Search Results (448)

This study examines the intersection of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) disclosure (operationalized through sustainability reporting), corporate financial performance, and the behavioral dynamics of herding in capital structure decisions among non-financial firms in five ASEAN countries. As ESG and sustainability finance gain prominence in addressing climate change and climate risk, understanding the behavioral factors that relate to ESG adoption is crucial. Employing a quantitative approach, this research utilizes a purposive sample of 125 non-financial firms from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand, gathered from the Bloomberg Terminal spanning 2018–2023. Managerial Herding Ratio (MHR) is used to assess herding behavior, while Sustainability Report Disclosure Index (SRDI) measures ESG disclosure. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) and Multigroup Analysis (MGA) were applied for data analysis. This research finds that while sustainability reporting enhances return on assets (ROA) and Tobin’s Q, it does not significantly relate to net profit margin (NPM). The findings also confirm that herding behavior—where companies mimic the financial structures of peers—moderates the relationship between sustainability reporting and performance outcomes, with leader firms gaining more from transparency efforts. This highlights the double-edged nature of herding: while it can accelerate ESG adoption, it may dilute the strategic depth of climate action if firms merely follow rather than lead. The study provides actionable insights for regulators and corporate strategists seeking to strengthen ESG finance as a driver for climate resilience and long-term stakeholder value. Full article

Today’s increasingly brittle, anxious, nonlinear, incomprehensible world of work calls for a socially and emotionally competent workforce. However, there is a clear gap in higher education settings regarding the assessment and promotion of students’ social and emotional competence (SEC). Our study aims to address the pressing need to evaluate and develop higher education students’ SEC by providing a tool to assess these skills, enabling researchers and practitioners to intervene and actively promote them. A sample of 767 higher education students (62.8% female, M = 22.88 years, SD = 7.30) enrolled in the study. Structural, discriminant and concurrent criterion validity, and reliability of the measure were assessed. A multiple hierarchical regression analysis tested the relation of SEC and well-being. Confirmatory Factor Analysis supported the hypothesized factorial structures. Coefficient omegas indicated adequate internal consistency. The results also supported the measure’s discriminant and criterion validities in relation to external measures. Multi-group invariance across gender and academic fields was attained. We found evidence of the predictive role of intrapersonal skills on students’ personal and academic well-being. This study bridges a gap in research and practice by introducing a psychometrically sound yet parsimonious instrument for assessing higher education students’ SEC. It also highlights the supportive role of SEC in promoting students’ well-being. Full article

Background/Objectives: Although people with schizophrenia appear to experience emotions like healthy individuals, previous studies suggest that their ability to engage in empathic emotional responses might be impaired. As per our knowledge, no studies in the Arab world have investigated empathy in patients with schizophrenia, which is likely due to the lack of valid and reliable measures to assess the empathy construct among Arabic-speaking people. The aim of this research is to validate the Arabic version of the Pictorial Empathy Test (PET) in patients with schizophrenia from Lebanon. Methods: A two-month cross-sectional study was carried out at the Psychiatric Hospital of the Cross during January and February of 2024. The average age of the 113 participants in this study was 57.52 ± 10.35 years and 63.5% of them were men. Data were collected through in-person interviews. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted using SPSS AMOS version 29. Parameter estimation utilized the maximum likelihood approach. In order to examine sex invariance in PET scores, a multi-group CFA was conducted. Measurement invariance was assessed across configural, metric, and scalar levels. Evidence of invariance was determined based on the criteria: ΔCFI ≤ 0.010, ΔRMSEA ≤ 0.015, or ΔSRMR ≤ 0.010. Results: CFA revealed that the Arabic PET exhibited a unidimensional factor structure. The PET demonstrated solid internal consistency (ω = 0.93, α = 0.93). Measurement invariance testing confirmed that the scale performed equally well across sexes. A linear regression analysis found that female sex and higher levels of alexithymia were significantly correlated with lower levels of affective empathy. Conclusions: The findings indicate that the Arabic version of the PET is a reliable and valid tool for measuring affective empathy in Arabic-speaking patients with schizophrenia. The culturally adapted and validated Arabic PET would help detect affective empathy deficits, design and implement context-tailored interventions, and encourage future research in this area in the Arab region. Future research should aim to validate the PET against behavioral tasks like the Empathic Accuracy Task to improve its ecological validity. Full article

Encouraging farmers to adopt low-carbon agricultural technologies is a vital strategy for addressing climate change and fostering a harmonious relationship between humans and nature. An initial step is understanding the formation of farmers’ willingness to adopt them. This study adopts an integrated theoretical framework combining the Theory of Planned Behavior and the Norm Activation Model to explore the determinants and formation process of farmers’ adoption intentions. Using survey data from 1008 farmers in Shandong Province, the study employs Structural Equation Modeling to empirically examine the influencing factors and mechanisms underlying farmers’ willingness to adopt low-carbon agricultural technologies. The results reveal that perceived behavioral control, subjective norm, and attitudes toward behavior serve as the critical external driving forces for the formation of adoption intention, whereas personal norms act as the core intrinsic motivation by fostering farmers’ sense of ecological responsibility. Multi-group analysis reveals socio-demographic heterogeneity: perceived control drives males and wealthier, less-educated farmers; subjective norms influence younger, educated groups; attitudes affect females and low-income farmers, while personal norms dominate among older farmers. Therefore, policy design should enhance farmers’ resource accessibility, strengthen social demonstration, and cultivate ecological ethics with tailored incentives, thereby promoting the widespread adoption of low-carbon agricultural technologies. Full article

This study explores the relationship between digital human resource management (HRM) practices, organizational culture, and employees’ perceived digital competence within Greek organizations. While digitalization has become a central priority in human resource management (HRM), there is still limited understanding of how cultural context shapes the effectiveness of digital HR interventions. Using a quantitative approach, data were collected via an online questionnaire from 257 employees across various sectors. The research employed the method of Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) and Multi-Group Analysis (MGA) to examine the structural relationships between digital HRM practices—such as e-learning, onboarding, and performance management—and digital competence, taking into account different organizational culture profiles. The results show that digital HRM practices have a positive, but modest, impact on employees’ digital skills, with e-learning emerging as the most influential factor. Importantly, the effect of HRM practices varies significantly according to the cultural environment: supportive and innovative cultures foster stronger development of digital competence compared to hierarchical settings. The findings underline the necessity for organizations to adapt digital HR strategies to their specific cultural context and not to rely solely on technological solutions. This research contributes to the growing literature by demonstrating the interplay between technology and culture in shaping employees’ digital capabilities and suggests that a balanced focus on both is essential for successful digital transformation. Full article

Corporate entrepreneurship is critical in determining a firm’s sustainability. Traditionally, middle managers have been believed to lead corporate entrepreneurship by developing relationships between top managers and subordinates. However, the high authority of a top manager can be both a threat and a strength for middle managers. Previous studies have not focused on the role of top managers in developing corporate entrepreneurship. To address this gap, this study aimed to identify the intuition of top managers in facilitating corporate entrepreneurship in China. We also identified the various industries that can develop corporate entrepreneurship, including the manufacturing and financial sectors. Based on a questionnaire survey conducted with 322 top managers in China, the research hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling and multigroup analysis, respectively, via SPSS and AMOS. Research examined whether the intuition of top managers positively influences corporate entrepreneurship and whether this influence is stronger in a specific industry. Results revealed that the intuition of top managers positively influenced corporate entrepreneurship, and its impact was greater in the manufacturing industry compared to the financial industry. These results implied the need for the development and maintenance of top managers’ intuition. Synthesizing with the current literature, this study has identified new pathways to develop corporate entrepreneurship from the role of top managers rather than only from middle managers. Full article

This study developed and validated an integrated theoretical framework combining the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to investigate how driving assistance technologies (DATs) influence risky driving behaviors among young urban Chinese drivers. Based on this framework, we proposed and tested several hypotheses regarding the effects of psychological and technological factors on risky driving intentions and behaviors. A survey was conducted with 495 young drivers in Shaoguan, Guangdong Province, examining psychological factors, technology acceptance, and their influence on risky driving behaviors. Structural equation modeling revealed that the integrated TPB-TAM explained 58.3% of the variance in behavioral intentions and 42.6% of the variance in actual risky driving behaviors, significantly outperforming single-theory models. Attitudes toward risky driving (β = 0.287) emerged as the strongest TPB predictor of behavioral intentions, while perceived usefulness (β = −0.172) and perceived ease of use (β = −0.113) of driving assistance technologies negatively influenced risky driving intentions. Multi-group analysis identified significant gender and driving experience differences. Logistic regression analyses demonstrated that model constructs significantly predicted actual traffic violations and accidents. These findings provide theoretical insights into risky driving determinants and practical guidance for developing targeted interventions and effective traffic safety policies for young drivers in urban China. Full article

Background: Interprofessional collaboration (IPC) is considered fundamental for integrated, high-quality woman-centered care. This study analyzes concordance/differences in the perspectives of midwives and physicians on IPC and Equitable Communication (EC) in prenatal/postpartum (PPC) and birth care (BC). Methods: The short form of the ICS Scale (ICS-R with eight items) adapted for the midwifery context, and the EC scale (three items) were completed by 293 midwives and 215 physicians in Germany. Profession- and the setting-specific differences were analyzed using t-tests and ANOVA with repeated measurements. Confirmatory factor analysis with nested model comparisons test the fairness of the scales. Results: Midwives’ ratings of all IPC aspects were systematically lower than physicians’ in both care settings (variance component professional group: η²_p = 0.227/ 0.318), esp. for EC (d = 1.22–1.41). Both groups rated EC higher in BC. The setting effect was less pronounced among physicians for the ICS-R items than among midwives. Violations of test fairness reveal validity deficiencies when using the aggregated EC sum score for group comparisons. Conclusions: Fundamental professional differences were found in the IPC assessment between physicians and midwives. The results enhance the understanding of IPC dynamics and provide starting points for action to leverage IPC’s potential for woman-centered care. Full article

Mental health difficulties in university students are an increasing concern, especially after the COVID-19 global crisis. This study used a cross-sectional design to analyze the effect of psychological factors on students’ psychological well-being. Participants were 190 university students enrolled in undergraduate or graduate programs at a public university. Based on previous research and grounded theoretical models, a conceptual model was proposed to analyze the influence of affect states/experiences (emotion regulation difficulties, anxiety and depression, perceived stress, self-compassion, gratitude, and satisfaction with life) on psychological well-being, including the indirect effect of emotions (negative emotions, positive activation emotions, self-efficacy emotions, prosocial emotions, and serenity emotions), using a path analysis. Multigroup analyses were also performed to test the moderating effect of gender and education level. Findings indicated that self-efficacy emotions had an indirect effect on the relationship between anxiety and depression, self-compassion, and psychological well-being. Both prosocial and self-efficacy emotions indirectly impacted the relationship between gratitude, satisfaction with life, and psychological well-being. Being a female and a bachelor student played a moderating role in the final model. The findings suggest that psychological interventions focused on self-efficacy and prosocial emotions are needed to increase psychological well-being in university students. Full article

As digital marketing becomes more targeted and interactive, it is more critical to understand how young audiences perceive and react to compelling content. This research examines the extent to which consumer responses are affected by neuromarketing knowledge, interest, and screen-based advert exposure for middle school kids. Based on responses from 244 Greek adolescents aged 12–15 years, Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed to investigate direct and mediated influences on purchase intentions with advertisement skepticism and persuasion knowledge as mediating factors. Results indicate that exposure and recognition have a significant influence on intentions both by means of cognitive as well as attitudinal processes, while interest only increases skepticism but not interaction. Multi-group analysis yielded significant differences according to age and experience, referring to the development path of advertising literacy. The results provide strong cues to educators, policymakers, and marketers who want to develop media-critical competencies among adolescents in an ever-shaping digital age. Full article

Background and Objective: Obesity is currently one of the major challenges in medicine. Research indicates that assessing eating habits can contribute significantly to the development of more effective treatment. This study aims to validate the Eating Behaviors Assessment for Obesity (EBA-O) in a sample of Spanish adults with overweight or obesity. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 384 participants. To evaluate the structure, reliability, and measurement invariance of the Spanish EBA-O, we conducted a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), calculated McDonald’s omega for reliability, and carried out a hierarchical sequence of multigroup CFAs. Two-way MANOVA was used to assess the effects of sex and body mass index (BMI) categories on EBA-O scores. Results: CFA supported a second-order five-factor structure for the EBA-O, demonstrating excellent fit indices. It respected the configural, metric, and scalar invariance. The Spanish version of the EBA-O exhibited significant correlations with measures of binge eating, food addiction, and eating disorder psychopathology. Internal consistency was high (ω = 0.80). Significant effects of sex and BMI were observed across EBA-O subscales. Conclusions: The EBA-O appears to be a valid, reliable, and easy-to-use instrument for assessing eating behaviors among Spanish-speaking individuals with overweight or obesity. Its strong psychometric properties support its use in both clinical settings and research, enhancing the development of tailored interventions for this population. Full article

Tourist satisfaction models typically assume that service performance dimensions carry the same weight for all travelers. Drawing on Bourdieu, we reconceptualize age, gender, and region of origin as demographic capital, durable resources that mediate how visitors decode service cues. Using a SERVPERF-based survey of 407 international travelers departing Quito (Ecuador), we test measurement invariance across six sociodemographic strata with multi-group confirmatory factor analysis. The four-factor SERVPERF core (Access, Lodging, Extra-hotel Services, Attractions) holds, yet partial metric invariance emerges: specific loadings flex with demographic capital. Gen-Z travelers penalize transport reliability and safety; female visitors reward cleanliness and empathy; and Latin American guests are the most critical of basic organization. These patterns expose a boundary condition for universalistic satisfaction models and elevate demographic capital from a descriptive tag to a structuring construct. Managerially, we translate the findings into segment-sensitive levers, visible security for youth and regional markets, gender-responsive facility upgrades, and dual eco-luxury versus digital-detox bundles for long-haul segments. By demonstrating when and how SERVPERF fractures across sociodemographic lines, this study intervenes in three theoretical conversations: (1) capital-based readings of consumption, (2) the search for boundary conditions in service-quality measurement, and (3) the shift from segmentation to capital-sensitive interpretation in emerging markets. The results position Ecuador as a critical case and provide a template for destinations facing similar performance–perception mismatches in the Global South. Full article

This study develops and tests an integrated structural equation model (SEM) linking Butler’s Tourism Area Life Cycle (TALC), residents’ quality of life (QoL), and community participation in sustainable tourism governance (STG) across three emerging island destinations in Aceh, Indonesia. Drawing on survey data from 1266 residents, we employ confirmatory factor analysis and covariance-based SEM to (1) assess the direct effects of TALC-derived dimensions on residents’ QoL; (2) examine the influence of residents’ QoL on governance participation; and (3) evaluate both direct and indirect pathways linking TALC to STG. Rather than distinct life cycle stages, we conceptualize and measure residents’ perceptions of destination maturity based on key TALC dimensions, such as infrastructure development, tourism intensity, and institutional coordination. Results indicate that higher perceived destination maturity is positively associated with residents’ QoL (β = 0.21, p < 0.001), and that residents’ QoL strongly predicts governance participation (β = 0.31, p < 0.001). TALC dimensions also directly affect STG (β = 0.23, p < 0.001), with residents’ QoL partially mediating this relationship and accounting for 22.4% of the total effect. Multigroup SEM reveals consistent effect patterns across Weh, Pulo Aceh, and Simeulue. These findings illustrate how TALC-informed perceptions of destination maturity relate to residents’ quality of life and governance participation, suggesting that perceived well-being may play an important role in shaping community engagement in small-island tourism contexts. Full article

Background: Hospitalization during the COVID-19 pandemic has been linked with increased psychological distress, cognitive impairment, and reduced quality of life (QoL). Posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and rumination may significantly influence QoL outcomes, yet the mechanisms underlying these effects remain poorly understood. Based on the Cognitive Aging Model, this study examines the mediating effects of cognitive and emotional functioning, loneliness, and posttraumatic growth (PTG) on the connection between PTSS/rumination and QoL among patients hospitalized with COVID-19, including the moderator effect of sex, time since discharge, and admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). Methods: A cohort of 258 patients previously hospitalized with COVID-19 as the primary or secondary diagnosis was assessed 6 to 24 months post-discharge. Participants completed validated self-report and neuropsychological assessments of PTSS, rumination, cognitive function, psychological morbidity (depression and anxiety), loneliness, PTG, and QoL. Path analysis and multigroup analysis were employed to assess mediating and moderating effects. Results: PTSS and rumination were associated with reduced physical and mental QoL, primarily via increased psychological morbidity, impaired cognitive functioning, loneliness, and reduced PTG. Rumination showed strong direct and indirect effects on multiple mediators. Only sex and time since discharge significantly moderated pathways, with women showing a strong association between rumination and cognitive impairment/loneliness, while the association between loneliness and mental QoL was significant only in men and in recently discharged patients. Conclusions: PTSS and rumination contribute negatively to QoL in post-discharged patients with COVID-19 through emotional, cognitive, and social pathways, influenced by sex and duration since discharge. The findings underscore the significance of comprehensive long-term care methods focused on cognitive rehabilitation, psychosocial sT, and social reintegration for COVID-19 survivors. Full article

The empowerment of rural women through sustainable entrepreneurship is pivotal for fostering economic development and social transformation in developing communities. This study examines the impact of university social responsibility (USR) programs on strengthening sustainable entrepreneurship among rural women, emphasizing the mediating role of economic empowerment. Utilizing a structural equation model (SEM), we explore causal pathways between USR interventions, entrepreneurial capacities, and the sustainability of rural businesses. Key dimensions analyzed include economic resources, social networks, and psychological self-efficacy, as well as their interrelation with community development. The findings demonstrate that multidimensional USR programs integrating technical training, social support, and economic resources significantly enhance entrepreneurial resilience and value chain integration. Notably, the analysis reveals that economic empowerment mediates the relationship between USR programs and business sustainability, with improvements in community participation and ICT quality identified as critical drivers. Furthermore, the post-intervention results highlight a shift from technology access challenges to a focus on ICT content quality and psychosocial development, reflecting maturity in community adaptation and resource utilization. This research provides empirical evidence supporting the effectiveness of USR programs in catalyzing sustainable transformations in rural contexts. The results offer actionable insights for designing targeted interventions that integrate technical, social, and economic dimensions, contributing to the advancement of sustainable entrepreneurship and rural development theory. Full article