Journal Description
Behavioral Sciences
Behavioral Sciences
is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal on psychology, neuroscience, cognitive science, behavioral biology and behavioral genetics published monthly online by MDPI.
- Open Access— free for readers, with article processing charges (APC) paid by authors or their institutions.
- High Visibility: indexed within Scopus, SSCI (Web of Science), PubMed, PMC, and other databases.
- Journal Rank: JCR - Q2 (Psychology, Multidisciplinary) / CiteScore - Q2 (Development)
- Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision is provided to authors approximately 21.5 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 2.6 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the second half of 2023).
- Recognition of Reviewers: reviewers who provide timely, thorough peer-review reports receive vouchers entitling them to a discount on the APC of their next publication in any MDPI journal, in appreciation of the work done.
Impact Factor:
2.6 (2022);
5-Year Impact Factor:
3.2 (2022)
Latest Articles
Measuring Occupational Well-Being Indicators: Scale Construction and Validation
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(3), 248; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14030248 (registering DOI) - 19 Mar 2024
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to carry out the scale development of occupational well-being (OWB) (affective, professional, social, cognitive, psychological and psychosomatic well-being) in Laos. Using multiple sampling data, we developed a valid OWB scale with a large Laotian sample (n
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The purpose of this study is to carry out the scale development of occupational well-being (OWB) (affective, professional, social, cognitive, psychological and psychosomatic well-being) in Laos. Using multiple sampling data, we developed a valid OWB scale with a large Laotian sample (n = 1745). The validity of the OWB-47 scale was analyzed using exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Cross-validity, the initial model, and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were performed using Stata 19 to assess the validity of the scale development. Consistent with the valid model, the CFA revealed a unidimensional structure in the OWB scale. The initial measurement of the OWB scale was significantly correlated with the measure of the six-dimensional model. Regarding the full model testing, the CFA model was developed to test the validity of the OWB-47 scale, suggesting the acceptability of the fit model.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Managing Organizational Behaviors for Sustainable Wellbeing at Work)
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Open AccessArticle
Empowering and Educating Parents to Implement a Home Intervention: Effects on Preschool Children’s Engagement in Hands-on Constructive Play
by
Michelle Boulanger Thompson, Yaoying Xu, Chin-Chih Chen and Kathleen Rudasill
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(3), 247; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14030247 - 19 Mar 2024
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Constructive play is a creative process-oriented activity that promotes children’s engaged learning through building and designing with materials. This study investigated a parent-implemented intervention to promote active engagement in constructive play for preschool-aged children at risk for developmental delay. This study utilized a
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Constructive play is a creative process-oriented activity that promotes children’s engaged learning through building and designing with materials. This study investigated a parent-implemented intervention to promote active engagement in constructive play for preschool-aged children at risk for developmental delay. This study utilized a single-subject multiple-baseline across-participants design with four participants. Visual analysis of the data identified a functional relation between the temporal, physical, and social–emotional environmental support provided by the parents and the children’s active engagement in constructive play. Parents reported the intervention as meaningful to their lives, indicating strong social validity. These findings highlight the importance of centering and working with parents in their home environment and provide evidence that empowering parents to provide support and minimize barriers facilitates children’s active engagement in constructive play.
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Open AccessArticle
An Investigation of Employment Hope as a Key Factor Influencing Perceptions of Subjective Recovery among Adults with Serious Mental Illness Seeking Community Work
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Marina Kukla, Alan B. McGuire, Kenneth C. Weber, Jessi Hatfield, Nancy Henry, Eric Kulesza and Angela L. Rollins
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(3), 246; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14030246 - 19 Mar 2024
Abstract
Introduction: Employment is an important contributor to recovery in people with serious mental illness (SMI), yet studies have not explored how subjective elements of employment hope contribute to perceptions of global recovery in this population. Methods: The current study examined the relationship between
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Introduction: Employment is an important contributor to recovery in people with serious mental illness (SMI), yet studies have not explored how subjective elements of employment hope contribute to perceptions of global recovery in this population. Methods: The current study examined the relationship between employment hope and subjective recovery in 276 unemployed adults with SMI participating in a multi-site clinical trial of a cognitive behavioral group intervention tailored toward work and combined with vocational rehabilitation. Participants had diagnoses of schizophrenia spectrum, bipolar, depressive, and posttraumatic stress disorders, and were receiving services at three Veterans Affairs healthcare facilities in the United States. Data were collected at study baseline. Linear regression analysis examined the relationship between employment hope (Short Employment Hope Scale; EHS-14) and subjective recovery (Recovery Assessment Scale; RAS) after controlling for psychiatric symptom severity and mental-health-related burden on daily life. Results: After accounting for covariates, employment hope significantly contributed to the regression model explaining subjective recovery. The overall model of predictor variables explained 52.5% of the variance in recovery. The results further explore the relationships between EHS-14 and RAS subscales. Conclusions: The findings suggest that employment hope is a key intervention target to bolster subjective recovery in this vulnerable population.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prevention and Recovery in People with Schizophrenia and Related Disorders)
Open AccessArticle
Empathy and Schizotypy: A Network Comparison of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index in High and Low Schizotypy Groups
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Lillian A. Hammer, Aleksandr Karnick, Kendall Beals, Lauren Luther and Kelsey A. Bonfils
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(3), 245; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14030245 - 18 Mar 2024
Abstract
Empathy is a multifaceted concept that is vital to effective social functioning; yet, it is impaired in high schizotypy groups. Furthermore, empathy has been found to be a mediator in the relationship between schizotypy and social functioning, highlighting the importance of empathy as
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Empathy is a multifaceted concept that is vital to effective social functioning; yet, it is impaired in high schizotypy groups. Furthermore, empathy has been found to be a mediator in the relationship between schizotypy and social functioning, highlighting the importance of empathy as a driver in social outcomes. Despite this, the four-factor structure of a widely-used measure of empathy—the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI)—has been found to be psychometrically weak in high schizotypy samples. As such, this study aimed to assess differences in the item-level network of the IRI between high (n = 427) and low schizotypy groups (n = 470). The results reveal that there are significant differences in the structure of these networks, though they evidence similar strengths. Within the high schizotypy group, the network structure was consistent with the four-factor structure of the IRI subscales; items from each subscale clustered together and were distinct from those in the other subscales. By contrast, the low schizotypy group evidenced six clusters that did not mirror the IRI subscales. These results suggest that the item-level structure of the IRI is dependent upon the level of schizotypy of the sample, with the high schizotypy group’s network functioning similarly to what would be expected from the original four-factor structure.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prevention and Recovery in People with Schizophrenia and Related Disorders)
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Attentional Bias of Individuals with Social Anxiety towards Facial and Somatic Emotional Cues in a Holistic Manner
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Yuetan Wang, Jingjing Liang, Ziwen Zhu, Jingyi Gao, Qiuyan Yao and Xiaobin Ding
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(3), 244; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14030244 - 18 Mar 2024
Abstract
Attentional bias towards threatening information is a crucial factor contributing to the development and persistence of social anxiety. However, the attentional bias towards threat information and the preferential processing pattern of emotional cues in individuals with social anxiety disorder during integrated facial and
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Attentional bias towards threatening information is a crucial factor contributing to the development and persistence of social anxiety. However, the attentional bias towards threat information and the preferential processing pattern of emotional cues in individuals with social anxiety disorder during integrated facial and physical stimuli processing remain unclear. In this study, we employed a dot-probe paradigm to investigate the attentional bias towards integrated emotions (facial–body) among students with high and low levels of social anxiety (Experiment 1). Experiments 2 and 3 examined the attentional bias of socially anxious individuals when faced with conflicting emotional cues from faces or bodies in relation to integrated emotions. The data revealed that participants both high and low levels of social anxiety participants exhibited accelerated orienting and biased attention towards facial–body emotional processing. When there was inconsistency between emotional cues from faces or bodies and integrated emotions, higher levels of social anxiety were associated with increased vigilance towards threatening faces or bodies. These findings underscore that individuals with social anxiety possess an ability to rapidly capture threatening cues during the processing of facial–body emotional stimuli while also demonstrating a tendency to avoid relying solely on facial cues by compensating through bodily cues for emotion perception.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Psychiatric, Emotional and Behavioral Disorders)
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Open AccessReview
A Comprehensive Overview of Micro-Influencer Marketing: Decoding the Current Landscape, Impacts, and Trends
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Jie Chen, Yangting Zhang, Han Cai, Lu Liu, Miyan Liao and Jiaming Fang
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(3), 243; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14030243 - 18 Mar 2024
Abstract
This research provides a comprehensive overview of micro-influence marketing, analyzing the characteristics of influencers and the mechanisms of their impact. A systematic review was conducted, encompassing 2091 citing articles and references across 74 studies involving 95 research institutions and over 12,000 samples. Employing
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This research provides a comprehensive overview of micro-influence marketing, analyzing the characteristics of influencers and the mechanisms of their impact. A systematic review was conducted, encompassing 2091 citing articles and references across 74 studies involving 95 research institutions and over 12,000 samples. Employing an interdisciplinary approach that integrates insights from computer science, information science, communication, culture, psychology, sociology, education, business, and management, this study outlines the distinct features of micro-influencers. These features include performable authenticity, affinity expressed through consistency and transparency, musical and artistic media talent, and competitive individual traits. The research synthesizes antecedents of trust and attachment mechanisms commonly employed in influencer theory, taking an objective standpoint and minimizing emphasis on audience engagement and perception to trigger influence. The findings highlight that followers’ pursuit of self-branding, driven by self-consciousness, social consciousness, credibility, and social presence, significantly influences the impact of self-expressive products on the audience’s purchase intention. The research contributes to micro-influence marketing theory by integrating mechanics, offering practical implications for micro-influencers, and suggesting future research agendas.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Behavioral Economics)
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Open AccessArticle
The Mediating Role of Emotional Arousal and Donation Anxiety on Blood Donation Intentions: Expanding on the Theory of Planned Behavior
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Stefanos Balaskas, Maria Koutroumani and Maria Rigou
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(3), 242; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14030242 - 17 Mar 2024
Abstract
Blood donation is essential in health-care systems worldwide, dealing with the demand for transfusions, and for the treatment of a variety of medical conditions. A major obstacle is raising the rate of blood donations by recruiting and retaining donors in an efficient manner.
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Blood donation is essential in health-care systems worldwide, dealing with the demand for transfusions, and for the treatment of a variety of medical conditions. A major obstacle is raising the rate of blood donations by recruiting and retaining donors in an efficient manner. This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of blood donation, utilizing an enhanced framework based on the theory of planned behavior with an emphasis on emotional arousal (positive and negative), attitudes towards advertisements, and blood donation anxiety, revealing critical psychological and communicative determinants of blood donation intention. To achieve this, a quantitative non-experimental correlational technique was employed to collect data from 414 individuals using an online questionnaire circulated across Greek society. The data were analyzed using structural equation modelling, with a focus on the direct impacts on donation intentions and the role of emotional arousal as a mediator. The findings indicate that attitudes and anxiety have strong direct impacts on the behavioral intention to donate, underlining the important barriers generated by donation anxieties as well as the efficacy of positive attitudes and successful advertising. Furthermore, the study demonstrates emotional arousal as a partial mediator, implying that both cognitive assessments and emotional responses play a role in influencing donation intentions. This study takes on a new approach to give emphasis and provide evidence of the mediating effect of emotional arousal on donation intention, utilizing structural equation modeling. Despite the critical role of marketing as a primary source of blood donors, the implementation of emotional marketing techniques has been one aspect less addressed throughout marketing professionals and communication efforts. Our results demonstrate the significance of emotional arousal on blood donation intentions, thus suggesting a more emotionally resonant approach of attracting potential donors.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Psychiatric, Emotional and Behavioral Disorders)
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The Mediating Effect of Depression on the Relationship between Loneliness and Substance Use in Korean Adolescents
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Hyesun Kim
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(3), 241; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14030241 - 17 Mar 2024
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Substance use among adolescents is a major emerging health problem worldwide. Although loneliness and depression are major risk factors for substance use, few studies have examined the relationship between loneliness, depression, and substance use in adolescents. This study aimed to determine the mediating
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Substance use among adolescents is a major emerging health problem worldwide. Although loneliness and depression are major risk factors for substance use, few studies have examined the relationship between loneliness, depression, and substance use in adolescents. This study aimed to determine the mediating effect of depression on the relationship between loneliness and substance use among Korean adolescents, based on the data from 53,310 adolescents from the 17th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey in 2021. Using a complex sample analysis module, hierarchical logistic regression analysis was employed to confirm the mediating effect of depression on the relationship between loneliness and substance use. The results showed that loneliness and depression have a significant effect on substance use (smoking, drinking alcohol, and drug use). Depression was found to have a partial mediating effect on the relationship between loneliness and substance use. Overall, the results suggested that loneliness and depression in adolescents increase substance use, and loneliness can affect substance use through depression. Therefore, proactive strategies to prevent and reduce loneliness and depression in adolescents can be effective in preventing substance use.
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Open AccessSystematic Review
A Meta-Analysis on the Effectiveness of Gratitude Promotion Programs for South Korean College Students
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Namki Lee and Yucheon Kim
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(3), 240; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14030240 - 15 Mar 2024
Abstract
This study delves into the importance and consequences of gratitude promotion programs for South Korean college students. It uses meta-analyses to evaluate the effects of such programs on this demographic, shedding light on their significance and implications. To that end, we selected 11
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This study delves into the importance and consequences of gratitude promotion programs for South Korean college students. It uses meta-analyses to evaluate the effects of such programs on this demographic, shedding light on their significance and implications. To that end, we selected 11 papers in which 683 persons participated as study subjects, analyzing them using the PRISMA methodology. We observed an overall effect size of 0.6671, categorized as above medium. The effect sizes of the sub-areas were cognitive (d = 1.37), emotional (d = 0.60), and behavioral (d = 0.77), with the cognitive area exhibiting the largest effect size. When categorized by program type, the effect size (d = 0.85) for the program involving gratitude practice and gratitude recording surpassed the effect size (d = 0.77) of the programs where participants solely engaged in gratitude recording. According to program execution durations, the largest effect size (d = 1.61) appeared in the group that executed the program for the longest period of at least 16 weeks. This study highlights the areas where gratitude promotion programs for college students prove to be most effective. These findings offer valuable insights for tailoring and developing gratitude promotion programs in the future.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Social Psychology)
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Understanding the Interplay between Wellness Motivation, Engagement, Satisfaction, and Destination Loyalty
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Young-joo Ahn and Katie Bokyun Kim
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(3), 239; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14030239 - 15 Mar 2024
Abstract
Increased awareness of negative psychological symptoms and the negative impact of the pandemic has led to a rising demand for wellness-related travel experiences. There is a need for research on tourists’ experiential and reflective engagement in order to maximize positive outcomes such as
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Increased awareness of negative psychological symptoms and the negative impact of the pandemic has led to a rising demand for wellness-related travel experiences. There is a need for research on tourists’ experiential and reflective engagement in order to maximize positive outcomes such as overall satisfaction, positive WOM, and recommendations. These positive outcomes are crucial for attracting tourists and strengthening destinations’ brands. As there are few empirical studies, research on the effects of engagement on satisfaction and behavioral intentions is necessary. This study aimed to examine the relationships between wellness motivation, engagement, satisfaction, and destination loyalty among wellness tourists. It also aimed to examine the mediating effects of two engagement factors, experiential and reflective engagement, between wellness motivation and positive outcomes. A total of 319 respondents were used for the analysis, and structural equation modeling (SEM) was conducted. The results found that wellness motivation is composed of six wellness motivation components, namely physical motivation, transcendence, relaxation, social motivation, self-esteem, and escape, each representing first-order factors. Wellness motivation is positively associated with reflective and experiential engagement. Engagement positively affects satisfaction and destination loyalty. This study provides several implications, theoretically and practically.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Social Psychology)
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Insecure Attachment and Depressive Symptoms among a Large Sample of Chinese Young Adults: The Mediating Role of Positive and Negative Self-Compassion
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Shuhan Yang, Yizhen Ren, Xi Song, Jie Ge and Yu Peng
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(3), 238; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14030238 - 15 Mar 2024
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Objective: The present study aimed to explore the relationship between insecure attachment (attachment anxiety and avoidance) and depressive symptoms in Chinese young adults as well as the mediating roles of positive and negative self-compassion. Methods: An online survey was administered among college students
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Objective: The present study aimed to explore the relationship between insecure attachment (attachment anxiety and avoidance) and depressive symptoms in Chinese young adults as well as the mediating roles of positive and negative self-compassion. Methods: An online survey was administered among college students in mainland China. This involved their completion of questionnaires encompassing socio-demographic details, attachment anxiety, attachment avoidance, self-compassion, and depressive symptoms. Results: Attachment anxiety and avoidance exhibited connections with depressive symptoms through increased negative self-compassion and decreased positive self-compassion. Attachment anxiety was associated with depressive symptoms primarily through the mediating effect of negative self-compassion. Conversely, attachment avoidance was related to depressive symptoms mainly through the mediating role of positive self-compassion. Conclusions: Attachment anxiety exerted a slightly stronger influence on negative self-compassion, whereas attachment avoidance exhibited a more prominent impact on positive self-compassion. Despite these differences, both attachment styles were comparable in their overall influence on depressive symptoms. This revelation provides fresh insights into the relationship between insecure attachment and depressive symptoms among young adults, underscoring the importance for intervention program development.
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Open AccessCase Report
Successful Pharmacologic Treatment of Self-Bloodletting with Factitious Chronic Anemia (Lasthénie de Ferjol Syndrome) with High-Dose Serotonergic Medication: A Case Report
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Stefan Mestermann, Laura Rudtke, Razvan-Marius Brazdis, Thanos Tsaktanis, Johannes Kornhuber and Norbert Thürauf
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(3), 237; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14030237 - 14 Mar 2024
Abstract
Self-induced bloodletting (SBL) is a very rare form of self-injury (SI) seen primarily in adolescents and young adults with personality and eating disorders. It can result in complications like malaise, fatigue, or iron-deficiency anemia (Lasthénie de Ferjol syndrome, LFS), and poses a risk
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Self-induced bloodletting (SBL) is a very rare form of self-injury (SI) seen primarily in adolescents and young adults with personality and eating disorders. It can result in complications like malaise, fatigue, or iron-deficiency anemia (Lasthénie de Ferjol syndrome, LFS), and poses a risk of accidental death or suicide. The condition often goes undetected due to patient concealment. There is no specific treatment established, and pharmacological strategies remain uncertain. We discuss the case of a 22-year-old female patient treated at our Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Department following a suicide attempt via SBL. She self-administered a venous cannula, losing 1.5 L of blood. Diagnosed with iron-deficiency anemia (LFS), she was initially treated with mirtazapine, risperidone, lithium, and later off-label high-dose clomipramine (300 mg/d). Clomipramine significantly reduced her SBL and suicidal thoughts, and her hemoglobin levels re-normalized under iron-substitution therapy. Despite improvement and later discharge, she attempted suicide by SBL again three months later, having stopped clomipramine due to adverse side effects. High-dose escitalopram was administered, leading to a decrease and eventual cessation of her SBL urges. This case demonstrates that patients with SBL/LFS can benefit from high-dose clomipramine or escitalopram. Despite its rarity, the consideration of high-dose serotonergic antidepressants is crucial in psychiatric diagnostics and treatment for patients affected by SBL/LFS.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mental Illnesses and Related Self-Injury Behavior)
Open AccessArticle
Performance Pressure and Employee Presenteeism: The Joint Effects of Authoritarian Leadership and Independent Self-Construal
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Siyi Zhang, Haijia Wang and Qi He
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(3), 236; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14030236 - 14 Mar 2024
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Due to the increasing competition in the market and the limited availability of high-quality employment opportunities, an increasing number of employees struggle to maintain a balance between their physical conditions and performance demands, resulting in a more widespread occurrence of “working while ill”.
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Due to the increasing competition in the market and the limited availability of high-quality employment opportunities, an increasing number of employees struggle to maintain a balance between their physical conditions and performance demands, resulting in a more widespread occurrence of “working while ill”. However, little is known about the controlled motivation behind the phenomenon under pressure. Drawing on self-determination theory, this study utilized 281 questionnaire data to examine the positive effect of performance pressure on employee presenteeism, and to explore the moderating role of authoritarian leadership and its joint moderation function effect with independent self-construal. The results indicated that performance pressure had a significant positive effect on employee presenteeism. Authoritarian leadership imposed an enhanced moderating effect between performance pressure and employee presenteeism, while independent self-construal diminished the augmentative moderating role played by authoritarian leadership in the relationship between performance pressure and employee presenteeism. This study reveals the controlled motivation of employee presenteeism under performance pressure, taking into account the cultural background and organizational context of China. Moreover, it also offers novel perspectives for effectively managing this phenomenon.
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Open AccessArticle
Influence of Personality Traits and Organizational Justice on Job Satisfaction among Nurses
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Marin Mamić, Tihomir Jovanović, Slavka Galić, Ivana Jelinčić, Štefica Mikšić, Božica Lovrić, Ivanka Zirdum, Kristijan Matković, Goran Zukanović, Goranka Radmilović, Tihana Mendeš, Mirela Frančina and Ivan Vukoja
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(3), 235; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14030235 - 14 Mar 2024
Abstract
The purpose of this research was to examine whether demographic variables, personality traits, and workplace variables (working in shifts, job tenure, and perceived organizational justice) contribute the most to the prediction of job satisfaction in nurses. The survey included 161 nurses. The instruments
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The purpose of this research was to examine whether demographic variables, personality traits, and workplace variables (working in shifts, job tenure, and perceived organizational justice) contribute the most to the prediction of job satisfaction in nurses. The survey included 161 nurses. The instruments used in this research were as follows: the Demographic Data Questionnaire, the Perceived Organizational Justice Scale, the Job Satisfaction Scale, and the NEO five-factor inventory. The study findings indicated that age, health status, distributive justice, and procedural justice positively contribute to job satisfaction among nurses, while neuroticism contributes negatively. Older nurses, those in better health, those who are satisfied with the organization’s decision-making process, and those who feel adequately rewarded for their contributions tend to be more satisfied with their jobs. Conversely, nurses with a higher level of the neuroticism personality trait tend to be less satisfied with their job. The strongest predictors of job satisfaction among nurses were found to be health status, the personality trait of neuroticism, and distributive and procedural justice, with the age of nurses being slightly less powerful but still significant.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Organizational Behaviors)
Open AccessArticle
Stress Control in Older People through Healing Garden Activities
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Sun-Hee Kim, Joo-Bong Seo and Byung-Yeol Ryu
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(3), 234; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14030234 - 13 Mar 2024
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This study, conducted on a group older than 60-years-of-age, sought to verify if healing garden activities control stress in older people. The experimental group performed garden activities once a week for 12 weeks, for 2 h each day, and the control group continued
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This study, conducted on a group older than 60-years-of-age, sought to verify if healing garden activities control stress in older people. The experimental group performed garden activities once a week for 12 weeks, for 2 h each day, and the control group continued their daily lives. Each group’s cumulative stress at the beginning and end, along with total power (TP), the standard deviation of the normal-to-normal interval (SDNN), and the root mean square differences of successive R–R intervals (RMSSD), were measured using u-Bio MACPA, a stress index meter. The analysis showed that the experimental group had a statistically significant decrease in cumulative stress, compared to the control group; and also that TP significantly increased, compared to the control group. The SDNN and RMSSD of the experimental group increased, and decreased in the control group, but the changes were not statistically significant. The fact that cumulative stress decreased and stress evaluation indicators increased shows that daily stress can be controlled through healing garden activities. However, due to the small number of participants in the experiment, its ability to be generalized to all elderly people is subject to a number of limitations. Nevertheless, I think it is meaningful that the finding that garden activities are significant in mediating stress in the elderly was verified using a scientific measurement instrument. Future studies should explore the healing effectiveness of gardens in other age groups.
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Open AccessArticle
The Effect of Time Monitoring on the Development of Time-Based Prospective Memory among Children Aged 7–11 Years Old
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Yinya Wang, Zhi Ren, Yaqi Yue, Xi Zheng, Xinyuan Zhang and Lijuan Wang
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(3), 233; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14030233 - 13 Mar 2024
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Time-based prospective memory (TBPM) refers to the ability of an individual to successfully execute an expected plan in the future at a certain time point or after a definite period of time. This study investigated the potential developmental mechanism of school-age children’s TBPM
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Time-based prospective memory (TBPM) refers to the ability of an individual to successfully execute an expected plan in the future at a certain time point or after a definite period of time. This study investigated the potential developmental mechanism of school-age children’s TBPM ability from the perspective of time monitoring. Experiment 1 used a between-subjects design of three ages (7, 9, 11) × two TBPM types (time point, time period) to investigate the trends and characteristics of two types of TBPM in children aged 7–11 years old. Experiment 2 used a between-subjects design of three ages (7, 9, 11) × two monitoring conditions (free monitoring, fixed monitoring) to investigate differences in two types of TBPM and monitoring behavior among school-age children under different monitoring conditions. These results showed that the age effect of TBPM was affected by the type of prospective memory (PM) and that time-point PM performance was significantly better than time-period PM performance among school-age children. These findings indicate that clear and definite external cues are helpful for school-age children in performing TBPM tasks. Moreover, there were significant differences found in the TBPM performance of school-age children under different time monitoring conditions. The performance of older children was significantly better than that of younger children. This indicates that older children can better allocate their attentional resources and use time monitoring strategies to improve their performance in PM tasks. Accordingly, this study showed that the TBPM ability of 7- to 11-year-old children is in continuous development and that the time monitoring behavior in the TBPM task is affected by task type and monitoring conditions.
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Open AccessArticle
Attitudes Formation toward Minority Outgroups in Times of Global Crisis—The Role of Good and Bad Digital News Consumption
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Nonna Kushnirovich and Sabina Lissitsa
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(3), 232; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14030232 - 13 Mar 2024
Abstract
This paper examines the relationships between the consumption of ‘bad’ or ‘good’ digital economic news and attitudes toward immigrant and ethnic minorities during the crisis that developed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study considered attitudes toward two minority groups in Israel: immigrant citizens
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This paper examines the relationships between the consumption of ‘bad’ or ‘good’ digital economic news and attitudes toward immigrant and ethnic minorities during the crisis that developed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study considered attitudes toward two minority groups in Israel: immigrant citizens from English-speaking countries, and Israeli Palestinian citizens, an ethnic minority. The data were collected through an online survey of 866 respondents, who were members of the majority population group. The study found that, during the global crisis, exposure to bad digital news was associated with more positive attitudes toward both disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged minority groups. Moreover, in times of global crisis, people focused mostly on local rather than global digital news. In contrast to the idea of Intergroup Threat Theory, the study revealed that feelings of economic threat during the global crisis engendered higher cohesion between different population groups, and more positive attitudes toward minorities. In times of crisis, bad news for the economy brings good news for social solidarity—people tend to rally around the flag; this phenomenon even occurs between groups engaged in years-long, protracted conflict.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychosocial Factors and Risk Behavior among Minority Populations)
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Open AccessArticle
Neurite Orientation Dispersion and Density Imaging (NODDI) of Brain Microstructure in Adolescent Cannabis and Nicotine Use
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Alexander L Wallace, Kelly E. Courtney, Natasha E. Wade, Laura E. Hatz, Rachel Baca, Aaron Jacobson, Thomas T. Liu and Joanna Jacobus
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(3), 231; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14030231 - 13 Mar 2024
Abstract
Introduction: Despite evidence suggesting deleterious effects of cannabis and nicotine tobacco product (NTP) use on white matter integrity, there have been limited studies examining white matter integrity among users of both cannabis and nicotine. Further, updated white matter methodology provides opportunities to investigate
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Introduction: Despite evidence suggesting deleterious effects of cannabis and nicotine tobacco product (NTP) use on white matter integrity, there have been limited studies examining white matter integrity among users of both cannabis and nicotine. Further, updated white matter methodology provides opportunities to investigate use patterns on neurite orientation dispersion and density (NODDI) indices and subtle tissue changes related to the intra- and extra-neurite compartment. We aimed to investigate how cannabis and NTP use among adolescents and young adults interacts to impact the white matter integrity microstructure. Materials and Methods: A total of 221 participants between the ages of 16 and 22 completed the Customary Drinking and Drug Use Record (CDDR) to measure substance use, and underwent a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) session. Participants were divided into NTP-control and NTP groupings and cannabis-control and cannabis groupings (≥26 NTP/cannabis uses in past 6 months). Tract-Based Spatial Statistics (TBSS) and two-way between-subjects ANOVA investigated the effects of NTP use group, cannabis use group, and their interaction on fractional anisotropy (FA) and NODDI indices while controlling for age and biological sex. Results: NTP use was associated with decreased FA values and increased orientation dispersion in the left anterior capsule. There were no significant effects of cannabis use or the interaction of NTP and cannabis use on white matter outcomes. Discussion: NTP use was associated with altered white matter integrity in an adolescent and young adult sample. Findings suggest that NTP-associated alterations may be linked to altered fiber tract geometry and dispersed neurite structures versus myelination, as well as differential effects of NTP and cannabis use on white matter structure. Future work is needed to investigate how altered white matter is related to downstream behavioral effects from NTP use.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polysubstance Use among Adolescents and Young Adults: Effects on Brain, Behavior and Health)
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Open AccessEditorial
Children’s Social Behaviors: Developmental Mechanisms and Implications
by
Xuechen Ding and Wan Ding
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(3), 230; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14030230 - 12 Mar 2024
Abstract
During the socialization process in family and school contexts, children display a wide variety of social behaviors with parents and peers. Yet the developmental trajectory, the predictors and outcomes, and the neural basis of those social behaviors are largely under-investigated. To address these
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During the socialization process in family and school contexts, children display a wide variety of social behaviors with parents and peers. Yet the developmental trajectory, the predictors and outcomes, and the neural basis of those social behaviors are largely under-investigated. To address these problems, we invited experts in the field to submit their latest findings to tell this story. The current Special Issue is a collection of papers highlighting the complexity for various social behaviors, with a focus on the complex mechanisms that link social behaviors to child socio-emotional adjustment and mediating/moderating factors among the associations. Thirteen papers illustrate empirical work in the field, two papers present new methodological concerns, and one paper that provides a comprehensive review of the literature.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Developmental Trajectory of Children's Social Behaviors and Their Cognitive Neural Mechanisms)
Open AccessArticle
Teachers’ Perceptions and Position Regarding the Problem of Bullying and Its Socio-Educational Prevention
by
Sara Martínez-Carrera, Cristina Sánchez-Martínez, Isabel Martínez-Carrera and Miguel Ángel Díaz Dieguez
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(3), 229; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14030229 - 12 Mar 2024
Abstract
The problems that arise with coexistence between schoolchildren are a challenge when it comes to carrying out the teaching–learning process. In recent years, the presence of bullying has increased in schools. The aim of this study is to identify the perceptions of teachers
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The problems that arise with coexistence between schoolchildren are a challenge when it comes to carrying out the teaching–learning process. In recent years, the presence of bullying has increased in schools. The aim of this study is to identify the perceptions of teachers regarding the problems of coexistence among schoolchildren, more specifically concerning bullying, as well as to identify their position regarding the prevention of bullying. Research was carried out using a mixed approach. A total of 225 education professionals from different schools in Spain took part. From the results and our conclusions, it should be noted that teachers consider themselves to have a high level of knowledge of the essential characteristics of the dynamics of bullying, of the actors involved, and of some preventive measures that can be carried out to avoid this type of behaviour as much as possible. On the other hand, a large number of teachers downplay the importance of the problem of coexistence in their fields, and/or are not able to identify it, which makes it impossible to act. Some schools hardly carry out any prevention work, which makes it difficult to eradicate bullying.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Behaviors in Educational Settings)
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