Search Results (225)

Background: Building on socioanalytic theory and signaling theory, this study examined whether self-reported motives—representing individuals’ identities—translate into reputational outcomes. Furthermore, drawing on role congruity theory, the study examined whether gender would moderate the strength of the relationship between the self-reported motives and reputational consequences. Methods: We used a large sample of management students (N = 349) on which we collected self-reported achievement and power motives, and peer ratings (N = 508) of overall reputation and leadership potential. Results: We found that (a) achievement motive was positively associated with leadership potential and overall reputation (including trustworthiness and competence); (b) power motive was positively associated with leadership potential; and (c) both motives were equally strong predictors of leadership potential, but only achievement motive was a significant predictor of overall reputation. Finally, in line with role congruity theory, we observed that the positive associations between both motives and leadership potential were stronger for male than for female students. However, for overall reputation, this applied only to the power motive, suggesting that gender affects how motivational signals are socially interpreted. Conclusions: These findings offer implications for future research and provide practical insights into talent identification, leadership development, and performance evaluation processes. Full article

This study investigates how gender-inclusive leadership and trade integration shape environmental sustainability in China, addressing a key gap in the literature where most prior work has focused on aggregate governance, finance, or growth without considering how gender representation in leadership and trade openness jointly relate to environmental outcomes. China provides a particularly relevant setting because it is both a leading global emitter and one of the world’s most trade-integrated and rapidly growing economies, so changes in leadership structures, financial deepening, and external openness can have sizable environmental consequences. Given the nonlinear and non-normal nature of the variables, the analysis relies on nonlinear econometric tools, specifically quantile-on-quantile ARDL and Quantile Granger Causality, applied to quarterly data from 1998Q1 to 2024Q4. The results show that the impact of gender-inclusive leadership on environmental sustainability is state-dependent, with improvements at lower environmental pressure but a predominantly negative long-run association at mid to upper quantiles, while financial development tends to support sustainability, and economic growth and trade openness are generally linked to lower sustainability across much of the quantile range. By narrowing the research gap on gender-inclusive leadership and explicitly motivating China as a critical case, this study offers context-specific evidence that can guide policies aimed at fostering inclusive leadership and greener finance while carefully managing the environmental consequences of rapid growth and deeper trade integration. Full article

A growing body of literature recognises media narratives’ influence in shaping public perceptions of leadership and governance. Studies suggest that women presidential aspirants are often framed within symbolic constraints, where they are perceived as capable leaders in supportive roles but not as legitimate rulers. This study systematically reviews news coverage of Malawi’s first female president, Joyce Banda, examining how the media differentiates women’s ability to “lead” and their perceived inability to “rule”. Specifically, the study seeks to answer two key questions: How does the media in Malawi frame women’s political leadership in terms of governance and executive power? And what recurring gendered narratives emerge in media portrayals of women seeking the presidency? This investigation employs a content analysis of Malawi24, utilising Framing Theory and Feminist Theory to examine the dominant themes in political reporting. Analysis showed that media coverage reinforces a symbolic barrier to power, portraying women as leaders within limits while positioning men as natural rulers. Various perspectives on women’s legitimacy in executive positions were expressed, with narratives frequently questioning their authority and decision-making capabilities. The findings of this study suggest that gendered media framing constrains women’s political ambitions by reinforcing patriarchal expectations of leadership. Addressing this bias requires greater media accountability and equitable portrayals of women in executive political roles. Full article

Background: The healthcare industry demands nurses with both clinical proficiency and leadership skills. However, formal leadership training remains limited among undergraduate nursing students, underscoring the need for clinical mentorship to support leadership development. Purpose: This study investigated the association between clinical mentorship quality and leadership competencies among undergraduate nursing students enrolled at a public university in northern Saudi Arabia. Methods: Data were collected using a cross-sectional design from 224 nursing students through a self-administered online survey, which comprised three sections: demographic information, students’ perceptions of clinical mentorship quality, and a standardized assessment of leadership competencies. Results: Students reported positive perceptions of their leadership competencies, with an average score of 2.82. A strong positive correlation was observed between mentorship quality and leadership competencies, particularly in strategic thinking, emotional intelligence, influence, and teamwork. Differences were observed based on sex and academic performance, with female students and those with higher GPAs exhibiting stronger leadership competencies. Regression analysis revealed mentorship quality (β = 0.642, p < 0.001) and academic performance (β = 0.131, p = 0.013) as significant predictors of leadership competencies, while gender and academic year were not statistically significant. Conclusions: High-quality clinical mentorship substantially contributes to the development of leadership competencies among nursing students, with academic performance providing additional support. Integrating structured mentorship programs into nursing curricula may enhance preparedness for leadership roles within healthcare settings. Full article

This exploratory study examines strategic communication in Galician start-ups led by women, with the aim of analysing reputation management mechanisms, the channels and tools used, and the challenges associated with building a differentiated identity in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. A qualitative approach was adopted, combining a focus group with nine female entrepreneurs, documentary analysis and case studies. The results show that this ecosystem is structured around three relevant dimensions: institutional support provided by universities, accelerators and pioneering programmes; territorial roots, as a strategic resource for legitimacy and differentiation; and personal narratives that link innovation with everyday experience and strengthen empathy with audiences. There is a notable progressive professionalisation of communication as an instrument for growth, risk governance and identity consolidation, in which digital platforms play a significant role. Horizontal leadership styles, based on transparency and empathy, are configured as reputational attributes where the status of women founders can generate differential advantages in visibility and credibility, but also challenges in masculinised environments. The discussion identifies three key challenges: overcoming reluctance to public exposure, strengthening peer support networks, and promoting inclusive and understandable language. The findings highlight strategic communication as a cross-cutting resource for business and social legitimacy and sustainability in Galician female entrepreneurship. Full article

Knowledge-sharing is a deliberate exchange of information to enhance accessibility and reuse which is critical for improving healthcare delivery. This study assessed knowledge-sharing practices among dentists, pharmacists, and allied health professionals (AHPs) in nine public hospitals in South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using purposive and stratified random sampling to recruit 99 participants. Data were collected via a validated questionnaire and analysed with SPSS v.22.0 using descriptive statistics. Respondents were predominantly female (77.6%) and aged 21–35 years (63.6%); AHPs comprised 65.7% of the sample. The results show a statistically significant association between profession and encouragement to adopt a global perspective (p = 0.017), while significant differences were observed between profession and encouragement to seek inter-team solutions (p = 0.020), and access to leadership-driven opportunities for interdisciplinary knowledge-sharing (p = 0.016). Despite observable patterns in the descriptive results, no other statistically significant differences by profession were observed for all other items. Collaboration with external communities and leadership-driven knowledge-sharing opportunities were also highest among dentists but limited overall. Adoption of information systems for knowledge exchange was low, particularly among pharmacists and AHPs. Participation in professional development and recognition of long-term knowledge-sharing strategies followed similar patterns. These findings highlight the need to strengthen leadership-driven opportunities for interdisciplinary knowledge-sharing and to develop targeted interventions to address specific gaps between professions. Full article

Workplace ostracism, a form of workplace harassment, delineates the experience of being excluded or ignored at work. Despite its covert nature, workplace ostracism elicits a unique pain that distinguishes it from other overt forms of harassment, such as bullying or undermining. While a growing body of literature has examined harassment directed at leaders (e.g., upward bullying), follower ostracism, in which leaders are excluded by their followers, has received relatively little attention. Drawing on Power-Dependence Theory, we conducted a multi-wave, time-lagged study (N = 137) to examine follower ostracism as an antecedent to destructive leadership, specifically micromanagement. The findings indicate that follower ostracism threatened leaders’ power, which subsequently motivated leaders to engage in micromanagement as a means to reestablish their influence and authority. Moreover, female leaders experience greater power threats, and exhibit more micromanaging behaviors than their male counterparts. This study advances the theoretical understanding of workplace ostracism, destructive leadership, and gender roles. It also offers practical solutions for organizations and leaders to prevent and cope with the detrimental effects of exclusion by subordinates. Full article

Professional women football players have increased in Spain, but the little more than 107,000 licences registered in 2023 are still far from the more than one million for men. Androcentrism, gender roles, and the invisibility of female athletes in the media have been some of the problems they have faced. By comparing the media coverage of the four most widely read newspapers in Spain (Marca, El País, El Mundo, and AS) during the first World Cup played by the Spanish Women’s National Football Team (2015) and the most recent one (2023), we have identified the media characterisation of the players through discourse analysis. From the reading of 145 documents from 2015 and 375 from 2023, 39 semantic codes emerged, which rose to 47 in the second sample. The conclusions point to a trend of androcentrism through additions such as “women’s” football or “female” footballers and a proliferation of quotations in which the male coach is the protagonist, although there has been progress in the number of pages and resources used by each outlet. Regarding language, the decline in the characterisation of the players as “girls” or “youngsters” and the increase in references to their Talent or Leadership represent advances. Full article

This study addresses the limited empirical evidence on women’s contributions to sustainable development leadership within higher education institutions. Focusing on Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana in Colombia, we employed a mixed-methods approach that combines surveys, semi-structured interviews, and bibliometric analysis of women-led scientific publications and academic courses. Our findings demonstrate that women leaders at UPB significantly influence and enhance sustainable practices and policies, fostering a culture of sustainability through their formal roles and collaborative, empathetic leadership. Key characteristics include inclusivity, shared vision-building, and community responsibility. Their systematic thinking and holistic problem-solving contribute to more effective sustainability outcomes, integrating environmental values into curricula, campus operations, and community engagement. The positive impact of women’s presence in sustainability governance on the university’s performance and commitment to Sustainable Development Goals highlights the importance of the institutional context. The research highlights the importance of policies that strengthen women’s leadership in sustainability as well as for continuous measurement of their contributions within specific educational and research ecosystems. Full article

The institutionalization of environmental courts enhances regional environmental enforcement efficacy, which in turn exerts intensified regulatory pressure on local pollution intensive enterprises. Empirical evidence confirms that such judicial mechanisms significantly improve the supply chain financing capacity of regulated firms through a green governance channel. This causal pathway operates via three interrelated mechanisms: increased environmental disclosure transparency, strategic recruitment of executives with environmental expertise, and systematic ESG performance upgrades. Collectively these adaptations enable polluting enterprises to achieve better supply chain financing conditions. Subgroup analysis identifies three dimensions of heterogeneous treatment effects. First, the financing enhancement effect is more pronounced among larger enterprises due to their greater resource allocation flexibility. Second, firms with gender-diverse leadership, particularly those employing female executives, demonstrate stronger responsiveness to environmental regulations. Third, enterprises operating in less technology intensive sectors benefit more substantially from compliance driven financing improvements, as their operational structures are more amenable to rapid environmental governance adjustments. Full article

Aim: This workshop aimed to facilitate in-depth discussions, promote knowledge sharing, and generate evidence-informed strategies to improve the recruitment and retention of the neonatal nursing workforce in Australia. Research Design: A qualitative participatory study was conducted using the World Café methodology to engage neonatal nurses in collaborative dialogue. Methods: Twenty-seven neonatal nurses (all female, predominantly aged 40–60 years) participated in a structured World Café workshop. An inductive thematic analysis was employed to explore participants’ perspectives on workforce challenges and solutions. Results: Four key themes were identified: (1) Leadership and Advocacy, (2) Professional Identity, (3) Future Vision and Innovation, and (4) Creating a Supportive Culture. These themes reflect the complex, interrelated factors influencing workforce sustainability and highlight the need for targeted, multi-level interventions. Conclusions: Building a resilient neonatal nursing workforce and ensuring the delivery of high-quality care requires a coordinated response from professional nursing organisations, nurse leaders and managers, and individual clinicians. This study provides a replicable model for stakeholder engagement and offers actionable recommendations to inform workforce policy, leadership development, and practice innovation. Full article

Health professionals’ safety is directly linked to organizational culture, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, weaknesses at organizational, emotional, professional, and structural levels became evident. This study aimed to assess health professionals’ perceptions of their safety in facing the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytical study was conducted with professionals from the public health network of a Brazilian municipality who had taken medical leave due to COVID-19. Data were collected between October and December 2022 using the validated Questionnaire on Health Professional Safety in the COVID-19 Pandemic (QSP COVID-19), which consists of 30 items distributed across four domains: organizational, emotional, professional, and structural. A cut-off score ≥75 was considered a positive perception. Associations were tested using the chi-square test followed by the Bonferroni post hoc test, and multivariate logistic regression was applied to identify associated factors. Significance level: 5%. A total of 235 professionals participated, mostly women (81.7%), working in primary health care (68.1%), and employed under statutory contracts (74.5%). Only 50.6% reported an overall positive perception of safety. The emotional domain showed the highest score (85.5%), followed by the professional domain (74.0%). Organizational (50.6%) and structural (33.6%) domains had the lowest scores, reflecting shortcomings in infrastructure, human resources, and material supplies. In the multivariate analysis, temporary contracts, a 20 h workweek, and specific training were protective factors, whereas belonging to a risk group and being female increased the likelihood of negative perception in the structural dimension. Health professionals’ safety is supported by continuous education, emotional support, adequate infrastructure, professional recognition, participatory leadership, and strengthening of the safety culture. Full article

Achieving gender diversity and women’s empowerment (SDG 5) is not only a social priority but also a key driver of sustainable financial resilience. This study investigates whether the presence of women on bank boards strengthens the stability of financial institutions in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), where gender diversity remains limited yet is steadily growing. Using a balanced panel of 61 commercial banks across nine MENA countries from 2012 to 2020, we assess whether board gender diversity enhances the predictive performance of Early Warning Systems (EWSs) for bank distress. Applying a logit random-effects model, our results show that a higher proportion of female directors significantly lowers the probability of bank failure and improves EWS accuracy. Further analyses reveal that gender-diverse boards foster stronger governance by reducing operating costs, boosting profitability, and supporting higher capitalization and liquidity, indicating more prudent and risk-averse oversight. Robust tests using the Z-score and System Generalized Method of Moments (System-GMM) confirm these outcomes. Moreover, a non-linear pattern emerges: the stabilizing influence of women directors is most pronounced during financial crises but less evident in stable periods. These findings underscore the strategic value of women’s leadership in banking, offering insights for policymakers and regulators aiming to advance SDG 5 and promote resilient, inclusive financial systems. Full article

Background/Objectives: Dysphagia is a common condition among older adults, associated with significant health risks. This prospective, open-label observational cohort study aimed to determine the prevalence of dysphagia and its impact on nutritional status and clinical outcomes in elderly residents of six long-term care facilities. Methods: Patients aged ≥ 65 years were screened using the 3 oz Water Swallow Test (WST); those with dysphagia were followed for 6 months. Nutritional status was evaluated with the Mini Nutritional Assessment short-form (MNA-SF), the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM), and the SARC-F questionnaire. Anthropometric and body composition measurements were also obtained. Results: Among 656 patients screened, 188 (28.6%) had dysphagia (median age 90 years; 89.9% females). Mild dysphagia was present in 34.0%, while 66.0% had moderate-to-severe dysphagia. At baseline, patients with moderate-to-severe dysphagia had significantly lower BMI (18.4 vs. 20.6 kg/m², p = 0.014), smaller calf circumference (24.0 vs. 28.0 cm, p = 0.005), and higher SARC-F score (8 vs. 7, p = 0.028). Bioimpedance analysis showed lower fat mass (6.7 vs. 12.9 kg, p < 0.001) and fat mass% (14.7 vs. 25.4%, p < 0.001), and higher FFM% (85.3 vs. 74.6%, p < 0.001). At 6 months, BMI, calf circumference, handgrip strength, fat mass, and fat mass% resulted significantly lower in patients with moderate-to-severe dysphagia. A total of 23 participants (12.2%) died during follow-up, with a higher mortality rate in the moderate-to-severe group (HR 2.58, 95% CI 1.20–7.59, p = 0.044); aspiration pneumonia was the leading cause (21.7%). Conclusions: Dysphagia significantly affects nutritional status and survival in elderly residents of long-term care facilities. Early personalized nutritional intervention is pivotal to improve outcomes. Full article

Mental health challenges in academic settings are increasingly recognised, yet research on staff wellbeing remains limited, particularly within African universities. This study provides the first institution-wide assessment of psychological distress and burnout among academic staff at a South African university. A cross-sectional survey using validated tools, the 28-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28 ) and the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI) was administered to 157 academic employees, and data were analysed using descriptive statistics, non-parametric tests, and ordinal regression. The median age of participants was 42 years (Interquartile range [IQR] = 34–50; SD = 11.4), and the majority of participants were female (n = 110, 70%). The sample included staff across academic ranks, with lecturers being the most common (n = 64, 41%). Results showed that nearly half of participants (49%) exhibited severe psychological distress, and over a quarter (27%) reported high levels of burnout. Female staff reported significantly higher distress and burnout scores compared to their male counterparts. Less than a third (28%) of participants reported feeling safe to disclose mental health concerns, while over half expressed dissatisfaction with institutional support. Participants indicated strong support for both individual-level services, such as confidential counselling and workshops, and systemic changes, including flexible work arrangements and leadership-driven mental health initiatives. Findings highlight the need for integrated, participatory mental health strategies that are culturally and contextually tailored. These results offer timely evidence to inform the development of institutional strategies, policies, and practices to promote mental health among academic staff. Full article