Behavioural addictions, such as compulsive buying (CB) and hoarding, are increasingly recognised in the current psychiatric nosology, particularly in developed countries. The prevalence of these ...disorders may not be static but possibly altered across different age groups. However, studies on this area are rare, and only few have focused on Chinese population. This epidemiological study employs population-based cross-sectional design and collects data in two regions, i.e., Hong Kong and Mainland China. A self-reported questionnaire is constructed based on carefully validated Chinese versions of Richmond Compulsive Buying Scale and Hoarding Rating Scale. A total of 2,439 valid samples are collected and divided into three age groups, i.e., emerging, early and middle adulthood. CB and hoarding behaviours have displayed an inverted u-shaped pattern across the above age groups. In addition, the strength of correlation between the two compulsive behaviours is consistent and maintained across different age groups. These results suggest that the compulsive behaviours vary among different stages of adulthood in major cities in China. This newly discovered pattern of compulsive disorders in Chinese population is different from those in American and European populations.
There is no previous research that has explored the correlation between compulsive buying and hoarding in the Chinese population. This study aims to determine the relationship between compulsive ...buying and hoarding in a sample of the Chinese population comprising participants from mainland China (emerging economy) and Hong Kong (developed economy). Self-reported measures consisting of demographic questions, the Chinese version of the Hoarding Rating Scale (CHRS), and Richmond Compulsive Buying Scale-Traditional Chinese (RCBS-TC) were administered to participants. After data collection, common method biases were precluded. The RCBS-TC and CHRS were validated by confirmatory factor analysis and found correlated by Pearson correlation coefficient. The RCBS-TC and CHRS demonstrated satisfactory levels of internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.872 and 0.828, respectively). A three-factor model, including hoarding, obsessive-compulsive, and impulse control disorders, was obtained through Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) with the satisfactory fit for the total sample from Hong Kong and mainland China. A significant correlation was found between RCBS-TC and CHRS (
r
= 0.473). Findings also showed that 14% of the participants exhibited compulsive buying behavior. This study provides sufficient proof of the reliability and validity of RCBS-TC and CHRS. Their relationship was explored based on two sets of samples from different regions in Asia, which contributes more applicability in a cross-cultural context.
Although error probability law selection of models of location–scale forms is of importance in some sense, the commonly used model selection procedures, such as AIC and BIC, do not apply to it. By ...treating error probability law as a “parameter” of interest, location and scale as nuisance parameters, this paper proposes that generalized modified profile likelihood (GMPL), considered as a quasi-likelihood function of error probability law, be used to select the error probability laws. The GMPL method achieves minimax rate optimality and proves to be consistent. Simulations show its good performance for finite and even small samples. Note that it is straightforward to generalize the GMPL of location–scale models to various models of location–scale forms particularly including the various linear regression models and their variations, to select their error probability laws. The author believes that GMPL and its variations would be quite promising for various model selection problems.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
This research establishes the validity and reliability of the Richmond Compulsive Buying Scale in the Chinese consumer market. Using two different Chinese samples, the scale is able to identify ...compulsive buyers in China. The prevalence of compulsive buyers in China is found to be 10.4% in a student sample and 29.1% in a general population. In addition to identifying compulsive buyers, six compulsive buyers' motivations to buy online are identified: immediate positive feelings, avoiding social interaction, buying anytime/anywhere, daydreaming, observed buying, and emotional response to receiving online purchases. The Chinese concept of face consciousness (mianzi) can be used to explain the high prevalence of compulsive buying among online buyers in China.
•The Chinese RCBS version is a valid and reliable measure of compulsive buying (CB).•Chinese buyers scoring 29 or above on the RCBS can be classified as compulsive.•Prevalence of CB in China is 10.4% (student sample) and 29.1% (general population).•The high prevalence of CB in China may be associated with face consciousness.•New online CB drivers in China include observed buying, daydreaming, and emotion.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
This research investigates online consumer behavior in an e-commerce context with a focus on consumer online shopping cart use and subsequent cart abandonment. A model rooted in the Uses and ...Gratifications Theory, the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology, and the concept of the purchase funnel is developed to explain the predicted relationships. Empirical findings based on clickstream data show that returning to an existing cart increases the subsequent cart use and decreases cart abandonment. Conversely, viewing clearance pages and viewing a large number of product reviews increases both cart use and cart abandonment. Browsing product pages decreases cart use, and increases cart abandonment. The moderating role of smartphone-based shopping is also examined, with the moderating effects primarily occurring early in the purchase funnel affecting cart use, and influencing cart abandonment to a smaller degree. Theoretical contributions and managerial implications for digital marketers are provided.
Approximations to the modified signed likelihood ratio statistic are asymptotically standard normal with error of order n⁻¹, where n is the sample size. Proofs of this fact generally require that the ...sufficient statistic of the model be written as ($\hat{\theta}$, a), where $\hat{\theta}$ is the maximum likelihood estimator of the parameter θ of the model and a is an ancillary statistic. This condition is very difficult or impossible to verify for many models. However, calculation of the statistics themselves does not require this condition. The goal of this paper is to provide conditions under which these statistics are asymptotically normally distributed to order n⁻¹ without making any assumption about the sufficient statistic of the model.
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BFBNIB, INZLJ, NMLJ, NUK, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK, ZRSKP
A practical time series model is proposed with multiple shifts of levels and volatilities to overcome the intrinsic limitations of hidden Markov models used to capture change-point type behaviors of ...data. This model allows the set of level change points to be different from the set of volatility change points. Least square methods are then applied to the model to estimate level and volatility change points, those levels and volatilities. Asymptotic properties of the estimators, including their consistency, convergence rates and asymptotic distributions, are established under relatively weak conditions. Some simulations are carried out, showing that this model, its inference methods, and the asymptotic theory work quite well.
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BFBNIB, NMLJ, NUK, PNG, UL, UM, UPUK
Consider a semiparametric regression model in which the mean function depends on a finite-dimensional regression parameter as the parameter of interest and an unknown function as a nuisance ...parameter. A method of inference in such models is proposed, using a type of integrated likelihood in which the unknown function is eliminated by averaging with respect to a given distribution, which we take to be a Gaussian process with a covariance function chosen to reflect the assumptions about the function. This approach is easily implemented and can be applied to a wide range of models using the same basic methodology. The consistency and asymptotic normality of the estimator of the parameter of interest are established under mild conditions. The proposed method is illustrated on several examples.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
Purpose
With the rapid development of social media in the past few years, some dark aspects of usage have appeared, e.g., Weibo addiction. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to address the ...question of how Weibo keeps users hooked.
Design/methodology/approach
The study utilizes the netnography method to explore the symptoms of Weibo addiction and how it is formed.
Findings
First, some Weibo users have typical symptoms of addictive behavior, such as withdrawal, loss of control and general living problems; second, narcissism plays an important role in the process of Weibo addiction and has a stronger effect on content generation than content consumption; third, some users use Weibo as a means to alleviate anxiety, but they can then become more anxious owing to addiction; and fourth, the effect of comments has two sides – on the one hand, comments are one kind of feedback to posts, satisfying posters’ social needs, while on the other hand, a storytelling system consists of one post and its comments, upon which some Weibo users become more dependent.
Research limitations/implications
This research is only a preliminary, exploratory study. Therefore, care should be taken when interpreting these findings.
Practical implications
This study should help social media service providers and users to pay attention to the risk of social media addiction. Social media service providers should take social responsibility, design more user-oriented guidelines for marketing ethics and launch more responsible marketing activities. Users should enhance self-control and better balance social media use and offline real life.
Originality/value
Netnography has not been widely used as an addictive behavior research technique. This study is further bolstered because it has also noticed the difference of addiction mechanisms between addictive micro-bloggers and their followers.
To verify the volume similarity between unilateral mammary gland and autologous omentum in adult females.
A total of 63 patients diagnosed with stage 0-II breast cancer and partial non-lactating ...multi-fistula mastitis in the breast surgery department of Inner Mongolia Xing'an League People's Hospital from 2007 to 2020 were enrolled in the study, including 52 cases of stage 0-II breast cancer and 11 cases of non-lactating multi-fistula mastitis. The volume of the resected mammary gland and the omentum were measured by a "soft tissue measuring cylinder" and recorded. The appearance of the reconstructed breast was compared with that of the healthy side. The correlation between unilateral mammary gland volume and autologous omentum volume was analyzed by linear regression.
Valid data were obtained for 60 cases. Affected breast size, curve, texture, nipple, and inframammary fold after omentum breast reconstruction were similar and symmetrical to those of the unaffected side. Postoperative complications occurred in most patients; the majority of these (76.67%) involved numbness of the nipple, and other complications were few. Patient satisfaction with postoperative appearance, feel, and movement of the breast, as well as total treatment costs, was over 75.0%. Linear regression analysis indicates a linear relationship between subcutaneous gland volume (x) and autologous omentum volume (y): y = 0.9847x - 1.2132,
= 0.9742.
Only when the dissociated pedicled omentum is completely obtained under laparoscopy can the whole subcutaneous residual cavity of the mammary gland be filled to the same volume. This study verifies that the volume of the unilateral mammary gland is similar to that of the autologous omentum in adult females.
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