Search Results (1,604)

In today’s volatile business environment, command and control leadership is increasingly inadequate for sustaining engagement, innovation and resilience. This review synthesises peer-reviewed evidence on coaching leadership style (CLS) published between 2000 and 2025. A systematic search across four databases yielded eleven high-quality empirical studies and three meta-analyses. The findings indicate that CLS enhances employee motivation, facilitates skill development, promotes psychological safety and strengthens organisational adaptability, while concurrently advancing leaders’ effectiveness and emotional intelligence. Notably, recent trials demonstrate that both virtual and face-to-face coaching modalities produce comparable performance gains. This review also identifies contextual constraints—such as time intensity and crisis-driven situations—where CLS may be less advantageous. Practical recommendations are offered for embedding coaching behaviours into daily management routines, including phased roll outs, leader as coach training and metrics for monitoring engagement and innovation. Future research should prioritise longitudinal, cross-cultural studies that examine CLS efficacy in digitally transformed, post-pandemic workplaces. Collectively, the evidence positions coaching leadership not as an optional enhancement but as a strategic requirement for organisations seeking sustained competitive advantage. Full article

Electric bikes (e-bikes) offer a low-carbon, space-efficient solution for campus mobility, yet their sustainable potential is increasingly challenged by patterns of non-compliant use, including speeding, informal parking, and unauthorized charging. This study integrates the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to examine the cognitive and contextual factors that shape such behaviors among university students. Drawing on a survey of 408 e-bike users and structural equation modeling, the results show that non-compliance is primarily driven by perceived usefulness, ease of action, and behavioral feasibility, with affective and normative factors playing indirect, reinforcing roles. Importantly, actual behavior is influenced not only by intention but also by students’ perceived capacity to act within low-enforcement environments. These findings highlight the need to align behavioral perceptions with sustainability goals. The study contributes to sustainable mobility governance by clarifying key psychological pathways and offering targeted insights for designing perception-sensitive interventions in campus transport systems. Furthermore, by promoting compliance-oriented campus mobility, this research highlights a pathway toward enhancing the resilience of transport systems through behavioral adaptation within semi-regulated environments. Full article

The green renovation of existing residential buildings is a key way for the construction industry to achieve sustainable development and the dual carbon goals of China, which makes it urgent to make collaborative decisions among multiple stakeholders. However, because of divergent interests and risk perceptions among governments, energy service companies (ESCOs), and owners, the implementation of green renovation is hindered by numerous obstacles. In this study, we integrated prospect theory and evolutionary game theory by incorporating core prospect-theory parameters such as loss aversion and perceived value sensitivity, and developed a psychologically informed tripartite evolutionary game model. The objective was to provide a theoretical foundation and analytical framework for collaborative governance among stakeholders. Numerical simulations were conducted to validate the model’s effectiveness and explore how government regulation intensity, subsidy policies, market competition, and individual psychological factors influence the system’s evolutionary dynamics. The findings indicate that (1) government regulation and subsidy policies play central guiding roles in the early stages of green renovation, but the effectiveness has clear limitations; (2) ESCOs are most sensitive to policy incentives and market competition, and moderately increasing their risk costs can effectively deter opportunistic behavior associated with low-quality renovation; (3) owners’ willingness to participate is primarily influenced by expected returns and perceived renovation risks, while economic incentives alone have limited impact; and (4) the evolutionary outcomes are highly sensitive to parameters from prospect theory, The system’s evolutionary outcomes are highly sensitive to prospect theory parameters. High levels of loss aversion (λ) and loss sensitivity (β) tend to drive the system into a suboptimal equilibrium characterized by insufficient demand, while high gain sensitivity (α) serves as a key driving force for the system’s evolution toward the ideal equilibrium. This study offers theoretical support for optimizing green renovation policies for existing residential buildings in China and provides practical recommendations for improving market competition mechanisms, thereby promoting the healthy development of the green renovation market. Full article

Background: The progression of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) deeply affects not only the diagnosed person but also their close relatives, who are often called to take on the role of informal caregivers. This transition is frequently unplanned and emotionally complex, yet poorly understood in its deeper processual dimensions. This study aims to explore and theorize the transition experienced by a family member becoming the primary informal caregiver for a person with advanced AD. Methods: A qualitative study based on the Constructivist Grounded Theory according to Charmaz’s approach (2006) was conducted. In-depth interviews were carried out with 10 participants who had become informal caregivers for a loved one with advanced AD. Data were analyzed using initial coding, focused coding, the constant comparative method, and theoretical coding. Results: Ten caregivers (mean age 39 years, range 35–54; nine females) of patients with advanced AD participated in the study. The analysis revealed a complex, emotionally intense caregiving experience marked by sacrifice, feelings of powerlessness, identity loss, and the necessity of sharing caregiving responsibilities. A core category emerged: A Silent and Certain Willingness to Care, representing the caregivers’ deep, often unconscious commitment to prioritize the care of their loved ones above their own needs. Four interconnected phases characterized the caregiving process: (1) The Changing Daily Life—involving significant sacrifices in personal and social life; (2) Feeling Powerless—confronting the inevitable decline without means to alter the course; (3) Losing Oneself—experiencing physical and psychological exhaustion and a sense of identity loss; and (4) Sharing with Others—seeking external support to sustain caregiving. These findings highlight the evolving nature of becoming a caregiver and the enduring dedication that sustains this role despite the challenges. Conclusions: The progression of AD deeply transforms the lives of caregivers, who become co-sufferers and active participants in the disease’s management. The results underscore the urgency of designing integrative care strategies—including psychological, social, and potentially technological support—that can enhance both patient outcomes and caregiver resilience. Grounded in real-world experiences, this study contributes to the broader neurodegeneration discourse by emphasizing caregiving as a critical factor in long-term disease management and therapeutic success. Full article

Job stress and burnout are major challenges in today’s workplaces. While most interventions adopt a clinical or deficit-based approach, this meta-analysis takes a positive perspective by examining the effectiveness of Positive Psychological Interventions (PPIs). A total of 24 studies conducted in workplace settings were analyzed to assess the impact of PPIs on psychological well-being, subjective well-being, and job performance. The results showed significant and sustained improvements across all three outcomes, with moderate effect sizes: subjective well-being (g = 0.50, 95% CI [0.18, 0.81]), psychological well-being (g = 0.46, 95% CI [0.15, 0.78]), and performance (g = 0.42, 95% CI [0.21, 0.62]). Higher effects were found for in-person interventions and those conducted in Western contexts. No significant moderation was observed for structural factors (e.g., implementation level: Individual, Group, Leader, or Organization [IGLO]) or sample characteristics (e.g., gender), among other variables examined. These findings highlight the relevance of PPIs for promoting well-being and sustaining performance, which may reflect the preservation of personal resources in the face of occupational stressors. Regardless of type, well-designed interventions may be key to fostering healthier workplace environments—especially when delivered face-to-face. Full article

Today, ‘social sustainability’ is a key feature of many organisations’ environmental, social, and governance strategies, as well as underpinning sustainable development goals. The term refers to the implementation of targets such as reduced societal inequalities, the promotion of social well-being, and the practice of positive community relations. Building a meaningful, accountable, and quantifiable evidence-base from which to translate these high-level concepts into tangible and achievable goals is, however, challenging. The complexities of measuring social capital—often described as a building block of social sustainability—have been documented. The challenge lies in measuring the person, group, or collective in interaction with the context under investigation, whether that be a climate goal, an institution, or a national policy. Social identity theory is a social psychological approach that articulates the processes through which an individual internalises the values, norms, and behaviours of their contexts. Levels of social identification—a concept capturing the state of internalisation—have been shown to be predictive of outcomes as diverse as communication and cognition, trust and citizenship, leadership and compliance, and health and well-being. Applying this perspective to the articulation and measurement of social sustainability provides an opportunity to build an empirical approach with which to reliably translate this high-level concept into achievable outcomes. Full article

This study examines the determinants of environmentally responsible behavior among tourists in the heritage villages of Paveh County, Iran, through an integrated theoretical framework that synthesizes place-related psychological constructs with the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). Employing structural equation modeling on data collected from 443 tourists across three heritage villages (July–November 2024), the investigation tested comparative theoretical models with differing explanatory capacities. The baseline TPB model confirmed significant positive effects of environmental attitudes (β = 0.388), environmental norms (β = 0.398), and perceived behavioral control (β = 0.547) on behavioral intentions, which subsequently influenced environmental behavior (β = 0.561). The extended model incorporating place-related variables demonstrated enhanced explanatory power, with the R² values increasing from 48.2% to 52.7% for behavioral intentions and from 49.2% to 54.7% for actual behavior. Notably, place identity exhibited dual psychological functions: moderating the intention–behavior relationship (β = 0.155) and mediating between place attachment and environmental behavior (β = 0.163). These findings advance sustainable tourism theory by illuminating the complex pathways through which place-based psychological connections influence environmental behavior formation in heritage contexts, suggesting that more sophisticated theoretical frameworks are required for understanding and promoting sustainable practices in culturally significant destinations. Full article

Understanding the social drivers of pro-environmental behavior in urban forests and green spaces is critical for addressing sustainability challenges. Subjective norms serve as a key pathway through which social expectations influence individuals’ behavioral intentions. Despite mixed findings in the literature regarding the impact of subjective norms on individuals’ intentions, there is a research gap about the determinants of this construct. This study was conducted to explore how social expectations shape perceived subjective norms among visitors of urban forests. A theoretical model was developed with subjective norms at its center, incorporating their predictors including social identity, media influence, interpersonal influence, and institutional trust, personal norms as a mediator, and behavioral intention as the outcome variable. Using structural equation modeling, data was collected and analyzed from a sample of visitors of urban forests in Tehran, Iran. The results revealed that subjective norms play a central mediating role in linking external social factors to behavioral intention. Social identity emerged as the strongest predictor of subjective norms, followed by media and interpersonal influence, while institutional trust had no significant effect. Subjective norms significantly influenced both personal norms and intentions, and personal norms also directly predicted intention. The model explained 50.9% of the variance in subjective norms and 39.0% in behavioral intention, highlighting its relatively high explanatory power. These findings underscore the importance of social context and internalized norms in shaping sustainable behavior. Policy and managerial implications suggest that strategies should prioritize community-based identity reinforcement, media engagement, and peer influence over top-down institutional messaging. This study contributes to environmental psychology and the behavior change literature by offering an integrated, empirically validated model. It also provides practical guidance for designing interventions that target both social and moral dimensions of environmental action. Full article

The sustainable integration of technology into educational practices is pivotal for modern teaching and learning. Grounded in the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), this study explores the psychological and contextual factors that influence technology acceptance among pre-service and in-service teachers. Employing a nonexperimental, cross-sectional design, data were collected from 347 participants to examine the relationships between perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, attitude toward use, behavioural intention, and actual system use. Results indicate that pre-service teachers demonstrate stronger openness to technology adoption, driven primarily by attitudinal factors, whereas in-service teachers’ acceptance is more closely linked to perceived utility and usability. This study advances the TAM by integrating a dual serial mediation model and testing the moderating role of professional status, thereby offering a nuanced understanding of sustainable digital engagement across career stages. Our findings underscore the importance of fostering positive perceptions and providing differentiated support throughout teachers’ professional trajectories to achieve long-term, meaningful technology adoption in education. Full article

Autonomous vehicles (AVs) have emerged as a promising sustainable urban mobility solution, expected to lead to enhanced road safety, smoother traffic flows, less traffic congestion, improved accessibility, better energy utilization and environmental performance, as well as more efficient passenger and freight transportation, in terms of time and cost, due to better fleet management and platooning. However, challenges also arise, mostly related to data privacy, security and cyber-security, high acquisition and infrastructure costs, accident liability, even possible increased traffic congestion and air pollution due to induced travel demand. This paper presents the results of a survey conducted among 654 residents who experienced an autonomous bus (AB) service in the city of Trikala, Greece, in order to assess their willingness to use (WTU) and willingness to pay (WTP) for ABs, through testing a range of factors based on a literature review. Results useful to policy-makers were extracted, such as that the intention to use ABs was mostly shaped by psychological factors (e.g., users’ perceptions of usefulness and safety, and trust in the service provider), while WTU seemed to be positively affected by previous experience in using ABs. In contrast, sociodemographic factors were found to have very little effect on the intention to use ABs, while apart from personal utility, users’ perceptions of how autonomous driving will improve the overall life standards in the study area also mattered. Full article

As sustainable cultural heritage tourism increasingly demonstrates its unique value and appeal, effectively stimulating tourists’ emotional experiences and value co-creation behaviors has become a focal issue. This study investigates how multiple tourist motivations (self-enhancement, escapism, and social interaction) shape value co-creation through emotional mediators—namely aesthetic, nostalgic, and flow experiences. Data were collected from 470 valid responses from visitors to the UNESCO-listed Suzhou Classical Gardens in China and analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The results show that these emotional experiences significantly drive value co-creation behavior: self-enhancement motivation enhances all three experiences, escapism mainly promotes nostalgic and flow experiences, and social interaction primarily affects aesthetic experience. These findings clarify the psychological mechanisms through which tourists’ motivations and emotional experiences influence value co-creation behavior in cultural heritage tourism. This research advances our understanding of the motivation–experience–behavior framework and emphasizes that enhancing emotional engagement is key to fostering sustainable cultural heritage tourism practices. The study provides practical implications for designing experiences and strategies that balance visitor satisfaction with the long-term vitality of cultural heritage sites and local communities, thereby contributing to broader sustainable development goals. Full article

Identifying predictors of pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs) can not only figure out who concerns about the environment most but also inform possible pathways that advance or inhabit such prosocial actions. Most past studies and theories focus on factors that reside within personal characteristics or sociopsychological mechanisms rather than taking a holistic view that integrates these two elements into a framework. This study investigates how socioeconomic status (SES) correlates with PEBs, integrating both structural and psychological mechanisms. Drawing on the Stimulus–Organism–Response (SOR) theoretical framework, this paper examines the paradox whereby individuals with higher SES exhibit more frequent environmental actions yet demonstrate lower willingness to pay (WTP)—a form of economic sacrifice. Using nationally representative data from the 2021 Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS), our structural equation modeling reveals that adulthood SES positively correlates with environmental values and behaviors but negatively correlates with WTP. This challenges the traditional linear assumption that greater willingness necessarily leads to greater action. Additionally, while childhood SES predicts adult SES, it shows no direct effect on environmental engagement. These findings highlight multidimensional pathways by which SES shape environmental actions, necessitating differentiated policy approaches to build a sustainable world. Full article

Over the last decade, the scientific community has increasingly focused on forest-based practices for human well-being (FBPW), a term that includes all forest activities (e.g., forest bathing, forest therapy, social outdoor initiatives) important for improving people’s health and emotional status. This paper aims to develop a quantitative literature review on FBPW based on big data analysis (text mining on Scopus title and abstract) and PRISMA evaluation. The two techniques facilitate investigations across different geographic areas (major areas and geographical regions) and allow a focus on various topics. The results of text mining highlight the prominence of publications on FBPW for the improvement of human health in East Asia (e.g., Japan and South Korea). Furthermore, some specific themes developed by the literature for each geographical area emerge: urban green areas, cities, and parks in Africa; sustainable forest management and planning in the Americas; empirical studies on physiological and psychological effects of FBPW in Asia; and forest management and FBPW in Europe. PRISMA indicates a gap in studies focused on the reciprocal influences of forest variables and well-being responses. An investigation of the main physiological indicators applied in the scientific literature for the theme is also developed. The main strengths and weaknesses of the method are discussed, with suggestions for potential future lines of research. Full article

The transition to sustainable agriculture is a critical challenge for the U.S. food system. A sustainable food system must support the production of healthy and nutritious food while ensuring economic sustainability for farmers and ranchers. It should also reduce negative environmental impacts on soil, water, biodiversity, and climate, and promote equitable and inclusive access to land, farming resources, and food. This narrative review synthesizes U.S. social science literature to identify the key factors that support or impede the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices in the U.S. Our analysis reveals seven overarching factors that influence producer decision-making: awareness and knowledge, social factors, psychological factors, technologies and tools, economic factors, implementation capacity, and policies and regulations. The review highlights the critical role of social science in navigating complexity and uncertainty. Key priorities emerging from the literature include developing measurable, outcome-based programs; ensuring credible communication through trusted intermediaries; and designing tailored interventions. The findings demonstrate that initiatives will succeed when they emphasize measurable benefits, address uncertainties, and develop programs that capitalize on identified opportunities while overcoming existing barriers. Full article

Background/Objectives: It is essential to explore and disseminate positive deviance strategies that promote resilience, mindfulness, and well-being beyond stress and burnout reduction strategies for residents and physicians who experience high levels of occupational stress. This scoping review maps studies that investigate positive deviance strategies to enhance the well-being of residents and physicians. Methods: A scoping review was conducted by PRISMA guidelines to identify English-language studies on strategies for physician well-being. PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, and ERIC were searched using terms related to well-being, coping, and medical education. Results: Among the 38 studies included, 17 (44.7%) targeted physicians in graduate medical education (GME), while 19 (50%) focused on continuing medical education (CME). Positive deviance strategies were identified in 26 studies and were most frequently implemented at the microsystem level, such as small group interventions (e.g., coaching, mentoring, and workshops). These strategies addressed individual and organisational factors that contribute to physician well-being and were associated with improvements in life satisfaction, resilience, professional identity, and psychological safety. The review found that positive deviance strategies were often proactive, values-driven, and disseminated organically over time, emphasising the importance of longitudinal engagement and sustained institutional support. Conclusions: This scoping review highlights the growing use of positive deviance strategies, especially at the microsystem level, to promote physician well-being. These approaches emphasise sustainable, values-driven practices and may offer effective, context-sensitive solutions within healthcare systems. Full article