Search Results (154)

As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes an integral part of organizational operations, collaboration between humans and AI is transforming employees’ work experiences and behavioral patterns. This study examines the psychological challenges and coping responses associated with such collaboration. Drawing on Cognitive Appraisal Theory, we construct and test a theoretical framework that connects employee–AI collaboration to knowledge hiding via job insecurity, while considering AI trust as a moderating variable. Data were collected through a three-wave time-lagged survey of 348 employees working in knowledge-intensive enterprises in China. The empirical results demonstrate that (1) employee–AI collaboration elevates perceptions of job insecurity; (2) job insecurity fosters knowledge-hiding behavior; (3) job insecurity mediates the link between collaboration and knowledge hiding; and (4) AI trust buffers the positive effect of collaboration on job insecurity, thereby reducing its indirect impact on knowledge hiding. These findings reveal the paradoxical role of AI collaboration: although it enhances efficiency, it may also provoke defensive reactions that inhibit knowledge exchange. By highlighting the role of AI trust in shaping employees’ cognitive appraisals, this study advances understanding of how cognitive appraisals influence human adaptation to intelligent technologies. Practical insights are offered for managers aiming to cultivate trust-based and psychologically secure environments that promote effective human–AI collaboration and organizational innovation. Full article

Background/Objectives: Self-care is essential in managing type 2 diabetes (T2DM), yet it remains suboptimal among patients. This systematic review aimed to determine whether self-regulation-based self-management interventions improve glycemic control, self-efficacy, and quality of life among adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), including individual and family-based approaches. Methods: Four major databases (Scopus, ScienceDirect, ProQuest, and PubMed) were systematically searched for English-language studies following PRISMA guidelines. Screening was performed using Rayyan, and study quality was assessed with the JBI critical appraisal tool. Data were synthesized based on PICO outcomes and study design to identify key patterns. The review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024594398). Results: A total of 881 articles were identified, and 31 met the inclusion criteria. Most studies were randomized controlled trials (54.8%), with diabetes self-management education (DSME) being the most common intervention (41.9%), followed by self-regulation training (12.9%). Nearly half of the studies measured blood glucose and quality-of-life outcomes (22.6%), while others focused on knowledge, behavior, and self-efficacy (19.4%). Only a few studies addressed individual and family-oriented interventions. Conclusions: DSME and self-regulation-based approaches are recommended as complementary strategies to improve diabetes self-management. This review introduces a novel integrative model linking disease interpretation, coping strategies, and family support, and highlights their influence on patient self-care behaviors. Future research should empirically test this model to clarify the dynamic interactions among its domains and their effects on glycemic control and health outcomes. Full article

Child sexual abuse (CSA) has consequences beyond the direct victim, affecting non-offending mothers, who may experience psychological, physical, and social symptoms after disclosure. This systematic review examined the impact of CSA on these mothers and the variables that influence coping and recovery. Searches were run in EBSCOhost (MEDLINE, PsycInfo, CINAHL) following PRISMA 2020 and a PEO framework. Three reviewers screened 128 records in Rayyan (Cohen’s κ = 0.73), and 17 empirical studies met the inclusion criteria. Risk of bias was appraised with ROBINS-E. Distress, anxiety, depression, and secondary traumatic stress were the most frequently reported symptoms. These consequences were associated with factors such as maternal history of abuse, perceived social support, coping style, and cultural or religious beliefs, highlighting potentially modifiable cognitive and contextual targets for support. A key contribution of this review is the identification of modifiable cognitive variables that are clinically relevant. Methodological limitations of the evidence base warrant cautious interpretation–comprising seven qualitative, nine quantitative cross-sectional, and one mixed-methods study, with heterogeneity that precluded meta-analysis and limited causal inference. Overall, the findings highlight the need for comprehensive, trauma-informed interventions that address not only the child’s recovery but also the well-being and resilience of their mothers. Full article

Culinary culture shock (CCS)—the discomfort and ambivalence travelers feel when encountering unfamiliar foods—remains underexplored from a short-horizon, trip-bounded perspective. While prior work notes both attractions and impediments of food in tourism, a process-oriented account of how ordinary travelers experience and navigate CCS during brief trips is still limited. This study examines CCS in Guangzhou, China and delineates how it shapes travelers’ evaluations of place. We adopt a qualitative design, combining 30 semi-structured interviews with in situ ethnographic observations across markets, street-food settings, restaurants, and guided food tours, supplemented by document analysis (e.g., visitor materials and menus). Using reflexive thematic analysis, we identify three recurrent coping trajectories—avoidance, gradual adaptation, and immersion—that unfold nonlinearly as travelers recalibrate expectations, manage sensory dissonance, and renegotiate comfort boundaries. We integrate expectancy–disconfirmation theory (EDT) with an embodied view of tasting to develop the Palate Adaptation Spiral Model (PASM), which explains CCS as recursive cycles of appraisal, strategy enactment, and re-appraisal within the span of a trip. Social influence (peers, guides, and service staff) operates as a cross-cutting mechanism that can accelerate adaptation or entrench avoidance depending on cue valence and credibility. The study clarifies the scope of CCS as general travel encounters (not restricted to culinary-motivated tourists) and specifies contextual conditions under which negative reactions are reversible. Theoretically, we connect EDT to short-term culinary adaptation through PASM; practically, we outline design levers—pre-trip expectation management, pictorial/transparent menus, and guide-mediated tasting sequences—to reduce anxiety and support constructive exploration. Full article

Academic staff face workplace stressors such as high workloads, job insecurity, and limited institutional support, which contribute to psychological distress and burnout. While workplace-based interventions are important for maintaining well-being, their effectiveness in academic settings remains underexplored. This systematic review including qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods studies synthesized evidence on individual-level mental health interventions for university academic staff. Five databases (PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Web of Science, SCOPUS, ERIC) were searched for peer-reviewed studies published between 2003 and 2023. From 1058 records, seven studies met the inclusion criteria. Methodological quality was appraised using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) and the GUIDance for the rEporting of intervention Development (GUIDED) framework. Interventions included lifestyle regimens, mindfulness, yoga, community therapy, and institutionally embedded wellness programs. The findings suggest that brief, structured, and theoretically grounded interventions can improve psychological well-being, reduce burnout, and enhance coping. Facilitators included leadership support, institutional integration, peer networks, and flexible delivery; barriers included stigma, workload pressures, attrition, and digital challenges. Most studies were conducted in the Global North, limiting transferability to resource-constrained contexts. Overall, individual-level interventions show promise, but sustainable, culturally adapted, and multilevel strategies are needed to strengthen mental health support in higher education. These insights also contribute to broader efforts to promote health and safety in the workplace by identifying practical strategies to enhance well-being across diverse occupational settings. Full article

In this study, we employed a Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) framework and Stimulus–Organism–Response (SOR) model to explore respondents’ emotional and behavioral responses to threats posed by climate change in high mountain areas. Data were collected from 391 valid questionnaires and analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to rigorously test the proposed hypotheses. The results indicate that threat appraisal and coping appraisal are significantly associated with stronger tourist intentions toward climate change mitigation, as they foster positive emotional responses. Specifically, the pathway involves awe as a self-transcendent emotion, which appears to play a crucial role in predicting climate change mitigation behavioral intentions. Climate change knowledge is found to negatively moderate the relationship between threat appraisal and awe. These findings provide new insights by revealing the psychological mechanisms underlying mountain tourists’ behaviors against climate change. Practically, they highlight the need to use diverse audiovisual elements to evoke awe among viewers and communication messages that focus on the severity of the threats posed by climate change in highly mountainous areas. Full article

This research applies the stress appraisal framework to examine how perceived status threats, triggered by high-performing new employees, affect incumbent employees’ work engagement and withdrawal behaviors. The investigation proposes that coping approaches, specifically proactive adaptation strategies and disengagement tactics, serve as mediating mechanisms, with stress perception orientation playing a moderating role. By reversing traditional research perspectives to concentrate on incumbent employees rather than new employees, this analysis identifies the key drivers of perceived occupational vulnerability and investigates their behavioral consequences. Through a time-lagged research methodology, we garnered responses from 266 incumbent employees spanning multiple sectors. The results demonstrate a strong positive correlation between the competence of new employees and incumbent employees’ perceived status of threat, which subsequently elevates work engagement via approach-focused strategies, while simultaneously increasing disengagement behaviors through avoidance mechanisms. Notably, employees’ fundamental beliefs about stress significantly weaken the association between perceived competitive threats and passive coping methods. These discoveries highlight critical implications for managing workplace dynamics and optimizing team performance through an enhanced understanding of perceived status challenges. Full article

Background: Perceived stress occurs when environmental demands are appraised as exceeding an individual’s coping resources, triggering emotional dysregulation and physiological hyperactivation with adverse mental and physical outcomes. University students are particularly vulnerable to psychological distress due to academic pressure, social transitions, and lifestyle changes. Despite increasing attention to mental health in higher education, data on perceived stress among Italian university students remain limited. This study aimed to assess stress profiles using the Italian Perceived Stress Scale—Revised (IPSS-R) and to explore associations with sociodemographic and academic variables. Methods: A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted among 2.103 undergraduate and master’s students enrolled in Italian universities. Participants completed the 15-item IPSS-R, which measures three dimensions: general stress, coping, and academic stress. Sociodemographic and academic data were collected via a structured questionnaire. Non-parametric tests and Principal Component Analysis were employed to identify group differences and multivariate patterns. Results: Two principal components were retained through the principal component analysis, overall perceived stress (40.9% of the variance) and coping-related responses (13.7% of the variance). The mean total IPSS-R score was 30.6 (SD = 7.08, p < 0.001), reflecting moderate-to-high levels of perceived stress. Academic demands emerged as the predominant stressors. Higher stress levels were reported by female students, younger individuals, first-year undergraduates, and those enrolled in health sciences and STEM programs. Conversely, older students, postgraduate students, and those studying in Southern Italy demonstrated stronger coping abilities and lower academic stress. Students attending private universities reported elevated academic pressure, potentially due to heightened family and financial expectations. Conclusions: Italian university students experience substantial perceived stress, primarily driven by academic workload, performance expectations, and institutional pressure. Early identification using instruments such as the IPSS-R may enable targeted interventions to promote mental health and academic achievement in student support services, during triage, in wellness checks, and in psychoeducation. Full article

Sports, and especially competitions, can be a stressful experience for athletes, who often struggle to find and apply strategies to cope with stress. Thus, this study analyzes how different coping strategies anticipated to be employed in an important competition are explained by psychological (i.e., cognitive appraisal and emotions) and person and sports-related factors (i.e., gender, type of sport). Specifically, athletes were asked to complete a protocol 24–48 h prior to an important competition to assess their adaptation to stress related to high performance. The study included 383 athletes (60% male, M_age = 22.9 ± 5.3 years), from individual (swimming and running, n = 157; 41%) and team sports (handball, volleyball, n = 226; 59%) competing in major national leagues. Hierarchical linear regression analyses (enter method) were performed to examine the extent to which coping strategies and coping efficacy were explained by psychological, personal and sport-related variables. Results indicated (a) higher control perception and excitement were related with higher intention to use active coping; (b) being a female athlete, practicing individual sports, and excitement (higher intensity and facilitative value) were associated with a higher intention to use emotional support; (c) being a female athlete, lower coping perception, higher anger intensity, and higher facilitative value of happiness were associated with a higher anticipated use of humor; and (d) being a male athlete, higher anxiety, anger, and happiness intensity, and lower facilitative value of dejection and excitement were associated with higher anticipated use of denial. In sum, the explanation of each coping strategy is distinct and should be analyzed separately. Full article

Background/Objectives: Metal–ceramic crowns may be constructed using different techniques and coping materials. A systematic review analysing the coping material, method of construction, and instruments used for measuring the metal–ceramic crown marginal gap has not been completed. The aim of this systematic review was to appraise the literature relating to the instruments used for the in vitro marginal gap measurement of single pre-cemented metal–ceramic crowns and assess whether the crown coping material and method of coping construction influence the marginal gap. Methods: A systematic search was performed in November 2024 across the EBSCO Host, Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science databases, adhering to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and specific eligibility criteria. The Joanna Briggs Critical Appraisal Checklist was used to assess article quality. Results: Fourteen studies evaluated marginal gaps in 402 crowns using the following techniques: direct view microscopy (eight studies), replica techniques (three studies), scanning electron microscopy (two studies), and profilometry (one study). The mean marginal gap for all the metal–ceramic crowns across all the studies was 65.97 ± 32.58 µm. The pre-cementation mean marginal gaps showed no significant difference between Computer-Aided Design–Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAD-CAM) milled copings (87.95 ± 26.35 µm) and conventionally cast copings (90.45 ± 24.37 µm) (t = −0.197, p = 0.847). The mean marginal gaps varied significantly (F = 11.34, p < 0.001) by coping material: cobalt–chromium (Co-Cr) led to 84.28 µm, nickel–chromium (Ni-Cr) led to 70.98 µm, titanium led to 50.18 µm, and noble metal alloys led to 27.90 µm. Six studies addressed confounding factors and followed a standardised approach for measuring marginal gaps. Conclusions: Direct view microscopy was the most commonly used instrument for measuring the marginal gaps of single pre-cemented metal–ceramic crowns, yielding the smallest reported mean marginal gap of 75.00 ± 26.87 µm. Metal–ceramic crowns constructed with noble metal alloys exhibited the lowest mean marginal gaps. Metal–ceramic crowns constructed using conventional casting techniques presented similar marginal gaps to CAD-CAM crowns. Full article

Links between loneliness and health are robust, though evidence for associations with alcohol use is mixed. Previous research has supported perceived stress as a predictor of alcohol use and as a pathway through which loneliness impacts health over time. Yet findings are primarily limited to civilian samples, and less is known about how loneliness relates to stress and health among service members. The current study explores prospective associations among loneliness, stress, and health (i.e., sleep, alcohol misuse, and psychological distress) within a sample of mostly male service members. We examine two dimensions of perceived stress, perceived helplessness and negative coping appraisal, as explanatory mechanisms. Controlling for baseline stress and health, loneliness predicted perceived helplessness and negative coping appraisal (4-month follow-up); in turn, perceived helplessness and negative coping appraisal predicted insomnia and sleep dissatisfaction; and negative coping appraisal predicted alcohol misuse (indirect effects). Findings support transactional models of stress and the stressor-vulnerability model of alcohol use, revealing that coping appraisals play an important explanatory role for stress-related consequences of loneliness. Further, we provide new insight into mechanisms linking loneliness to alcohol use and sleep, differentiating dimensions of stress and highlighting potential intervention targets. Full article

This study investigates the psychological and emotional mechanisms underlying women’s reactions to breast cancer awareness advertisements through the dual lens of Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) and neuromarketing methods, addressing a gap in empirical research on the integration of biometric and cognitive approaches in health marketing. Utilizing a lab-based experiment with 78 women aged 40 and older, we integrated Facial Expression Analysis using Noldus FaceReader 9.0 with semi-structured post-exposure interviews. Six manipulated health messages were embedded within a 15 min audiovisual sequence, with each message displayed for 5 s. Quantitative analysis revealed that Ads 2 and 5 elicited the highest mean fear scores (0.45 and 0.42) and surprise scores (0.35 and 0.33), while Ad 4 generated the highest happiness score (0.31) linked to coping appraisal. Emotional expressions—including fear, sadness, surprise, and neutrality—were recorded in real time and analyzed quantitatively. The facial analysis data were triangulated with thematic insights from interviews, targeting perceptions of threat severity, vulnerability, response efficacy, and self-efficacy. The findings confirm that fear-based appeals are only effective when paired with actionable coping strategies, providing empirical support for PMT’s dual-process model. By applying mixed-methods analysis to the evaluation of health messages, this study makes three contributions: (1) it extends PMT by validating the emotional–cognitive integration framework through biometric–qualitative convergence; (2) it offers practical sequencing principles for combining threat and coping cues; and (3) it proposes cross-modal methodology guidelines for future health campaigns. Full article

The COVID-19 pandemic and related public health and hospital restrictions directly influenced Canadian perinatal healthcare. This study aimed to evaluate predictors of pandemic-related pregnancy and postpartum stress in Canada. A sample of 398 women with Canadian pandemic pregnancy experiences completed an online cross-sectional survey between September 2021 and February 2022. Demographic factors, perinatal healthcare characteristics, and psychometric measures including Oslo Social Support Scale (OSSS-3) and Brief COPE were analyzed by independent hierarchical generalized linear models (GLM) to identify predictive variables associated with prenatal and postpartum pandemic-related pregnancy stress scales (PREPS). Respondents reported low social support, low–moderate Problem-Focused and Emotion-Focused Coping scores, with low Avoidant Coping. Middle income and canceled prenatal care appointments were associated with prenatal PREPS-Preparedness Stress, with provider satisfaction negatively associated. Avoidant Coping was positively associated with both prenatal and postpartum Preparedness Stress and Infection Stress scores, whereas Problem-Focused Coping was associated with both prenatal and postpartum Positive Appraisal. High COVID-19 rates and region of healthcare were associated with prenatal and postpartum Infection Stress. Our findings that perinatal healthcare characteristics and psychometric measures, rather than demographic characteristics, were greater predictors of pandemic-related stress reflect the broad societal disruptions that shaped Canadian pregnancy experiences in our sample of mostly high income, well-educated, non-racialized women. Full article

Background: Emotional intelligence refers to individuals’ ability to recognize and manage their own emotions as well as those of others, playing a crucial role in stress management. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between different dimensions of emotional intelligence and stress management strategies in patients undergoing hemodialysis. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 468 patients on hemodialysis completed the (i) Wong and Law Emotional Scale (WLEIS) and (ii) Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire Short Form (TEIQue-SF) for the assessment of emotional intelligence as an emotional ability or as a personality trait, respectively; (iii) the Brief COPEQuestionnaire (Brief- COPE) for the assessment of stress management strategies; and (iv) a questionnaire about demographic characteristics. Spearman’s correlations coefficients were used to explore associations between two continuous variables. Multiple linear regression analysis was used with Brief-COPE dimensions as the dependent variable. Results: High levels of emotionality were associated with an active approach to coping with stress (p = 0.018), while increased well-being and high regulation of emotions were associated with decreased behavioral disengagement (p < 0.001). Moreover, high emotional appraisal of others was linked to an increased use of humor (p = 0.042), while self-control and use and regulation of emotions were associated with decreased expression of negative feelings (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The current findings suggest potential links between emotional intelligence and stress management strategies in patients undergoing hemodialysis. Full article

The increasing recognition of historical emissions and uneven financial capacities among developed and developing nations has highlighted the need to look for equity and fairness in global climate action. This study aims to present a revised method that enables mapping the current state of fairness in the global energy transition, addressing both the contribution to the climate crisis and the burden that different countries face in coping with the climate disasters resulting from it. For this purpose, we revise various methods and indices used to measure the progress of energy transition efforts, as well as existing methodologies to appraise the responsibility for climate change and the resulting financial capacity. We propose changes to the existing methods to allow for a clearer analysis of the fairness of the global energy transition. An exemplary use of the proposed modified methodology is applied to six countries that represent developing and developed countries using publicly available data from renowned sources such as IRENA, EM-DAT, and the World Bank, showing the applicability of the method. The main trends in the results highlight the added value of the proposed method. The progress in the energy transition is evaluated in terms of fairness as a transition index by taking into account historical responsibility and financial capacity. Damage from climate-induced disasters and contribution towards climate financing are added as contextual considerations. The country’s historical emissions, GDP, NDC, financial costs of climate-induced disaster, and financing from the Green Climate Fund are used as the basis for the analysis. The findings underscore the differences in energy transition achievement, as well as the differences in pledged and deposited funds among various types of countries. The results demonstrate a disproportionate burden experienced by lower-income nations and depict the ongoing challenges in translating principles of “common but differentiated responsibilities” into concrete outcomes. This study provides an open-source and data-driven perspective that highlights the need for change in global policy discourse and also advocates for the creation of more nuanced, just, and effective approaches to accelerate the clean energy transition worldwide. Full article