Search Results (202)

Background: Undergraduate nursing students (UNSs) often enter clinical training just as they are still mastering the emotional labor of the profession. In Nepal, where teaching hierarchies discourage upward dialogue and hospitals routinely struggle with overcrowding, supply shortages, and outward nurse migration, these learners confront a distinct, under-documented burden of psychological distress. Objective: This study examines how UNSs interpret, negotiate, and cope with the mental health challenges that arise at the intersection of cultural deference, resource scarcity, and migration-fueled uncertainty. Methods: A qualitative design employing reflexive thematic analysis (RTA), guided by the Reflexive Thematic Analysis Reporting Guidelines (RTARG), was used. Fifteen second-, third-, and fourth-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing students at a major urban tertiary institution in Nepal were purposively recruited via on-campus digital flyers and brief in-class announcements that directed students (by QR code) to a secure sign-up form. Participants then completed semi-structured interviews; audio files were transcribed verbatim and iteratively analyzed through an inductive, reflexive coding process to ensure methodological rigor. Results: Four themes portray a continuum from silenced struggle to systemic constraint. First, Shrouded Voices, Quiet Connections captures how students confide only in trusted peers, fearing that formal disclosure could be perceived as weakness or incompetence. Second, Performing Resilience: Masking Authentic Struggles describes the institutional narratives of “strong nurses” that drive students to suppress anxiety, adopting scripted positivity to satisfy assessment expectations. Third, Power, Hierarchy, and the Weight of Tradition reveals that strict authority gradients inhibit questions in classrooms and clinical placements, leaving stress unvoiced and unaddressed. Finally, Overshadowed by Systemic Realities shows how chronic understaffing, equipment shortages, and patient poverty compel students to prioritize patients’ hardships, normalizing self-neglect. Conclusions: Psychological distress among Nepalese UNSs is not an individual failing but a product of structural silence and resource poverty. Educators and policymakers must move beyond resilience-only rhetoric toward concrete reforms that dismantle punitive hierarchies, create confidential support avenues, and embed collaborative pedagogy. Institutional accountability—through regulated workloads, faculty-endorsed wellbeing forums, and systematic mentoring—can shift mental health care from a private struggle to a shared professional responsibility. Multi-site studies across low- and middle-income countries are now essential for testing such system-level interventions and building a globally resilient, compassionate nursing workforce. Full article

Food tourism is growing in travel experiences, with tourists increasingly drawn to culturally authentic and aesthetically engaging food. Understanding the psychological and experiential factors shaping these preferences is crucial for enhancing tourist visit intentions. Therefore, this study examines the factors such as attitudes (ATT), subjective norms (SN), perceived behavioural control (PBC), and food aesthetic experience (FAE) that influence tourists’ behavioural intentions towards food preferences (BIFP) in Goa, India. The research extends the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) by incorporating food aesthetic experiences as a mediating factor. A quantitative approach was employed, involving a structured questionnaire based on a five-point Likert scale, administered to 217 tourists visiting Goa, India, who were selected through a random sampling method. Data were analysed using Partial Least Squares–Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) through SmartPLS 4.0. Results show that attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, and food aesthetic experience significantly influence tourists’ behavioural intentions towards food preferences. Food aesthetic experience emerged as a strong mediator, particularly between attitudes, perceived behavioural control, and tourists’ behavioural intentions towards food preferences. These findings highlight the role of sensory appeal in shaping culinary choices. The study concludes that a holistic approach, supported by cultural education and stakeholder collaboration, can enrich tourist experiences and support food tourism development. Full article

This study explores the psychological and social impacts of the forced use of self-service technologies (SSTs) in South Korea’s hospitality and tourism sectors, focusing on perceptions of service dehumanization among different age groups. Grounded in symbolic interactionism theory, the research aims to uncover how reduced interpersonal interaction affects perceived service quality and emotional response. A quantitative approach was employed using data collected from 300 Korean adults (150 older adults and 150 young adults). The study utilized the PROCESS Macro to test mediation effects of reduced human contact, empathy, and authenticity, as well as the moderating role of employee presence in shaping dehumanization perceptions. The results indicate that the mandatory use of SSTs significantly diminishes the perceived social value of service encounters, thereby increasing feelings of dehumanization. This effect is mediated by a reduction in human contact, empathy, and authenticity. Moreover, the presence of employees moderates this relationship, particularly intensifying dehumanization perceptions among older adult participants. Gender was not a significant factor in these perceptions. These findings suggest that while SSTs may improve operational efficiency, their forced implementation can negatively impact customer experience, especially for older adults. Hospitality and tourism providers should consider hybrid service models that maintain optional human interaction to mitigate adverse psychological effects. This study contributes to the limited research on SSTs and service dehumanization by integrating symbolic interactionism theory and highlighting the moderating role of employee presence. It offers novel insights into age-related differences in SST acceptance and the socio-emotional costs of automation in service contexts. Full article

With growing public concern over environmental issues, organizations are facing increasing pressure to demonstrate a genuine and measurable commitment to environmental sustainability. In this context, understanding how corporate environmental responsibility (CER) shapes employee engagement (EE) is essential. This understanding helps align organizational behavior with both internal goals and broader societal expectations. Although the impact of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on EE has been widely studied, the specific role of CER—a key subdimension of CSR—remains underexplored. To address this gap, we developed a moderated mediation model grounded in social exchange theory, social identity theory, and signaling theory. This model aims to reveal how CER influences EE and through which mechanisms. Based on survey data from 418 employees in large Chinese manufacturing firms, our results show that perceived CER significantly enhances EE. This effect occurs primarily through the strengthening of organizational pride. Furthermore, online media coverage reinforces the relationship between perceived CER and organizational pride. It also amplifies the indirect impact of perceived CER on EE via this pride. These findings contribute to the corporate sustainability literature by showing how credible and visible environmental actions can enhance employee alignment and engagement. Practical implications are discussed for organizations seeking to connect managerial priorities with society’s call for transparent and authentic environmental initiatives. Full article

This research proposes an adaptation of the quality–loyalty model in which affective commitment is integrated as a key factor in the proposed framework. The study presented a comprehensive framework encompassing 11 hypotheses formulated from an extensive literature review. Empirical data collected from 679 environmentally conscious consumers predominantly residing in Vietnam’s three principal urban centers were employed to evaluate these hypotheses. The assessment was executed utilizing the partial least squares structural equation modeling technique. The results of this research authenticate the appropriateness of the integrated model in studying green consumption, verify the critical role of affective commitment in the newly introduced model, and identify the high impact of affective commitment on green loyalty intention and green purchase behavior. This research also shows that other factors of the quality–loyalty model have significant influences on affective commitment and green loyalty intention. Moreover, this study signifies the crucial role of green perceived quality in fostering affective commitment and green loyalty intention. Green perceived quality was identified as a key factor influencing green loyalty intention and played a crucial role in encouraging customers to purchase environmentally friendly products. Full article

This study empirically investigates the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools within Hungarian religious communities, with a focus on Catholic respondents, to assess their awareness, application, and acceptance of AI in religious contexts. By religious communities, we do not mean monastic or priestly communities, but rather communities of lay religious people. Conducted between 10 February and 11 March 2025, the questionnaire-based research (N = 133) employs Campbell’s Religious Social Shaping of Technology (RSST) framework to analyze attitudes toward AI across 15 religious functions. Six hypotheses explore gender differences, religiosity types (church-based vs. self-defined), and the acceptability, authenticity, and ethicality of AI applications. Findings reveal high acceptance for administrative tasks (e.g., email list updates: 64.7%) and technical functions (e.g., live translation: 65.4%), but low acceptance for spiritual roles (e.g., spiritual leadership: 12.8%). Self-defined religious individuals are significantly more accepting, perceiving AI as more authentic and ethical compared to those adhering to church teachings. No significant gender differences were found. The study contributes to digital religion studies, highlighting the influence of religiosity on AI adoption, though its non-representative sample limits generalizability. Full article

This study explores the emergent dynamics of knowledge sovereignty within organisations following data breach incidents. Using qualitative analysis based on Benoit’s image restoration theory, this study shows that employees do more than relay official messages—they actively shape information governance after a cyberattack. Employees adapt Benoit’s response strategies (denial, evasion of responsibility, reducing offensiveness, corrective action, and mortification) based on how authentic they perceive the organisation’s response, their identification with the company, and their sense of fairness in crisis management. This investigation substantively extends extant crisis communication theory by showing how knowledge sovereignty is shaped through negotiation, as employees manage their dual role as breach victims and organisational representatives. The findings suggest that employees are key actors in post-breach information governance, and that their authentic engagement is critical to organisational recovery after cybersecurity incidents. Full article

Based on ethnographic data collected in Germany, this article compares ultra-conservative Salafi and progressive, LGBTQI-plus Muslim movements and examines their negotiation of religious identity and practice within and in contrast to ‘mainstream Islam’ (e.g., DİTİB). While on the surface these movements appear to be on the fringes of Islam and clearly opposed to each other, a closer look reveals interesting moments of convergence and publicly gained prominence. In doing so, this article explores the actor biography issues that drive affiliation, including negative experiences with mainstream mosques and the search for authentic expression and roots. It analyses the politics of labelling (e.g., ‘Salafi’, ‘liberal’), and how these groups define their target audiences in relation to the perceived mainstream. It examines the negotiation of cultural diversity and Islamic ‘purity’, contrasting Salafi reform with progressive interpretations. Finally, it examines strategies for challenging mainstream institutions. By comparing these groups, the article offers a nuanced insight into Islamic practices at the margins. It sheds light on the various strategies employed to discredit mainstream Islamic institutions, ranging from theological differences to power struggles within the contested religious field. Full article

Serious games (SGs) have been widely employed in the digital preservation and transmission of architectural heritage. However, the key determinants and underlying mechanisms driving users’ continuance intentions toward ancient-architecture cultural heritage serious games (CH-SGs) have not been thoroughly investigated. Accordingly, a conceptual model grounded in the stimulus–organism–response (S–O–R) framework was developed to elucidate the affective and behavioral effects experienced by CH-SG users. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and artificial neural networks (ANNs) were employed to capture both the linear and nonlinear relationships among model constructs. By integrating sufficiency logic (PLS-SEM) and necessity logic (necessary condition analysis, NCA), “must-have” and “should-have” factors were identified. Empirical results indicate that cultural authenticity, knowledge acquisition, perceived enjoyment, and design aesthetics each exert a positive influence—of varying magnitude—on perceived value, cultural identification, and perceived pleasure, thereby shaping users’ continuance intentions. Moreover, cultural authenticity and perceived enjoyment were found to be necessary and sufficient conditions, respectively, for enhancing perceived pleasure and perceived value, which in turn indirectly bolster CH-SG users’ sustained use intentions. By creating an immersive, narratively rich, and engaging cognitive experience, CH-SGs set against ancient architectural backdrops not only stimulate users’ willingness to visit and protect heritage sites but also provide designers and developers with critical insights for optimizing future CH-SG design, development, and dissemination. Full article

In the digital communication ecosystem, micro-influencers have influenced public response during crises, especially in complex geopolitical contexts. This paper introduces the micro-influencer impact model (MIIM), a framework for analyzing the impact of micro-influencers on crisis communication. The MIIM integrates four components (micro-influencer characteristics, message framing and delivery, audience factors, and crisis context) offering a comprehensive approach to understanding micro-influencer dynamics during crises. Cross-conflict analysis spanning Ukraine–Russia, Sudan–Ethiopia, Armenia–Azerbaijan, Myanmar, Syria, and India–Pakistan tensions demonstrates the MIIM’s broad applicability across diverse geopolitical crises, showing how factors like perceived authenticity, niche expertise, narrative personalization, and audience digital literacy consistently shape public opinion and crisis response. The MIIM synthesizes crisis communication theories, social influence models, and digital media research, providing a sophisticated framework for studying the dissemination of information and public engagement during crises. The paper proposes theoretically grounded propositions on the impact of micro-influencers, encompassing perceived authenticity, narrative framing, and influence over time, thereby laying the groundwork for future empirical research. Implications for communication scholars, crisis managers, policymakers, and social media platforms are discussed, emphasizing the MIIM’s relevance to theory and practice in crisis communication. Full article

Women’s decision-making autonomy is widely recognized as a critical determinant of maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH). However, prevailing measures often conflate genuine autonomy with decisions made within traditional gender roles, risking an overstatement of women’s empowerment. This study examines the extent to which reported female decision-making autonomy reflects authentic agency versus role-based compliance in a patriarchal context. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 280 male household heads in Kakamega County, Kenya, whose partners were pregnant or recently postpartum. Using multi-stage cluster sampling and structured interviews, men reported on household and MNCH decision-making and their rationales, categorized as gender-role conformity, belief in gender equality, or other reasons. Although 40.4% reported that their partners made decisions independently, only 11.4% attributed it to a belief in women’s equality; 28% framed it within traditional gender roles. Men were over four times more likely to perceive women’s decisions as role-based than autonomous (AOR = 4.40; 95% CI: 2.48–5.78). Younger men (18–34) were more likely to report female decision-making (AOR = 5.54; 95% CI: 5.08–7.27), without necessarily endorsing egalitarian norms. Findings highlight the urgent need for gender-transformative MNCH interventions that move beyond surface-level autonomy to address deeper structural inequities. Full article

Formative research is an essential component of higher education, aimed at developing research competencies in students, with an emphasis on critical thinking, academic autonomy, and analytical capacity. Its purpose is not the production of original knowledge but the systematic preparation for research activity. Within this framework, the objective of this study is to analyze how conceptual appropriation, which encompasses theoretical, methodological, procedural, and normative knowledge, is related to students’ perceived research skills. This study is grounded in the imperative of fostering higher education that cultivates critical, autonomous, and ethically responsible researchers. For this purpose, a quantitative methodology was used, with a non-experimental and correlational design, applying a census sampling to 10,536 students from a higher education institution. Data were collected through a structured survey on conceptual appropriation and perceived research skills. After the removal of inconsistent records, the data were processed statistically using non-parametric tests, particularly Spearman’s correlation, due to the non-normal distribution of the variables. The results reveal strong and significant correlations between conceptual appropriation and key research skills such as hypothesis formulation, critical thinking, and motivation for research, demonstrating that greater conceptual mastery promotes a more solid and engaged research training. These findings reinforce the need to systematically and progressively integrate research content into the university curriculum, fostering an authentic, reflective, and contextualized education. Full article

Choosing a rural destination today often comes down to one thing: how authentic it feels. In countries like Romania, where tradition is still woven into daily life, travelers are looking for something real and sustainable—but what exactly does that mean? And how can we measure it? This study takes a different approach. We created an Authenticity Index using fuzzy logic, a method that makes space for in-between answers and soft boundaries. It helped us capture how people actually perceive things like local food, architecture, and natural scenery—without forcing their opinions into rigid categories. We tested the index with real guest feedback from rural accommodation. The results showed that guests consistently valued sensory experiences—like nature and food—more than activities that required deeper cultural involvement, such as workshops or folk demonstrations. Instead of just producing a number, the index turned out to be a guide. It gives hosts a better idea of what really matters to their guests—even when those preferences are not always easy to define. More than that, it brings together what theory says with what visitors actually feel, supporting more sustainable tourism practices. And in rural tourism, that connection can make all the difference. Full article

In reality, some influencers who publicly share failures can gain more attention, which defies common sense. Existing research primarily focuses on the depth of self-disclosure by influencers, which fails to explain the current phenomena. Here, we focus on negative self-disclosure and explore whether an influencer’s proactive disclosure of failures can enhance purchase intentions, along with the underlying mechanisms and boundary conditions of this strategy. We conducted three online experiments on the Credamo platform. Study 1 (N = 94) explored the main and mediating effect, whereas Study 2 (N = 238) and Study 3 (N = 238) investigated the moderating effects of observer and influencer characteristics, respectively. The following conclusions are drawn: (1) Influencers’ proactive disclosures of failures can boost purchase intentions when recommending products; (2) perceived authenticity plays a mediating role in this process; (3) the degree of viewers’ self-discrepancy moderates the mediating effect of perceived authenticity; and (4) influencers’ follower scale moderates the impact on purchase intentions. This study offers practical implications for influencers on how to enhance marketing effectiveness through self-disclosure. Full article

In today’s competitive environment of online service industries, particularly e-commerce, meeting consumer expectations is essential for service providers to ensure service quality. However, service failures are unavoidable, leading to unfavorable consequences for businesses. Understanding the mechanisms for customer recovery after negative service experiences is crucial. Using cognitive–emotional personality systems theory and benign violation theory, this study constructed a theoretical model. A total of 351 samples were collected through a situational simulation experiment for a linear regression analysis. A self-mocking response strategy positively influenced brand trust through perceived brand authenticity regarding the dimensions of credibility, integrity, and symbolism. Simultaneously, brand trust was identified as a key driver of post-recovery satisfaction. This study proposes a chain mediation model, which incorporates perceived authenticity and brand trust, to fully comprehend the mechanisms underlying consumers’ satisfaction after service recovery. Our findings provide empirical evidence for the effects of self-mockery on post-recovery satisfaction, as well as suggestions for marketers seeking efficient means to meet consumers’ emotional and cognitive demands during service recovery situations. Full article