Search Results (2,086)

Background/Objectives: Self-care is central to chronic illness management and is particularly relevant in osteoporosis to prevent complications and improve quality of life. Grounded in Riegel’s middle-range theory of self-care of chronic illness, the study sought to understand the contextual, emotional, and structural influences shaping self-care in people living with osteoporosis. Aim: The aim of this study was to explore patient-reported barriers and facilitators to self-care behaviors among individuals living with osteoporosis. Methods: A qualitative descriptive design was conducted using in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 20 patients with osteoporosis recruited via convenience sampling. Data were coded deductively and analyzed using Mayring’s qualitative content analysis with a deductive approach. Results: Participants identified several factors related to both barriers and facilitators of self-care behaviors. Four barrier sub-themes emerged: ineffective coping strategies, difficulties in osteoporosis management, inadequate physical activity, and ineffective self-efficacy. Six facilitator sub-themes were identified: self-care management strategies, osteoporosis management after a fracture, osteoporosis control, osteoporosis treatment, exercise, and confidence in one’s ability. Main barriers included fear of falling, ineffective self-efficacy, and poor care continuity, whereas key facilitators included support networks, motivation, and tailored care. Conclusions: Self-care behaviors in individuals with osteoporosis are influenced by emotional, contextual, and structural factors. Person-centered interventions integrating emotional and educational components may strengthen patients’ engagement and enhance self-care behaviors in osteoporosis. Identifying barriers and facilitators enables nurses to design empathetic, tailored strategies that enhance empowerment and disease management. Understanding these factors can improve autonomy for patients and adherence, promoting long-term health outcomes across clinical and community settings. Full article

Background: Narrative Medicine (NM) has emerged as a strategy to support reflective clinical practice and emotional resilience among nurses. This study examined relationships between NM practices and well-being among registered nurses (RNs) and nurse practitioners (NPs). Methods: A national sample of RNs and NPs was recruited using snowball sampling. Participants completed a NM practice survey and the Mayo Clinic Well-Being Index (WBI) survey. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation coefficients. Results: A total of 3167 responses were analyzed (1934 RNs and 1233 NPs). Among RNs, strong statistically significant correlations were found between NM practices and well-being scores (p < 0.001). Among NPs, moderate correlations appeared in select NM practice dimensions (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Engagement in narrative Medicine practices is associated with improved well-being among nurses and nurse practitioners. NM may present a promising strategy to reduce burnout and strengthen professional resilience. Full article

Rising rates of mental health concerns worldwide highlight the need for accessible and effective support. Music wellness, defined as “interacting with music in a way that contributes to holistic health and flourishing,” may help address this gap when integrated into education. In 2024, this research team conducted a Delphi study to establish this definition and propose a four-dimensional music wellness model (catalyst, act, outcome, and skill). The present study builds on that work by evaluating the model’s clarity, relevance, and real-world applicability through a mixed-methods validation study. Semi-structured interviews with five experts assessed conceptual coherence and clarity, and a survey of 160 adults examined whether the model reflected everyday uses of music for well-being. Experts confirmed the model’s logic and utility while suggesting refinements to improve clarity. Survey responses showed high overall agreement (mean = 85.6%) across items representing all four dimensions, and all participants reported daily engagement with music and positive emotional effects. These findings support the model’s validity and applicability, providing an evidence-based foundation for integrating music wellness into curricula that promote lifelong health and flourishing. Full article

This review critically examines the implementation of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in science education, providing an integrative overview of research, methodologies, and disciplinary applications. The first section explores UDL across educational stages—from early childhood to higher education—highlighting how age-specific adaptations, such as play-based and outdoor learning in early years or language- and problem-focused strategies in secondary education, enhance engagement and equity. The second section analyses science-specific pedagogies, including inquiry-based science education, the 5E model (Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate), STEM/STEAM approaches, and gamification, demonstrating how their alignment with UDL principles fosters motivation, creativity, and metacognitive development. The third section addresses the application of UDL across scientific disciplines—biology, physics, chemistry, geosciences, environmental education, and the Nature of Science—illustrating discipline-oriented adaptations and inclusive practices. Finally, a section on multiple scenarios of diversity synthesizes UDL responses to physical, sensory, and learning difficulties, neurodivergence, giftedness, and socio-emotional barriers. The review concludes by calling for enhanced teacher preparation and providing key ideas for professionals who want to implement UDL in science contexts. Full article

Background/Objectives: Smartphone-based leisure reservation platforms increasingly shape how individuals participate in leisure, yet little is known about how such technology-mediated engagement influences users’ awareness of multidimensional health benefits. The purpose of this study is to investigate how regular users of smartphone-based leisure reservation platforms perceive multidimensional health benefits associated with their leisure activities. Methods: Based on a constructivist/interpretivist approach, this study applied Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Ten participants with at least one year of platform use completed semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed through iterative coding and theme development, with trustworthiness ensured through member checking, peer debriefing, and triangulation. Results: Participants reported three dimensions of health awareness. (1) App-enabled accessibility as a catalyst for physical health awareness (i.e., physical health benefits) included improved vitality and increased motivation to maintain exercise routines. (2) App-based planning and anticipation in supporting mental well-being (i.e., mental health benefits) involved stress reduction, emotional recovery, enjoyment, and heightened self-care awareness. (3) Platform-mediated social encounters and the construction of social health (i.e., social health benefits) reflected expanded social networks, strengthened interpersonal relationships, and a greater sense of belonging fostered through shared leisure experiences. Conclusions: Smartphone-based leisure platforms play a meaningful role in enhancing users’ awareness of multidimensional health benefits. By improving accessibility, diversifying leisure options, and facilitating social interaction, these platforms support holistic well-being. The findings contribute to understanding technology-mediated leisure and offer practical implications for designing digital leisure services that promote physical, mental, and social health. Full article

Excessive use of short-form video platforms such as TikTok has raised growing concerns about digital addiction and its impact on young users’ emotional well-being. This study examines the relationship between continuous TikTok exposure and emotional engagement in young adults aged 20–23 through a multimodal experimental design. The purpose of this research is to determine whether emotional engagement increases, remains stable, or declines during prolonged exposure and to assess the degree of correspondence between facially inferred engagement and physiological arousal. To achieve this, multimodal biometric data were collected using the iMotions platform, integrating galvanic skin response (GSR) sensors and facial expression analysis via Affectiva’s AFFDEX SDK 5.1. Engagement levels were binarized using a logistic transformation, and a binomial test was conducted. GSR analysis, merged with a 50 ms tolerance, revealed no significant differences in skin conductance between engaged and non-engaged states. Findings indicate that although TikTok elicits strong initial emotional engagement, engagement levels significantly decline over time, suggesting habituation and emotional fatigue. The results refine our understanding of how algorithm-driven, short-form content affects users’ affective responses and highlight the limitations of facial metrics as sole indicators of physiological arousal. Implications for theory include advancing multimodal models of emotional engagement that account for divergences between expressivity and autonomic activation. Implications for practice emphasize the need for ethical platform design and improved digital well-being interventions. The originality and value of this study lie in its controlled experimental approach that synchronizes facial and physiological signals, offering objective evidence of the temporal decay of emotional engagement during continuous TikTok use and underscoring the complexity of measuring affect in highly stimulating digital environments. Full article

With the increasing prominence of sustainable consumption and the rising influence of Generation Z in the fashion market, secondhand fashion e-commerce platforms have become essential carriers of green fashion. Although AI-assisted recommendation mechanisms are widely embedded in these platforms, their psychological and behavioral effects on users’ continuous use and social engagement remain insufficiently examined. To address this gap, this study incorporates the Stimulus–Organism–Response (SOR) framework to investigate the psychological reaction pathways and behavioral intentions of Generation Z users within Human-AI Collaboration-enabled green e-commerce environments. Three AI-driven service stimuli—Human-AI Collaborative Recommendation Perception, AI Interaction Transparency, and Perceived Personalization—were conceptualized as stimulus variables; Psychological Immersion, Emotional Triggering, Cognitive Engagement, and Platform Trust were modeled as organism variables; and Continuous Use Intention and Social Sharing Intention served as behavioral response variables. Based on 498 valid samples analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), the results demonstrate strong empirical support for all proposed hypotheses. Specifically, AI-driven stimuli significantly and positively influence psychological responses, which subsequently strengthen users’ continuous usage and social sharing intentions. This research provides theoretical insights for developing Human-AI Collaboration-enabled service systems that balance efficiency and emotional resonance on green e-commerce platforms, and offers practical implications for promoting sustainable fashion values among younger consumers. Full article

The present conceptual paper proposes a purpose-driven experiential marketing framework for film-induced destinations, integrating sustainability and emotional engagement into destination management. The model under discussion comprises five interconnected dimensions, namely integrated experience, branding, people, emotional touchpoints and processes. These are articulated through purpose-driven marketing principles and aligned with selected Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) indicators. This approach positions sustainability as an inherent component of value creation rather than an external policy layer. The framework under discussion was developed through an interdisciplinary literature review and is illustrated through insights from an exploratory case study of Monsanto, a rural Portuguese village recently featured in HBO’s House of the Dragon. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of local stakeholders, including tourists, residents, entrepreneurs and institutional representatives. These interviews were analysed thematically to provide indicative evidence of the framework’s relevance and potential applicability. The findings suggest that emotional engagement, co-creation and territorial authenticity play a central role in shaping memorable film-related tourism experiences that are consistent with destination purpose and stakeholder well-being. The study also emphasises the strategic importance of storytelling, audiovisual narratives and collaborative governance in the strengthening of place identity and the support of sustainable differentiation. Despite its exploratory nature, the framework provides practical guidance for destination management organisations (DMOs), cultural programmers and creative industry actors. The article concludes by identifying avenues for future research, including cross-regional application, digital experimentation and the quantitative assessment of experiential dimensions. Full article

Background: Hospitalisation for paediatric oncohaematological diseases entails significant physical and psychological stress, often compromising children’s emotional regulation and daily functioning. In this context, complementary interventions can provide additional support to the clinical work conducted with children and adolescents undergoing treatment, fostering emotional awareness and well-being. This study evaluates the feasibility and perceived benefits of an animal-assisted psychoeducational intervention to enhance emotional coping during hospitalisation. Methods: A single-centre observational study was conducted at Regina Margherita Children’s Hospital in Italy in collaboration with the ZOOM Foundation (Turin, Italy), between September 2023 and May 2025. Sixty patients aged 6–15 years participated in an intervention combining observation of an in-ward aquarium, virtual animal encounters, and completion of a psychoeducational booklet promoting emotional reflection through symbolic identification with animal behaviours. Results: The intervention showed high feasibility and acceptability: 90% of participants (54/60) reported positive emotions and enjoyment, 80% (48/60) found the booklet engaging, and all participants (100%) perceived care and attention from facilitators. The activities fostered engagement, curiosity, and well-being, though their impact on deeper emotional processing appeared limited. Conclusions: Animal-assisted psychoeducational interventions are feasible and well-received in paediatric oncohaematology, offering complementary support to clinical care by promoting emotional resilience and enriching the hospital experience. Full article

This study explores the integration of Georgi Lozanov’s Suggestopedia with Alain Berthoz’s theory of simplexity as a pedagogical paradigm for inclusive and creative educational design. The research, conducted within the specialization courses for educational support at the University of Salerno, involved 230 trainee teachers engaged in a participatory action-research process aimed at translating suggestopedic principles, positive suggestion, music, and relational harmony into didactic planning. Through a combination of theoretical training, laboratory design activities, and reflective evaluation, participants produced 21 interdisciplinary educational projects assessed according to the properties and rules of simplexity. The results show a high degree of methodological coherence, aesthetic quality, and curricular inclusiveness, with music emerging as a key factor in fostering attention, cooperation, and emotional engagement. Data analysis indicates that the fusion of suggestopedic and simplex approaches promotes adaptive, modular, and meaning-oriented design processes that enhance teachers’ creativity and metacognitive awareness. Overall, the findings highlight the educational value of a pedagogy of resonance, in which body, mind, and environment interact harmoniously. The study concludes that the suggestopedic—simplex model represents a regenerative framework for contemporary didactics, capable of transforming complexity into harmony and restoring to education its aesthetic, relational, and human dimension. Full article

The architecture of spas and recreational complexes is increasingly being analyzed not only through the prism of its formal diversity but also through its functional, technical, and esthetic responses to evolving societal expectations. This article descriptively examines the context of evolving user needs and select examples representing new architectural forms integrated into the landscape, responding to the growing demand for beauty (understood subjectively), experiences, and emotional value in 21st-century tourism and recreation. The most diverse and characteristic examples were selected and described in order to maintain a broad context of analysis and illustrate contemporary changes as faithfully as possible. The descriptive approach enables a systematic and comprehensive representation of phenomena, identifying recurring patterns, spatial trends, and contextual relationships. Rather than being limited to numerical data, it provides a structured analytical framework that supports the objective documentation of architectural and urban processes. The aim of this study is to systematize selected design trends that reflect contemporary cultural aspirations and environmental concerns, and to illustrate the evolving relationship between architecture, nature, and users. The results indicate a consistent shift toward landscape-integrated, experiential, and esthetically driven architectural solutions, demonstrating that contemporary tourism facilities increasingly prioritize atmosphere, immersion in nature, and sensory engagement over traditional utilitarian design. This study concludes that beauty, understood as subjective esthetic experience, has become a key determinant in shaping new architectural forms, reinforcing the role of architecture as both a cultural expression and a tool for enhancing well-being in tourism and leisure environments. Full article

The Erasmus+ YOU4BLUE project represents an interdisciplinary educational initiative aimed at fostering a youth culture of sustainability through hands-on learning, scientific literacy, and critical thinking focused on the marine environment. The project aimed to encourage lasting behavioural change and empower young people to act. It engaged secondary school students aged 14 to 18 on three Mediterranean islands (Sardinia, Crete, and Mallorca) through a blended Place-Based Education (PBE) model that integrates online learning with local, experiential activities. Forty-nine students completed a pre-assessment questionnaire measuring baseline marine ecosystem knowledge, sustainability-related behaviours, and attitudes toward the sea. Following three international exchanges involving the learning activities, roughly the same cohort of students completed post-activity surveys assessing self-perceived knowledge gains and intercultural interaction. Qualitative data from emotional mapping, field observations, and group reflections complemented the quantitative analysis. The results indicate substantial self-perceived increases in students’ understanding of marine ecosystems (+1.0 to +1.7 points on a 5-point scale), enhanced collaboration with international peers, and strengthened environmental awareness. Across all three sites, students applied their learning by co-designing proposals addressing local coastal challenges, demonstrating emerging civic responsibility and the ability to integrate scientific observations into real-world problem solving. These findings suggest that combining place-based education, citizen science, and participatory methods can effectively support the development of sustainability competences among youth in coastal contexts. This study contributes empirical evidence to the growing literature on education for sustainable development and highlights the value of blended, experiential, and intercultural approaches in promoting environmentally responsible behaviour. Full article

This study investigates the factors influencing Chinese K-12 teachers’ adoption of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) for instructional purposes by extending the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) with pedagogical beliefs, perceived intelligence, perceived ethical risks, GenAI anxiety, and demographic moderators. Drawing on a theory-driven framework, survey data were collected from 218 in-service teachers across K-12 schools in China. The respondents were predominantly from urban schools and most had prior GenAI use experience. Eight latent constructs and fourteen hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling and multi-group analysis. Results show that perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use are the strongest predictors of teachers’ intention to adopt GenAI. Constructivist pedagogical beliefs positively predict both perceived usefulness and intention, whereas transmissive beliefs negatively predict intention. Perceived intelligence exerts strong positive effects on perceived usefulness and ease of use but has no direct effect on intention. Perceived ethical risks significantly heighten GenAI anxiety, yet neither directly reduces adoption intention. Gender, teaching stage, and educational background further moderate key relationships, revealing heterogeneous adoption mechanisms across teacher subgroups. The study extends TAM for the GenAI era and highlights the need for professional development and policy initiatives that simultaneously strengthen perceived usefulness and ease of use, engage with pedagogical beliefs, and address ethical and emotional concerns in context-sensitive ways. Full article

The integration of emojis into Early Childhood Education (ECE) presents a promising avenue for enhancing student engagement, emotional expression, and comprehension. While prior studies suggest the benefit of visual aids in learning, systematic frameworks for pedagogically aligned emoji recommendation remain underdeveloped. This paper presents EduEmoji-ECE, a pedagogically annotated dataset of early-childhood learning text segments. Specifically, the proposed model incorporates Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERTs) for contextual embedding extraction, Gated Recurrent Units (GRUs) for sequential pattern recognition, Deep Neural Networks (DNNs) for classification and emoji recommendation, and DECOC for improving emoji class prediction robustness. This hybrid BERT-GRU-DNN-DECOC architecture effectively captures textual semantics, emotional tone, and pedagogical intent, ensuring the alignment of emoji class recommendation with learning objectives. The experimental results show that the system is effective, with an accuracy of 95.3%, a precision of 93%, a recall of 91.8%, and an F1-score of 92.3%, outperforming baseline models in terms of contextual understanding and overall accuracy. This work helps fill a gap in AI-based education by combining learning with visual support for young children. The results suggest an association between emoji-enhanced materials and improved engagement/comprehension indicators in our exploratory classroom setting; however, causal attribution to the AI placement mechanism is not supported by the current study design. Full article

International shopping is a significant motive for outbound travel; however, evidence on the experiential drivers of luxury travel retail among Chinese luxury travelers remains limited. This study investigates the factors shaping overseas shopping experiences and assesses the adequacy of the luxury customer experience (LCX) framework in this episodic, time-constrained, cross-border context. A quantitative survey of Chinese luxury travelers (N = 407) was conducted and analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics (Version [30.0], Mac) within the LCX framework. The results show that modern artistic visual merchandising positively predicts overall experience evaluation (β = 0.162, p < 0.001), and emotional connection significantly predicts repurchase intention (β = 0.197, p < 0.001). We find that overall experience evaluation and subsequent behavioral responses are shaped by specific drivers, including service-related post-purchase factors, emotional fulfillment and brand trust, visual appeal, and affective/cognitive evaluations. These results point to possible gaps in theory when LCX is used in short-term travel retail contexts. To address these gaps, we propose the transient experience, relationship quality, action outcomes, connection, and engagement (TRACE) conceptual framework for analyzing feedback-driven encounters throughout the travel experience. Overall, this study extends LCX to episodic, time-constrained contexts and introduces TRACE as a conceptual complementary model to guide future theory testing and model validation in luxury travel retail contexts. Full article