for sustainability in social enterprises.     

Diversity‐related employee attitudes and perceptions in Bangladesh: A case study on the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee

Bangladesh is perceived as homogenous, often resulting in hidden discrimination for those considered to belong to minority groups. Little research has been conducted on the characteristics of diversity as predictors of work attitude and behavior in relation to organizational commitment and job performance in Bangladesh. This study examines conditions in a leading international, non‐governmental development organization, the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC). The purpose of this study is to explore employees' perceptions and work attitudes and how these relate to organizational commitment and job performance. A phenomenological research strategy was used to understand the unique culture of Bangladesh and workplace diversity at BRAC. Data was collected through in‐depth interviews with BRAC employees currently working in the head office, using a purposive, convenient sampling method. Both positive and negative feelings and perceptions were revealed: positive factors include gender sensitivity in the workplace, positive organizational support, organizational goodwill, organizational culture, and longer tenure and seniority; negative factors include job insecurity, dissatisfaction with salary grades and gaps, promotions, and issues pertaining to disabilities, ethnicity, and supervisors' evaluations. These results have implications for organizational and governmental policy.     

Perceived Usefulness and Easiness of Information and Communication Technologies and Volunteering among Older Adults

ABSTRACT

This study investigates the association between older adults’ perception of usefulness and easiness (PUE) of Information Communication and Technologies (ICTs) and volunteering, and if this association differs across their income status. Data were obtained from the 2012 wave of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), and the sample was restricted to respondents aged between 60 and 84 (N = 901) and who completed the 2012 HRS technology module. Multinomial logistic regression was employed to examine the independent and joint influence of PUE of ICTs and of low-income status on volunteering. The results show that only people with high PUE engaged in more than 100 hours of volunteering among older adults after controlling for covariates. The positive effect of high PUE was found to be more significant in the low-income group. This is the first known research to investigate the PUE of ICTs and volunteering among older adults. This study expands the knowledge of volunteering among older adults by exploring ICTs which can be considered as one of the most influential macrosocial changes in the current society. Moreover, our findings provide some insights and an empirical foundation in volunteering programs for older adults of different PUE levels.     

Disparities in Access to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Retailers Over Time and Space

Population Research and Policy Review - The largest public assistance program in the United States, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), relies on private retailers for program...