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19 pages, 415 KB  
Article
Beyond Cartesian Dualism: François Noël’s Hybridization of Aristotelianism and Confucianism on the Voluntary and Involuntary
by Yves Vende
Religions 2026, 17(6), 739; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel17060739 (registering DOI) - 21 Jun 2026
Abstract
The article begins by examining Ricoeur’s critique of the Cartesian understanding of the will, which ultimately leads Ricoeur to explore Aristotle’s distinction between voluntary and involuntary acts. Later, Aquinas integrates Aristotle’s insights into a creator/creatures framework by linking voluntary acts to the pursuit [...] Read more.
The article begins by examining Ricoeur’s critique of the Cartesian understanding of the will, which ultimately leads Ricoeur to explore Aristotle’s distinction between voluntary and involuntary acts. Later, Aquinas integrates Aristotle’s insights into a creator/creatures framework by linking voluntary acts to the pursuit of beatitude and by integrating the affective and rational elements of human action in the reflective process that precedes action. In a different metaphysical context, Confucian accounts of moral agency, particularly in the Analects and the Mencius, highlight the role of bodily dispositions, affective responses, and ritualized learning in moral cultivation. Without sharply distinguishing between voluntary and involuntary acts, Confucianism views moral development as harmonizing inner movements through learning and ritual practices. But in Confucianism, too, shaping dispositions and evaluations of possible behaviors helps consider the agent as a whole. These examinations are possible because traditional resources provide a framework. From this perspective, François Noël (1651–1729), who like Descartes trained within a Jesuit scholastic context, provides a unique synthesis. In the Third Treatise on Chinese Ethics of his Philosophia Sinica, Noël interprets Confucian texts through the lens of Aristotelian and Scholastic frameworks, using Chinese examples to illustrate distinctions among voluntary actions: free, natural, spontaneous, and strictly voluntary. Noël seeks to show the value of ancient Chinese texts, their Neo-Confucian commentaries, and their compatibility with his tradition. By doing so, he also integrates Confucian moral psychology with the scholastic framework, proposing an anthropology that preserves the embodied, affective dimensions of agency while trusting the accountability of rationality, the ability of the agent to integrate different aspects of human life in a practical unity: the one able to take action. Full article
22 pages, 541 KB  
Article
A Qualitative Study of Participant Feedback on an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Group-Based Intervention for Parents of Youth with Anxiety Disorders
by Jacquelyn Raftery-Helmer, Ashley S. Hart, Alyssa L. Faro, Diana Baez and Phoebe Moore
Children 2026, 13(6), 837; https://doi.org/10.3390/children13060837 (registering DOI) - 21 Jun 2026
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Incorporating parent training into cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxious youth has not been shown to significantly improve outcomes perhaps because these interventions have not addressed potential interfering psychological barriers to implementing parenting changes and rarely offer between-session support. There is growing evidence that [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Incorporating parent training into cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxious youth has not been shown to significantly improve outcomes perhaps because these interventions have not addressed potential interfering psychological barriers to implementing parenting changes and rarely offer between-session support. There is growing evidence that Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) can target these psychological barriers and generate more flexible and adaptive behavioral repertoires in parents of children with a variety of presenting challenges. Methods: Following a pilot trial of “Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Parents of Anxious Children (ACT-PAC)” a six-week group-based intervention focused on targeting psychological barriers to parenting change using mindfulness and acceptance approaches, we collected qualitative feedback from participants in two post-treatment phases by conducting individual interviews and a focus group with participants that completed the intervention. Results: Analysis of interview responses revealed that parents found ACT principles and processes to be helpful, and many also appreciated the ACT-PAC group setting that allowed parents to recognize their experiences were shared by others and to self-disclose in a non-judgmental space. Feedback from the focus group further provides preliminary evidence that ACT-PAC is acceptable to and feasible for parent participants and suggests modifications such as involving additional caregivers, making resources more readily available, and creative structural changes that may facilitate between-session practice. Conclusions: Results suggest that the group-based intervention can be both maintained and improved for future participants. Limitations to generalizability in light of possible selection bias and the small focus group sample size are addressed. Full article
20 pages, 994 KB  
Article
Mindfulness and Psychological Distress in College Student-Athletes: The Mediating Roles of Cognitive Reappraisal and Subjective Vitality
by Xing Liu, Li Li and Huilin Wang
Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(6), 1033; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16061033 (registering DOI) - 20 Jun 2026
Viewed by 85
Abstract
Introduction: College student-athletes must often balance academic responsibilities with intensive training and competition, placing them under considerable pressure and potentially increasing their risk of mental health difficulties. Against this background, the present study focused on the link between mindfulness and psychological distress and [...] Read more.
Introduction: College student-athletes must often balance academic responsibilities with intensive training and competition, placing them under considerable pressure and potentially increasing their risk of mental health difficulties. Against this background, the present study focused on the link between mindfulness and psychological distress and examined whether cognitive reappraisal and subjective vitality were statistically involved in this association as indirect associations. Methods: Participants were 430 college student-athletes recruited from five universities in Hunan Province, China. Using a cross-sectional survey design, the hypothesized model was tested using structural equation modeling in AMOS 23.0, and indirect associations were examined with bootstrap analysis based on 5000 resamples. Results: Mindfulness was positively associated with both cognitive reappraisal and subjective vitality. Cognitive reappraisal was positively associated with subjective vitality but negatively associated with psychological distress. Subjective vitality also showed a negative association with distress. Moreover, mindfulness showed an indirect association with lower distress through cognitive reappraisal and subjective vitality. Discussion: The findings may contribute to a better understanding of the psychological correlates associated with mental health in college student-athletes. They also suggest that mindfulness-related psychological resources may be associated with lower distress and may help guide future longitudinal and intervention research in this group. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mindfulness, Compassion, and Well-Being in Social Work Practice)
19 pages, 488 KB  
Article
Career Choice and Career Change Among South African Health Professions: A Qualitative Study
by Modupe Busisiwe Makwarela, Christmal Dela Christmals and James Avoka Asamani
Healthcare 2026, 14(12), 1775; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14121775 (registering DOI) - 19 Jun 2026
Viewed by 138
Abstract
Background: Despite being considered a country with a larger health workforce in Africa, the South African health workforce continues to experience shortages and a maldistribution of health workers across regions and sectors. Current projections suggest that the workforce is expected to decline further, [...] Read more.
Background: Despite being considered a country with a larger health workforce in Africa, the South African health workforce continues to experience shortages and a maldistribution of health workers across regions and sectors. Current projections suggest that the workforce is expected to decline further, especially among doctors, nurses and midwives, in large part, due to attrition—which could compromise the delivery of primary health and maternity services. These health workforce shortages and uneven distribution threaten the sustainability and effectiveness of health services in South Africa and drives the need to investigate the factors that may be influencing career choice and change decisions among health professionals in South Africa. Methods: A qualitative exploratory study, making use of purposive sampling and semi-structured interviews, was conducted to investigate the factors influencing career choice and change decisions among health professionals in South Africa. The participants were qualified health professionals in the fields of medicine, nutrition, pharmacy, nursing, and psychology working in the private, public, and academic sectors. Data was collected until saturation was achieved and then thematically analyzed using MAXQDA 24. Results: A total of 10 participants made up of three males and seven females were interviewed. These participants worked in different employment sectors with some having dual roles in private practice, public sector, and academia. The analysis revealed three major themes that capture the nature of and factors influencing career choice and career changes occurring in South Africa. The first theme related to factors influencing career choice (including altruism, family influence, personal experiences, financial/job security, academic achievement, career guidance, and opportunity for change). The second theme focused on career change dynamics (nature of career changes and career transitions occurring in the form of specialization, switching health professions, exiting health professions, adding non-health interests, and shifting focus areas). The third theme revealed factors influencing career change. These were categorized into personal and individual factors, workplace or job-specific factors, and administrative factors. This study has contributed to understanding the career choices and career changes taking place within the health professions in South Africa. It has also revealed a need for reforms in policy and practice for the current health professionals who have no intention of changing their careers while highlighting implications for future training of health professionals. Also, addressing the challenges of poor working conditions, lack of support, unemployment and placement delays, and other administrative barriers will help mitigate some of the issues leading to health workforce shortages and inequities in the South African context. Conclusions: The strongest motivator for choosing a career in health professions is the desire to care for others, while retention of the health workforce is challenged by personal, workplace, and administrative factors. Enhancing workplace conditions and support systems, implementing policy reforms, and minimizing administrative barriers is essential for achieving universal health coverage and sustaining a resilient health workforce in South Africa. Full article
14 pages, 563 KB  
Article
Affective-Motivational Processes in TVET Internships: Challenge, Hindrance, School Support, and Vocational Persistence
by Cheng-Ze Hung, Stanley Y. B. Huang and Chien-Hsiang Huang
Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(6), 995; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16060995 - 15 Jun 2026
Viewed by 122
Abstract
Curricular internships are affective-motivational learning contexts in which students encounter real workplace demands while educational institutions remain responsible for learning, engagement, and well-being. Responding to the Special Issue theme of emotion, motivation, and learning, this three-wave study used temporally separated self-report data to [...] Read more.
Curricular internships are affective-motivational learning contexts in which students encounter real workplace demands while educational institutions remain responsible for learning, engagement, and well-being. Responding to the Special Issue theme of emotion, motivation, and learning, this three-wave study used temporally separated self-report data to examine challenge demands, hindrance demands, and school support among 860 Taiwanese technical and vocational education and training (TVET) interns. Challenge demands were positively associated with work engagement, which was associated with innovative behavior. Hindrance demands were positively associated with burnout, which was associated with intention to seek work outside the trained vocational field. The hindrance demands-burnout association was weaker when school support was higher. The findings are compatible with treating school support as a curricular psychological resource that may help students interpret and manage obstructive internship conditions. More broadly, the study suggests that work-integrated learning systems may support vocational persistence by designing internships as supervised affective-motivational learning environments rather than as placements alone. Full article
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16 pages, 684 KB  
Article
Barriers Associated with Help-Seeking for Stroke Symptoms Despite Public Awareness Campaigns: A Cross-Sectional Study
by Sheharyar S. Baig, Mudasar Aziz, Sara Sara, Sarah Ingram, Arshad Majid, Elizabeth Abbey, Lucy A. Eaves, Noor Sharrack, Ali Ali and Jessica N. Redgrave
NeuroSci 2026, 7(3), 70; https://doi.org/10.3390/neurosci7030070 - 14 Jun 2026
Viewed by 183
Abstract
Background: The nationally advertised mass media campaign Act-FAST UK, delivered in multiple waves since its launch in 2009, has increased public awareness of stroke symptoms. However, many stroke patients still delay in calling for help and reach the hospital too late to receive [...] Read more.
Background: The nationally advertised mass media campaign Act-FAST UK, delivered in multiple waves since its launch in 2009, has increased public awareness of stroke symptoms. However, many stroke patients still delay in calling for help and reach the hospital too late to receive emergency treatments. The reasons for this cognitive dissonance between recognition of symptoms and urgent seeking of emergency medical services (EMS) are unclear. Aims: This study aimed to quantify cognitive, psychological, and knowledge-based barriers to help-seeking in patients with acute stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA), as well as in intervening witnesses, and to examine their association with the use of EMS as the initial point of contact. Methods: We interviewed patients admitted to a hyperacute stroke unit with a stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA) from 2013 to 2016. People who contacted emergency services on the patient’s behalf (intervening witnesses (IWs)) were also interviewed when available. Reasons given for delays in calling for help were related to correct symptom recognition, and whether/at what time, emergency services were contacted after symptoms onset. Results: A total of 602 patients (429 with stroke, 173 with TIA) along with 128 witnesses who intervened in calling for help in those cases (IWs) were interviewed. In the subset of patients with both measures available, there was a strong positive correlation between NIHSS score and number of FAST symptoms (Spearman’s rho = 0.645, p < 0.001), providing supportive evidence for the use of FAST symptom count as a proxy measure of stroke severity. A total of 469 (77.9%) of the patients were aware of a media education campaign about stroke, but only 145 (24.1%) had attributed their own symptoms to stroke at onset. However, correct self-diagnosis of stroke was not associated with direct calls to the EMS (OR 1.43, 95% CI 0.84–2.45). Cognitive, psychological or emotional barriers to help-seeking, as reported by prior published studies, were reported by 463 (81.2%) of the patients we interviewed but in only 63 (53.3%) of the IWs (p < 0.001). Amongst the patient cohort, “not thinking symptoms were serious” (275, 45.7%) and “waiting to see if symptoms would go away” (285, 47.3%) were most strongly negatively associated with EMS use (OR 0.52, 95% CI 0.32–0.84 and OR 0.34, 95% CI 0.21–0.55, respectively). Only 55 (9.1%) of the patients interviewed had been aware of any time-critical stroke treatment prior to their stroke. Eighteen stroke patients (4.2%) reached hospital in time to receive thrombolysis, but an additional 170 (39%) could have been considered for this treatment (i.e., had no apparent other contraindications from a notes review) had they arrived within 4 h of symptom onset. Conclusions: Future public education campaigns may be more effective if they specifically address factors associated with delays in calling for help after stroke symptoms and emphasise the existence of emergency treatments, which are also time-critical. More effective public education may have the potential to increase the proportion of patients arriving in time to benefit from such treatments. Full article
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56 pages, 1948 KB  
Article
Human-Centered Governance of Algorithmic Management in 3PL Warehousing: A DMFF-BN-PCRO Decision Framework
by Filiz Mizrak and Gonca Reyhan Akkartal
Systems 2026, 14(6), 679; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems14060679 - 12 Jun 2026
Viewed by 303
Abstract
Artificial intelligence is reshaping warehouse work through algorithmic task allocation, scanner-based monitoring, KPI feedback, dynamic scheduling, and real-time performance control. Although these systems can improve coordination and operational visibility, they also create governance risks related to fairness, transparency, autonomy, privacy, workload pressure, trust, [...] Read more.
Artificial intelligence is reshaping warehouse work through algorithmic task allocation, scanner-based monitoring, KPI feedback, dynamic scheduling, and real-time performance control. Although these systems can improve coordination and operational visibility, they also create governance risks related to fairness, transparency, autonomy, privacy, workload pressure, trust, and employee resistance. This study develops a human-centered decision framework for prioritizing algorithmic management governance packages in third-party logistics (3PL) warehousing. The main contribution is to translate employee-level governance concerns into a scenario-sensitive decision model that helps managers select appropriate governance packages under different operational pressures. The study uses survey data from 380 warehouse employees to examine key psychological and behavioral mechanisms, including procedural fairness, transparency, system/information quality, autonomy, privacy concern, workload, trust, acceptance, and resistance/disengagement. These survey-supported constructs are then converted into six governance criteria: procedural fairness, transparency and contestability clarity, system and information quality, autonomy support, privacy boundary governance, and workload protection. A seven-expert panel evaluates five governance packages under three scenarios: peak season surge, labor shortage/high turnover, and audit pressure/compliance scrutiny. Methodologically, the framework combines Dynamic Multi-Facet Fuzzy Sets to capture membership, non-membership, hesitancy, engagement, and resistance; Bayesian Network weighting to reflect dependencies among governance criteria; and PCA-based ranking optimization to generate scenario-specific and robust rankings. Comparative validation with SAW and TOPSIS is also used to assess ranking consistency. The findings show that effective algorithmic management governance is not a fixed compliance solution. Transparency, workload protection, autonomy support, privacy boundary governance, and procedural fairness become more or less important depending on the operational scenario. A2, which combines transparency, workload protection, and autonomy support, emerges as the strongest robust package. A1 performs best under labor shortage/high turnover, while A3 performs best under audit pressure/compliance scrutiny. These results suggest that 3PL warehouses should adopt adaptive governance routines that combine explainability, contestability, workload safeguards, privacy boundaries, and employee voice mechanisms. The study contributes to the literature on AI in socio-technical systems by showing how human, organizational, and ethical concerns can be embedded into an interpretable decision framework for responsible algorithmic management in logistics work environments. Full article
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18 pages, 300 KB  
Article
Friendships and Coping Among Adolescents with LGBTQ+ Parents
by Jacob S. Withrow, Nita U. Kulkarni and Rachel H. Farr
Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(6), 977; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16060977 - 12 Jun 2026
Viewed by 194
Abstract
Adolescents with LGBTQ+ parents and LGBTQ+ adolescents navigate unique social and identity-related challenges as compared to those without minoritized sexual and/or gender identities. Adolescents with LGBTQ+ parents (regardless of their own sexual or gender identity) and adolescents who personally identify as LGBTQ+ are [...] Read more.
Adolescents with LGBTQ+ parents and LGBTQ+ adolescents navigate unique social and identity-related challenges as compared to those without minoritized sexual and/or gender identities. Adolescents with LGBTQ+ parents (regardless of their own sexual or gender identity) and adolescents who personally identify as LGBTQ+ are distinct populations, though they sometimes overlap. Research on adolescents with LGBTQ+ parents has often focused on parent–adolescent relationships and family structures. How do friends help youth cope with identity-based minority stressors, like peer microaggressions, bullying, and exclusion, common for those with minoritized identities? Friendships are developmentally pivotal during adolescence, shaping social competence, identity exploration, and psychological adjustment. Grounded in ecological systems, social learning, and minority stress theories, we sought to understand how friendships relate to mental health and coping in adolescents with LGBTQ+ parents. This cross-sectional quantitative study included 98 adolescents (ages 12–19) with LGBTQ+ parents in the U.S., recruited via community sampling and Prolific. Higher-quality peer attachment, conceptualized by trust, communication, and alienation in close friendships, was associated with lower depression and greater social competence, but not associated with anxiety or adaptive coping (after accounting for avoidant coping). Avoidant coping was most strongly associated with poorer mental health. This study, with implications for practice, emphasizes the importance of peer relationships for adolescents with LGBTQ+ parents—particularly how high-quality friendships offer important possible protection via social competence and against depression—while also highlighting the complex interplay between friendships, coping, and adjustment. Full article
14 pages, 365 KB  
Article
Perceived Closeness to Others: Preliminary Tests of a Visual Self-Report Measure and Its Associations with Prosocial and Problematic Development in Preadolescents
by Carolina Facci, Paul J. Frick, Andrea Baroncelli and Enrica Ciucci
Adolescents 2026, 6(3), 47; https://doi.org/10.3390/adolescents6030047 - 11 Jun 2026
Viewed by 146
Abstract
Relationships are a fundamental foundation of human development, shaping developmental trajectories, well-being, and health, yet their psychological assessment remains challenging. Youths’ perceived closeness to others has been linked to a range of prosocial outcomes but has been less extensively examined in research studying [...] Read more.
Relationships are a fundamental foundation of human development, shaping developmental trajectories, well-being, and health, yet their psychological assessment remains challenging. Youths’ perceived closeness to others has been linked to a range of prosocial outcomes but has been less extensively examined in research studying problematic developmental outcomes, such as conduct problems. Further, most studies have focused on a single relationship, which ignores the potential importance of determining the extent to which youth’s perceptions of closeness extend beyond immediate social groups. The present study addressed these gaps by examining the factor structure and construct validity of an expanded measure of perceived closeness that includes a broader range of relationships, labeled the Perceived Closeness to Others Questionnaire (PCtO). A sample of 426 middle school students (216 girls; M age = 12.90 (0.91) years) was recruited and completed a visual measure of perceived closeness that utilizes visual images of pairs of circles (i.e., one indicating “the Self” and one indicating “the Other”) at different distances (i.e., from very far away to almost completely overlapping) to indicate how close they feel to others. Participants also completed self-report measures assessing a range of prosocial and problematic outcomes. An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) suggested that, despite assessing a wide range of relationships, the measure seemed to be capturing a unidimensional construct. Further, scores from the measure showed adequate reliability and were positively correlated with all the measures of prosocial outcomes and with all but one measure of problematic outcomes (i.e., conduct problems). Overall, the findings provide initial support for a measure of psychological closeness suitable for use in research with youth. This tool may help advance theories of prosocial and antisocial development and guide interventions aimed at enhancing youths’ relationships with others. Full article
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26 pages, 1919 KB  
Article
Maternal Readiness for Newborn Self-Care in the Early Postpartum Period: Associations with Maternal Psychophysical State and Declared Breastfeeding Readiness
by Anna Prokopowicz, Kinga Tułacz, Kamila Drobina, Łukasz Lewandowski and Izabella Uchmanowicz
J. Clin. Med. 2026, 15(12), 4522; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15124522 - 11 Jun 2026
Viewed by 130
Abstract
Objectives: To assess maternal readiness for newborn self-care and its associations with breastfeeding readiness and psychophysical condition in early postpartum rooming-in care. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 200 women at 48–72 h postpartum. Maternal readiness was assessed with three 0–10 self-report scales: daytime [...] Read more.
Objectives: To assess maternal readiness for newborn self-care and its associations with breastfeeding readiness and psychophysical condition in early postpartum rooming-in care. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 200 women at 48–72 h postpartum. Maternal readiness was assessed with three 0–10 self-report scales: daytime newborn care, nighttime newborn care, and breastfeeding readiness. Psychometric, pain, anxiety, obstetric, haemoglobin, and haematocrit data were analysed using stepwise ordinal regression with bootstrap sensitivity analyses. Results: Breastfeeding readiness was the strongest correlate of daytime and nighttime caregiving readiness, with a marked and partially non-linear gradient (OR ≈ 13 for linear trend, p < 0.001). Higher anxiety on day 2 was associated with lower readiness across all domains (daytime care: OR = 0.61; nighttime care: OR = 0.69; breastfeeding: OR = 0.73; all p < 0.001). Daytime readiness was associated with sleep disturbance (lower readiness; OR = 0.63, p = 0.006) and goal-directed behaviour despite low mood (higher readiness; OR = 1.47, p < 0.001). Nighttime readiness correlated with concentration under emotional strain (OR = 1.63, p < 0.001) and was reduced in women reporting suicidal ideation (OR = 0.24, p = 0.012). Breastfeeding readiness was associated with greater current engagement in breastfeeding (OR = 1.90, p < 0.001) and higher parity (OR = 2.46, p = 0.002), while sleep disturbance was associated with lower readiness (OR = 0.69, p = 0.013). Somatic factors and social support were not independent predictors, while psychological variables showed stronger associations with readiness. Conclusions: Maternal readiness for newborn self-care is related to breastfeeding readiness but remains a distinct, psychologically shaped construct. These findings question the assumption that breastfeeding readiness reflects readiness for continuous newborn care. Assessment of maternal readiness may help identify support needs and guide flexible postpartum care. Full article
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20 pages, 306 KB  
Article
Predictors of Avoidance Behavior in Fear of Falling Among Older Adults: A Latent Profile Analysis
by Tatyana K. Konovalchik and Olga Yu. Strizhitskaya
Soc. Sci. 2026, 15(6), 379; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci15060379 - 10 Jun 2026
Viewed by 248
Abstract
Objectives: Fear of falling (FoF) is a common psychological phenomenon in later life and is often accompanied by avoidance behavior and activity restriction. Although FoF is associated with anxiety, depressive symptoms, reduced self-efficacy, and fear of loss of autonomy, older adults with FoF [...] Read more.
Objectives: Fear of falling (FoF) is a common psychological phenomenon in later life and is often accompanied by avoidance behavior and activity restriction. Although FoF is associated with anxiety, depressive symptoms, reduced self-efficacy, and fear of loss of autonomy, older adults with FoF may differ substantially in the configuration of these characteristics. The present study aimed to identify data-derived profiles of older adults based on FoF, avoidance behavior, self-efficacy, and fear of loss of autonomy, and to examine profile-specific psychological predictors of FoF and avoidance behavior. Methods: The main analytical sample included 217 older adults aged 60–97 years (M = 76.45, SD = 10.14) with Mini-Mental State Examination scores of 20 or higher. Latent profile analysis was conducted using FoF, avoidance behavior, self-efficacy, and fear of loss of autonomy. Anxiety components, depressive symptoms, coping strategies, pain catastrophizing, and loneliness-related indicators were examined in class-specific regression models. The stability of the class solution was tested across different MMSE cut-off scores. Between-class comparisons were conducted for functional, fall-related, socio-demographic, and psychological indicators. Results: A three-class solution was selected and interpreted as adaptive, vulnerable, and maladaptive profiles. The profile structure remained relatively consistent across MMSE cut-off scores, including in the broader sample with MMSE ≥ 15. The classes did not differ significantly in postural balance or number of falls, suggesting that the profiles could not be fully explained by objective fall-risk indicators. Significant between-class differences were found for age, daily pain level, and state social defense. Class-specific regression models suggested that psychological variables associated with FoF and avoidance behavior differed across profiles. Pain appraisal and emotion-related coping were more relevant in the adaptive profile, phobic anxiety and anxious appraisal of future events in the vulnerable profile, and anxiety-related, depressive, interpersonal, and coping-related factors in the maladaptive profile. All reported associations remained significant after false discovery rate correction. Conclusions: FoF and avoidance behavior are related but not identical phenomena and vary across data-derived psychological profiles. A profile-oriented approach may provide a more differentiated understanding of activity restriction in older adults and help identify profile-specific targets for psychological support. Full article
17 pages, 241 KB  
Article
University Professors’ Emotional Competencies and Students’ Academic Well-Being: A Qualitative Study of Student Perspectives
by Camilla Brandao De Souza and Alessandra Cecilia Jacomuzzi
Educ. Sci. 2026, 16(6), 918; https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci16060918 - 10 Jun 2026
Viewed by 225
Abstract
University professors’ emotional competencies are increasingly discussed as relevant dimensions of teaching professionalism that may shape students’ academic engagement, motivation, and psychological well-being. This qualitative study explores how university students perceive professors’ emotional and relational practices and how students perceived these practices as [...] Read more.
University professors’ emotional competencies are increasingly discussed as relevant dimensions of teaching professionalism that may shape students’ academic engagement, motivation, and psychological well-being. This qualitative study explores how university students perceive professors’ emotional and relational practices and how students perceived these practices as shaping their academic experience. Twenty-one semi-structured interviews were conducted with undergraduate and master’s students at an Italian university and analyzed through thematic analysis. Five interconnected themes were identified: (1) empathy and the humanization of the professor–student relationship; (2) relational and communicative styles shaping classroom climate and motivation; (3) emotional regulation in high-stress academic situations, particularly examinations; (4) perceived differences across teaching modalities and disciplinary contexts; (5) students’ expectations regarding balanced emotional openness and faculty development. Students described empathetic, approachable, and emotionally regulated professors as helping to reduce stress, strengthen academic confidence, foster engagement, and support a sense of belonging. Conversely, rigid, distant, or humiliating interactions were associated with anxiety, withdrawal, and disengagement. Rather than treating emotional competence as an individual disposition, the study proposes that it should be understood as a professional and institutional dimension of university teaching. It further develops the notion of student-perceived academic psychological safety as a relational mechanism through which professors’ emotional competencies may influence students’ well-being and participation. The findings highlight the need for faculty development initiatives and institutional policies that recognize the emotional and relational dimensions of teaching as integral to higher education quality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Collection Trends and Challenges in Higher Education)
16 pages, 1236 KB  
Review
Contemporary Non-Operative Management of Bladder Pain Syndrome: A Narrative Review for General Urologists
by Sindhu Sankaran, Hira Bakhtiar Khan and Mehwash Nadeem
Uro 2026, 6(2), 16; https://doi.org/10.3390/uro6020016 - 9 Jun 2026
Viewed by 211
Abstract
Background: Bladder pain syndrome (BPS) is a chronic, debilitating condition defined by the International Continence Society as bladder-related pelvic pain accompanied by urinary symptoms in the absence of identifiable pathology. Its heterogeneous presentation, unclear pathophysiology, and variable treatment response make management challenging for [...] Read more.
Background: Bladder pain syndrome (BPS) is a chronic, debilitating condition defined by the International Continence Society as bladder-related pelvic pain accompanied by urinary symptoms in the absence of identifiable pathology. Its heterogeneous presentation, unclear pathophysiology, and variable treatment response make management challenging for general urologists. This review aims to provide a practical narrative review of current understanding of BPS, with particular emphasis on diagnosis, phenotyping, and non-operative management strategies relevant to the general urologist. Methods: A narrative literature review was undertaken using PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Google Scholar, and major international guideline documents to identify evidence relating to the diagnosis and non-operative management of BPS. Publications from January 2015 to December 2025 were reviewed, with selected landmark earlier studies included, where clinically relevant. Priority was given to guidelines, systematic reviews, randomised trials, and cohort studies. Owing to heterogeneity in study design, patient phenotypes, and reported outcomes, findings were synthesized narratively. Results: BPS represents a heterogeneous spectrum, including Hunner-lesion and non-Hunner phenotypes, with proposed mechanisms involving urothelial dysfunction, chronic inflammation, immune dysregulation, and central sensitisation. Diagnosis remains one of exclusion, relying on careful history, examination, symptom scoring, and selective investigations. Non-operative management is stepwise and multidisciplinary, combining lifestyle modification, pelvic floor therapy, oral agents and intravesical therapy. Available evidence suggests that symptom improvement is often modest but clinically meaningful in selected patients, supporting an individualized, phenotype-informed approach to care with realistic patient counselling. Conclusions: Bladder pain syndrome remains a chronic, multifaceted disorder with profound impact on quality of life, requiring clinicians to approach patients with empathy while recognising the physical, psychological, and social burden of the condition. Effective management requires early recognition, thoughtful phenotyping, exclusion of confusable conditions, and realistic expectation-setting within a multidisciplinary framework. For the general urologist, a structured and compassionate non-operative approach can improve symptom control, support shared decision-making, and help guide timely escalation when required. Full article
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22 pages, 4690 KB  
Article
A Human-Centered Multimodal Framework for Characterizing Safety-Relevant Driver Functional Domains: An Exploratory Study of Professional Bus Drivers
by Ting-An Kuo, Chiuhsiang Joe Lin and Po-Hsiang Liu
Sensors 2026, 26(12), 3664; https://doi.org/10.3390/s26123664 - 8 Jun 2026
Viewed by 256
Abstract
This study proposes a human-centered multimodal framework for characterizing safety-relevant driver functional domains in professional bus drivers. Unlike conventional approaches that rely on isolated psychological or physical assessments, the proposed framework integrates self-perception, psychomotor performance, and cognitive–perceptual assessment to provide an exploratory, structured [...] Read more.
This study proposes a human-centered multimodal framework for characterizing safety-relevant driver functional domains in professional bus drivers. Unlike conventional approaches that rely on isolated psychological or physical assessments, the proposed framework integrates self-perception, psychomotor performance, and cognitive–perceptual assessment to provide an exploratory, structured characterization of driver-related functional capacities. Eighteen professional bus drivers participated in this study. Self-perception data were obtained from all 18 participants, whereas psychomotor and cognitive–perceptual assessments were completed by 16 participants. These measurements were used to examine multiple domains relevant to driving safety, including behavioral awareness, motor coordination, attention, visual tracking, and hazard-perception-related processing. Given the modest sample size, the study should be regarded as an exploratory pilot investigation. Data were analyzed using a laboratory-based cross-sectional between-subjects design to examine age- and gender-related differences across the assessed domains. The findings suggested that selected age- and gender-related differences and descriptive tendencies were observable across multiple domains. Male drivers descriptively showed higher self-rating scores, female drivers showed different performance tendencies in selected psychomotor tasks, and male drivers demonstrated substantially greater grip strength. Older drivers showed slower and less efficient performance in several cognitive–perceptual measures, with the clearest age-related effect observed in the tachistoscopic traffic test, where older participants showed a higher error tendency under time-constrained traffic-scene processing conditions. The constructs and measures proposed in this study are intended as general laboratory-based assessments of driver-related capabilities rather than direct measures of actual driving performance, real-time driver-state indicators, or validated sensor-based monitoring indicators. As candidate human-factor constructs, they may inform future driver monitoring research by helping clarify how driver-related signals or behaviors could eventually be linked to underlying functional and safety-related meaning in intelligent transportation environments. Full article
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Article
Beyond the Immediate Impact: Burnout, Psychological Distress, and Workforce Retention Among Healthcare Workers One Year After the Türkiye Earthquakes
by Neslihan Cansel, Osman Kurt, Ayça Elçim Sahar Gürbüz, Merve Bulut, Şahide Nur İpek Melez and Burcu Kayhan Tetik
Healthcare 2026, 14(12), 1599; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14121599 - 6 Jun 2026
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Abstract
Background/Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate burnout, psychological distress, and intention to quit among healthcare workers one year after the 6 February 2023 earthquakes, and to examine the relative contributions of disaster-related exposures and organizational factors using a hierarchical analytical approach. Methods: This [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate burnout, psychological distress, and intention to quit among healthcare workers one year after the 6 February 2023 earthquakes, and to examine the relative contributions of disaster-related exposures and organizational factors using a hierarchical analytical approach. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 640 healthcare workers from a tertiary referral hospital in one of the provinces most severely affected by the earthquakes. Data were collected using validated instruments, including the Maslach Burnout Inventory, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Impact of Event Scale–Revised, and Intention to Quit Scale. Hierarchical multiple linear regression analyses were performed to evaluate factors associated with burnout dimensions, psychiatric symptoms, and intention to quit. Results: Clinically significant anxiety symptoms were observed in 32.5% of participants, depressive symptoms in 55.8%, and PTSD risk in 54.1%. Low personal accomplishment was the most prevalent burnout dimension (69.1%), while high emotional exhaustion and depersonalization were observed in 43.0% and 18.9% of participants, respectively. Workplace climate variables accounted for the largest increment in explained variance across all seven models. Low job satisfaction was the strongest and most consistent factor associated with adverse outcomes, with standardized coefficients ranging from β = +0.27 to +0.61. Non-close colleague relations were independently associated with higher burnout, anxiety, depression, and intention to quit scores, as well as lower personal accomplishment. Despite the high prevalence of psychological symptoms, post-earthquake psychiatric help-seeking was reported by only 6.2% of participants. Conclusions: One year after the earthquakes, healthcare workers continued to experience a substantial psychological burden. Although disaster-related exposures were associated with several adverse outcomes, organizational factors appeared to demonstrate more consistent associations with mental health indicators. These findings highlight the potential importance of improving modifiable workplace conditions to support psychological well-being and workforce sustainability in post-disaster healthcare systems. Full article
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