Search Results (17,434)

Corporate social performance has increasingly become a strategic source of competitive advantage, requiring examination of both firm-level leadership factors and broader institutional contexts. Drawing on upper echelons and institutional theories, this study examines how observable CEO demographic (age, gender, nationality) and cognitive (education, tenure, multiple directorships) characteristics influence corporate social performance and how institutional governance conditions moderate these relationships. Using panel data analysis, the study empirically examines the relationship between CEO characteristics and social performance outcomes, while assessing the moderating role of governance quality. In addition, the analysis explores potential differences by industry sensitivity through a subsample approach, where firms are divided into sensitive and non-sensitive industries to test heterogeneous effects. The results indicate that the influence of CEO characteristics varies across institutional and industry contexts. In sensitive industries, demographic characteristics exert a stronger and more consistent influence on social performance, particularly under stronger governance conditions, while cognitive traits also contribute in a less stable and more governance-dependent manner. In non-sensitive industries, both demographic and cognitive characteristics exhibit a relatively similar influence on social performance, suggesting a more balanced role of CEO traits in less scrutinized environments. The findings suggest that executive influence on sustainability outcomes is not uniform but depends on the interaction between leadership attributes, institutional governance, and industry sensitivity, highlighting the importance of contextual factors in understanding variations in corporate social performance. Full article

A recurring question in contemporary society is: How can one survive on a single income? Escalating socioeconomic challenges worldwide are pushing many households beyond their financial comfort zones. As a coping strategy, many individuals have adopted side hustles, income-generating activities pursued alongside full-time employment. However, a crucial question arises: do side hustles come at the expense of primary employment, particularly in terms of employee commitment and workplace loyalty? This study examined the moderating role of work–life integration in the relationship between side hustles, employee commitment, and workplace attachment. The unit of analysis consisted of academic and support staff at South African higher education institutions. Primary data were collected through a survey of a stratified random sample of 300 employees, and the data were analysed using structural equation modelling. The findings support that side hustles offer meaningful opportunities to enhance individual livelihoods by mitigating the impact of declining income levels. Moreover, the results indicate that flexible work arrangements are critical for employees engaged in hustle, as such flexibility strengthens organisational commitment and workplace attachment. The study recommends adopting a humanistic management approach that promotes boundaryless jobs, thereby fostering employee commitment and workplace attachment through an inclusive, supportive, and empowering work environment. Full article

Cyanotic congenital heart disease (CCHD) remains a major contributor to infant morbidity and mortality in the United States, yet the influence of maternal social determinants of health on risk is not fully understood. This study examined associations of maternal age, education, and race/ethnicity with the live birth prevalence of CCHD using recent national birth data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Vital Statistics System (2022–2023). CCHD was identified from birth certificate records and analyzed as a binary outcome. Regression analyses were performed to evaluate relationships between maternal characteristics and CCHD occurrence. Overall, CCHD was a rare outcome with a modest decline in prevalence between the two years examined. Increasing maternal age was associated with higher odds of CCHD, while Latina ethnicity was associated with lower odds compared to the reference group. Other racial/ethnic categories and maternal education level were not significantly associated with CCHD risk in adjusted analyses. These findings suggest that certain maternal factors, particularly age and ethnicity, are associated with variation in the live birth prevalence of CCHD and underscore the need for further research into underlying environmental and structural contributors not captured in standard birth records. Full article

Internet advertising, while enabling unprecedented commercial reach, has become a pervasive vehicle for deceptive practices that inflict measurable harm on consumers. This study empirically investigates the structural relationships between internet advertising falsity and consumer harm by integrating analyses of the mediating role of consumer cognitive processes and the moderating role of consumer vulnerability within a unified structural framework. Survey data were collected from 600 adult consumers with online purchase experience in the Republic of Korea—an advanced digital economy characterized by exceptionally high mobile-commerce penetration, mature e-commerce infrastructure, and evolving digital consumer protection regulation—and analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) with AMOS 24.0, supplemented by Hayes’ PROCESS macro Model 59 for conditional process analysis. All 13 hypotheses were supported, although path magnitudes varied substantially across falsity dimensions and mediator pathways—with direct effects ranging from β = 0.156 (false scarcity) to β = 0.224 (performance exaggeration), and indirect effects dominated by the risk assessment distortion pathway. Among the four sub-dimensions of advertising falsity—factual misrepresentation, performance exaggeration, price deception, and false scarcity—performance exaggeration exerted the strongest direct effect on consumer harm. The three cognitive mediators—perceived advertising credibility, risk assessment distortion, and purchase decision pressure—all demonstrated significant partial mediation, with risk assessment distortion emerging as the most powerful indirect pathway. All four consumer vulnerability dimensions—digital literacy level, demographic vulnerability, prior victimization experience, and impulsive buying tendency—significantly moderated the falsity–harm relationship, with low-digital-literacy consumers experiencing approximately 1.7 times the adverse effect of high-literacy counterparts. Moderated mediation analysis revealed that the conditional indirect effect for the high-vulnerability group was approximately 2.3 times that of the low-vulnerability group, confirming that the cognitive harm mechanism intensifies systematically for vulnerable consumers. These findings advance consumer vulnerability theory in the digital context and offer evidence-based implications for consumer protection policy, platform governance, and digital literacy education. Full article

The digital transformation of healthcare requires stronger digital competencies among pharmacists, yet evidence on the effectiveness of structured training remains scarce. This study examines the impact of a blended digital health training programme delivered to practicing pharmacists in Bihor County, Romania, as part of the Romanian pilot of the EU-funded European Health Professionals’ and the DigitAl team SkillS (H-PASS) project. A single-group pre–post educational design was applied to pharmacists from Bihor County, Romania, participating in a modular digital health training programme delivered between May and July 2025. A total of 84 pharmacists completed both pre-training and post-training self-reported competency assessments comprising 18 items across three modules: digital innovation and change management, communication and collaboration, and data management and digital literacy. Paired samples t-tests, Cohen’s d effect sizes, Cronbach’s alpha, moderator analyses, and ceiling effect analyses were conducted using Python-based statistical workflows. Statistically significant improvements were observed across all three modules (all p < 0.0001), with large effect sizes (d = 1.04–1.30). Post-training internal consistency increased substantially, with overall Cronbach’s alpha reaching 0.74. The greatest item-level gains were recorded in adaptive communication, cultural adaptation of care, and data protection ethics. No significant moderation effects were found for age, gender, or years of experience. Course satisfaction showed a moderate positive correlation with competency gains (r = 0.528), while perceived improvement was not significantly associated with observed score change. A ceiling effect indicated greater gains among participants with lower baseline competencies. The Romanian implementation of the H-PASS training programme was associated with improved self-reported digital health competencies among practicing pharmacists, high-lighting its potential as a scalable model for digital upskilling in healthcare. Full article

While there has been a recent focus on reforming kindergarten curricula to emphasize a play-based learning (PBL) approach, a lingering dichotomy remains between play-based learning and pedagogical instruction aimed at academic preparation. Early music education is a critical component of the current policy emphasis on arts education and PBL, yet there is scarce research on play-based pedagogy in music education, particularly regarding children’s engagement and the applied instructional models. This study investigates how instructional practices affect children’s behavioral and emotional engagement in musical play. Data were collected at two Hong Kong kindergartens (K1–K3) using classroom observations and the Engagement Check II (ECII) tool. Thematic content analysis revealed three instructional approaches: teacher-directed routines with minimal aspects of play, guided play within structured musical contexts, and open-ended, child-initiated musical play. Analysis of the ECII data revealed high levels of behavioral engagement, with guided-play contexts yielding higher levels of behavioral and emotional engagement compared to highly teacher-directed instructional approaches. Differences in engagement levels during musical play were revealed to be correlated with age. This study highlights the need for culturally responsive music teacher training, supportive school culture, and aligned curriculum and policy implementation. Full article

Background/Objectives: The multiple benefits of physical activity and exercise (PAE) for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and, thus, for public health underscore the importance of their multidisciplinary implementation in clinical practice. However, there is a lack of validated instruments that comprehensively assess physicians’ knowledge, attitudes, intentions, abilities, and behaviour (KAIAB) regarding PAE promotion in NCD management. Methods: This study aimed to develop and validate a new questionnaire to assess physicians’ KAIAB towards PAE and to evaluate their KAIAB levels. A two-stage design, including an e-Delphi method and a cross-sectional study, was conducted in Greece from January 2022 to May 2022. Results: In the first stage, after achieving consensus and stability within a purposive sample of 16 physician–experts (response rate 100%), the questionnaire was effectively developed and validated (Content Validity Ratio: 0.5–1) using a two-round e-Delphi method. In the second stage, a cross-sectional study was conducted in two physician populations from 12 medical specialities (response rate: 18.2%) and demonstrated that the new questionnaire had sufficient face validity and high reliability (Cronbach’s alpha: 0.805– 0.931). The three original Bloom levels’ cut-off points were also used to classify physicians’ KAIAB levels in the second stage. KAIAB levels were assessed using median and interquartile range (Mdn/IQR) and were found to be low (13/6), moderate (128/79), high (35/9), moderate (21/8), and moderate (33/8), respectively. Conclusions: The new questionnaire is reliable and valid. It is recommended that the questionnaire be applied in larger studies to further verify its validity and applicability. Additionally, it was found that although physicians reported high intentions and moderately positive attitudes toward PAE promotion, their knowledge in these domains and their exercise prescription practices remained limited. This underscores the need to enhance policies and initiatives in medical education and the healthcare system. Full article

Despite broad agreement on sensorimotor foundations of cognition, existing integrative models are not user-friendly to those who most need them—parents, caregivers, teachers, and clinical practitioners. This review addresses that gap by proposing Meaning-Events (M-Es) as sensorimotor–cognitive coordination units that structure meaning from infancy through adulthood. Drawing on joint attention research, embodied cognition, and dynamic skill theory, this integrative model demonstrates how sensorimotor processes—gaze coordination, affective timing/synchrony, bodily orientation, eye–hand coordination, and goal-directed action—organize cognitive structures of increasingly abstract meaning-making. Meaning-Events are shown as the smallest analyzable units that integrate sensorimotor experience with cognition, providing (1) developmental continuity for embodied action giving rise to coherent thought, purpose, and identity; (2) reciprocal perspectives informing impacts of dyadic behavioral interactions; and (3) an analytical and synthetic tool providing visible, measurable differentiation and integration of behaviors over time. Integration of Fischer’s dynamic skill theory with Erikson’s psychosocial theory illustrates applications in clinical and educational contexts. Rather than viewing sensorimotor experience as an early precursor superseded by symbolic cognition, the Meaning-Event model positions these sensorimotor–cognitive coordination units as constitutive of meaning at all developmental levels. Full article

High population growth across developing Pacific countries has increased the share of young people, creating potential for a demographic dividend alongside accelerating digitalisation driven by technology transfer. This study empirically investigates the dynamic relationship between the demographic dividend, digitalisation (ICT access), and economic growth. An endogenous growth framework is employed and extended to incorporate demographic change and information technology adoption, along with education (human capital) and renewable energy use to capture the broader dimensions of sustainable economic growth. The results show that both the demographic dividend and ICT are positively associated with per capita income. Moreover, technology adoption and the demographic dividend exhibit a complementary relationship, implying that improvements in one reinforce the growth effects of the other, while education exerts a positive and statistically significant impact on economic growth. In contrast, renewable energy shows a positive but statistically insignificant effect, suggesting its role is emerging but important for long-term sustainability. In assessing the determinants of digitalisation, the findings indicate that demographic structure and urbanisation contribute positively; however, a substantial share of variation in digitalisation is explained by income levels and mobile phone technology. These results highlight the importance of policies that leverage demographic transition through education and digital technologies, and sustainable energy transitions to accelerate sustainable economic growth and improve welfare outcomes in Pacific developing economies. Full article

Background/Objectives: Estimate the prevalence of myopia among children aged 6–17 years in county and rural areas across seven geographically diverse provinces of China, and identify demographic, behavioral, and geographic factors associated with myopia, with particular focus on urban–rural and ethnic differences. Methods: A multi-stage stratified cluster sampling design was employed. Seven provinces were randomly selected, one from each of seven geographical regions of China (Southeast, North, Central, South, Southwest, Northwest, and Northeast). In each province, one rural county was randomly chosen. Within each county, one urban survey site (county town) and one rural survey site (village) were selected. From each site, one primary school and one junior high school were included. In each school, approximately 20 ± 2 students per grade (grades 1–9) were recruited. Uncorrected visual acuity and non-cycloplegic autorefraction were measured. Multivariable generalized linear mixed models (GLMM) with random intercepts at the class level were used to identify factors associated with myopia, accounting for the cluster sampling design. Results: The overall myopia prevalence was 42.9% (urban 49.6%, rural 36.0%). In the multivariable GLMM, educational stage was the strongest risk factor (grades 7–9 vs. 1–3: OR = 5.54). A significant district × ethnicity interaction was found only for Mongolian children: rural residence was strongly protective (OR = 0.19) compared to Han (OR = 0.65), and the ethnic advantage disappeared in county towns. Only 14.2% of myopic students had adequate correction. Conclusions: In conclusion, myopia is highly prevalent and severely under-corrected in rural China. Educational pressure is the main risk factor, and the rural protective effect is strongest in Mongolians but erodes with urbanization. Urgent public health actions, including vision screening, affordable spectacles, and lifestyle preservation, are needed to address this growing burden. Full article

This study examines whether the relationship between provincial fiscal revenue and expenditure measures and grain production in China is nonlinear. Using a balanced panel of 31 provinces from 2007 to 2021, we analyze major revenue-side and expenditure-side fiscal instruments, including the cultivated land occupation tax, value-added tax, agricultural insurance subsidies, agricultural loan interest subsidies, rural minimum living security subsidies, education expenditure, and transportation infrastructure expenditure. To identify regime-dependent changes in estimated associations, we employ panel kink and double-kink regression models with endogenously estimated kink points. The results suggest that the estimated relationships are intensity-dependent rather than constant. The cultivated land occupation tax exhibits a kinked relationship with grain production, with a more positive association beyond a certain level. Agricultural insurance subsidies display a double-kink pattern, with the strongest positive estimated association concentrated in an intermediate range of the subsidy measure. Rural minimum living security subsidies are positively associated with grain production at lower levels, but this association weakens and may become negative after the estimated kink point. Overall, the findings suggest that the relationship between fiscal variables and grain production depends not only on policy direction but also on the levels of the fiscal measures. Full article

Background/Objectives: Nutritional vulnerability (NV) describes the interaction of diet quality, access to food, health status and socioeconomic factors and may differ between neighborhoods. Nevertheless, there is still a limited amount of evidence regarding local NV variations in contrasting resource landscapes. The purpose of this study was to operationalize NV in Windham, Connecticut and conduct an analysis of its spatial distribution and the differences between neighborhoods for NV and specifically diet quality. Methods: NV was measured with four indicators, including two diet quality measures (liking-based DQI and short food frequency-based sHEI), food security, obesity, and SNAP participation. Areas of vulnerable concentration were determined through spatial mapping. Indicators related to each other were measured by Spearman correlation. To compare the contrasting neighborhoods (resource-dense vs. resource-limited), contextual differences were studied and differences in NV indicators, sociodemographic and movement factors were compared with the help of chi-square tests. Diet quality measures were jointly examined for concordance (both measures low or high) and discordance. Results: Area-level comparisons showed significant differences in mobility-related and sociodemographic characteristics, including vehicle access and education level (p < 0.05). High diet quality (measure concordance) was reported by individuals living in high-resourced regions; low diet quality (measure concordance) by individuals in low-resourced regions. Conclusions: The NV Map illustrated focal patterns of vulnerability determined by the interplay of sociodemographic disadvantage and mobility-related limitations and not by distance to food resources. These results give practical spatial data to promote specific nutrition and resource intervention. Full article

Drawing an analogy to the 5th century heresy of Nestorianism, this paper argues that the separation of life from faith in the modern era constitutes a kind of functional Nestorianism, that negates the universality of the Christian claim and renders such a claim. The paper argues that, in their form and function, many Catholic educational institutions unwittingly adopt this functional Nestorianism by means of a structural compartmentalisation of the faith into confined spaces within the curriculum and within the institutional imagination and that in doing so, such institutions risk mirroring—at the level of educational practice—and thus perpetuating, what Pope Paul VI referred to as ‘the drama of our time’, that being, ‘the split between the Gospel and culture’. The paper concludes by offering six Christocentric principles to guide curriculum development and implementation in Catholic educational institutions. Full article

Bullying and victimization are prevalent in school and sport settings, yet they are rarely examined concurrently. This study explored the relationships between school and sport bullying among youth athletes, assessing whether demographic and sport-related factors are associated with these behaviors across contexts. Participants included 189 youth athletes (aged 8–15 years) from Central Macedonia, Northern Greece. They completed a demographic survey and the Bullying and Victimization Questionnaire twice, assessing both school and sport environments. A multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) evaluated the effects of gender, educational level, sport type, and contact classification, followed by regression analyses. Results showed that educational level yielded a significant multivariate effect, with secondary school students reporting higher involvement in school bullying, sport bullying, and sport victimization. Crucially, regression analyses revealed that school-context bullying and victimization were the strongest factors associated with corresponding behaviors in sports. Additionally, team sport participation was associated with sport victimization, while demographic factors were related to school bullying perpetration. These findings demonstrate the interconnected nature of bullying between school and sport environments, emphasizing the critical need for coordinated, multi-contextual prevention strategies among educators and coaches. Full article

Eye tracking (ET) provides process-level indices of how students sample task-relevant information during core academic activities. In school-age learners (6–18 years) with specific learning disorders (SLDs; dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia), ET can complement behavioural assessment by quantifying oculomotor patterns linked to decoding, model–production coordination, and stepwise strategy execution. This narrative review synthesises ET findings in SLD across reading, handwriting/copying, and arithmetic and translates them into an applied framework for school-oriented use. We summarise key metrics and Areas of Interest (AOI)-based analyses, highlight technical and data-quality requirements for valid acquisition in educational settings, and outline compact functional assessment protocols integrated with standard academic and neuropsychological measures. Building on these foundations, we propose six hypothesis-driven gaze-contingent paradigms (H1–H6) as preliminary models for future experimental testing rather than as established interventions, and we map each to its current level of empirical support, specifying primary gaze outcomes and curriculum-relevant behavioural endpoints. We emphasise that eye-movement findings in specific learning disorders are heterogeneous and may vary as a function of age, task demands, and comorbidity. Accordingly, credible training effects require retention and transfer probes under standard, non-contingent display conditions, appropriate controls, and explicit developmental interpretation. Eye tracking is positioned as complementary functional evidence and as a platform for experimentally testable, mechanism-based interventions in school-age specific learning disorders. Full article