Search Results (1,228)

(1) Background: Rapid population aging in China intensifies physical and mental health challenges, including negative emotions and social barriers. Physical activity (PA) fosters resilience, adaptability, and successful aging through emotional and social benefits. This study examines the relationship between square-dancing exercise and psychological capital (PsyCap) in middle-aged and elderly individuals using cross-validation, subgroup analysis, and a cross-sequential design. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional study with 5714 participants employed a serial mediation model. Online questionnaires assessed square-dancing exercise, cognitive reappraisal, prosocial behavior tendencies, PsyCap, and interpersonal relationships. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS 27.0 and Mplus 8.3, incorporating correlation analysis, structural equation modeling, and subgroup comparisons. (3) Results: (a) Cognitive reappraisal and prosocial behavior mediated the link between square-dancing and PsyCap through three pathways; (b) model stability was confirmed across two random subsamples; (c) cross-group differences emerged in age and interpersonal relationships. Compared with secondary data, this study further validated PsyCap’s stability over six months post-pandemic. (4) Conclusions: The study, based on China’s largest square-dancing sample, establishes a robust serial mediation model. The findings strengthen theoretical foundations for PA-based interventions promoting psychological resilience in aging populations, highlighting structured exercise’s role in mental and social well-being. Full article

This study investigates how young Chinese consumers across generational lines engage with wine, addressing three key research questions: What motivates their wine purchases? What sensory preferences do they exhibit? And through which channels do they prefer to buy wine? Based on a qualitative design combining focus groups and semi-structured interviews, the study identifies significant generational differences between millennials and post-millennials. Millennials treat wine as a social tool for networking and status, while post-millennials view wine as a medium of personal identity shaped by digital culture. Similarly, millennials prefer a balance of traditional and digital retail, whereas post-millennials favour online platforms. Experiential consumption follows the same pattern, from formal tourism to virtual tastings. By linking these findings to institutional and cultural theories of consumer behaviour, the study contributes to a nuanced understanding of wine consumption in an emerging market. It provides practical implications for wine marketers aiming to localize their strategies for younger Chinese segments. Full article

This study focuses on the current service/care difficulties and challenges that social institutions in Hungary are facing during their daily operations; how they can react to them utilizing their internal resources, mechanisms, and capacities; and what concrete, tangible needs and demands are emerging in terms of methodological professional support, potential forms, interventions, and direction for professional development. A total of 24 general and 55 specific service and operational problems were identified and assessed in eight different service areas (family and child welfare services, family and child welfare centers, respite care for children, care for the homeless, addiction intervention, care for people with disabilities, care for psychiatric patients, specialized care for the elderly, and basic services for the elderly). The empirical base of the study uses a database of 201 online questionnaires completed by a professional target group working for social service providers in two counties (Győr-Moson-Sopron and Veszprém), representing 166 social service providers. The questionnaires were completed between November and December of 2022. The findings will be used to develop a professional support and development problem map. Social institutions face complex and serious service/care difficulties and challenges in their daily operations. Three distinctive basic problems clearly stand out in both severity and significance from the complex set of factors assessed. The biggest problem in the social care system is clearly the complex challenge of low wages, followed by the administrative burdens in the ranking of operational difficulties, and the third key factor was the psycho-mental workload of staff. Full article

Background: Adolescence is a key period of development characterized by emotional, cognitive, and social changes that impact positive mental health (PMH). While social support is a well-established protective factor, cognitive and emotional processes, such as cognitive fusion and regulation of distress, also play a critical role. Objective: This study aimed to examine the relationship among various cognitive (i.e., cognitive fusion), emotional (i.e., regulation of distress), and social determinants (i.e., social support) in adolescents’ PMH, as their interplay could reflect theoretical models highlighting how these factors jointly shape adolescents’ mental health. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 505 adolescents (aged 13–15 years) in Spain. Participants completed online questionnaires assessing sociodemographic variables, cognitive fusion, regulation of distress, PMH, and social support from friends. Descriptive statistics, correlation analyses, and mediation and moderated mediation models were conducted, adjusting for relevant covariates. Results: Cognitive fusion was negatively correlated with regulation of distress, PMH, and social support, whereas regulation of distress showed a positive association with both PMH and social support. Mediation analysis indicated that regulation of distress significantly mediated the relationship between cognitive fusion and PMH. Furthermore, peer support moderated this mediated relationship: higher levels of support mitigated the negative impact of regulation of distress on PMH. Sociodemographic analyses revealed that girls, non-national students, and those receiving educational support showed less favorable outcomes. Conclusions: Cognitive, emotional, and social variables jointly influence adolescents’ PMH. Emotional regulation serves as a mediator of cognitive fusion and PMH, while social support from peers mediates the impact of psychological distress. Targeted interventions should prioritize emotional regulation strategies and enhancing peer support, especially among more vulnerable groups. Full article

Objectives: The present cross-sectional analysis aimed to investigate whether Large Language Model-based chatbots can be used as reliable sources of information in orthodontics by evaluating chatbot responses and comparing them to those of dental practitioners with different levels of knowledge. Methods: Eight true and false frequently asked orthodontic questions were submitted to five leading chatbots (ChatGPT-4, Claude-3-Opus, Gemini 2.0 Flash Experimental, Microsoft Copilot, and DeepSeek). The consistency of the answers given by chatbots at four different times was assessed using Cronbach’s α. Chi-squared test was used to compare chatbot responses with those given by two groups of clinicians, i.e., general dental practitioners (GDPs) and orthodontic specialists (Os) recruited in an online survey via social media, and differences were considered significant when p < 0.05. Additionally, chatbots were asked to provide a justification for their dichotomous responses using a chain-of-through prompting approach and rating the educational value according to the Global Quality Scale (GQS). Results: A high degree of consistency in answering was found for all analyzed chatbots (α > 0.80). When comparing chatbot answers with GDP and O ones, statistically significant differences were found for almost all the questions (p < 0.05). When evaluating the educational value of chatbot responses, DeepSeek achieved the highest GQS score (median 4.00; interquartile range 0.00), whereas CoPilot had the lowest one (median 2.00; interquartile range 2.00). Conclusions: Although chatbots yield somewhat useful information about orthodontics, they can provide misleading information when dealing with controversial topics. Full article

In an era where online interactions increasingly shape social dynamics, the pervasive issue of cyberbullying poses a significant threat to the well-being of individuals, particularly among vulnerable groups. Despite extensive research on text-based cyberbullying detection, the rise of visual content on social media platforms necessitates new approaches to address cyberbullying using images. This domain has been largely overlooked. In this paper, we present a novel dataset specifically designed for the detection of visual cyberbullying, encompassing four distinct classes: abuse, curse, discourage, and threat. The initial prepared dataset (cyberbullying visual indicators dataset (CVID)) comprised 664 samples for training and validation, expanded through data augmentation techniques to ensure balanced and accurate results across all classes. We analyzed this dataset using several advanced deep learning models, including VGG16, VGG19, MobileNetV2, and Vision Transformer. The proposed model, based on DenseNet201, achieved the highest test accuracy of 99%, demonstrating its efficacy in identifying the visual cues associated with cyberbullying. To prove the proposed model’s generalizability, the 5-fold stratified K-fold was also considered, and the model achieved an average test accuracy of 99%. This work introduces a dataset and highlights the potential of leveraging deep learning models to address the multifaceted challenges of detecting cyberbullying in visual content. Full article

The “That Girl” self-optimization trend on TikTok, promoting beauty and productivity, had over 17.4 billion views by August 2024. “That Girl” video clips showcase perfectly organized daily routines, fitness activities, and healthy eating—allegedly to inspire other users to aspire to similar flawlessness. Based on social comparison theory, the “That Girl” archetype serves as an upward comparison target. We expected detrimental effects of viewing “That Girl” content on young women in terms of positive and negative affect and body satisfaction. Expanding other research in this area, possible effects on self-discipline and dieting intentions were explored. Focusing on immediate intraindividual changes, a preregistered two-group online experiment using a pre–post measurement design was conducted. Female participants (N = 76) watched four minutes of either 16 video clips showing “That Girl” content or nature videos (control condition). Mixed ANOVAs provided evidence of a significant adverse influence of watching “That Girl” videos on female recipients regarding all dependent variables with medium or large effect sizes. Post-hoc analyses revealed that these effects were driven by participants who reported upward comparisons to “That Girls”. Based on these results, the positive impact on self-improvement—as proclaimed by contributors of the “That Girl” trend—is critically questioned. Full article

Digital transformation as a strategic goal is not new in the cultural heritage sector, yet it gained momentum due to COVID-19. This is reflected in policies and national strategies across Europe, where digitalisation is often seen as key to sustainable development. This study focuses on small heritage institutions in peripheral settings and explores the opportunities and limitations of digitalisation and its impact on sustainable regional development. A mixed-methods approach was applied, including a literature review, an online survey, focus groups, and a stakeholder interview, complemented by a case study. The findings show an uneven distribution of the perceived benefits, depending on funding, staff, and location. Nevertheless, digital transformation has positive social impacts by enhancing access to, participation in, and awareness of cultural heritage and therefore well-being. However, its economic effects in peripheral regions should not be overestimated. Digitalisation’s ecological impact on sustainable regional development is an underrepresented topic in the literature. Moreover, digitalisation is particularly challenging in peripheral regions and for smaller institutions with limited resources and should not be regarded as a guaranteed pathway towards sustainability. This paper contributes to an emerging field by examining the intersection of heritage institutions, digitalisation, and sustainable regional development in peripheral areas. Full article

Power-to-X (ptx) technologies are considered a promising solution for enabling the storage and sectoral integration of renewable energy, playing a vital role in the sustainable transition of industrialized energy systems. This study investigates the public acceptance of ptx technologies in Germany using a quantitative, environmental–psychological framework. Key influencing factors such as social and personal norms, environmental awareness, and openness to innovation are analyzed. A particular focus is placed on generational differences, comparing the perceptions of youth (16–25 years) and adults (>25 years) through a representative online survey. The results reveal a general lack of knowledge about ptx technologies yet a positive assessment of their decarbonization potential. Ecological impact—particularly the ability to reduce CO₂ emissions—emerges as the strongest predictor of acceptance. This is closely tied to conditions such as the use of renewable electricity and sustainable sourcing of carbon and water. Notably, acceptance among youth is also influenced by environmental awareness, prior knowledge, and perceived behavioral control. The results show that, in general, there is still a need for improved science communication to address the existing uncertainties in the population. At the same time, age-specific approaches are required, as perceptions and acceptance factors differ significantly between younger and older age groups. Full article

This study examines how students perceive factors contributing to their sense of belonging (SoB) in an online project-based master’s course in social innovation, incorporating collaboration with external stakeholders and structured around real-world challenges from external partners. SoB has been shown to impact academic outcomes positively, but online teamwork and collaboration outside the institution walls present unique challenges. The study adopts a qualitative approach and an interpretivist standpoint to find meaningful aspects and generate an understanding of positions among the students. Data was gathered through interviews, allowing students to express their unique experiences and perspectives on SoB in the context of a master’s course, with participants from several countries. Thematic analysis of the interview data identified the following seven categories related to students’ perceived belonging: team formation and trust, personal introductions, group continuity, access to teachers, use of informal communication channels, shared tools, and digital fluency. Furthermore, working towards a common challenge or goal seems to promote SoB among team members. The results indicate that SoB was shaped by multiple interrelated factors, with team-based collaboration and structured group dynamics playing a central role. The study contributes to ongoing research on student belonging by identifying specific practices that may support SoB in digitally supported, team-oriented learning environments. Full article

Background: Antibiotic resistance (AMR) is a critical global and national health challenge, largely driven by the misuse and overuse of antibiotics. Understanding the public′s knowledge and practices regarding antibiotic use is essential for informing effective interventions. This study aimed to assess the levels of knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) related to antibiotic use among adults in Saudi Arabia’s Western Region and to identify the demographic and behavioral determinants of these outcomes. Methods: A regional cross-sectional survey was conducted from March to June 2025 using a 40-item self-administered online questionnaire. Adults aged ≥ 18 years residing in the Western Region of Saudi Arabia were recruited via social media using snowball sampling. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests were used to examine associations, while multivariate logistic regression was employed to identify determinants of high knowledge and good practices, presented as adjusted odds ratios (aOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: A total of 891 participants were included; most were female (63.6%) and aged 18–30 years (56.2%). Moderate knowledge of antibiotic use was observed in 54.0% of participants, while 30.8% had high knowledge. In terms of attitude and practice, 55.6% demonstrated good performance and 42.8% average performance. High knowledge was significantly associated with the female gender (aOR = 1.90; 95% CI: 1.34–2.70), age of 41–50 years (aOR = 2.22; 95% CI: 1.42–3.48), and a postgraduate education (aOR = 15.37; 95% CI: 1.84–128.13). Good practices were associated with the female gender (aOR = 2.32; 95% CI: 1.66–3.24) and being married (aOR = 1.99; 95% CI: 1.43–2.77). A moderate positive correlation was found between knowledge and practice scores (r = 0.406, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Significant variability in public KAP regarding antibiotic use was identified. Female gender, older age, and higher education were key determinants of better KAP. These findings emphasize the need for targeted educational strategies focusing on high-risk groups to support rational antibiotic use and mitigate antimicrobial resistance. Full article

Collegiate student-athletes are particularly vulnerable to food insecurity (FI). Prevalence rates range from 9.9% to 65%, although research is limited among this population. Background/Objectives: The challenge of balancing academic and degree progression requirements with training and competition demands can increase the risk for FI among student-athletes. Furthermore, insufficient funds for food has been reported for student-athletes living both on campus and off campus. Methods: This qualitative study employed a phenomenological design and constructivist theoretical framework to explore the experiences of athletic trainers, sports dietitians/nutritionists, and other professionals working with student-athletes in identifying and addressing FI among student-athletes via a series of online focus groups. Results: Participants (n = 27, 12 public colleges) had ≥7 years of collegiate athletics work experience, and most had been in their current position for <3 years. Five approaches to FI screening emerged; specifically, no screening, screening varies by team/sport, informal screening, dietitian screening, and formal screening. Emerging social determinants of FI included financial challenges, competing priorities, cultural/societal impacts, limited life skills, and the food environment. All these factors precipitated on a systems level, including individual, team/athletic department, and university/societal tiers. Conclusions: Athletic department and university policies and budgetary decisions emerged as potential antagonists of food security among student-athletes. FI mitigation strategies for student-athletes must go beyond simply addressing individual factors. Obtainment of food security among collegiate student-athletes requires system changes at the team/athletic department and university tiers. Full article

Social media (SM) use and the burden on healthcare systems have concurrently increased, with the latter resulting in longer wait times and higher costs. As a result, more people seem to use social media to access health information (HI). This study explores how SM is used for accessing HI within an under-resourced community. In this mixed methods study, respondents (N = 256) completed online English and Spanish Qualtrics surveys assessing their use of healthcare services and social media, and its use for HI. We also explored respondents’ experience in understanding and using the HI they found on SM. Qualitative inquiries (N = 7) included focus groups and key informant interviews and expanded on the survey results. Results indicated that most participants used SM for HI. Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok were associated with looking up HI before and after receiving care and for health decision-making and for considering treatments or medication after seeing information about these on social media. To create effective messaging that is accepted, relatable and easy to access for the audiences they seek to reach, healthcare organizations must understand how SM is used as a source of HI. Exploring the associations between SM algorithms, health literacy, access to healthcare and SM use can help improve health communication strategies to be used on SM platforms. Full article

Background: Patients with Down syndrome (DS) commonly experience psychological and mental problems. Studying the quality of life (QoL) of children with DS is important because it increases knowledge related to understanding the challenges that this group may face. This study aims to examine the QoL of children with DS from a parental perspective in terms of physical, emotional, social, and school domains, depending on several factors, and identify demographic characteristics of their parents that may affect their QoL. Methods: This online survey study was conducted in Saudi Arabia between November 2024 and March 2025. The inclusion criteria targeted parents of children with confirmed DS diagnoses aged between 8 and 18 years. Results: The findings of this study showed that children with DS aged between 0 and 2 years had significantly lower QoL scores (10.18 ± 3.83) compared to other age groups (p = 0.02). In addition, gender differences were significant in the emotional (p = 0.03), social (p = 0.01), and school (p = 0.01) domains, with females scoring lower QoL scores in all areas compared to males. Moreover, educational level showed significant results across all domains, particularly for children with no education, who had the lowest QoL scores in the physical domain (22.34 ± 7.53, p = 0.004), emotional domain (10.41 ± 3.79, p = 0.003), social domain (11.22 ± 4.06, p = 0.001), and school domain (8.75 ± 5.09, p = 0.001). The findings of this study showed that children with DS who are in primary school (odds ratio (OR) = 5.90, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.85–18.78, p = 0.003) and middle school (OR = 5.27, 95% CI: 1.44–19.31, p = 0.012) had significantly higher odds of better QoL compared to children with no formal education. Additionally, children cared for by their fathers had significantly lower odds compared to those cared for by their mothers (OR = 0.07, 95% CI: 0.01–0.90, p = 0.041). None of the demographic characteristics of caregivers reached a statistical significance level to have influence on caregivers QoL (p > 0.05). Conclusions: The findings of this study demonstrated a low level of QoL, affecting the emotional, social, and school domains, especially among female children with DS aged between 0 and 2 years with no formal education and cared for by their fathers. Governments should develop a comprehensive plan to care for these children and families in order to enhance their rights and quality of life, thereby placing emphasis on those who exhibit parameters related to a lower QoL. Full article

The stigma associated with food assistance can be a barrier to resolving food insecurity. Self-reliance expectations likely contribute to this stigma. Aim: This cross-sectional study identified factors that predict perceptions of food assistance stigma. Demographics (age, sex, race, and ethnicity) were collected, and food assistance stigma (Food Resource Acceptability) and self-reliance (Self-Reliance Scale) were measured via REDCap questionnaires from 531 online participants. The research volunteer repository, Research Match, was used for recruitment. Multiple regression was conducted to determine food assistance stigma predictors. Older age, being male, and reporting higher self-reliance significantly predicted the likelihood of stigmatizing food assistance. The social expectation of self-reliance in adulthood contributes to an assigned and anticipated stigma associated with accepting food assistance. This stigma permeates many regions, particularly the United States, and likely contributes to unresolved food insecurity despite the availability of multiple food assistance resources. Future qualitative research should be conducted among older individuals and males with high levels of self-reliance to gain a deeper understanding of how food assistance stigma could be lessened so that appropriate stigma reduction interventions could be tested among this target group. Full article