Search Results (289)

As remote and hybrid work arrangements become increasingly embedded in modern professional life, understanding indoor environmental quality (IEQ) in work-from-home (WFH) settings has become critical for supporting sustainable and healthy work environments. This study assessed both subjective perceptions and objective measurements of IEQ from three different working environments of home, employer offices, and simulated standard-compliant offices. Within the home environment, household characteristics resulted in significantly different measured IEQ: larger households and pet ownership were associated with higher CO₂, VOC, and air temperature levels, while noise levels varied by childcare responsibilities and flooring type. IEQ perceptions also significantly differed: air temperature satisfaction was lower among those providing childcare, and overall environmental satisfaction varied by WFH frequency, with occasional WFH workers reporting the least satisfaction. Across the three working environments, participants were significantly more satisfied with thermal and acoustic conditions in WFH than employer offices, with simulated standard-compliant offices showing intermediate results. Notably, these perception patterns did not always align with measured environmental conditions. These findings demonstrate that both household characteristics and work context shape occupants’ IEQ perceptions, underscoring the importance of occupant-centered evaluation in advancing sustainable building design and remote work strategies. The results suggest that integrating both objective IEQ metrics and subjective experience is essential for promoting long-term environmental sustainability and occupant well-being across evolving work environments. Full article

This study explores the empowerment of local communities through homestay management as an innovative strategy for sustainable rural tourism in Yogyakarta. Using a qualitative research design, data were collected through in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and participant observation with homestay owners, community leaders, and local tourism stakeholders. The findings reveal that homestay management not only enhances economic opportunities for rural households but also strengthens cultural preservation and community participation in tourism governance. Moreover, the integration of traditional hospitality practices with innovative management approaches fosters visitor satisfaction while ensuring sustainability. The study contributes to the literature by highlighting how homestay management can serve as a model of community-based tourism development, offering practical implications for policymakers, local governments, and tourism practitioners in promoting inclusive and resilient rural tourism. Full article

This study leverages longitudinal data from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS, 2012–2020) to examine the association between teacher support and cognitive ability among children aged 10–16 living in economically disadvantaged rural areas of China. Employing a difference-in-differences (DID) framework, we found that exposure to the Rural Teacher Support Program (RTSP) is associated with an improvement of about 0.19 standard deviations in students’ cognitive abilities after accounting for individual-, family-, and county-level characteristics. Two key mechanisms appear to underlie this association, reflected in increased teacher quantity and enhanced student satisfaction with teachers. Heterogeneity analyses further show that these benefits are more pronounced among female students and those from low-income households, suggesting that teacher-centered institutional improvements may help mitigate developmental disparities. Overall, the longitudinal results indicate that better teacher-related environments are likely to support children’s cognitive development, which in turn may help reduce educational inequality in under-resourced areas. Full article

The present study employs cluster analysis to segment Bulgarian domestic tourists based on microdata from a nationally representative survey (n = 1003) of summer holidaymakers on the Black Sea coast destinations. The primary objective is to identify homogeneous groups of tourists with similar demographic and behavioural characteristics, thereby enabling the development of more targeted tourism policies and marketing strategies. The methodological framework includes both hierarchical and non-hierarchical (k-means) clustering, applied to standardized variables such as age, household size, satisfaction with various aspects of the tourist experience, and behavioural intentions. The analysis reveals four distinct tourist profiles, each characterized by specific patterns of evaluation and travel behaviour—retirement age loyalists, middle-aged sceptics, younger moderate enthusiasts and young high loyalists. The findings reveal the heterogeneity of the domestic tourism market in Bulgaria and provide a data-driven foundation for enhancing the effectiveness of tourism management and promotional efforts. Full article

Against the backdrop of rising farm household incomes alongside a widening internal income gap in rural China, investigating the impact of peer effects in ecological assistance (PEEA) on farmers’ policy satisfaction is crucial for formulating more targeted support policies and mitigating rural income inequality. Utilizing 2023 survey data from designated assistance counties of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration (NFGA) of China, this study employs methods such as Oprobit and moderation effects to examine the factors and mechanisms through which peer effects in ecological assistance affect farmers’ policy satisfaction. The results indicate that PEEA exert a negative influence on farmers’ policy satisfaction, a finding that remains robust after endogeneity checks using the conditional mixed process (CMP) model and residual analysis. The information transmission mechanism can strengthen the suppressive effect of these peer effects on satisfaction, whereas the social interaction mechanism exhibits a substitution effect with the peer effects. The peer effects are asymmetric, with a more pronounced negative impact on policy satisfaction among farmers over 50 years old and those with lower human capital. Furthermore, the peer effect is most significant for forestry property income, followed by forestry wage income and forestry operating income. Farmer groups with low-to-medium forestry income are more significantly affected by PEEA. Furthermore, among these, the medium forestry income cohort demonstrates the highest sensitivity to the influence of PEEA on policy satisfaction. Therefore, ecological assistance policies should be further optimized, and forestry income should be distributed equitably to enhance the sense of policy benefit and well-being among farmers. Meanwhile, information channels should be improved to guide rational interpersonal expenditure, target groups with strong peer demonstration effects, explore diversified forestry management projects, and broaden income-increasing channels through ecological assistance. Full article

Nutrition is a fundamental aspect of consumer behavior, closely linked to the satisfaction of basic household needs and strategies for purchasing food products. This study aimed to examine how fundamental food needs—specifically survival (daily food) and food security (food stocks)—shape purchasing behaviors, enabling the identification of vulnerable consumer segments and the delineation of patterns useful for producers and retailers. Data were collected through a cross-sectional survey (N = 1060) and analyzed using the Rao & Scott-adjusted Pearson chi-square test (R, version 4.4.3), considering key socio-demographic factors including gender, age, educational level, marital status, residence, and income. Results indicate that gender, age, and education significantly influence food purchases driven by the need for food security, whereas marital status is a significant factor only for survival-related purchases. Differences observed in other contexts were not statistically significant. Additionally, two multinomial logistic regression models were developed to predict consumer food purchases driven by fundamental needs, demonstrating high explanatory power. Each socio-demographic factor emerged as a significant predictor for at least one response category on the Likert scale, and the relative influence of each predictor was quantified. These models provide actionable insights for marketing strategies, including the identification of optimal store locations and the adjustment, diversification, or optimization of product ranges based on the characteristics of specific consumer segments and geographic areas. Full article

In the last few decades, Italy has emerged as an important destination for South Asian migrants, particularly from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. While these groups contribute heavily to essential sectors such as agriculture, logistics, care work, and construction, they are often found in insecure, informal, and low-protection jobs. But at the same time, many migrants indicated moderate to high levels of job satisfaction even under such adverse circumstances. This study examines multidimensional job satisfaction among South Asian migrants in Italy and examines the effects of structural and demographic characteristics (region, nationality, sex, household size, and year of arrival) on the outcomes of satisfaction of job dimensions. A three-phase quantitative approach was applied: descriptive analysis to identify satisfaction distributions across five aspects of work; Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA) and cluster analysis to identify typologies of satisfaction profiles; and multinomial logistic regression to estimate the likelihood of belonging to low, medium, or high satisfaction categories. The results demonstrate the presence of three different latent clusters of satisfaction; namely, high, moderate, and low, and indicate that regional location and nationality are the best predictors of satisfaction in most areas of the job. Such factors as sex and year of arrival had little impact. Comparing the self-evaluation of migrants with their structural positions, the study provides new empirical data on the problem of the migrant satisfaction paradox and draws more attention to the necessity of policies that can mitigate regional labor market inequalities and improve the general quality of job of migrant workers. Full article

Financial literacy plays a crucial role in promoting social and economic resilience, particularly in vulnerable contexts where access to education and financial services is limited. This study provides the first empirical analysis of the determinants of financial literacy among women horticulturists in Guinea Bissau in West Africa, a group that sustains household income and local markets through informal work. A survey with face-to-face data collection was employed, using a structured questionnaire to assess financial literacy across three dimensions: financial attitude, financial behavior, and financial knowledge. All 978 women horticulturists at the Pessubé Farm were invited to participate in the survey, and 200 valid questionnaires were returned and used as the final sample. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression. Results revealed prudent and consistent financial behaviors, mid to low financial attitudes marked by concern about expenses and short-term planning, and limited conceptual financial knowledge, with frequent uncertainty on basic topics such as inflation, interest, and diversification. Regression analysis showed that financial satisfaction and food sufficiency are positively associated with higher levels of financial literacy, while overdue debts exert a negative effect. These findings highlight that strengthening financial literacy in low income and informal settings requires context sensitive strategies integrating financial education, debt management, and food security initiatives, emphasizing the multidimensional nature of financial literacy and its role in inclusive and sustainable development. Full article

Background: The psychosomatic effects of stress are risk factors for a range of dental and systemic diseases. This study used the massive Japanese national statistics database to clarify the association of psychological stress with subjective symptoms and conditions requiring hospital visits. Methods: Anonymized data from 93,690 respondents of the 2019 Japanese survey were provided for this study. From these data, those of 29,777 respondents aged 40–89 years were classified into stress groups based on their responses to the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6). The response rates for symptoms and diseases were compared and analyzed using contingency tables and binomial logistic regression. Results: The items with the largest odds ratios in the univariate analysis were depression/other mental disease (7.60), followed by irritability (6.86) and health perception QOL (6.31). Among those with subjective symptoms, the proportion in the high-stress group was higher (15.1%), with a univariate odds ratio of 3.17. The results of the binomial logistic regression analysis, with subjective QOL as the dependent variable, were as follows: The explanatory variables with the highest adjusted odds ratios were stress group classification (3.14), followed by feeling physically tired (2.44) and sleep satisfaction (2.22). The stress group was associated with subjective symptoms, such as irritability and depression/other mental diseases, as well as with social factors, such as household structure and work hours. These results suggest the existence of specific symptoms, diseases, and environmental factors associated with high stress. Conclusions: The results suggest that stress may have a substantial impact on quality of life in later life. Therefore, healthcare measures for older adults should focus on the symptoms and diseases that tend to be associated with stress to mitigate their effects. Full article

Purpose of the article: The study aims to explore how demographic characteristics—including gender, age, education, employment type, household composition, and place of residence—affect perceived financial security among Hungarian adults. It seeks to identify which population segments feel most or least financially secure and to assess the relationship between socio-demographic factors and subjective financial well-being. Methods: The analysis is based on the OECD Financial Culture Survey conducted in Hungary on a representative sample of 1000 adults. Perceived financial security was measured using four questionnaire items related to financial satisfaction, concerns about expenses, and income sufficiency. Independent t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and Welch’s ANOVA were applied to test group differences. Findings & value added: Results indicate no significant gender differences in perceived financial security, while education and employment status show strong effects: higher educational attainment and self-employment or retirement are associated with greater financial security, whereas lack of formal education and disability predict lower security perceptions. Urban residents, particularly in large cities, report significantly higher perceived security than those in smaller towns. The study contributes to the literature by integrating OECD-level data with demographic analysis, highlighting the role of education and labor market position in shaping subjective financial well-being in Hungary. Full article

In recent years, as Chinese cities have entered a stage of high-quality transformation, enhancing livability and achieving refined governance within existing urban spaces has become a central issue in urban planning and management. The establishment of the Urban Physical Examination mechanism has provided a scientific framework for evaluating urban performance. However, most existing studies focus primarily on objective indicators, paying insufficient attention to residents’ subjective perceptions and their spatial variations. As a result, the multi-scale mechanisms underlying human settlement satisfaction remain poorly understood. Using Xiamen City as a case, this study draws on data from the 2025 Urban Physical Examination Resident Survey and constructs a Geographically Random Forest (GRF) model to examine how block, community, housing, and personal attributes jointly shape human settlement satisfaction (HSS) and its spatial heterogeneity. The results show that (1) overall, block’ business vitality is the most influential factor affecting HSS, followed by community management and housing safety, highlighting the dominant roles of the built environment and grassroots management in shaping residential experience; (2) management and safety issues at the community level are more prominent in suburban areas, old neighborhoods, and zones surrounding tourist attractions, reflecting a mismatch between service provision and urban expansion; (3) housing-scale factors display significant spatial variation, with tenure and housing affordability emerging as key determinants of satisfaction among residents in newly developed districts; and (4) at the personal characteristic, age, residential duration, occupational prestige, and household income exhibit marked spatial heterogeneity, revealing satisfaction patterns jointly shaped by social mobility and urban growth. The study concludes that multi-scale spatial identification and resident perception feedback mechanisms should be strengthened within the Urban Physical Examination framework. Such efforts can promote a shift from static indicator monitoring to dynamic spatial governance, providing theoretical and methodological support for refined urban management and the improvement of human settlement environments. Full article

Understanding why households choose particular urban neighborhoods requires bridging traditional rational-choice explanations with emerging evidence on cognitive, social, and informational influences. This study investigates how territorial intelligence (TI)—defined as the availability and use of spatial data, planning information, and participatory knowledge platforms—interacts with behavioral factors to shape residential relocation decisions. Employing an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design, we surveyed 356 recent movers in Casablanca, Morocco, and conducted 20 follow-up semi-structured interviews. Quantitative analysis shows that each additional consulted data source increased the odds of selecting a central, transit-rich location by 45 %, while prior awareness of development plans raised those odds by 60 %, controlling for income, tenure, affordability, dwelling attributes, and socio-demographics. Data use also predicted higher post-move satisfaction, particularly when individual housing preferences aligned with chosen locations. Qualitative findings reveal that residents view territorial data as a tool for “future-proofing” but also experience information overload, leading some to revert to heuristics or social advice. The interplay of rational cost–benefit logic, bounded cognitive processing, and TI-mediated knowledge underscores the need for planning strategies that combine economic fundamentals with behaviorally informed data provision. By integrating micro-level decision evidence with the territorial intelligence framework, the study offers practical guidance for urban planners aiming to nudge residential choices toward more sustainable, policy-consistent outcomes. Full article

The sustained accumulation of household debt may pose significant challenges to children’s mental health in China, particularly their depressive symptoms. However, limited research has examined this relationship. Using data from the 2020 and 2022 waves of the China Family Panel Studies, covering 805 respondents, we employed a pooled ordinary least squares (POLS) regression model to investigate the impact of household debt on children’s depressive symptoms. Our results show that higher household debt is associated with an increase in children’s depressive symptoms, primarily driven by housing debt and nonbank-sourced debt. These associations appear to operate through reduced parent–child intimacy and increased parent–child conflict. Notably, the adverse impacts are mitigated when fathers work longer hours to repay debt and when marital satisfaction is higher. Overall, our findings highlight important implications for enhancing child welfare and promoting family financial stability. Full article

The inspiration and main goal for creating smart cities is to improve the quality of urban life. However, this ambitious task is not always successful as urban stakeholders are not homogeneous. Their experiences and expectations can vary significantly, which ultimately affects their level of satisfaction with life in the city. This article assesses the quality of life in 19 cities with county rights located in the Silesian province of Poland. The assessment takes into account stakeholders’ age, gender, education, and household size. The study also assesses the geographical variation in the quality of life in individual cities in the region with a view to individualizing the management approach. The research methodology is based on a survey conducted in a representative sample of 1863 residents of Silesian cities. The results are analyzed using descriptive statistics and nonparametric tests. The conclusions indicate a lower quality of life for women, residents aged 31 to 40, and people with primary education and a bachelor’s degree. The quality of life is significantly worse in post-mining towns where economic transformation has not been successfully implemented. The quality of urban life is rated highest by men, older people, and residents with basic and secondary education. Communities living in cities with modern industry and a stable economic situation are very satisfied with their standard of living. The results of the study imply the need for an individualized approach to shaping living conditions in cities and the implementation of remedial measures for groups and cities at risk of a lower quality of life. This will help to balance the quality of urban life and prevent various forms of exclusion. Full article

Punta Carola beach, located on San Cristóbal Island in the Galápagos Archipelago, exemplifies how island environments of recent human settlement can rapidly acquire cultural significance. Drawing on a survey of 201 residents, this study examines perceptions of the ecosystem services provided by Punta Carola, their relationship to subjective wellbeing, and attitudes toward alternative tourism and governance strategies. The findings reveal that the inhabitants of San Cristóbal recognize a wide range of tangible and intangible benefits that the natural environment of Punta Carola contributes to their quality of life, sense of belonging, and cultural identity, as well as recreational and aesthetic values. Life satisfaction was positively associated with perceptions of nature’s contribution, the maintenance of local ecological knowledge, and household income, while formal education correlated negatively. Residents identified freshwater and artisanal fishing as the most critical ecosystem services, reflecting their centrality to local livelihoods and wellbeing. The results also underscore widespread criticism of large-scale tourism projects perceived as exclusionary or unsustainable and highlight the importance of participatory governance schemes that legitimize local values. Punta Carola thus emerges as a “cultural landscape of resistance”, where external pressures catalyze identity construction and territorial rootedness. This case contributes to academic debates on socio-ecological resilience in fragile island contexts and offers actionable insights for inclusive planning in the Galápagos. Full article