What predicts threat perceptions toward people opposing to the government? A population-based study following Umbrella Movement, Hong Kong
Author(s) / Creator(s)
Hou, Wai Kai
Canetti, Daphna
Ma, Tsz Wah
Hall, Brian J.
Lau, Kam Man
Ng, Sin Man
Hobfoll, Stevan E.
Abstract / Description
We examined the incidence and predictors of threat perceptions toward people who oppose government action (i.e., protestors) following the Umbrella Movement in Hong Kong (September 28th to December 15th, 2014). A population-representative sample of 1,208 citizens (mean age = 46.89 years; 52.4% female) was recruited two months after the conclusion of the Movement using random digit dialing. Upon giving their informed consent, respondents reported sociodemographics, perceived threats of protestors to the prospects of democracy, ways of life, and the economy, anxiety symptoms (STAI), and depressive symptoms (PHQ-9). More than half disagreed that protestors threatened the prospects of democracy (54.7%, 95% CI = .52, .57), ways of life (52.2%, 95% CI = .49, .55), and the economy (51.4%, 95% CI = .49, .54). Regression analyses revealed that male sex was associated with lower odds of perceiving threats to the prospects of democracy and ways of life. Being unmarried was associated with lower odds of perceiving threats to the economy. Secondary education level and depressive symptoms were associated with higher odds of perceiving threats to ways of life and the economy, respectively. This is one of the first population-based studies that measured socioeconomic and mental health correlates of political attitudes immediately following pro-democracy movements.
Keyword(s)
threat perceptions toward protestors psychological distress social movement Hong Kong epidemiologyPersistent Identifier
Date of first publication
2018-07-27
Journal title
Journal of Social and Political Psychology
Volume
6
Issue
2
Page numbers
383–400
Publisher
PsychOpen GOLD
Publication status
publishedVersion
Review status
peerReviewed
Is version of
Citation
Hou, W. K., Canetti, D., Ma, T. W., Hall, B. J., Lau, K. M., Ng, S. M., & Hobfoll, S. E. (2018). What predicts threat perceptions toward people opposing to the government? A population-based study following Umbrella Movement, Hong Kong. Journal of Social and Political Psychology, 6(2), 383–400. https://doi.org/10.5964/jspp.v6i2.791
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Hou, Wai Kai
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Canetti, Daphna
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Ma, Tsz Wah
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Hall, Brian J.
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Lau, Kam Man
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Ng, Sin Man
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Hobfoll, Stevan E.
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PsychArchives acquisition timestamp2018-11-26T12:44:42Z
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Made available on2018-11-26T12:44:42Z
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Date of first publication2018-07-27
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Abstract / DescriptionWe examined the incidence and predictors of threat perceptions toward people who oppose government action (i.e., protestors) following the Umbrella Movement in Hong Kong (September 28th to December 15th, 2014). A population-representative sample of 1,208 citizens (mean age = 46.89 years; 52.4% female) was recruited two months after the conclusion of the Movement using random digit dialing. Upon giving their informed consent, respondents reported sociodemographics, perceived threats of protestors to the prospects of democracy, ways of life, and the economy, anxiety symptoms (STAI), and depressive symptoms (PHQ-9). More than half disagreed that protestors threatened the prospects of democracy (54.7%, 95% CI = .52, .57), ways of life (52.2%, 95% CI = .49, .55), and the economy (51.4%, 95% CI = .49, .54). Regression analyses revealed that male sex was associated with lower odds of perceiving threats to the prospects of democracy and ways of life. Being unmarried was associated with lower odds of perceiving threats to the economy. Secondary education level and depressive symptoms were associated with higher odds of perceiving threats to ways of life and the economy, respectively. This is one of the first population-based studies that measured socioeconomic and mental health correlates of political attitudes immediately following pro-democracy movements.en_US
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Publication statuspublishedVersion
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Review statuspeerReviewed
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CitationHou, W. K., Canetti, D., Ma, T. W., Hall, B. J., Lau, K. M., Ng, S. M., & Hobfoll, S. E. (2018). What predicts threat perceptions toward people opposing to the government? A population-based study following Umbrella Movement, Hong Kong. Journal of Social and Political Psychology, 6(2), 383–400. https://doi.org/10.5964/jspp.v6i2.791en_US
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ISSN2195-3325
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Persistent Identifierhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12034/1470
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Persistent Identifierhttps://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.1696
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Language of contenteng
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PublisherPsychOpen GOLD
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Is version ofhttps://doi.org/10.5964/jspp.v6i2.791
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Keyword(s)threat perceptions toward protestorsen_US
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Keyword(s)psychological distressen_US
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Keyword(s)social movementen_US
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Keyword(s)Hong Kongen_US
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Keyword(s)epidemiologyen_US
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Dewey Decimal Classification number(s)150
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TitleWhat predicts threat perceptions toward people opposing to the government? A population-based study following Umbrella Movement, Hong Kongen_US
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DRO typearticle
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Issue2
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Journal titleJournal of Social and Political Psychology
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Page numbers383–400
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Volume6
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zpid.relation.hasequivalenthttps://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.6139
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Visible tag(s)Version of Record