Sameer Deshpande

Factors influencing healthy eating habits among college students: an application of the Health Belief model

Poor eating habits are an important public health issue that has large health and economic implications. Many food preferences are established early, but because people make more and more independent eating decisions as they move through adolescence, the transition to independent living during the university days is an important event. To study the phenomenon of food selection, the heath belief model was applied to predict the likelihood of healthy eating among university students. Structural equation modeling was used to investigate the validity of the health belief model (HBM) among 194 students, followed by gender-based analyses. The data strongly supported the HBM. Social change campaign implications are discussed.

The Citizen-Consumer: Media Effects at the Intersection of Consumer and Civic Culture

Scholars in various fields have speculated that the commercialization of mass media has contributed to the decline of civic culture. They contend that the personal needs emphasized by product-saturated mass media diminish civic-mindedness by creating an individualistic consumption-oriented culture. Despite this critique, some scholars argue that mass media do not erode civic culture in favor of consumer culture; rather, the two are thought to be positively interrelated. Although these contrasting perspectives have been repeatedly discussed, research has rarely empirically investigated these contending claims. We examine media influences on civic and consumer culture while considering the interrelationships of consumer attitudes and behaviors with civic participation using the 2000 DDB Life Style Study. In doing so, we distinguish between news and entertainment media and between socially conscious and status-oriented consumption. A latent variable structural equation model is used to test hypotheses. Results suggest that consumption behaviors and civic participation are not conflicting, even though media foster commercial attitudes and motivate consumption. Overall, media effects on this dynamic are positive, suggesting that critiques of media demobilization may be misplaced.

Cause-related marketing ads in the light of negative news

This experimental study tested Cause-Related Marketing (CRM) ads in the context of Benoits Image Restoration Theory. The effects of three kinds of ads on the image of a brand and a nonprofit organization (NPO) after the release of an unfavorable news story were compared: brand ads, PSAs, and CRM ads. CRM ads produced more favorable responses than brand ads prior to scandal, but lost their advantage in the light of negative news.

Cause‐Related Marketing from the Nonprofit's Perspective: Classifying Goals and Experienced Outcomes

This research examines the cause‐related marketing (CRM) experience from a nonprofit (NPO) perspective, using qualitative and quantitative methods. U.S. NPO managers with direct CRM experience (n = 154) participated. Results demonstrate that NPOs have both first order (immediate financial support) and second order (less tangible, longer term) goals when undertaking CRM, and that they generally realize these outcomes, though not always. NPOs primarily seek event support, networking opportunities and public awareness, followed by funding opportunities, with less emphasis on gaining business expertise. This research extends the framework of Gourville and Rangan (2004) by offering a more precise, differentiated model.

Fostering change in back pain beliefs and behaviors: when public education is not enough

Mass media campaigns designed to alter societal views and individual behaviors about back pain have been undertaken and evaluated in multiple countries. In contrast to the original Australian campaign, subsequent campaigns have been less successful, with improvements observed in beliefs without the corresponding changes in related behaviors. This article summarizes the results of a literature review, expert panel, and workshop held at the Melbourne International Forum XI: Primary Care Research on Low Back Pain in March 2011 on the role and interplay of various social behavior change strategies, including public education, law and legislation, healthy public policy, and social marketing in achieving a sustained reduction in the societal burden of back pain. Given the complexities inherent to health-related behaviors change, the Rothschild framework is applied in which behavior change strategies are viewed on a continuum from public education at one end through law and health policy at the other. Educational endeavors should likely be augmented with social marketing endeavors and supportive laws and health policy to foster sustained change in outcomes such as work disability and health utilization. Practical suggestions are provided for future interventions aimed at changing back pain-related behaviors. Evaluation of previous back pain mass media campaigns reveals that education alone is unlikely to foster positive and persisting behavioral change without concomitant strategies.

Promoting Alcohol Abstinence among Pregnant Women: Potential Social Change Strategies

Abstract Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is one of the most preventable sources of developmental abnormalities, and has a singular cause-alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Estimates for the costs of treatment of a single case of FASD range often above one million dollars. The primary strategy for prevention currently centers on no alcohol consumption during pregnancy. However, a sizeable number of North American women currently drink during pregnancy. A literature review examined the behavior of maternal alcohol consumption in order to understand the rationale associated with drinking. Generally, it appears that pregnant women differ by their alcohol consumption habits and their reasons to drink. In an attempt to eliminate FASD, we review a number of educational, legal, and community-based programs that have been used to promote abstinence and examine where they have been successful. Unfortunately, social marketing strategies have received less attention. Several potential applications of social marketing directed to drinking-during-pregnancy campaigns are suggested, and possible contributions to the overall effort are explained.

The Prevalence of and Consumer Response to Foreign and Domestic Brand Placement in Bollywood Movies

Within the context of globalization, we explore the country-of-origin of brand or product placements in Bollywood films. Content analysis of films since economic liberalization (1991, 1996, 2001, 2006, 2010) reveals a substantial increase in brands, with foreign brands outnumbering domestic brands and placed in prominent ways. Results of surveys reveal that Indians are positive about the practice yet generally prefer domestic over foreign product placements. Consumer ethnocentrism versus admiration for Western lifestyles emerged as significant predictors of attitudes and perceptions. Theoretical ramifications for globalization, global brand strategy, and brand placement are discussed.

Segmenting and Targeting American University Students to Promote Responsible Alcohol Use: A Case for Applying Social Marketing Principles

The current study contributes to the social marketing literature in the American university binge-drinking context in three innovative ways. First, it profiles drinking segments by “values” and “expectancies” sought from behaviors. Second, the study compares segment values and expectancies of two competing behaviors, that is, binge drinking and participation in alternative activities. Third, the study compares the influence of a variety of factors on both behaviors in each segment. Finally, based on these findings and feedback from eight university alcohol prevention experts, appropriate strategies to promote responsible alcohol use for each segment are proposed.

Oxygen induced hysteretic current-voltage characteristics of iron-phthalocyanine thin films

Electrical transport has been investigated in amorphous and polycrystalline (α-phase) iron phthalocyanine (FePc) thin films grown by molecular beam epitaxy. Measurements carried out in the temperature range of 150–300 K showed hysteric current-voltage (I-V) characteristics at temperatures above 200 K. The I-V characteristics measured during the increasing voltage scan showed a transition from the Ohmic conduction to the trap controlled space charge limited conduction followed by a trap free conduction. During the decreasing voltage scan, trap free conduction was observed in full voltage range. The I-V hysteresis is attributed to the filling of deep surface traps created by chemisorbed oxygen. Amorphous films showed higher hysteresis as well as chemisorbed oxygen content.

Applying the Extended Parallel Process Model to Workplace Safety Messages

The extended parallel process model (EPPM) proposes fear appeals are most effective when they combine threat and efficacy. Three studies conducted in the workplace safety context examine the use of various EPPM factors and their effects, especially multiplicative effects. Study 1 was a content analysis examining the use of EPPM factors in actual workplace safety messages. Study 2 experimentally tested these messages with 212 construction trainees. Study 3 replicated this experiment with 1,802 men across four English-speaking countries—Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The results of these three studies (1) demonstrate the inconsistent use of EPPM components in real-world work safety communications, (2) support the necessity of self-efficacy for the effective use of threat, (3) show a multiplicative effect where communication effectiveness is maximized when all model components are present (severity, susceptibility, and efficacy), and (4) validate these findings with gory appeals across four English-speaking countries.