PurposeAcceptance and use of mobile shopping as the preferred shopping medium is becoming the new normal today. The proliferation of mobile shopping practices follows unsteady growth patterns in different countries. Despite challenges of price, quality and privacy matters, young consumers still lead the race to engage in mobile shopping activity in developing countries. This research investigates the determinants that either support or hinder the mobile shopping intentions of aspirant young consumers in Pakistan.Design/methodology/approachThe present research applies a consumer-centric approach to the technology adoption framework to unearth the behavioral patterns of these young consumers in Pakistan. Employing the structural equation modeling technique, this research examines the significant effect of structural assurance, perceived risk, trust and various unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) model constructs on behavioral intention to engage in mobile shopping.FindingsThis research examines the significant effect of structural assurance, perceived risk, trust and various UTAUT model constructs on behavioral intention to engage in mobile shopping. Results also demonstrate a significant moderating effect of structural assurance and prior shopping experience on the relationship between perceived risk, trust and mobile shopping intentions. Further, the mobile shopping patterns for the male and female segment indicate a significant difference for perceived risk, trust structural assurance and social influence. The research contributes to the growing body of knowledge which advocates the application of consumer-centric customized model approach to explore various factors that either facilitate or impede the adoption of mobile shopping in a developing economy.Research limitations/implicationsThe study validates the need to enforce structural assurance mechanism for facilitating mobile shopping in a developing country. It also offers practical implications for online businesses and marketers striving to attract and retain more mobile customers.Practical implicationsThe study offers practical implications for online businesses and marketers striving to attract and retain more mobile customers.Originality/valueThis study offers fresh insights about driving elements and impediments of mobile shopping behavioral intentions. Structural assurance and prior shopping experience appear to influence the mobile shopping behavior through direct and indirect effect.

Purpose Based on the arguments of conservation of resource theory (COR), this study aims to investigate the mechanism underlying the linkage of COVID fear, work-family conflict (W-FC) and family-work conflict (F-WC) while investigating the mediating role of COVID stress and social distancing. The study also tests the moderating role of religiosity in these relationships. Design/methodology/approach In total, 401 survey responses from doctors and university teachers are collected through online and personally administrated questionnaires. Partial least square-based structural equation modeling technique is applied using Smart PLS software. Findings This study finds that COVID fear has a positive and significant impact on COVID stress and social distancing while religiosity negatively impacts COVID fear. Further, COVID stress and social distancing mediates the relationships between COVID fear and W-FC/ F-WC. However, the study found that COVID stress is a more effective mechanism as compared to social distancing in explaining the mediation process. It is also found that religiosity significantly moderates the nexus between COVID stress and both W-FC and F-WC negatively. Practical implications Findings imply that the teachers, as well as doctors, must be immediately be provided with the proper facilitation to maintain their work from home operations with the best of the institutional facilities. Moreover, the recruitment policy in such professions can also consider religious practices to be the indicators of problem-solving and stress management in such a challenging context. Originality/value This study provides timely and novel insight into the interplay between the domains of work and family during the period of stressful COVID outbreak. By distinguishing W-FC and F-WC, it provides a detailed understanding of the process during the COVID period. The groundbreaking finding in the research is with the moderation of religiosity.

The diabetic patients are more likely to experience depression. The study's objective was to determine the depression prevalence in newly diagnosed patients with type-I (T1DM) and type-II (T2DM) diabetes, as well as the relationship between these symptoms and several independent clinical and sociodemographic variables. Place and Duration: Study took place in the Department of Endocrinology and metabolism in Services Hospital Lahore, Pakistan for six months of duration from January 2017 to June 2017. Methods: A total of 320 patients included in the study, including two control groups of 180 people without diabetes and 75 patients in each group with T1DM and T2DM. The clinical, biochemical and sociodemographic characteristics of the patients were assessed and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was used to assess the symptoms of depression among patients. The association between the scores of BDI and independent factors such age, sex, mean arterial pressure, diabetes duration, BMI, diabetic complications and HbA1c level were assessed in the logistic regression analysis. Results: Compared to controls, females and males with T1DM and T2DM had significantly higher mean BDI scores. Females had depression symptoms more frequently than males diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. Patients with T1DM reported depressive symptoms among 20% of females and 5.7% of males, whereas those with T2DM have depression among 40.6% of women and 23.2% of men. The depression increased with age in patients with T1DM and T2DM, their HbA1c level rises, and they experience more complications. Women with T2DM also have a three-fold high risk of developing depressive symptoms than males. Conclusion: In conclusion, diabetic patients are more likely to experience depression in comparison to non-diabetics. 13.3% of T1DM patients and 30.7% of the T2DM patients having depressive symptoms. HbA1c level, age and the occurrence of comorbidities all raise the risk of depression in both T1DM and T2DM, and in T2DM depression is gender -specific. Keywords: Depressive symptoms, Beck Depression Inventory, type I and type II diabetes mellitus.

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