Search Results (3,266)

This study investigates the effectiveness of designing a gamified Virtual Reality (VR) intervention, grounded in Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory, in enhancing social reciprocity, affective expression, and daily living skills among Thai children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Utilizing the Meta Quest 2 headset, the intervention simulated five real-world contexts—home routines, classroom behavior, street crossing, supermarket shopping, and fast-food interactions. A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest control group design was employed with 33 children aged 6–12, complemented by thematic analysis of caregiver and therapist interviews. Results from the Social Responsiveness Scale, Second Edition (SRS-2), indicated significant improvements in social communication (p = 0.001) and social motivation (p = 0.045), while changes in social awareness (p = 0.233) and repetitive behaviors (p = 0.169) were not statistically significant. However, an ANCOVA analysis controlling for pre-test scores found that the difference in post-test outcomes between the intervention and control groups did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.073), suggesting that observed improvements may be influenced by baseline variability. Qualitative feedback highlighted the program’s engagement value, cultural relevance, and usability, alongside suggestions for increased adaptivity and contextual nuance. These results underscore the potential of VR-based learning while highlighting the need for further research with larger samples and more adaptive systems. These findings offer practical insights for educators, researchers, teachers, and program developers by demonstrating how culturally grounded, gamified VR interventions when guided by experiential learning principles can effectively enhance engagement and support targeted social skill development in children with ASD. Full article

This study investigates how Spanish heritage language (SHL) learners, and second language (L2) learners cognitively and socially engage with texts through collaborative digital annotations. Conducted in two advanced online writing courses with forty students, the study employed Perusall, a social annotation platform, to examine reading behaviors and peer interactions. Quantitative analysis revealed both similarities and differences in strategy use: while both groups demonstrated equal levels of interaction, SHL learners favored Evaluating and Connecting strategies, suggesting reflective, experience-based engagement, whereas L2 learners more frequently used Questioning and Translating strategies, indicating a more analytical approach. Survey responses further highlighted perceived gains in vocabulary, motivation, grammar, and academic language awareness. These findings challenge deficit-based assumptions about SHL literacy and underscore the value of integrating culturally relevant, digitally mediated tasks in language instruction. The study affirms that collaborative annotation not only fosters cognitive engagement but also promotes social presence and academic identity development. It offers practical recommendations for grouping, scaffolding, and platform use, and contributes to a broader understanding of how digital tools can support inclusive, meaningful reading experiences for diverse learners in the twenty-first-century classroom. Full article

Physical activity (PA) integration in special education has gained recognition as a neuroeducational intervention supporting emotional and social development in students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), yet teacher perceptions remain underexplored. This cross-sectional study examined how Israeli special education teachers perceive physical activity’s benefits and how teaching experience and educational setting influence these perceptions. A structured questionnaire was administered to 45 female special education teachers from northern Israel. The instrument assessed perceptions of physical activity’s emotional benefits, social outcomes, and implementation practices using Likert-type scales. Teachers strongly endorsed PA as a means to foster emotional resilience and coping, with most preferring group-based activities. Mixed activities were the most preferred approach, followed by movement games. Experienced teachers reported significantly stronger perceptions of emotional benefits compared to less experienced colleagues. Secondary teachers demonstrated higher extracurricular promotion and perceived greater social benefits than elementary teachers. Despite positive attitudes, implementation barriers, including infrastructure limitations and training gaps, were evident. These findings highlight physical activity’s potential as a neuroeducational tool for fostering regulation and inclusion while revealing the need for differentiated professional development, infrastructure investment, and policy integration. Full article

Spinal deformities—such as kyphosis, scoliosis, and lordosis—are observed across all major vertebrate groups. Reports in wild reptiles are increasing but are mainly published in natural history notes as curiosities, with little exploration of their aetiology, pathology, prevalence, or consideration of potential ecological, evolutionary, and life history implications. Addressing this gap, I compiled the most comprehensive database to date by reviewing the peer-reviewed and grey literature and collecting unpublished records via standardised social media inquiries. I identified 690 observations from 146 sources, covering 109 reptile species in 24 families across 37 countries. Spinal deformities appear across all major reptile clades, though Testudines are over-represented (78.6% of all observations and 42.2% of all species). A phylogenetic meta-analysis of 54 effect sizes from 37 species yielded a global prevalence estimate of 0.21%, with no significant effects of phylogeny, habitat use, or habitat type detected, possibly due to dataset limitations. However, kyphosis was more common in (semi)aquatic Testudines, whereas scoliosis was more frequent in terrestrial squamates. Although deformities may impair key life history traits, supporting evidence remains scarce. The findings highlight the understudied nature of spinal deformities in wild reptiles and underscore the need for standardised, ecologically informed reporting to better understand their causes and consequences. Full article

Background/Objectives: Pediatric acquired brain injury (ABI) often results in persistent challenges that extend beyond motor impairments, affecting quality of life (QoL), social participation, and engagement in physical activity. Given the complexity and chronicity of these outcomes, there is a pressing need for multidimensional interventions grounded in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). Sport-based exercise interventions, when developmentally adapted and tailored to individual interests, may promote intrinsic motivation, peer connection, and sustainable engagement—factors especially relevant in pediatric ABI populations, who often experience reduced physical activity and social isolation. However, standardized, replicable protocols specifically tailored to this population remain scarce. This study presents the protocol for a randomized controlled trial evaluating the effects of a 16-week sport-based intervention on QoL, social participation, physical activity engagement, and motor functioning tailored for adolescents with pediatric ABI. Methods: Participants will be randomly assigned to an intervention group or a control group receiving usual care. The intervention consists of one weekly 60-minute session, led by trained professionals in adapted physical activity and pediatric neurorehabilitation. It combines sport-based motor skill training, cooperative games, and group activities specifically tailored to each child’s developmental level, motor abilities, and preferences. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline and following the 16-week intervention period, focusing on QoL, participation, physical activity engagement, and motor functioning. Discussion: This study introduces a structured, child-centered model that bridges clinical rehabilitation and community-based sport. By integrating motor and psychosocial targets through a group sport-based intervention, it aims to enhance recovery across ICF domains. Findings may inform interdisciplinary practice and support the development of sustainable strategies to promote long-term engagement and well-being in adolescents with ABI. Full article

Background/Objectives: This study explores the adaptation and implementation of a positive psychological intervention based on the Emotional Styles model to improve well-being and reduce stress in employees with and without intellectual disabilities (IDs). Methods: A longitudinal intervention was conducted in a social foundation with 45 participants (12 with ID). The program, based on Davidson’s six emotional dimensions, included six weekly sessions adapted through Easy Read strategies and COVID-19 adjustments. Data were collected at pre-test, post-test, and six-month follow-up using the Emotional Styles Questionnaire, PERMA Profiler, and UWES-3. Results: Significant improvements were found in outlook, resilience, engagement, relationships, and reduction in negative emotions, with stronger effects for non-ID participants, although context sensibility improved in the ID group. High satisfaction (93% very satisfied) confirmed the program’s acceptability. Conclusions: The adapted intervention effectively enhances emotional well-being in heterogeneous workplaces, supporting inclusive positive psychology practices. Full article

Black Canadians are one of the fastest-growing groups in Canada, with 59% of this population comprising immigrants. Ongoing systemic racism and discrimination have serious consequences for the mental health of Black Canadians. While research and policy efforts to address the mental health needs of this population are ongoing, a greater understanding of the healing practices relevant to this diverse population is needed. This scoping review synthesized and discussed key features of culturally inclusive, affirming, and contextually relevant approaches and practices for mental health care and healing with Black Canadians, as well as identified limitations and gaps in the current research. This study followed the PRISMA guidelines for scoping reviews and conducted a search in PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Embase, SocINDEX, CINAHL, Sociological Abstracts, and Global Health in October 2023. A total of 34 articles met the inclusion criteria. The review identified that most studies were conducted in one Canadian province (i.e., Ontario) and involved diverse perspectives, including service users and providers. The thematic review of articles revealed limited research regarding specific interventions, but identified many commonly reported features of culturally and contextually relevant approaches to mental health care and healing for Black Canadians that broaden the scope of mental health care beyond Euro-Western clinical models, including taking a holistic and empowerment-based approach, engaging in culturally affirming care, a social justice approach, community-centred and collaborative healing, and the necessity of practitioner education. Recommendations for practice, policy, education, and research are provided to support more inclusive and responsive mental health care systems for Black Canadians. Full article

Intelligence, academic achievement and an unfavorable discrepancy between them (i.e., underachievement) have been proposed to influence students’ subjective well-being. However, previous research on these effects remains scarce and inconsistent. The present study examined the associations between said variables in a sample of 695 fifteen-year-old students in Germany, differentiating between those with and without a migration background. Our findings unexpectedly revealed that students with a migration background reported higher life satisfaction than those without a migration background. Intelligence was unrelated to life satisfaction, regardless of migration background. Academic achievement, measured by the grade point average, was positively associated with life satisfaction among students without a migration background but showed no such relationship in students with a migration background. Segmented regression analyses further indicated that an unfavorable discrepancy between IQ and grade point average, reflecting underachievement, was associated with lower life satisfaction among students with a migration background but not among those without. These findings partially challenge previous research and theoretical assumptions. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of our findings for educational policy and emphasize the importance of targeted interventions to address underachievement in students with a migration background. Our findings suggest that poor academic performance can have a particular impact on well-being in this group. Accordingly, interventions aimed at reducing the achievement gap of those students should not only target cognitive and academic skills but also promote emotional support, cultural inclusion and social integration in the school environment. Full article

Background/Objectives: No Arabic-language version of the Observable Social Cognition Rating Scale (OSCARS) is available that allows to properly and specifically assess social cognition (SC) in Arabic-speaking populations. This study aimed to examine the preliminary psychometric characteristics of the Arabic translated version of the OSCARS, including factor structure, reliability, concurrent validity, and measurement invariance across sex. Methods: This cross-sectional study has been conducted during February and March 2024 and included 113 chronic, remitted, and clinically stable patients with schizophrenia. Results: The originally proposed two-factor model (Social Cognitive Bias and Social Cognitive Ability) showed acceptable model fit after removal of two items that yielded low factor loadings (items 2 and 3). Total and factor scores showed good internal consistency, with Cronbach’s alpha of 0.85–0.94. Measurement invariance was established across sex groups at the configural, metric, and scalar levels. No significant differences emerged between male and female patients for latent mean scores of the OSCARS. Finally, concurrent validity was supported by appropriate patterns of correlations with functioning, recovery, and emotional intelligence measures. Conclusions: The Arabic OSCARS stands out as a brief, valid, reliable, and comprehensive assessment tool to evaluate SC in Arabic-speaking patients with schizophrenia based on the perspectives of interviewers. Offering this measure to clinicians and researchers who work in Arab settings may close the existing gap in the assessment of SC in schizophrenia. Due to its easy and fast application, the Arabic OSCARS is believed to be highly valuable in clinical and research practices. Full article

Transdisciplinary challenge-based learning (T-CBL) has emerged as a transformative educational approach in life sciences and sustainability education, promoting the development of students as change agents. T-CBL engages learners from diverse disciplines in addressing real-life challenges—such as environmental, societal, and ethical issues—through collaboration with both academic and extra-academic actors. However, the role of coaches, who are often key academic actors within T-CBL, remains insufficiently defined and under-evaluated. In this study, 18 coaches from six T-CBL courses offered by an alliance of four Dutch universities were surveyed using a combination of baseline questionnaires and semi-structured interviews to explore their perceptions of their role within T-CBL. Coaches described their role as versatile and complex. Beyond assigning grades, they were responsible for providing feedback on group processes and individual students’ development, including self-reflection, personal goal setting, and overall well-being. Support offered by coaches primarily focused on cognitive processes and social dynamics, rather than content-specific guidance. Regarding preparation for the coaching role, most coaches reported having received no formal training and expressed feeling insufficiently prepared. The findings indicate a need for further investigation into the role of coaches in relation to other actors involved in T-CBL, with the ultimate aim of identifying factors to consider in designing T-CBL courses, including determining which actors to involve and how to prepare them for their respective roles. Full article

Social media has become a tool that exerts a significant influence on consumer behavior. In this sense, this study aims to identify whether digital social influence derived from the informational nature of social media content and online member group support influences the subjective norms and environmental attitudes of organic product consumers. This study was developed using a quantitative, correlational, and cross-sectional design. A total of 371 organic product consumers participated in the study, who were administered a questionnaire consisting of 17 questions measured on a 5-point Likert scale. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 24 and Smart PLS, and convergent validity, discriminant validity, and structural equation modeling were applied. The results of the study identified that environmental attitudes continue to be a highly influential factor in organic product purchasing behaviors and that these attitudes are shaped by subjective norms and digital social influencers, such as social media content and online member support groups. Furthermore, the study found that subjective norms mediate the relationship between environmental attitudes and social media content as well as online member support groups. Beyond contributing to the theoretical understanding of environmental attitudes, this study offers practical insights into designing digital marketing strategies that leverage social influence to promote sustainable consumption, particularly in emerging markets. Full article

The aim of this comprehensive review is to synthesize current knowledge on bovine respiratory disease (BRD), enhance diagnostic strategies, and support effective prevention and management practises. BRD remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in cattle, driven by a complex interplay of viral and bacterial pathogens, host factors, environmental stressors, and management conditions. Its prevalence (2.1% to 20.2%) varies across geographical regions, age groups, and diagnostic methods. BRD leads to significant economic losses through direct impacts such as mortality, reduced growth rates, and lighter carcass weights, as well as indirect costs like market restrictions and long-term productivity declines. Diagnosing BRD is challenging due to its non-specific clinical signs and frequent subclinical presentations. Traditional diagnostic tools like clinical respiratory scoring (CRS) systems provide structure but suffer from low sensitivity and subjectivity. Behavioural monitoring shows promise by detecting early changes in feeding, movement, and social behaviours. Thoracic auscultation is widely used but limited in accuracy. Thoracic ultrasonography (TUS) stands out as a more sensitive method for detecting subclinical disease and correlating with growth outcomes. Combining CRS with TUS enhances early and accurate detection. Advancing diagnostic approaches is critical for improving animal health and minimizing economic losses in cattle production systems. Full article

In an era when AI systems curate increasingly fine-grained aspects of everyday media use, understanding algorithmic fatigue and resistance is essential for safeguarding user agency. Within the horizon of a more algorithmic and hyper-personalized advertising environment, knowing how people resist algorithmic advertising is of immediate importance. This research formulates and examines a structural resistance model for algorithmic advertising, combining psychological and cognitive predictors such as perceived ad fatigue (PAF), digital well-being (DWB), advertising literacy (ADL), and perceived relevance (PR). Based on a cross-sectional survey of 637 participants, the research employs Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) and mediation and multi-group analysis to uncover overall processes and group-specific resistance profiles. Findings show that DWB, ADL, and PR are strong positive predictors of resistance to persuasion, while PAF has no direct effect. PAF has significant indirect influences through both PR and ADL, with full mediation providing support for the cognitive filter function of resistance. DWB demonstrates partial mediation, indicating that it has influence both directly and through enhanced literacy and relevance attribution. Multi-group analysis also indicates that there are notable differences in terms of age, gender, education, social media consumption, ad skipping, and occurrence of digital burnout. Interestingly, younger users and those who have higher digital fatigue are more sensitive to cognitive mediators, whereas gender and education level play a moderating role in the effect of well-being and literacy on resistance pathways. The research provides theory-informed, scalable theory to enhance the knowledge of online resistance. Practical implications are outlined for policymakers, marketers, educators, and developers of digital platforms based on the extent to which psychological resilience and media literacy underpin user agency. In charting resistance contours, this article seeks to maintain the voice of the user in a world growing increasingly algorithmic. Full article

Summer Youth Employment Programs (SYEPs) operate in most major U.S. cities and are known to build social–emotional and job skills in youth while reducing crime. Integrating STEM learning and summer employment offers a promising way to increase youth engagement in STEM—and allow leaders to access funding not typically used for education. Using a connected learning framework, we examined how STEM-focused SYEPs support STEM pathways, the practices they implement, and their connections with schools. Our study explored 10 diverse STEM programs (e.g., robotics, renewable energy, coding) within a citywide employment initiative in summer 2015. Through 22 staff interviews and focus groups with 59 youth, we found that these programs provided meaningful and engaging STEM experiences. They combined interest-driven exploration with hands-on, real-world learning in supportive environments. Many included mentors from groups underrepresented in STEM fields. While collaboration with schools was generally limited to recruitment and shared facilities, opportunities for deeper partnerships were evident. Our findings led to a list of ten promising practices for STEM-focused SYEPs. This study underscores the importance of lifelong, lifewide, and connected approaches to STEM learning through summer employment initiatives. Full article

As cities grow faster and food systems grow more fragile, architects and planners are increasingly challenged to design spaces that not only house people but also support environmental and social well-being. This study investigates how vertical farming can be integrated into residential building facades in Egypt as a strategy to promote local food production and sustainable design. Focusing on a government housing project in Port Said, three façade-based design options were developed and assessed through structured surveys targeting two stakeholder groups: experts and residents. This research revealed a strong interest and awareness across both samples. While users prioritized benefits such as esthetics, air quality, and the ease of use, experts emphasized feasibility concerns, maintenance needs, and policy barriers. Both groups favored the second design option as the most balanced and applicable solution. By foregrounding stakeholder input, this study fills a gap in the existing literature on building-integrated agriculture and provides design and policy recommendations grounded in the local context. It advocates for inclusive design thinking, where technical viability and community values are considered together. While limited to single case and visual assessment methods, this research offers a foundation for further applied studies and broader sustainable design frameworks. Full article