Search Results (36)

Background: Considering the critical role of physical activity (PA) beginning in early childhood education and the demonstrated validity and reliability of contemporary technological measurement tools, this paper aimed to systematically review and analyze studies comparing PA levels in preschool-aged children during weekdays versus weekend days, using objective technological devices, and highlight what factors correlate with children’s PA. Methods: The search strategy was designed based on the PICOS framework. A systematic review was conducted using two databases (PubMed and Web of Science) to identify studies that included preschool children doing PA during weekdays, measured through technological devices, and compared to PA during weekend days. Study quality was evaluated using the MINORS scale. Results: From 1959 articles, 30 documents met the inclusion criteria, encompassing 32,251 preschool children. Conclusions: The results suggest that preschoolers were generally more active on weekdays than weekends, although it could depend more on contextual or individual factors than on the day of the week. In this sense, parental/maternal behavior (sedentary behavior, shared activities during weekend days, parents’ educational level, and parental/maternal screen time) influences children’s PA level, as well as other factors such as gender, morphology, motor competence level, the type of activity (indoor vs. outdoor), age, meeting PA guidelines, and the community transportation environment. Considering these factors, professionals working in preschools or kindergartens, as well as parents/mothers, should consider these factors to foster children’s PA level from early childhood, which could influence children’s lifespan. Full article

Background: This review explores the influence of eco-anxiety on sustainable consumption, with a specific focus on the urban context. While the literature on green consumerism continues to expand, the role of emotional and psychological factors, especially eco-anxiety, in shaping sustainable consumption decisions remains underexplored. Most existing studies emphasize cognitive, social, or contextual drivers, often overlooking affective dimensions that may significantly influence consumer behavior. Addressing this gap, the review examines how emotional responses to climate change, such as eco-anxiety, inform and potentially motivate eco-friendly consumption patterns. Understanding these affective pathways offers valuable insights on how individuals and urban communities can effectively adapt to climate change and establish a sustainable consumption culture. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in Scopus and Web of Sciences databases, following a predefined keyword strategy, resulting in 56 initial records. We further implemented a supplementary search of gray literature on Google Scholar to search for additional reports. The full-text screening process identified 12 eligible studies based on the following inclusion criteria: quantitative or mixed-methods studies focusing on adult and young adult individuals, including both measures of eco-anxiety and green consumption and assessing their direct or indirect relationship. Results: Findings suggest that eco-anxiety functions as a cognitive–affective motivator for sustainable consumer choices; however, the strength and direction of this influence appear contingent on moderating emotional and psychological variables and cross-cultural and demographic moderators. Discussion: This review highlights the need for urban-focused intervention tailored communication, marketing, and business strategies that address the emotional dimensions of climate change. Policymakers and businesses are encouraged to consider affective drivers as eco-anxiety to promote sustainable consumption stewardship within urban communities. By addressing these psychological responses, urban societies can become more resilient and proactive in confronting climate change challenges. Full article

Background: Teen dating violence (TDV) is a serious public health concern, with sexual and gender minority youth (SGMY) at elevated risk due to minority stress and systemic inequalities. This systematic review examines individual, relational, and contextual risk factors for TDV among SGMY. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in Scopus, Web of Science, and APA PsycInfo on 10 December 2024. Studies published between 2014 and 2024 focusing on teen dating violence (TDV) as an outcome among sexual and gender minority youth (SGMY) aged 13–19 were included. Study selection was independently performed by multiple reviewers using Rayyan. Risk of bias was assessed using the JBI Critical Appraisal Tools. Due to heterogeneity in the study design and measurement tools, a narrative synthesis was conducted. Results: Six risk domains emerged: (1) Demographic/Identity (e.g., gender, orientation, or race); (2) Psychological/Behavioral (e.g., distress or substance use); (3) Violence/Bullying (e.g., cyberbullying or exclusion); (4) Family/Sexual Abuse (e.g., family rejection); (5) Relational/Social (e.g., partner outing); and (6) School/Community (e.g., non-inclusive environments). Bisexual, pansexual, transgender, and racialized youth showed heightened vulnerability. Most studies were conducted in the USA and relied on non-validated TDV measures and cross-sectional designs, limiting comparability and causal inference. Conclusions: SGMY face unique, often overlooked TDV risks. There is a need for intersectional, longitudinal research and inclusive, developmentally appropriate prevention efforts that address both relational and structural factors. This review received no external funding and was not registered. Full article

Addressing climate change requires deeper insight into the psychological drivers of pro-environmental behavior. This study investigates how personality traits, climate-related emotions, and demographic factors can predict sustainable consumption and climate action participation using a Bayesian regression approach. Drawing from the HEXACO personality model and key emotional predictors—Climate Change Worry (CCW) and environmental empathy (EE)—we analyzed data from 604 adults in Greece to assess both private and public climate-related behaviors. This research is novel in its integrative approach, combining dispositional traits and affective states within a Bayesian analytical framework to simultaneously predict both sustainable consumption and climate action. Bayesian model testing highlighted education as the most powerful and reliable predictor of sustainable consumption, with increasing levels—namely Doctoral education—linked to more environmentally responsible action. CCW produced small but reliable effects, supporting hypotheses that moderate emotional concern will lead to sustainable behavior when linked to efficacy belief. The majority of HEXACO traits, e.g., Honesty–Humility and Conscientiousness, produced limited predictive power. This indicates in this case that structural and emotional considerations were stronger than dispositional personality traits. For climate action involvement, Bayesian logistic models found no considerable evidence of any predictor, corroborating the perspective that public participation in high effort action is most likely to rely on contextual enablers instead of internal sentiments or attributes. A significant interaction effect between education and gender also indicated that the sustainability effect of education is moderated by sociocultural identity. Methodologically, this research demonstrates the strengths of Bayesian analysis in sustainability science to make sensitive inference and model comparison possible. The results highlight the importance of affect-related structural variables in behavioral models and have applied implications for theory-informed and targeted climate education and communication interventions to enable different populations to act sustainably. Full article

Background: Adolescents are at a critical developmental stage marked by rapid cognitive, emotional, and social changes, making them highly susceptible to mental health issues. Recently, digital health interventions (DHIs) have emerged as innovative and scalable tools for promoting mental well-being in this population. Methods: This integrative review was conducted based on comprehensive literature searches of major academic databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and PsycINFO. Studies published between January 2010 and December 2024 were identified using keywords such as “adolescent mental health,” “digital health intervention,” “behavior change model,” “e-health,” “mobile mental health,” and “digital therapeutics.” The inclusion criteria comprised peer-reviewed studies on digital mental health interventions for adolescents that applied, fully or partially, a behavior change approach. Studies targeting adults, interventions without digital technology, the gray literature, and duplicate publications were excluded. Results: We examined intervention strategies based on developmental stage prevention, early intervention, and recovery and highlighted key digital components such as accessibility, anonymity, personalization, and continuous monitoring. Furthermore, we analyzed case studies from various countries, including Korea, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Japan, to identify best practices and contextual challenges. Conclusions: DHIs rooted in sound psychological theory and ethical design can complement school- and community-based interventions by offering effective personalized support. The practical implications and future directions are discussed. Full article

Dementia-related stigma significantly influences help-seeking and affects the quality of care and support received by people with the condition. This review examines the impact of stigma on help-seeking among people with dementia and identifies key factors influencing this relationship. A systematic search across Web of Science, CINAHL, PsycINFO, PubMed, and Scopus identified seventeen qualitative studies that met the inclusion criteria. These criteria encompassed studies focusing on individuals aged 60 and older addressing public- or self-stigma and exploring help-seeking behaviors and related influencing factors. A thematic synthesis was employed to analyze the findings. The following five major themes emerged: reluctance to disclose the condition, internalization or rejection of stigmatizing beliefs, influence of family and community, attitudes of healthcare professionals, and lack of awareness in the broader society. Factors such as psychological decline, loss of autonomy, limited service access, peer support, and need for policy-level intervention were identified as central in shaping stigma. Findings related to the factors that influence this relationship indicate that stigma delays diagnosis and treatment, restricting access to adequate care. Both individual (e.g., autonomy, psychological well-being) and contextual (e.g., social networks, public policies) factors are crucial in moderating this dynamic. Targeted interventions addressing these dimensions are urgently needed to reduce stigma and facilitate timely help-seeking in dementia. Full article

Adolescents’ pervasive use of social media has been increasingly linked to aggression, including cyberbullying and hostile online interactions. While this association is well documented, the psychological and contextual mechanisms that mediate or moderate it remain unclear. This scoping review maps quantitative evidence on mediators and moderators between social media use and aggression among adolescents. A comprehensive search using ProQuest’s Summon platform was conducted across PsycINFO, Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science, following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Eligible studies, published between January 2020 and March 2025, included adolescents aged 11–18 and reported at least one statistical mediation or moderation analysis. Forty-four studies from 19 countries (N > 90,000) were thematically synthesized. Key mediators included problematic use, moral disengagement, depression, attention-seeking, and risky digital behaviors. Moderators included gender, body satisfaction, cultural setting, school type, and family attachment. Most of the studies used structural equation modeling or PROCESS macro, although cross-sectional designs predominated. Limitations included reliance on self-reports and inconsistent social media measures. The findings suggest that social media–aggression links are indirect and shaped by emotional, cognitive, and ecological factors. Multi-level interventions targeting digital literacy, moral reasoning, and resilience are needed. This review was not registered and received no external funding. Full article

Background: With increasing work pace and stress, sedentary office habits and insufficient physical activity (PA) pose significant threats to employee health and organizational productivity. Physical activity-led workplace health interventions (PAWHIs) have gained attention due to their multifaceted benefits for employees’ physical and mental health. This systematic review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of PAWHIs and examine the success rates of PA combined with various supplementary intervention approaches in improving employee health. Methods: This study was conducted according to the PRISMA 2020 statement guidelines. A systematic search was performed across four databases (PubMed, Web of Science, EBSCO, and Scopus) for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published between 2013 and 2023. The Cochrane risk-of-bias tool was used to assess the risk of bias in the included studies. Results: After screening, 40 studies meeting the criteria were finally identified and subjected to quality assessment. The primary intervention measures of PAWHIs focused on education, physical activity, and dietary interventions. Fifty percent of the studies adopted multimodal combined intervention schemes involving two or more types of interventions. The most common intervention durations were 12 weeks (9 studies) and 24 weeks (24 studies). An analysis of the various intervention effects of PAWHIs revealed that the most successfully improved outcomes were increased physical activity levels (26/32), reduced psychological stress (4/5), and improved dietary habits (12/19), with over 60% of the related studies reporting positive effects. Additionally, improvements were also commonly observed in body composition (16/29) and clinical health outcomes (15/27). Conclusions: PAWHIs have positive effects on improving employee health status and promoting healthy behaviors, particularly in increasing PA levels and reducing psychological stress. However, interventions need to be contextualized and further optimized to achieve more comprehensive and sustainable health outcomes. Full article

Human immunodeficiency virus remains a persistent public health challenge in Africa, with cultural and religious beliefs influencing testing and prevention behaviors. Understanding these influences is important for developing culturally appropriate interventions. This scoping review protocol outlines a plan to systematically map the existing literature on the impact of traditional and religious beliefs, and the roles of traditional and religious leaders, on HIV testing and prevention behaviors across African contexts. Following Arksey and O’Malley’s framework, the review will progress through six methodical stages. By identifying, analyzing, and summarizing the relevant literature and consulting stakeholders, this review aims to inform the development of culturally informed public health interventions and identify areas requiring further research. The intended outcome is a structured overview of how traditional and religious beliefs and leaders shape HIV testing and prevention behaviors, identifying contextual factors to guide the creation of effective HIV prevention programs within African communities. This scoping review protocol has been shared on Open Science Framework (OSF). Full article

Background and Objectives: Sexualized substance use (SSU) and chemsex have garnered increasing attention in public health research, particularly among men who have sex with men (MSM). However, the prevalence and implications of these behaviors in the general population and among women remain underexplored. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to synthesize existing evidence on the prevalence of SSU and chemsex in the general population, with a specific focus on women. Materials and Methods: Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, PubMed, ProQuest, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane, and PsycINFO were searched for studies published before 18 February 2025. The keywords included “chemsex”, “sexualized substance use”, “prevalence”, and “women”. Studies were included if they reported prevalence data on SSU or chemsex in the general population or among women. The exclusion criteria included studies focused exclusively on MSM, adolescents, or specific drug toxicity. The pooled prevalence estimates were presented using forest plots, and the heterogeneity was assessed using I² statistics in RStudio (version 4.3.2). Results: The findings reveal that SSU and chemsex are significant phenomena, with pooled prevalences of 19.92% in the general population and 15.61% among women. The higher prevalence of SSU (29.40%) compared with chemsex (12.66%) in the general population suggests that substance use during sex is a broader behavioral pattern. Among women, the prevalence of chemsex was notably lower (3.50%) than SSU (25.78%). Conclusions: This study underscores that SSU and chemsex are significant public health concerns extending beyond the MSM community. The findings highlight the need for inclusive public health strategies that address these behaviors across the general population. Future research should focus on standardizing definitions, exploring contextual factors, and developing targeted interventions to mitigate associated risks, such as sexually transmitted infections, substance dependency, and mental health disorders. Full article

Open science, accessibility and knowledge sharing, especially of articles and monographs stemming from publicly funded research, seem to be moving in quite a positive direction toward scientific development and have received almost unanimous approval from the scientific community. However, when it comes to data sharing, the existing practice reveals a different picture, and not exclusively a discipline-dependent one. FAIR principles are developed and promoted as guiding tools for creating contextualized standards. The fact that data obtained by a qualitative methodology deserve special attention and treatment regarding the accessibility principle is recognized. Although FAIR principles provide ways to anonymize the data and interlocutors, individuals coming from smaller communities or even communities of practice can sometimes be easily recognized by members of the same community if data are openly accessed. Sometimes the interlocutors might agree with these terms, but sometimes they do not. According to the disciplinary code of ethics, a researcher is obliged to thoroughly describe the ways of the raw data management and usage, and in the case of mandatory raw data sharing (e.g., for receiving funding), it can inevitably impact the narratives collected. The prerogative to make all data open inevitably leads to autocensorship among interlocutors, i.e., resulting in a kind of FAIRy tale being collected. The article discusses the results obtained from the survey carried out among Croatian ethnologists and cultural anthropologists about the currently practiced data sharing, their attitudes about data sharing and their perceived behavior in hypothetical situations connected with data sharing. The results show mixed opinions about data sharing and a desire to follow the disciplinary code of ethics first, i.e., to follow the interlocutors’ wishes in the case of data management and usage. Full article

Despite an increase in the promotion of equal opportunities at work, there is still persistent discrimination against lesbian and gay (LG) workers. In this vein, this study aimed to systematically review the research investigating the peculiarities of the work experience of LG people, particularly considering the theoretical frameworks in the approach to sexual minorities’ work-related issues, as well as individual and contextual variables influencing the work experience and the impact they may have on health and well-being. We explored the PsycArticles, EMBASE, Scopus, and Web of Science electronic databases and the EBSCOHost (PsycInfo, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection) scholarly search engine, between 01/01/2013 to 01/03/2023, with regards to the search terms “lgb*”, “gay*”, “lesbian*”, “homosexual*”, and “sexual minorit*”, associated with “employee*”, ”personnel”, “worker*”, and “staff”, and with “workplace”, “work”, “job”, “occupation”, “employment”, and “career”. Data were narratively synthesized and critically discussed. Of the 1584 potentially eligible articles, 140 papers contributed to this systematic review. Five main theoretical frameworks were identified: (a) minority stress, (b) sexual prejudice and stigma, (c) queer and Foucauldian paradigms, (d) social identity theories, and (e) intersectionality. Furthermore, significant individual (e.g., outness, disclosure, and work–family conflict) and contextual (e.g., heterosexist and heteronormative workplace climate and culture) variables influencing LG people’s work experience were identified. This review highlights the need to develop a unified theoretical model for the construction of specific measurement tools to assess the work experience of LG people and for the implementation of interventions aimed at minimizing the effects of stigma in work contexts. Full article

Sustainable tourism has emerged as a critical concern in contemporary society due to its potential to mitigate negative environmental and socio-cultural impacts associated with traditional tourism practices. In this context, recommendation systems (RS) are crucial in shaping travelers’ choices toward sustainable options. This research article proposes an innovative approach to RS tailored for sustainable tourism, termed Sustainability and Cultural Awareness-based Recommendation Algorithm (OurSCARA). OurSCARA integrates awareness of environmental and socio-cultural factors (sustainability attributes) into the recommendation process to facilitate informed decision-making by travelers. The system leverages data analytics techniques, including sentiment analysis, user profiling, and collaborative filtering (CF), to personalize recommendations based on users’ preferences, sustainability preferences, and contextual factors. Furthermore, OurSCARA incorporates real-time data sources such as weather conditions, local events, and community initiatives to enhance the relevance and timeliness of recommendations. A prototype implementation of OurSCARA is presented, along with a comprehensive evaluation framework to assess its effectiveness in promoting sustainable tourism behaviors. Through empirical evaluation using datasets collected from TripAdivsor, we demonstrate the potential of OurSCARA to influence traveler behavior towards more sustainable choices while enhancing their overall tourism experience. The findings underscore the significance of integrating sustainability considerations into RS and pave the way for future research and development in this emerging area at the intersection of computer science and sustainable tourism. Full article

Childhood influenza vaccination coverage remains low in lower/middle-income countries. This systematic review aims to identify influencing factors around childhood influenza vaccination. A systematic literature review was conducted and included empirical studies with original data that investigated factors influencing childhood influenza vaccination. We searched MEDLINE, Web of Science, EMBASE, CINAHL Plus, Global Health, PsycINFO, and two Chinese databases, China Knowledge Resource Integrated Database and Chongqing VIP, using a combination of the key terms ‘childhood’, ‘influenza’, ‘vaccination’, and related syntax for all peer-reviewed publications published before December 2019. Thirty studies were included in the analysis. Childhood influenza vaccination was positively associated with caregivers’ knowledge of influenza vaccine, positive vaccine attitudes, self-efficacy, perceived susceptibility and severity of influenza, believing in the efficacy of influenza vaccine, the worry of getting sick, healthcare workers’ recommendations, and previous influenza vaccination experiences. Barriers included the fear of safety and side effects of the vaccine, as well as poor access to vaccination service. To improve childhood influenza vaccine uptake, health education is necessary to address caregivers’ lack of confidence on vaccine safety. Future studies are needed to investigate influencing factors around healthcare workers’ vaccination recommendation behaviors and the impact of contextual factors on public vaccination behaviors. Full article

As an essential subject of rural environmental governance, farmers’ environmental governance behavior directly affects the level and efficiency of rural environmental governance. In traditional rural society, the characteristics of “acquaintance society”, “circle doctrine”, and “clan society” have led to farmers’ behaviors being influenced and constrained by their surrounding social support and social relations. Therefore, the interaction between farmers will affect the effectiveness of rural environmental governance, and the interaction effect will also affect the implementation of policies in rural environmental governance. In the strategic context of the policy of “building a beautiful and harmonious countryside that is desirable to live and work in” and “promoting green development and harmonious coexistence between human beings and nature” put forward by the 20th National Congress, we follow the principles of Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle from the perspective of circular economy, taking farmers as our research subject. We take the behavior of domestic garbage disposal as an example and, relying on the National Social Science Foundation project, use field research data and refer to neighbor groups and neighboring village groups. We use the Manski model to test the interaction effect of the two groups, analyze the interaction between individual farmers and the interaction between neighboring villages, and, finally, prove that there is an endogenous interaction effect and a situational interaction effect between the neighbor group and neighboring villages. Endogenous interaction effects, contextual interaction effects, and association effects exist between neighbor groups, while only contextual interaction effects and association effects exist between neighboring village groups. The above conclusions provide a policy reference for rural household waste and environmental management. Full article