Search Results (1,285)

Objectives: Diabetes Mellitus involves demanding challenges that interfere with family functioning and routines. In turn, family and social context impacts individual glycemic control. This study aims to identify this recursive interplay, the mutual influences of family systems and diabetes management. Design: Data was collected through a cross-sectional design comparing patients, aged 22–55, with and without metabolic control. Methods: Participants filled out a set of self-report measures of sociodemographic, clinical and family systems assessment. Patients (91) were also invited to describe their perception about disease management interference regarding family functioning. We first examined the extent to which family variables grouped dataset to determine if there were similarities and dissimilarities that fit with our initial diabetic groups’ classification. Results: Cluster analysis results identify a two-cluster solution validating initial classification of two groups of patients: 49 with metabolic control (MC) and 42 without metabolic control (NoMC). Independent sample tests suggested statistically significant differences between groups in family subscales- family difficulties and family communication (p < 0.05). Binary logistic regression shed light on predictors of explained variance to no metabolic control, in four models: Sociodemographic, Clinical data, SCORE-15/Congruence Scale and Eating Behavior. Furthermore, groups differ on family support, level and sources of family conflict caused by diabetes management issues. Considering only patients who co-habit with a partner for more than one year (N = 44), NoMC patients score lower on marital functioning in all categories (p < 0.05). Discussion: Family-Chronic illness interaction plays a significant role in a patient’s adherence to treatment. This study highlights the Standards of Medical Care for Diabetes, considering caregivers and family members on diabetes care. Full article

This research addresses urban inequality by focusing on the rehabilitation of communal rooftops in Ciutat Vella, Barcelona, the city’s historic district, where residential vulnerability is concentrated in a particularly dense heritage urban environment with a shortage of outdoor spaces. Using participatory methodologies, this research develops low-cost, removable, and recyclable prototypes aimed at improving social interaction, technical performance, and environmental conditions. The focus is on vulnerable populations, particularly the elderly. The approach integrates a bottom–up process and scalable solutions presented as a Toolkit of micro-projects. These micro-projects are designed to improve issues related to health, safety, durability, accessibility, energy savings, and acoustics. In addition, several possible material solutions for micro-projects are examined in terms of sustainability and cost. These plug-in interventions are designed for adaptability and replication throughout similar urban contexts and can significantly improve the quality of life for people, especially the elderly, in dense historic environments. Full article

Background: Burnout syndrome (BS) is an occupational phenomenon resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. Although there are underlying causes associated with personal attributes, it is generally linked to external factors within the work environment. The aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of lifestyle factors on BS and its dimensions, as well as on suicidal ideation among Spanish professionals dedicated to implant dentistry. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted in accordance with the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines. An electronic survey based on the Maslach Burnout Inventory—Human Services Survey (MBI–HSS) was distributed to members of the Spanish Society of Implants. The data were analysed using descriptive statistical methods. Results: A total of 305 participants (20.9%) responded to the questionnaire. Notably, 10.8% of the professionals reported experiencing suicidal thoughts, a factor significantly associated with the presence of BS. The lifestyle factors associated with BS included the following: not engaging in aerobic exercise for at least 30 min per day (p < 0.05), not having hobbies that facilitate mental disconnection from work (p < 0.001), not following a balanced diet (p < 0.0001), having an insufficient social life (p < 0.0001), and experiencing suicidal ideation (p < 0.01). Conclusions: The surveyed dentists generally reported having healthy lifestyle habits. Nevertheless, one in ten professionals acknowledged having experienced suicidal ideation at some point, highlighting a concerning association with BS. Full article

Based on a comprehensive review of the current research status of ecological compensation both domestically and internationally, combined with field survey data, this study delves into the issue of multi-stakeholder participation in the ecological compensation mechanisms of the Xin’an River Basin. This research reveals that the joint participation of multiple stakeholders is crucial to achieving the goals of ecological compensation in river basins. The government plays a significant role in macro-guidance, financial support, policy guarantees, supervision, and management. It promotes the comprehensive implementation of ecological environmental protection by formulating relevant laws and regulations, guiding the public to participate in ecological conservation, and supervising and punishing pollution behaviors. The public, serving as the main force, forms strong awareness and behavioral habits of ecological protection through active participation in environmental protection, monitoring, and feedback. As participants, enterprises contribute to industrial transformation and green development by improving resource utilization efficiency, reducing pollution emissions, promoting green industries, and participating in ecological restoration projects. Scientific research institutions, as technology enablers, have effectively enhanced governance efficiency through technological research and innovation, ecosystem value accounting to provide decision-making support, and public education. Social organizations, as facilitators, have injected vitality and innovation into watershed governance by extensively mobilizing social forces and building multi-party collaboration platforms. Communities, as supporters, have transformed ecological value into economic benefits by developing characteristic industries such as eco-agriculture and eco-tourism. Based on the above findings, further recommendations are proposed to mobilize the enthusiasm of upstream communities and encourage their participation in ecological compensation, promote the market-oriented operation of ecological compensation mechanisms, strengthen cross-regional cooperation to establish joint mechanisms, enhance supervision and evaluation, and establish a sound benefit-sharing mechanism. These recommendations provide theoretical support and practical references for ecological compensation worldwide. Full article

Having in view the current global disruptive social and economic landscape, sustainability becomes more important than ever. As producers become more concerned about adopting more sustainable practices, customer awareness towards sustainable behavior must be the focus of all stakeholders. Within this context, the SHIFT framework (proposed in 2019) highlights the manner in which consumers’ traits and attitudes influence their propensity towards sustainable consumption. It consists of five factors considered to be relevant to consumer behavior: Social influence, Habit formation, Individual self, Feelings and cognition, and Tangibility. Different from previous studies, this research focuses on applying the SHIFT framework to the automotive industry, taking into consideration the contribution of digital technologies to fostering sustainable consumer behavior throughout the entire product lifecycle. Using a qualitative research approach, the most relevant digital technologies in the automotive industry were identified and mapped in relation to the three phases of consumption (choice, usage, and disposal). The research aimed to develop and test an original conceptual framework, starting from the SHIFT. The results of the study highlight the fact that the digital technologies, in their diversity, are integrated in different ways into each of the three phases, facilitating the adoption of sustainable consumption. To achieve sustainability, the two key stakeholders, consumers and producers, should share a common ground on capitalizing the opportunities offered by digital technologies. Full article

The purpose of the present research is to analyse the negative outcomes associated with the excessive Instagram dependency of those users that access the application through their smartphones. An empirical study was conducted through online interviews using structured questionnaires, resulting in 342 valid responses, with the target population being young users over 18 years old who access Instagram daily. Research shows that dependency on Instagram is primarily driven by individuals’ need for orientation and understanding, with entertainment being a secondary motivation. The results indicate that dependency on the social network is positively associated with excessive use, addiction, and Instastress. Furthermore, excessive use contributes to personal and social problems and increases both stress levels and mindfulness related to the platform. In turn, this excessive use intensifies addiction, which functions as a mediating variable between overuse and Instastress, mindfulness, and emotional exhaustion. This study offers valuable insights for academics, mental health professionals, and marketers by emphasizing the importance of fostering healthier digital habits and developing targeted interventions. Full article

Students, particularly those in the medical field, are exposed to various stressors that can affect their health-related behaviors, including smoking habits, with implications for oral health and quality of life. Background and Objectives: to analyze the relationship between smoking, oral health, perceived stress level, and self-assessed quality of life in a sample of dental students. Materials and Methods: The cross-sectional study included 338 students, who completed validated questionnaires and were clinically examined. Lifestyle was assessed using a smoking behavior questionnaire, stress levels were measured with the Student Stress Inventory (SSI), and quality of life was evaluated using the EQ-5D-5L instrument. The DMFT index was calculated to determine oral health status. Results: Among the 338 participating students, 53.8% were smokers. The lifestyle analysis revealed slightly higher average scores among non-smokers across all domains—social (3.26 vs. 3.09), attitudinal (2.75 vs. 2.97), and behavioral (3.82 vs. 3.49), but without statistically significant differences (p > 0.25). The mean DMFT score was 12.48, with no significant differences between smokers and non-smokers (p = 0.554). The SSI total score averaged 83.15, indicating a moderate level of perceived stress, again with no statistically significant differences between the groups (p > 0.05). However, slightly higher average stress scores among smokers may suggest the use of smoking as a coping mechanism. In contrast, quality of life as measured by EQ-5D-5L showed significantly worse outcomes for smokers across all five dimensions, including mobility (78.6% vs. 95.5%, p = 0.000) and self-care (93.4% vs. 100%, p = 0.001). Multivariable logistic regression identified smoking (OR = 1.935; p = 0.047) and moderate stress levels (OR = 0.258; p < 0.001) as independent predictors of oral health status. Conclusions: The results obtained suggest that smoking may function as a stress management strategy among students, supporting the relevance of integrating specific psychobehavioral interventions that address stress reduction and oral health promotion among student populations. Full article

According to the latest Verizon DBIR report, credential abuse, including password reuse and human factors in password creation, remains the leading attack vector. It was revealed that most users change their passwords only when they forget them, and 35% of respondents find mandatory password rotation policies inconvenient. These findings highlight the importance of combining technical solutions with user-focused education to strengthen password security. In this research, the “human factor in the creation of usernames and passwords” is considered a vulnerability, as identifying the patterns or rules used by users in password generation can significantly reduce the number of possible combinations that attackers need to try in order to gain access to personal data. The proposed method based on an LSTM model operates at a character level, detecting recurrent structures and generating generalized masks that reflect the most common components in password creation. Open datasets of 31,000 compromised passwords from real-world leaks were used to train the model and it achieved over 90% test accuracy without signs of overfitting. A new method of evaluating the individual password creation habits of users and automatically fetching context-rich keywords from a user’s public web and social media footprint via a keyword-extraction algorithm is developed, and this approach is incorporated into a web application that allows clients to locally fine-tune an LSTM model locally, run it through ONNX, and carry out all inference on-device, ensuring complete data confidentiality and adherence to privacy regulations. Full article

At the Politecnica Salesiana University (UPS) in Guayaquil, Ecuador, urban mobility challenges were addressed with the aim of improving students’ quality of life and promoting sustainability. This study evaluated the technical, economic, and social feasibility of implementing a shared transportation (carpooling) system using a quantitative-descriptive approach. Surveys were applied to a stratified sample of 256 students to analyze transportation habits. Route planning was performed using ArcGIS software, and costs were calculated with Microsoft Excel. Social impact assessment involved focus groups and analysis of variables such as changes in mobility patterns, system acceptance, and perceived safety, comfort, and accessibility. Key indicators included the percentage of students willing to participate in the pilot (82.7%), satisfaction with travel time savings (85.7% fully satisfied), and positive perceptions of safety and comfort. The results suggest that the proposed system is not only economically viable but also widely accepted by students, contributing to reduced stress, travel time, and single-occupancy vehicle use. This study demonstrates the feasibility of shared transport in urban universities and provides a replicable model to guide sustainable mobility policies that improve safety, comfort, and efficiency in student commuting. Full article

Purpose: Smoking is a major preventable cause of illness and death. Quitting smoking can reduce related health complications. Numerous factors, including age, socioeconomic status, smoking habits, and availability of support, influence smoking cessation success. Despite anti-smoking measures and smoking cessation clinics in Saudi Arabia, smoking-related deaths are increasing. This study aimed to identify factors influencing successful smoking cessation among Saudi adults and examine the relationship between cessation methods and success rates. Patients and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted through an online survey targeting Saudi adults who had attempted to quit smoking of all types, whether traditional cigarettes, e-cigarettes, shisha, or others. Success was defined as quitting for at least six months. The data collected included sociodemographic details, smoking history, and experiences with cessation. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with successful cessation. Results: Of 364 participants, 18.4% were successful quitters, with a mean age of 34.94. Occupation was a key predictor; freelance workers had significantly higher odds of unsuccessful quitting (OR = 12.96, 95% CI: 2.08–80.79, p = 0.006). Those who continued smoking despite illness were less likely to quit successfully (OR = 2.33, 95% CI: 1.16–4.68, p = 0.018). Early initiation of smoking also negatively impacted cessation success (OR = 1.10, 95% CI: 1.03–1.17, p = 0.006). Successful quitters reported fewer adverse symptoms during their attempts (p = 0.018) and employed behavioral strategies, such as disposing of tobacco products (p < 0.001), avoiding smoking triggers (p = 0.002), and engaging in exercise (p < 0.001). Confidence in quitting significantly contributed to success (p < 0.001). Conclusions: This study highlights the role of individual, social, and environmental factors in smoking cessation. Tailored interventions that address socioeconomic, psychological, and lifestyle factors are crucial for enhancing cessation success among Saudi adults. Full article

The present study explores the use of Instagram as an innovative strategy in the teaching–learning process in the context of animal reproduction topics. In the current era, with digital technology and social media transforming how information is accessed and consumed, it is essential for teachers to adapt and harness the potential of these tools for educational purposes. This article delves into the need for teachers to stay updated with current trends and the importance of promoting digital competences among teachers. This research aims to provide insights into the benefits of integrating social media into the educational landscape. Students of Veterinary Science degrees, Master’s degrees in Equine Sport Medicine as well as vocational education and training (VET) were involved in this study. An Instagram account named “UCOREPRO” was created for educational use, and it was openly available to all users. Instagram usage metrics were consistently tracked. A voluntary survey comprising 35 questions was conducted to collect feedback regarding the educational use of smartphone technology, social media habits and the UCOREPRO Instagram account. The integration of Instagram as an educational tool was positively received by veterinary students. Survey data revealed that 92.3% of respondents found the content engaging, with 79.5% reporting improved understanding of the subject and 71.8% acquiring new knowledge. Students suggested improvements such as more frequent posting and inclusion of academic incentives. Concerns about privacy and digital distraction were present but did not outweigh the perceived benefits. The use of short videos and microlearning strategies proved particularly effective in capturing students’ attention. Overall, Instagram was found to be a promising platform to enhance motivation, engagement, and informal learning in veterinary education, provided that thoughtful integration and clear educational objectives are maintained. In general, students expressed positive opinions about the initiative, and suggested some ways in which it could be improved as an educational tool. Full article

Background/Objectives: Loneliness is the sensation of feeling alone or emotionally isolated, even when one is surrounded by other people. It is associated with conditions such as depression, anxiety, harmful habits, and cardiovascular problems. The main objective of the present study was to develop and determine the psychometric properties of the Multidimensional Loneliness Scale (MLS), which is a self-report instrument. Methods: The present study is instrumental in nature, as it aims to analyze the psychometric properties of a new assessment instrument. A total of 484 adults, both men and women, aged between 18 and 55 years, participated in this research. Results: Exploratory factor analysis revealed the presence of four dimensions: social disconnection, family estrangement, loss of attachment figure, and intrapersonal emptiness. Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated that the four-dimensional model exhibited a good fit (CFI = 0.91; RMSEA = 0.07; SRMR = 0.07; AIC = 737.87). The concurrent validity was evidenced by significant correlations with the De Jong Gierveld scale and the Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale. The reliability analysis demonstrated satisfactory internal consistency, with omega coefficients ranging from 0.84 to 0.92 and alpha coefficients from 0.84 to 0.93. Conclusions: The MLS is a self-report instrument designed to assess loneliness, and it has satisfactory psychometric properties. Full article

Background: Promoting sustainable eating is gaining increasing attention, yet the transition from intentions to actual behaviors remains unclear. This study compares the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and the theory of behavioral choice (TBC) in predicting such intentions and examines the moderating role of distress, psychological well-being, and dysfunctional eating styles in the intention–behavior relationship. Methods: A total of 223 participants from the general population (29.49 ± 9.30 years; 68.6% females) completed an online survey assessing TPB and TBC predictors, the Sustainable and Healthy Dietary Behaviors (SHDB) questionnaire, the Depression and Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21), the Psychological Well-Being Scale (PWBS), and the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ). Results: The TBC model explained a significantly greater variance in intention (R² = 0.45, ΔR² = 0.28, F(215,4) = 27.27, p < 0.001) compared to the TPB, with TBC-affect (β = 0.48, p < 0.001) and felt obligation (β = 0.23, p < 0.001) being the strongest predictors. Moderation analyses revealed that the intention–behavior link was stronger in participants with lower external eating and autonomy. Conclusions: Both internal and external factors play a crucial role in predicting intentions. In addition, the intention–behavior link is stronger in individuals who are less reactive to external food stimuli and more influenced by social pressure. Promoting more balanced psychological well-being and functional eating habits may foster more sustainable diets. Full article

Background: This study investigated the prevalence and predictors of burnout among medical students at “Dunărea de Jos” University of Galați, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy. Methods: Burnout was measured using the School Burnout Inventory-U 9 (SBI-U 9), and potential predictors, including social media addiction (Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale—BSMAS), procrastination, age, gender, year of study, admission grade, last annual grade, hobbies, achievements, close friends, and relationship status, were assessed using appropriate instruments. Correlation and hierarchical multiple regression analyses identified predictors of burnout. Mediation analysis tested procrastination as a mediator between BSMAS and burnout, while moderation analysis examined whether procrastination moderated this relationship. Results: Social media addiction was an independent predictor of burnout. While younger age was correlated with higher burnout, it was not a significant predictor in the multivariate model. Procrastination did not significantly mediate the link between social media addiction and burnout but significantly moderated it. The effect of social media addiction on burnout was stronger for students with lower levels of procrastination. Conclusions: The study shows increased susceptibility to burnout among younger students and identifies social media addiction as a key risk factor. Procrastination moderates this relationship, indicating the need for interventions targeting both digital habits and time management in medical education. Full article

Background/Objectives: The complex relationship between nutrition and mental well-being has been widely documented, with empirical evidence supporting both the influence of dietary habits on psychological health and, conversely, the impact of mental state on food choices. However, a critical gap remains in understanding the mechanisms underlying this interaction. While previous literature have examined various biological and psychological mediators, limited attention has been given to the potential mediation role of interpersonal relationships in shaping this dynamic. This article seeks to address this theoretical gap by exploring how the quality of social interactions—both in their intentional dimension and in their lived experiential aspect—may function as a key mediator between nutrition and mental well-being. Methods: Methodologically, a combination of systematic review (PRISMA) and narrative review was employed, given that the findings of the systematic review alone are insufficient to formulate a hypothesis that requires interdisciplinary dialog in a still emerging and underexplored field. Results: The hypothesis we aim to propose is whether the quality of interpersonal relationships acts as a catalyst and enhancer of the effect of nutrients on mental health. Conclusions: This could open new avenues for the design of dietary interventions and mental well-being programs from a socially integrated approach. Full article