Issue/s in progress

Issue/s in progress with articles that are final and fully citable

When trends and values coexist: Parallel effects of influencer and UGC-based digital social pressure on local skincare purchase intention among young consumers

  • Riska Irawati Maftuha
  • Andika Andika
  • Viant Anggi Saputra
  • AR Hanung Triyono
Published 2026-06-22
This study examines how different forms of digital social pressure relate to young consumers' purchase intentions toward local skincare products in Indonesia. Drawing on the Stimulus–Organism–Response (S–O–R) framework and Consumer Ethnocentrism Theory (CET), the study conceptualizes digital social pressure as arising from two distinct sources: social media influencers (SMI) and user-generated content–based social comparison (UGC-SCOM). It further examines fear of missing out (FoMO) as an affective mechanism and consumer ethnocentrism (CONET) as a value-based orientation associated with purchase intention. Data from a survey of young, digitally active consumers in Indonesia were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The results show that both SMI and UGC-SCOM are positively associated with purchase intention, both directly and indirectly via FoMO. SMI is more strongly associated with FoMO, whereas UGC-SCOM shows a slightly stronger direct association with purchase intention. The indirect associations via FoMO were significant for both relationships, consistent with a partial mediating mechanism. CONET shows a positive direct association with purchase intention but does not significantly moderate the relationship between FoMO and purchase intention. Overall, the findings indicate that different forms of digital social pressure are associated with purchase intention through parallel evaluative and affective processes rather than through a fully integrated mechanism.

Wealth Gradient in Non-Communicable Diseases and Financial Risk: Evidence from Panel Data in India

  • Divya Chaudhary
  • Anuradha Jain
Published 2026-06-10
This study examines the evolving wealth gradient in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and their financial consequences in the context of India’s ongoing demographic and epidemiological transition. We construct a panel dataset of individuals aged 50 years and above using Wave 2 and Wave 3 of the WHO Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health (SAGE) to analyse shifts in NCD burden and multimorbidity across wealth quintiles and their association with outpatient out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditure and catastrophic health expenditure (CHE). Our findings reveal that NCD burden and multimorbidity have become increasingly concentrated among poorer households in Wave 3 compared to Wave 2. However, increases in outpatient OOP spending and the risk of CHE remain disproportionately concentrated among poorer groups. Although the epidemiological transition is increasing NCD prevalence across socioeconomic groups, the financial burden remains uneven, highlighting the need to strengthen financial protection for ageing and vulnerable populations.

The effect of population norms on self-reported weight perception and weight control behaviour: evidence from Spain

  • José Antonio Robles-Zurita
  • Óscar D. Marcenaro-Gutierrez
Published 2026-05-08
The research employs eight waves of the Spanish National Health Survey—1987 to 2011—to investigate whether self-reported weight perception (SWP) and weight control decisions are affected by the population weight norm. We find that the percentage of overweight or obese have changed from 37.82% to 50.68% in the survey period. Surprisingly, SWP, weight loss medication intake and dieting have not increased as expected. Similarly, people in the most overweight regions do not seem to perceive their weight or behave differently than those in the territories with the lowest body mass index (BMI) values. We argue that this pattern could be explained by a mechanism of adaptation to the norm. We find evidence that weight perception and behaviour are affected negatively by BMI norm—measured as average BMI in a region-year-sex group—after controlling for individual BMI. We argue that these results could be relevant for designing health policies and could provide an economic argument for public interventions based on the effect of social norms on decisions.

E-lifestyles and their impact on medical teleconsultation

  • Jorge Arenas Gaitán
  • Patricio E. Ramírez Correa
  • Pablo Ledesma Chaves
  • Luis J. Callarisa Fiol
Published 2026-06-04
The integration of digital services is increasingly relevant for healthcare sustainability, although user acceptance remains uneven. This study examines the influence of internet related lifestyles on the use of medical teleconsultation. Based on a survey of 1,412 Spanish teleconsultation users, an exploratory factor analysis identified multiple dimensions of e lifestyles, including interests, social use, perceived importance, barriers, novelty, and different types of needs. Subsequently, a latent class analysis revealed eight distinct user profiles, considering socio demographic characteristics and available resources. The findings indicate that users can be grouped into pro Internet, neutral and anti Internet profiles, each displaying different behavioural patterns in teleconsultation adoption and use. These results highlight that, in contexts with high internet penetration, teleconsultation usage is closely associated with users’ digital lifestyles rather than solely with socio demographic factors. Overall, the study provides a more nuanced understanding of behavioural heterogeneity in digital health adoption.

Humanization in palliative care through art: A Social Return on Investment (SROI) analysis of ProArt

  • Elena García
  • Javier Lera
  • David Cantarero-Prieto
  • Carla Blázquez-Fernández
  • Ana Expósito
  • Ana Rodríguez Valcarce
Published 2026-02-23
ProArt is a co-designed humanization programme that uses artistic activities and environmental transformation to enhance the experience of patients and families in a palliative care unit. This study evaluates its social impact through a Social Return on Investment (SROI) approach including patients, relatives, professionals and volunteers. The programme generated measurable improvements in emotional well-being, communication, personal relationships and the overall care environment, as reported by all stakeholder groups. The total social value created amounted to €1,076,855.42 compared with an investment of €129,405.78, yielding an SROI of €8.32 for each €1 invested. A comprehensive sensitivity analysis varying proxy values and attribution parameters confirmed the robustness of the findings, with SROI ratios ranging from €6.51 to €10.64. These results indicate that art-based humanization strategies can deliver substantial social value in palliative care and may represent an effective approach to improving the quality of end-of-life care.