Sociological Research And Innovation

Exploring How Personal and Environmental Factors Influence Stress Levels Among Chinese Students: The Moderating Effect of Chinese Painting Experience

2025-05-30T10:11:35+00:00

The current study explores how personal and environmental factors affect stress levels of students, while also investigating the moderating effect of Chinese painting experience on the relationship between stressors and students' stress levels. Online and self-administered surveys were utilized to collect data from 384 respondents in Shandong Province, China. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS and Smart PLS. The findings revealed a positive correlation among the variables and also shows the moderating effect of Chinese painting experience among them. Theoretical implications, along with identified research gaps in the literature, highlighted a culturally inclusive framework. Findings suggested that engaging in Chinese painting provides mental peace, reduces stress levels, and fosters professional growth among students. Given the rising prevalence of stressors among students, universities should consider implementing Chinese painting experience classes. Such classes have been shown to alleviate stress and promote physical fitness. Hence, it was concluded that culturally relevant artistic practices, for instance Chinese painting, effectively alleviate stress and can inform mental health strategies for students in high-pressure academic settings

A Conceptual Framework on the Determinants of Poverty and Its Impact on Households in Pakistan

2025-08-05T07:09:24+00:00

This paper discusses the multifaceted impact of socioeconomic problems, including low incomes, poor education, joblessness, and widespread poverty, on the effectiveness of the government in fulfilling its role as a governing and regulating agency. More than half of the population in urban and rural Pakistan subsists in poverty, which remains a grave challenge to the stability and advancement of the nation. Not only do these socioeconomic constraints compromise the health of individuals and communities, but also increase the challenges for the government to implement development programs, enforce laws, and maintain social order. Based on data collected from a cross-sectional survey administered to a statistically selected sample of 384 households, the study takes a quantitative approach. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was applied to analyze the data in order to identify trends and relationships between factors related to poverty and the effectiveness of the government. Findings reveal that the combination of low income, high unemployment, and poor education significantly incapacitates public compliance and institutional authority. By offering empirical evidence highlighting the compelling interrelationship between socioeconomic adversity and government functionality, this study contributes to the greater poverty discourse. Further, the research fills a huge gap in the knowledge base regarding the structural impacts of poverty in Pakistan and provides valuable data to social welfare organizations, development planners, and policymakers. The results emphasize the urgent necessity for comprehensive, multi-sectoral strategies to alleviate poverty as well as enhance governance

News Media Propaganda and Intricate Conflict Outcomes: A Case Study of 2023 General Elections of Oyo State, Nigeria

2025-08-05T07:18:04+00:00

Nigeria, as a nascent democracy, is yet to be fully entrenched in standard election. Contestation for media space contributes to the escalation of political conflicts. Scholarly works on propaganda as a political campaign tool lack contextual analysis of episodic electioneering and elections in Nigeria. This study examined the nexus between conflict and propaganda in the news media during the general elections of 2023. The study utilized
triangulation methods; such as questionnaire, in-depth interviews and content analysis for data collection. Questionnaire was administered to randomly selected 400 respondents, while in-depth interviews were
purposively conducted with state publicity representative of All Progressive Congress and Peoples Democratic Party in Oyo State. Forty-eight propaganda media messages of the two political parties were content analysed. The discussion of findings is anchored in the Value Change Theory of mass communication and Verbal Aggressiveness Theory of conflict. The findings revealed that hate-speech, fake news, repudiation, labelling and other tactics heated the political scenario during the 2023 general elections and contributed to violent attacks. Social media was used without traces of professionalism. It is recommended that media literacy be taught in schools and out of school settings to ensure mediation and moderation in the media usage patterns, particularly for political purposes.

The Humanitarian Crisis in Sudan: Multifaceted Impacts of Armed Conflict on Health, Education, and Displacement

2025-08-06T05:03:56+00:00

Since the outbreak of the conflict on April 15, 2023, between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Sudan has descended into one of the world’s most severe humanitarian and displacement crises. Nearly 13 million people have been forcibly displaced—8.9 million internally and 3.7 million to neighboring countries—placing immense strain on Sudan’s collapsing infrastructure and the limited capacities of host nations. This study applies the human security framework to examine the impact of the conflict on healthcare, education, and displacement. Drawing on qualitative and quantitative data from the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), it explores how violence and institutional collapse threaten individual survival, well-being, and dignity. The conflict has devastated Sudan’s healthcare system, rendering two-thirds of hospitals non-functional due to attacks, looting, and critical shortages of personnel and medical supplies. Disease outbreaks, malnutrition, and the lack of clean water have further heightened health risks, particularly in displacement camps. Simultaneously, the education sector has nearly collapsed, with 90% of schools and most universities shut down—leaving millions of children without access to education and jeopardizing the country’s long-term recovery. The humanitarian response remains severely underfunded, and international engagement is limited. This study underscores the urgent need for coordinated humanitarian aid, sustained diplomatic efforts, and long-term strategies to rebuild essential sectors. Without immediate and strategic intervention, Sudan risks further societal collapse, escalating regional instability, and the irreversible breakdown of critical national institutions

Women's Empowerment: A Qualitative Study of Structural Barriers and Changing Societal Attitudes

2025-08-06T05:15:58+00:00

The concept and practice of women’s empowerment have gained significant importance in the present-day world. This is intended not just for women’s personal growth but also for the development of society as a whole. However, women face many challenges on this journey. This study employs a phenomenological approach to explore the challenges faced by women lecturers and the social perceptions of their role as working women. This paper is part of a broader study conducted to investigate the empowerment dynamics of female lecturers. For this purpose, a total of 12 female lecturers were selected using a purposive sampling technique and were subsequently interviewed to share their experiences. Two main themes emerged under the study objectives: 1) Structural challenges faced by female lecturers on their empowerment journey and 2) Societal shifts towards women's empowerment. It was found that women lecturers encounter constraints mainly because of patriarchal gender norms, leading to many difficulties in maintaining a work-life balance. Married women feel more burdened as a result of this structure compared to unmarried females. However, it was also discovered that general perceptions of these employed women are gradually changing, and some people in their surroundings look up to them as role models. It is recommended that policies be formulated to help women on this journey and to reduce the social stigma attached to women working outside the home to earn money.

Voices of Harmony: Islamic Communication and Decolonization

2025-08-13T06:36:59+00:00

This paper explores the relationship between Islamic communicative ethics and decolonial theory, with a view of establishing a paradigm shift in global communication. While Eurocentric strategies focus on persuasion, efficiency, and control, the Islamic perspective values moral accountability, compassion, justice, and mutual recognition as fundamentals. This research, under the influence of the ideas of Allama Iqbal, Maulana Maududi, and Maulana Fazl ur Rahman, situates Islamic communication as a part of an integrated spiritual and ethical process that is within the scope of Islamic epistemology. The study further integrates the work of the decolonial theorists Aníbal Quijano, Walter Mignolo, and Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o’. Through case studies, including Muslims of the World, A Common Word, and the documentary Salam Neighbor, the study traces how Islamic ethical principles are implemented in contemporary media and interfaith discourse. This research affirms Islamic communicative ethics as a decolonial alternative that reclaims narrative autonomy, and facilitates inclusive exchange among diverse groups. By presenting Islamic ethical discourse as a relevant response to global communicative incommodities, this work contributes to the field of decolonizing communication research.

From Fear to Framework: Tracing the Social Construction of Magic, Religion, and Science

2025-08-13T06:48:54+00:00

The current study aimed to explore how the boundaries between magic, religion, and science have changed over time in human history. It explained that these categories are not fixed or universal, however, have been shaped by different cultures, historical events, and power dynamics. Using historical, anthropological, and sociological texts, this study attempted to identify five key themes. These include fear and control, institutional boundary-making, cultural fluidity, knowledge progression, and epistemic exclusion. Furthermore, the study determined that the differences between magic, religion, and science are not fixed or natural instead, they are created by cultures and societies over time. These findings add to the ongoing discussions about how people in different times and places have understood, accepted, or challenged different belief systems. In the end, it argued that all three, magic, religion, and science, are ways that human beings have developed to understand and deal with the mysteries of life.

The Political Economy of Peacebuilding in Nigeria's Niger Delta Region

2025-08-19T11:38:36+00:00

Most conflicts including insurrection of militant movement in the Niger Delta are subject to contestation due to natural resources and the accruing benefits therefrom are inextricably linked to its political economy. Therefore, the political economy of peace building is about response mechanisms evolved by the government to address their root or potential causes. The article examines the political economy of peace building highlighting the vital roles of government agencies and their paradoxical nuances in addressing the conflict and deficit of development infrastructure. From a critical institutional perspective of the mandate of government agencies, the article attempts a kaleidoscopic reflection of the peace building framework of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Presidential Amnesty Programme and Ministry of the Niger Delta Affair. The broad objective is to examine the peace building framework evolved to address the root or potential causes and create a supportive environment to avoid relapse of violence. It is a descriptive survey using data generated from scholarly review, official reports and personal interviews from parts of a broader fieldwork in the Niger Delta. The article highlights arguments on the paradoxical nuances that precipitates a lack of coordination of the peace building efforts of NDDC, PAP and MNDA and its negative implications for genuine security and sustainable development. In doing so, it proposes the establishment of a directorate of compliance with internal protocol to direct financial and performance reporting obligations by the agencies. Finally, the article concludes that in order to alter conflict dynamics into sustainable peace, the micro, meso and macro elements of political economy of peace building should be mainstreamed.

Procrastination and Academic Self-Efficacy Among University Students: Role of Time Management as a Mediator

2025-08-21T12:20:04+00:00

The current study investigates the mediating effect of time management in the relationship between procrastination and academic self-efficacy among university students. The data was collected from different universities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi among University students (N= 181; Male, Female) through a survey approach, using convenience sampling technique. General Procrastination Scale (Sirois et al., 2019), General Academic Self- Efficacy Scale (Nielsen et al., 2017), and Time Management scale (Britton & Tesser, 1991) were used to measure procrastination, academic self-efficacy and time management skills among university students. The research findings revealed the significant negative correlation between procrastination and academic self-efficacy among university students. The findings imply that there is a significant negative correlation between procrastination and time management whereas; time management shows a positive correlation with academic self-efficacy. Findings revealed that procrastination significantly negatively predicted academic self-efficacy. The total effect of procrastination decreased after accounting for time management, indicating mediation. The gender does not have a significant difference in procrastination, time management and academic self-efficacy. The results show that graduate, undergraduate, and postgraduate education levels did not significantly differ in procrastination and time management. However, postgraduate students had the greatest mean score in academic self- efficacy compared to undergraduates and graduates. According to the study, institutions of higher learning can put ideas in to action, offer individualized counseling, and create a positive learning atmosphere.