Search Results (195)

Where we find and form identity and belonging, meaning and purpose, is often entangled in the dynamics that play out between people and place, and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, the legacy and ongoing experience of invasion and colonisation. Place-based understandings of identity and its importance in shaping young people’s experience of what is possible and probable in their futures might be critical to framing cross-cultural work with young people impacted by violence and trauma. This paper draws on practitioner reflections of work with young Aboriginal women both on, and off Country, highlighting common and distinct themes related to identity formation and migration in navigating new futures. These include connection to Country and spiritual connection, family and kinship relationships, Women’s Business and felt cultural safety. The findings illustrate a meaningful parallel instructive to practice; for both young women and practitioners, access to cultural knowledge and connection is strengthened by endorsement and in turn strengthens understanding and experienced safety. This work emphasises the importance of creating culturally connected opportunities, sensitive to dynamics of place, to support positive identity expression and wellbeing. Full article

Background: This review explores the influence of eco-anxiety on sustainable consumption, with a specific focus on the urban context. While the literature on green consumerism continues to expand, the role of emotional and psychological factors, especially eco-anxiety, in shaping sustainable consumption decisions remains underexplored. Most existing studies emphasize cognitive, social, or contextual drivers, often overlooking affective dimensions that may significantly influence consumer behavior. Addressing this gap, the review examines how emotional responses to climate change, such as eco-anxiety, inform and potentially motivate eco-friendly consumption patterns. Understanding these affective pathways offers valuable insights on how individuals and urban communities can effectively adapt to climate change and establish a sustainable consumption culture. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in Scopus and Web of Sciences databases, following a predefined keyword strategy, resulting in 56 initial records. We further implemented a supplementary search of gray literature on Google Scholar to search for additional reports. The full-text screening process identified 12 eligible studies based on the following inclusion criteria: quantitative or mixed-methods studies focusing on adult and young adult individuals, including both measures of eco-anxiety and green consumption and assessing their direct or indirect relationship. Results: Findings suggest that eco-anxiety functions as a cognitive–affective motivator for sustainable consumer choices; however, the strength and direction of this influence appear contingent on moderating emotional and psychological variables and cross-cultural and demographic moderators. Discussion: This review highlights the need for urban-focused intervention tailored communication, marketing, and business strategies that address the emotional dimensions of climate change. Policymakers and businesses are encouraged to consider affective drivers as eco-anxiety to promote sustainable consumption stewardship within urban communities. By addressing these psychological responses, urban societies can become more resilient and proactive in confronting climate change challenges. Full article

Prior research has focused on the technical and institutional challenges of blockchain adoption. However, little is known about how blockchain ventures claim categorical space in the market and how such domain positioning influences their visibility and evaluation. This study investigates the relationship between strategic domain positioning and market recognition among blockchain-based ventures, with a particular focus on applications relevant to e-commerce, such as non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and decentralized finance (DeFi). Drawing on research on categorization, legitimacy, and the technology lifecycle, we propose a domain lifecycle perspective that accounts for the evolving expectations and legitimacy criteria across blockchain domains. Using BERTopic, a transformer-based topic modeling method, we classify 9665 blockchain ventures based on their textual business descriptions. We then test the impact of domain positioning on market recognition—proxied by Crunchbase rank—while examining the moderating effects of external validation signals such as funding events, media attention, and organizational age. Our findings reveal that clear domain positioning significantly enhances market recognition, but the strength and direction of this effect vary by domain. Specifically, NFT ventures experience stronger recognition when young and less institutionally validated, suggesting a novelty premium, while DeFi ventures benefit more from conventional legitimacy signals. These results advance our understanding of how categorical dynamics operate in emerging digital ecosystems and offer practical insights for e-commerce platforms, investors, and entrepreneurs navigating blockchain-enabled innovation. Full article

The contemporary food environment is experiencing substantial transformations, and sustainability and the pursuit of novel ingredients have become pivotal factors in consumer decision-making and business strategy formulation. The emergence of alternative proteins has significant implications for sustainability, climate change mitigation and animal welfare, and can potentially promote the achievement of different United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The spread of these novel foods requires significant attention, particularly concerning younger demographics, which are often considered to be more environmentally and ethically aware when making dietary choices. This study investigates the psychological and attitudinal factors that shape young consumers’ intention to consume plant-based, insect-based, and cultured meat alternative proteins, and verifies the existence of heterogeneous segments of consumers. To this purpose principal component analysis and k-means cluster analysis are employed using data from an online survey conducted in Italy, with a sample of 350 young consumers. The findings reveal that the intention to consume alternative protein sources is not particularly pronounced among the young consumers and differs according to the type of alternative protein. Three different profiles of young consumers were found: traditionalist (39% of the sample); enthusiastic (17%) and open-minded (44%). These segments differ significantly with respect to consumption intention, socio-demographic, lifestyle and psychological variables. The results provide useful insights for policymakers to design targeted interventions to encourage young consumers’ sustainable food choices. The findings could also be useful for marketers interested in investing in such innovations as they can benefit from an in-depth knowledge of this market segment. Full article

The article compares the young generation’s perspectives on social and environmental problems in Greece and Poland. We examine the visions of young generation representatives for solving these problems and their role in developing sustainable enterprises. A quantitative analysis was conducted using a k-means clustering algorithm in Python to analyze youth perspectives on sustainable enterprises in both countries. The method offers several benefits, including uncovering unexpected patterns, simplifying the data, and highlighting shared views across both countries. The results show that the youth in Greece and Poland widely support the inclusion of social and environmental considerations into business strategies, and despite some differences in the strengths of opinions, they agree that businesses should integrate sustainability into their mission. However, different clusters reveal varying levels of youth knowledge and awareness. Young people believe that businesses should prioritize sustainability, but acknowledge the difficulty of balancing profits with social and environmental goals. Financial support, specific skills, and experience are necessary for establishing sustainable enterprises. An enabling environment and youth empowerment are critical for promoting youth’s sustainable entrepreneurship. Future research could focus on the enabling factors that impact the willingness of youth to engage in sustainable entrepreneurship and on the ways and tools to provide necessary support. Full article

In today’s evolving society, meaningful development cannot be fully realized without acknowledging the vital role of the electronics sector, especially as it functions within informal markets. These markets have become more than just centers of commerce; they serve as informal learning grounds where many young people acquire entrepreneurial skills, develop resilience, and find alternatives to social vices. For many, informal entrepreneurship is not just an option but a means of survival and self-empowerment. Despite their growing relevance, the link between the entrepreneurial abilities nurtured in these informal markets and actual business performance has not been adequately examined. This study, therefore, aimed to explore how informal electronics entrepreneurs in a developing economy navigate their environment, overcome challenges, and create wealth through vision, innovation, and calculated risk-taking. Anchored in institutional theory, the research employed a qualitative approach, using cluster, purposive, and simple random sampling to select participants from key informal business units. Interviews were conducted, transcribed, and analyzed using QSR NVivo 12, allowing for deep insight into the lived experiences of the entrepreneurs. Findings revealed that 78% of participants emphasized practical suggestions that aid informal business survival, such as customer-driven innovations, adaptive strategies, and avoiding confrontations with regulatory agencies. Key attributes such as foresight, adaptability, and risk management accounted for 66% of the variance in corporate success. Strategic and innovative approaches are enabling informal firms to endure and prosper, since 61% of respondents associated these competencies with organizational success. The new BSP framework, which integrates institutional and contingency theories, illustrates how informal enterprises endure by conforming to or opposing institutional pressures and adjusting to environmental changes. The results indicate that, when properly understood and supported, the informal electronics sector may develop sustainably. This study demonstrates that informal entrepreneurship is influenced by formal regulations, informal norms, and local enforcement mechanisms, therefore enhancing institutional theory and elucidating business behavior in developing nations. The Business Survival Paradigm [BSP] illustrates how informal enterprises navigate institutional obstacles to endure. It advocates for policies that integrate the official and informal sectors while fostering sustainable development. The paper advocates for ongoing market research to assist informal firms in remaining up-to-date. It implores authorities to acknowledge the innovative potential of the informal sector and to provide supportive frameworks for sustainable growth and formal transition where feasible. Full article

The growing use of Instagram and its influencers in marketing demonstrates their substantial influence on customer behavior intentions. Despite this, further research into the effects of Instagram mega-influencers on purchase intention is needed among Generation Z (born between 1997 and 2012) consumers. The main aim of the study was to assess the influence of attractiveness, expertise, perceived ease of use, and perceived usefulness on intention to purchase due to Instagram mega-influencers among Generation Z in South Africa. This study combined purposive and snowball non-probability sampling methods using a quantitative approach. An online questionnaire was used to assess the effect of Instagram mega-influencers on young consumers’ purchase intention, which resulted in 497 Generation Z respondents. Positive associations were found between attractiveness, expertise, perceived ease of use, and perceived usefulness on intention to purchase. Perceived ease of use was also found to mediate the positive effects of attractiveness and expertise on intention to purchase. This analysis provides businesses with practical information about the use of Instagram mega-influencers in digital marketing to connect with Generation Z consumers and improve profitability. The research contributes to the theoretical development of constructs in the technology acceptance and source credibility models and generation cohort theory. Full article

This study aims to assess the influence of various factors on young customers’ intention to purchase renewable energy products by extending the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) model. Based on data collected from 690 respondents, the results of the SEM model analysis revealed that the intention to purchase renewable energy products is influenced by all three primary TPB constructs: attitude toward renewable energy products, perceived behavioral control, and subjective norm. Furthermore, knowledge of sustainable development goals significantly affects perceived behavioral control, attitude toward renewable energy products, and intention to purchase renewable energy products. Additionally, perceived government policies uncertainty emerged as a significant barrier to the intention to purchase renewable energy products. Conversely, trust in retailers has no impact on the purchasing intention. Notably, this study identifies the indirect effect of sustainable development goals (SDGs) knowledge on the intention to purchase renewable energy products through the mediating roles of attitude toward renewable energy products and perceived behavioral control. Based on these findings, this study makes both theoretical and practical contributions, proposing several implications for businesses and policymakers. Full article

Background/Objectives: Poisoning represents a significant global public health challenge, particularly with its complex manifestations in adult populations. Understanding regional epidemiology through digital health systems is crucial for developing evidence-based prevention and management strategies. This nationwide study analyzes hospital-based toxicology teleconsultation data from the Toxicology Consultation Service-Saudi Medical Appointments and Referrals Center (TCS-SMARC) platform to characterize the epidemiological patterns, clinical features, and outcomes of adult poisoning cases across Saudi regions. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of 6427 adult poisoning cases where hospitals sought teleconsultation from the Saudi Toxicology Consultation Service (TCS) from January to December 2023. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze poisoning rates by demographic characteristics, agents responsible for the poisoning, clinical presentations, and management decisions. Population-adjusted rates were calculated using the national census data. Associations between variables were analyzed using cross-tabulations and chi-square tests. Results: Young adults aged 18–35 years constituted most cases (58.67%), with the highest population-adjusted rates observed among those aged 18–24 (5.15 per 10,000). Medicine-related poisonings were the most common across all regions (50.04%), followed by bites and stings (15.31%). Regional analysis indicated relatively uniform poisoning rates across Business Units (BUs) (2.02–2.74 per 10,000). Most cases (87.44%) were asymptomatic, with 91.71% exhibiting normal Glasgow Coma Scale scores, although substance abuse cases had higher rate of severe manifestations (24.34%). Significant seasonal variations were observed (p < 0.001), with peak incidents occurring in the summer (29.25%). Management decisions primarily involved hospital observation (40.27%) and admission (30.34%), with agent-specific variations in care requirements (p < 0.001). Conclusions: This comprehensive analysis demonstrates the effectiveness of Saudi Arabia’s digital health infrastructure in capturing and managing nationwide poisoning data. The integrated digital platform enables real-time surveillance, standardized triage, enhanced access to specialized toxicology services, and coordinated management across diverse geographical contexts. Our findings inform evidence-based recommendations for targeted prevention strategies, particularly for young adults and medicine-related poisonings, while establishing a scalable model for digital health-enabled poisoning management. Full article

Startups face significant challenges in balancing survival with sustainability, as approximately 90% of them fail. Sustainability is often perceived as a short-term cost, yet turbulent business environments—driven by climate change, environmental regulations, and evolving social expectations—are compelling startups to align their innovations with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles. These efforts aim to attract investors, customers, and other stakeholders. Despite resource constraints and the liabilities of smallness and newness, understanding how startups leverage innovation to achieve sustainability performance is of both theoretical and practical importance, particularly within the framework of triple bottom line theory. This study empirically examines the roles of absorptive capacity, appropriability, and openness in mediating and moderating the relationship between innovation activities and sustainability performance in startups. Using data from the Korean Innovation Survey 2018—a structured tool aligned with global standards for tracking innovation activities—we analyze 278 young manufacturing firms. Regression analyses reveal that product innovation and organizational innovation are significantly associated with sustainability performance. Furthermore, absorptive capacity mediates the relationship between these types of innovation and sustainability performance. To explore the contingencies influencing these relationships, we test appropriability (measured by protection mechanisms) and openness (quantified by external partnerships). Moderated mediation analysis indicates that openness strengthens the direct relationship between product innovation and sustainability performance up to a threshold but weakens it beyond this point. Organizational innovation’s impact on sustainability performance is fully mediated by absorptive capacity, while appropriability moderates this mediation by enhancing absorptive capacity’s effectiveness when limited protection mechanisms are used. These findings contribute to sustainability research by highlighting that startups’ sustainability efforts are driven by innovation activities mediated by absorptive capacity and contingent upon specific factors such as appropriability and openness. The study confirms the paradox of openness in startup contexts pursuing triple bottom line objectives. Practically, this research provides actionable insights for corporate leaders and policymakers on fostering absorptive capacity through external knowledge acquisition while carefully managing appropriability mechanisms and collaboration strategies to enhance sustainability outcomes. Full article

The growing urgency of climate change underscores the need for enhanced green management practices across organizations, particularly for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), the backbone of economic development. Green inclusive leadership (GIL) is defined as a leadership approach that emphasizes inclusivity, openness, and support for employees’ green ideas and contributions, fostering alignment with organizational environmental objectives. This study examines the influence of GIL on green knowledge sharing (GKS), green organizational identity (GOI), and green innovation (GI) within diverse Chinese industries, including manufacturing, services, media, and IT. Using data from 625 valid survey responses collected from 700 predominantly young, educated employees, this research demonstrates that GIL has a direct positive impact on GKS, GOI, and GI. The findings further reveal that GKS and GOI significantly contribute to GI, highlighting their roles as critical drivers of green innovation. Additionally, GKS and GOI partially mediate the relationship between GIL and GI, providing insights into how GIL promotes sustainable practices and innovation. This study underscores the importance of leadership and collaborative organizational practices in fostering a green-oriented organizational climate, supporting adopting green business models essential for competitive and resilient enterprises in a sustainable economy. Full article

(1) Background: With the growing severity of global environmental issues and increasing consumer health consciousness, green consumption has become a prominent focus in both research and practice. However, studies on the mechanisms of health consciousness and environmental awareness influencing the purchase intentions of sports enthusiasts toward sustainable sports products remain relatively limited. This study investigates how health consciousness and environmental awareness impact the green consumption behavior of sports enthusiasts through psychological pathways, including attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control, aiming to reveal their underlying mechanisms. (2) Methods: Based on the extended Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), this study developed a theoretical model incorporating health consciousness and environmental awareness. Data were collected via a questionnaire survey, yielding 407 valid responses. The sample was gender-balanced (52.8% male, 47.2% female), predominantly consisting of young individuals aged 26–35 (44.7%) and 18–25 (28.0%), with primary occupations being company employees/managers (46.2%) and students/teachers (25.3%). The collected data were analyzed using SPSS and AMOS software to systematically evaluate the research hypotheses and the model’s applicability. (3) Results: The model exhibited excellent fit indices, with a χ²/df value of 2.129, an RMSEA value of 0.053, an RMR value of 0.029, and GFI, CFI, NFI, and NNFI values all exceeding 0.90, indicating that the model structure adequately explained the relationships among latent variables. All research hypotheses were significantly supported (p < 0.01), demonstrating that health consciousness and environmental awareness not only directly influence purchase intentions but also exert significant indirect effects through attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control. (4) Conclusions: Health consciousness and environmental awareness are critical drivers of sports enthusiasts’ purchasing behavior for sustainable sports products. This study deepens the understanding of the mechanisms underlying green consumption behavior and offers practical implications for related businesses. Companies should enhance product healthiness and environmental friendliness while optimizing consumer psychological perceptions to increase purchase intentions. Full article

This study examines the factors that lead students to consider or avoid a career in sales, focusing on behaviors and preferences during the transition period following the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Conducted in 2021, the study captures how the pandemic has changed traditional aspects of sales work, such as face-to-face interaction, and explores the lasting impact of these changes on young professionals. A sample of 671 business and engineering students participated in an online survey; data analysis was performed by using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (SEM-PLS). Results show that intrinsic and social motivations enhance the perceived attractiveness of a sales career, which, in turn, impacts career intentions. Although empathy and COVID-19-related fears lack a direct effect on the intention to pursue a sales career, digital skills reinforce the connection between job attractiveness and career intentions in a digital-centric environment, having a moderating role. These findings emphasize the evolving nature of sales careers, highlighting the need to align career development strategies with young people’s intrinsic motivation and digital competencies. This study adds to the understanding of motivational factors in sales career decisions and offers valuable insights for employers seeking to attract motivated talent in a shifting industry landscape. Full article

Blue Biotechnology (BBt) is a young and promising sector in the Mediterranean region with the potential to drive innovation and strengthen the Blue Economy (BE). However, its progress is constrained by fragmented coordination among stakeholders, impeding policy development and efficient resource management. Under this context, this study investigates the role of networks of diverse stakeholders, particularly the Spanish Blue Biotechnology Hub (BBHub) and a digital tool, ICT Matchmaking Tool (which connects network actors), in addressing these challenges by fostering collaboration, enhancing governance and supporting sustainable innovation. Building on this, the research employed the quadruple helix model (administrations, academia and research, industry and society), engaging 214 individuals from 130 organizations in the BBHub network. A survey assessed participants’ involvement and influence perceptions, followed by the formation of a discussion group “called sherpa group” of 10 key stakeholders for in-depth discussions through semi-structured interviews and meetings. Through this approach, key barriers to BBt and potential solutions for BE sustainable growth in Spain were identified, including regulatory obstacles, limited funding or weak public-private collaboration. Among the solutions proposed were the simplification of administrative processes to create new business, the creation of specific funding opportunities or the implementation of labelling policies to promote BBt products and value chains. Considering these findings, the study demonstrates that the BBHub network and ICT Matchmaking Tool could enhance stakeholder coordination, governance and decision-making processes in Spain. By addressing these gaps, these tools enable collaboration and better coordination among actors, contributing to sustainable marine resource use and innovation in the BBt and BE sector. However, sustained progress requires stable funding and stronger stakeholder commitments. In turn, as a broader implication, this research provides a replicable model for leveraging open innovation and multi-stakeholder frameworks to promote coordination, policy development and sustainable growth in the BBt and BE sectors. Thus, it offers insights into addressing governance challenges in Spain and the Mediterranean, advancing the use of marine bioresources through collaborative approaches. Full article

The subject of this paper stems from the potential threat to the development of tourism functions in coastal destinations, which carries significant consequences for the tourism labor market in these areas. This study examines the state and variability of cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cyanoHABs) and their potential impact on tourism, focusing on the Gdańsk agglomeration as a tourist hub in Northern Poland. Specifically, the research endeavors to explore the attitudes and career inclinations of prospective professionals in the tourism and hospitality (T&H) sector—students enrolled in higher educational institutions within the studied locale—toward the issue of cyanoHABs and its impact on their post-graduation employment aspirations within the T&H industry. The research employs both desk research methods and a structured questionnaire. The key findings reveal that despite the significant presence of cyanoHABs, particularly in July–August, there is also a peak in tourist flows. Thus, it is not definitively established that tourists select destinations based on the quality of water and beaches. Moreover, T&H students exhibit a comprehensive understanding of the cyanoHAB phenomenon and its detrimental effects on the perceived allure of tourist destinations and the employment market. Specifically, students predominantly acknowledged that cyanoHABs could diminish the tourist attractiveness of coastal regions, decrease tourist traffic, and foster negative opinions of the affected destination. Moreover, the findings confirm that, in students’ perceptions, cyanoHABs in seaside regions could detrimentally affect tourism-related businesses. Thus, it is not surprising that T&H students would not consider their future career in tourism within regions of high cyanoHAB risk. This study represents one of the pioneering efforts to examine the connections between cyanoHABs and students’ perceptions of their impact on tourism and career advancement in the T&H industry, which is directly linked with the environmental quality. The novelty of this research lies in its emphasis on students’ perspectives, offering insight into the future qualified workforce in the T&H sector. This approach may shed new light on a better understanding of how cyanoHABs may affect tourism and its labor market, influencing young people’s attitudes toward their future careers in T&H. Full article