Search Results (926)

Objective: Intolerance of uncertainty (IU) is a transdiagnostic cognitive construct associated with anxiety, emotional dysregulation, and psychopathology across multiple clinical conditions. This study aimed to adapt the Intolerance of Uncertainty Index A (IUI-A) into Turkish and evaluate its psychometric properties in a high-risk clinical adolescent sample. Methods: One hundred forty adolescents aged 12–17 years (Mage = 15.71, SD = 1.39; 84.3% female) were recruited from a Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic. The sample comprised adolescents presenting with suicidal ideation without a prior attempt (SI; n = 42, 30%) or a history of at least one suicide attempt (SA; n = 98, 70%). The majority met criteria for at least one psychiatric diagnosis, with depressive disorder (77.1%) and anxiety-spectrum conditions most prevalent. Analyses included exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, internal consistency estimation, and assessments of convergent, discriminant, and known-groups validity. Results: EFA supported a two-factor model (Inhibitory IU and Prospective IU) explaining 61.04% of the variance. CFA indicated partially acceptable fit (χ²/df = 2.48, RMSEA = 0.102, CFI = 0.900, TLI = 0.882, SRMR = 0.054), with RMSEA and TLI falling outside conventional thresholds. Internal consistency was strong (α = 0.933, ω = 0.935). IUI-A scores correlated strongly with the IUS-12, and the SA group scored significantly higher on both IU subscales, with group differences persisting after adjustment for key covariates. Conclusion: The Turkish IUI-A provides preliminary, though methodologically provisional, evidence of validity and reliability for assessing IU in high-risk adolescent populations, with several limitations requiring further investigation. Full article

Generative AI (GenAI) adoption in higher education (HE) raises significant ethical concerns. The focus is shifting from rules- or outcomes-based learning environments towards the development of moral character, personality traits, integrity, and practical wisdom (phronesis). However, most existing AI ethics validation instruments are predominantly shaped by Global North paradigms. In Global South HE contexts, in particular, open distance e-learning (ODEL) HE institutions (HEIs) characterised by limited direct supervision and a digital divide, validation remains scant. Ethical risks are intensified by the adoption and integration of GenAI tools, such as large language models (LLMs), to enhance teaching, learning, research, and student support, thus recognising the need to develop and validate virtue ethics scales. The current paper attempts to address this gap by validating the Virtue Ethics Measurement Scale (VEMS) within South Africa’s largest comprehensive ODEL institution. Guided by the positivist paradigm, a 36-item cross-sectional survey of 503 undergraduate and postgraduate students measured six virtue dimensions (justice, honesty, responsibility, care, prudence, and fortitude). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) compared four competing models. The single-factor model showed poor fit, rejecting unidimensionality. A second-order hierarchical model demonstrated an acceptable fit (χ²/df = 2.992, CFI = 0.933, RMSEA (Root Mean Square Error of Approximation) = 0.063, SRMR (Standardized Root Mean Squared Residual) = 0.043) with subscale reliabilities ranging from Cronbach’s α = 0.84 to 0.90, supporting a multidimensional yet hierarchical virtue structure. The VEMS offers a psychometrically sound instrument for evaluating ethical AI use in ODEL institutions. This aligns with virtue ethics theory, which emphasises that moral character is a constellation of dispositions (e.g., honesty, care, prudence) rather than a single trait. The VEMS thus enables HEIs to assess students’ virtues, design targeted ethics capacity-development programmes, and inform policy reform for responsible GenAI adoption in under-researched Global South HE settings. Full article

Background: Clinical competence is a fundamental outcome of prosthetics and orthotics (P&O) education and is expected to facilitate graduates’ transition into professional practice. However, limited evidence exists regarding the relationship between clinical competence and job market readiness among P&O graduates, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Objective: To examine the relationship between perceived clinical competence and job market readiness among prosthetics and orthotics graduates in Jordan and to investigate whether openness moderates this relationship. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Prosthetics and Orthotics program at the University of Jordan who had graduated within the previous five years. Data were collected between 1 July and 31 August 2025 using a structured online questionnaire comprising measures of clinical competence, job market readiness, and openness. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed to assess the reliability and validity of the measurement model, followed by structural equation modeling (SEM) to examine the proposed relationships. The moderating effect of openness was further evaluated using Hayes’ PROCESS macro. Results: A total of 231 questionnaires were included in the final analysis. The measurement model demonstrated satisfactory reliability, convergent validity, discriminant validity, and overall model fit. Clinical competence was a significant positive predictor of job market readiness (β = 0.427, p = 0.013), explaining 37% of the variance in job market readiness. Openness did not have a significant direct effect on job market readiness (p = 0.072); however, it significantly moderated the relationship between clinical competence and job market readiness (B = 0.295, p = 0.021), indicating that the positive association between clinical competence and job market readiness was stronger among graduates with higher levels of openness. Conclusions: Clinical competence plays a central role in enhancing graduates’ readiness for professional employment in prosthetics and orthotics, while openness strengthens this relationship. These findings suggest that prosthetics and orthotics educational programs should integrate strategies that foster both clinical competence and adaptive personal attributes, and they may inform curriculum development and educational policies aimed at improving graduate employability and workforce readiness. Full article

Background: Eating-rate regulation is a multidimensional behavioral process shaped by oral-processing dynamics, interoceptive cues, sensory engagement, and contextual influences. Despite its relevance, no validated self-report instrument currently assesses these mechanisms. Methods: The Food Consumption Rate Questionnaire (FCRQ) was developed as a behaviorally informed tool for measuring eating-rate regulation. Item generation followed a theory-driven process supported by expert review, forward–backward translation, and pilot testing. Structural validity was examined through Exploratory Factor Analysis (Principal Axis Factoring, Promax rotation) and a theory-driven Confirmatory Factor Analysis evaluating the proposed four-domain model. Reliability was assessed using Cronbach’s α and corrected item–total correlations. Behavioral heterogeneity was explored using hierarchical and k-means cluster analysis. Results: A clear four-factor structure emerged—Slowness, Awareness of Eating Rate, External Factors, and Awareness & Enjoyment—explaining 42.77% of the variance. CFA indicated acceptable model fit (CFI = 0.93, TLI = 0.91, RMSEA = 0.052), supporting the adequacy of the theoretical structure. Reliability indices were consistent with the multidimensional nature of the construct. All four domains were positively correlated. Cluster analysis identified distinct behavioral profiles, illustrating the instrument’s discriminative capacity. Conclusions: The FCRQ provides the first behaviorally informed, psychometrically evaluated framework for assessing eating-rate regulation. The instrument demonstrates a coherent theoretical structure, satisfactory early-stage validity, and the ability to differentiate meaningful behavioral patterns. Continued refinement and validation across diverse populations will further establish the FCRQ as a robust measure for behavioral-nutrition research and practice. Full article

Conspiracy beliefs targeting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) individuals have attracted increasing attention in social and political psychology due to their role in prejudice, social exclusion, and resistance to social change. Despite growing interest in this phenomenon, validated instruments for assessing LGBTQ+-related conspiracy beliefs in Spanish-speaking populations remain limited. The present study aimed to adapt and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Gender Ideology and LGBTQ+ Lobby Conspiracies Scale (GILC) in a Chilean sample. A total of 611 participants completed the instrument. Evidence based on internal structure was examined using parallel analysis, psychometric network analysis, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and measurement invariance testing across sex assigned at birth. Evidence based on relations with external variables was assessed through sociodemographic characteristics, religiosity, political orientation, and generic conspiracy beliefs. Results consistently supported a predominantly unidimensional structure. The CFA showed that the original one-factor model achieved satisfactory fit after incorporating two theoretically meaningful residual correlations. In addition, the scale demonstrated configural, metric, and scalar invariance across sex assigned at birth. GILC scores were positively associated with generic conspiracy beliefs, religiosity, age, and right-wing political orientation. Overall, the findings provide support for the validity of the Spanish version of the GILC and suggest that it constitutes a useful tool for studying LGBTQ+-related conspiracy beliefs in Spanish-speaking contexts. Full article

Most instruments used to assess depression have been developed in sociocultural contexts that differ substantially from those of Spanish-speaking Latin American populations. To address this limitation, the present study developed and evaluated a new brief measure of depressive symptomatology for use in northeastern Mexico. The study included 414 participants (Mage = 27.37 years, SD = 13.72). An initial pool of 23 items, grounded in interbehavioral psychology, was developed and subsequently evaluated by a panel of 58 expert judges. Based on content-validity analyses, the instrument was reduced to 15 items. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) supported a final four-item, one-factor solution. The final model demonstrated adequate fit to the data (χ²/df = 0.281, AGFI = 0.993, NNFI = 1.015, CFI = 1.000, RMSEA = 0.000, 90% CI [0.000, 0.094], and SRMR = 0.008). Evidence of discriminant and convergent validity was supported by a negative correlation with the Subjective Happiness Scale (r = −0.294, p < 0.01) and a positive correlation with the seven-item version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD-7; r = 0.273, p < 0.01). Construct reliability was satisfactory (H = 0.841). Overall, the findings provide preliminary evidence supporting the reliability and validity of the proposed instrument as a brief screening measure of depressive symptomatology in a Mexican sample, mostly from Nuevo León. Full article

As airlines increasingly deploy an AI-Driven Chatbot (ADC) to enhance service efficiency, this study aims to investigate how the agility capability of ADC drives perceived usefulness and satisfaction, ultimately enhancing customer loyalty in a competitive aviation industry. Drawing on a survey of 303 respondents in South Korea, Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) were employed for empirical analysis. The structural model examines how the agility capability of airline ADC—modeled as a second-order construct comprising competence, responsiveness, speed, and flexibility—shapes the consumer experience. The findings reveal that agility capability positively influences perceived usefulness, which in turn enhances satisfaction and ultimately fosters customer loyalty. Notably, neither agility capability nor perceived usefulness exerts a direct effect on loyalty; their influence is fully channeled through satisfaction, highlighting satisfaction as the pivotal mechanism that transforms agility capability into customer loyalty. These results offer meaningful insights into customer behavior, contributing to the strategic utilization of ADC for better customer experience. Full article

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has evolved from a tool for automation into a strategic component of organizational decision-making. However, the extent to which the dimensions of Human–AI Interaction are associated with leadership remains underexplored, particularly in emerging economies. This study examines how interaction quality, productivity enhancement, user experience, organizational impact, ethical governance, and innovation are associated with Leadership Effectiveness and Organizational Sustainability in Colombian organizations. We applied Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to data collected from 170 participants using a purpose-built 30-item instrument designed to measure eight dimensions of the human–AI relationship through a five-point Likert scale. Six dimensions assessed Human–AI Interaction (Interaction Quality, Productivity and Efficiency, User Experience and Acceptance, Organizational Impact, Ethical Governance, and Innovation and Transformation), while two dimensions assessed leadership (Leadership Effectiveness and Organizational Sustainability). Estimation used maximum likelihood (ML/FIML) as the primary method, with robust ML (MLR) and an item-level WLSMV estimator as sensitivity checks. Correlation analysis (Pearson, with Spearman as a robustness check) revealed consistent positive and significant associations among all construct indicators. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) confirmed convergent validity, with innovation ($\lambda =0.88$) emerging as the highest-loading dimension. The structural model demonstrated a significant association between Human–AI Interaction and leadership (two-parcel model: $\beta =0.95$, $R^2=0.91$). Under a more conservative six-item leadership specification, the association attenuates to $\beta =0.87$ ($R^2=0.75$), which we treat as the substantive estimate. Common-method-variance diagnostics (Harman’s first factor $=48.8\%$; a common latent factor accounting for ≈41% of variance) and an elevated RMSEA (= 0.13) signal the need for expanded measurement models and longitudinal designs to address causality. The findings suggest that ethical governance and innovation-oriented AI interaction are primary correlates of leadership effectiveness in digital organizations operating in emerging economies. Full article

The increasing environmental impact of the textile industry has heightened interest in sustainable consumption practices, particularly second-hand clothing consumption. However, instruments assessing attitudes toward second-hand clothing remain limited. This study aimed to develop a scale to assess university students’ perceptions, sustainability orientations, values, and attitudes toward second-hand clothing consumption and to provide evidence of its psychometric properties. An initial pool of 45 items was generated through a literature review and focus group interviews with students from 14 universities representing different geographical regions of Türkiye. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was conducted using data from 244 university students. After removing nine items, a 36-item, eight-factor structure accounted for 66.43% of the total variance. The factors were labeled Saving, Fashion, Social Interaction, Spiritual Well-Being, Brand Orientation, Sustainability, Trust, and Nostalgia. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) performed on an independent sample supported the proposed structure and demonstrated an acceptable model fit (χ²/df = 2.16; CFI = 0.854; TLI = 0.838; RMSEA = 0.069; SRMR = 0.074). Cronbach’s alpha coefficients ranged from 0.712 to 0.913. Overall, the findings indicate that the proposed scale demonstrates acceptable psychometric properties and has the potential to assess university students’ attitudes toward second-hand clothing consumption in future research. Full article

Effective watershed management requires spatial prioritization frameworks that simultaneously account for hydrological effectiveness, economic feasibility, and social readiness to support sustainable decision-making. However, most existing prioritization approaches rely primarily on biophysical indicators and rarely integrate socio-economic dimensions within a unified decision-making framework. This study proposes an integrated spatial prioritization framework for sustainable watershed management and applies it to the Taleghan watershed (341.4 km²) in the central Alborz Mountains, Iran. Hydrological responses were simulated using a calibrated HEC-HMS model, whereas soil erosion was estimated using a locally calibrated RUSLE model. Technical effectiveness was quantified based on reductions in peak discharge and soil erosion. At the same time, economic feasibility was evaluated through probabilistic cost–benefit analysis using Monte Carlo simulation to account for economic uncertainty. Social readiness was assessed using a validated Social Readiness Index (SRI) developed through Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The Technical Effectiveness Index (TEI), Economic Feasibility Index (EFI), and Social Readiness Index (SRI) were integrated using a hybrid Fuzzy AHP–TOPSIS approach to derive a Composite Priority Index (CPI) for 29 Hydrological Response Units (HRUs). The calibrated HEC-HMS model demonstrated satisfactory performance (NSE = 0.79–0.91), while the calibrated RUSLE model accurately reproduced observed soil erosion (R² = 0.76; RMSE = 4.2 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹). TEI, EFI, and SRI values ranged from 0.09–0.94, 0.05–0.91, and 0.28–0.84, respectively, indicating substantial spatial heterogeneity across the watershed. The integrated prioritization classified 7.8% of the watershed as very high priority for intervention, whereas sensitivity analysis showed that approximately 65% of HRUs maintained stable priority rankings under ±20% variations in criterion weights. The findings demonstrate that integrating hydrological, economic, and social dimensions provides a more robust and implementation-oriented basis for watershed planning than conventional single-criterion approaches. Overall, the proposed framework provides a decision-support approach that may be adapted to other semi-arid mountainous watersheds following appropriate local calibration. Full article

This study investigated the structural relationships among language learning strategies (LLSs), motivational beliefs (MBs), and English language achievement (ELA) among first-year Thai university students learning English as a foreign language (EFL). Grounded in self-regulated learning, social cognitive, and expectancy-value theories, the study examined how LLSs and MBs jointly contribute to ELA. A quantitative cross-sectional design was used, with 913 participants from a public university in Thailand. Data were collected via a structured questionnaire measuring learners’ cognitive, metacognitive, and social strategies; intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, task value, and self-efficacy; and overall assessment of their perceived English learning achievement and self-rated English proficiency across the four language skills. Descriptive statistics, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), and Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) were conducted. Results indicated moderate use of LLSs, with cognitive and metacognitive strategies used more frequently than social strategies. Students reported moderate-to-high motivational beliefs, with task value emerging as the strongest dimension. EFA and CFA supported the reliability and construct validity of the measurement model. SEM analysis demonstrated excellent model fit and revealed that intrinsic motivation, task value, and self-efficacy significantly predicted strategy use and ELA. LLSs showed the strongest direct effect on achievement, whereas extrinsic motivation had no significant direct effect. In addition, LLSs partially mediated the effects of intrinsic motivation, task value, and self-efficacy on achievement. The SEM results indicated that ELA is shaped by the combined influence of adaptive motivation and effective strategic behaviour. Therefore, instructional interventions should synchronously enhance strategic language learning and increase learners’ motivational beliefs to promote English learning achievement. Full article

Background/Objectives: Self-concealment is associated with greater psychological distress and decreased help-seeking engagement. This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties and sex invariance of the Persian Self-Concealment Scale (SCS) in Iranian adults. Methods: Participants were recruited using convenience sampling and social media advertising, targeting adults aged 18 or older who could read and understand Persian. The valid sample comprised 644 adults. Exploratory factor analysis was performed to delineate the underlying structural dimensions, followed by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Multi-group CFA was used to evaluate the gender invariance. Results: A one-factor exploratory solution explained 48.83% of the variance, whereas parallel analysis suggested three factors, indicating some residual multidimensionality. The initial one-factor CFA showed poor fit (RMSEA = 0.114, CFI = 0.899, TLI = 0.871). A revised one-factor model that accounted for four localized item-pair residual associations showed improved fit in Sample 2 (RMSEA = 0.062, CFI = 0.974, TLI = 0.962, N = 322) and acceptable fit when applied without further respecification to the non-overlapping Sample 1 (N = 322) internal holdout (RMSEA = 0.078, CFI = 0.960). Internal consistency was high (α = 0.896; ω = 0.897), while correlations with depression, anxiety, and stress ranged from 0.35 to 0.37, providing moderate evidence of convergent validity. Gender invariance was partially supported. Conclusions: The Persian SCS shows promising but qualified psychometric performance for research use, pending independent replication and longitudinal validation. Full article

Teacher adoption of virtual reality (VR) in education appears constrained despite the technology’s potential as an immersive multimodal learning environment. This cross-sectional online survey, based on convenience and snowball sampling, examined adoption perceptions among 408 Romanian teachers from primary, secondary, and tertiary levels using an integrated Technology Acceptance Model and Theory of Planned Behavior framework. Seven constructs were measured on five-point Likert scales and analyzed through internal consistency indices, confirmatory factor analysis, HTMT discriminant validity assessment, structural equation modeling, Spearman correlations, nonparametric group comparisons, supplementary manifest-score regression, and descriptive thematic coding of open-ended responses. The seven-factor CFA model showed acceptable fit (CFI = 0.945, TLI = 0.936, RMSEA = 0.068), and composite reliability and AVE supported convergent validity across all constructs. However, HTMT indicated limited discriminant validity between attitude toward using VR and attitude toward the behavior of adopting VR (HTMT = 0.928). In the SEM model, perceived usefulness showed the largest standardized association with attitude toward using VR, while behavioral intention was mainly associated with attitudinal evaluations and subjective norm; perceived behavioral control showed a weaker standardized path. All scales showed acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach’s $\alpha =0.81$–0.95), and construct means exceeded the scale midpoint (range: 3.45–4.03), indicating generally positive but differentiated perceptions. Supplementary manifest-score regression was consistent with the SEM results: the unified attitude factor showed the strongest statistical association with behavioral intention, followed by subjective norm and perceived behavioral control. Descriptive thematic coding of open-ended responses identified training, infrastructure, equipment access, curriculum-aligned content, cost, technical support, and time as recurrent perceived conditions associated with self-reported VR adoption intentions. The findings suggest that educational VR adoption should be interpreted through self-reported human factors and perceived implementation conditions, including perceived control, access to immersive equipment, practical training, and institutional support. Full article

Background/Objectives: Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) constructs are associated with adolescents’ eating habits. Validated surveys are needed to assess these constructs (in different populations and languages), considering both personal and socio-environmental factors, including peer influence. Therefore, the objective of this study was to validate the SCT-based Scale for Factors Influencing Eating Behavior in Adolescents (SCT-FIEBA), in Spanish. Methods: The scale was administered to 705 high school students from two schools in the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area, Mexico, with randomized and stratified selection. Two weeks later, 43 participants completed the retest. Construct validity was assessed using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA); internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha and McDonald’s omega; and temporal stability was assessed using the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC), with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Additionally, factor patterns influencing eating behavior were identified using hierarchical cluster analysis and discriminant analysis. Results: EFA (n = 353) showed an adequate structure with seven or eight factors (with 34 items). However, CFA (n = 352) showed a better fit with eight factors and 33 items (RMSEA = 0.073, SRMR = 0.083, CFI = 0.91, TLI = 0.90) than the other models. The scale’s internal consistency was excellent (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.92, CI 0.92–0.93; McDonald’s omega = 0.93, CI 0.92–0.93), with all sections scoring from moderate to excellent. The reproducibility indices were good for the whole scale (ICC = 0.70, CI 0.50–0.82) and four sections; the other four presented moderate values. It is recommended to verify reproducibility in a larger sample. Hierarchical cluster analysis yielded better results with four patterns influencing eating behavior based on SCT, and the discriminant analysis results were satisfactory (Wilks’ lambda = 0.108; 87% of cases correctly classified). Conclusions: The SCT-FIEBA demonstrated validity and reliability for assessing SCT constructs applied to eating behavior among high school adolescents in a Mexican population, as well as for identifying four distinct psychosocial patterns that influence eating behavior. Full article

Background and Objectives: Persistent COVID-19 sequelae, often referred to as “long COVID”, still constitute a major global medical challenge. In particular, general fatigue is the most widely reported, serious symptom. In the framework of Japanese traditional (Kampo) medicine (JTM), post-infection fatigue is frequently considered a “Qi deficiency”, a significant loss of vital energy. In JTM, accurately diagnosing Qi deficiency is essential for determining the appropriate treatment. However, one challenge in JTM diagnosis is that mastering traditional diagnostic techniques takes time. We sought to validate the “Qi deficiency score”, a quantitative patient-reported outcome measure designed to assess Qi deficiency in patients suffering from long COVID. Materials and Methods: This was a methodological study. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 237 patients who sought treatment at the post-COVID-19 clinic (COVID-19 Aftercare Clinic) at Okayama University Hospital. The patient population was randomly split into two cohorts: one for Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA, n = 122) and another for Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA, n = 115). The simple Qi-deficiency score comprises eight items derived from Terasawa’s diagnostic criteria, with a total range of 0–56. We evaluated internal consistency using Cronbach’s α/McDonald’s ω and examined structural validity. Convergent validity was established by examining correlations between the simple Qi deficiency score and the Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS), the Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), and Quality of Life (QOL) metric. Results: The score’s internal consistency (α = 0.64 and ω = 0.63) was considered modest for screening traditional clinical syndromes. EFA showed major factors representing Qi deficiency symptoms. CFA supported a one-factor model with modest fit indices (CFI = 0.87; RMSEA = 0.079; SRMR = 0.077; TLI = 0.82). Factor loadings revealed that “Body feels tired (now)” (0.98) and “Tires easily (tendency)” (0.73) were the most significant symptoms. Convergent validity showed a strong positive correlation with the FAS (r = 0.61, ρ = 0.60) and a moderate correlation with the SDS (r = 0.55, ρ = 0.55). A significant negative correlation was found with QOL scores (r = −0.42, ρ = −0.43). Conclusions: The simple Qi deficiency score may be useful for evaluating Qi deficiency in patients with post-COVID-19 condition. Full article