Search Results (2,223)

The objectives of this study are to examine the direct relationships among perceived ethics, perceived sustainability, customer trust, customer engagement, and customer loyalty; and to investigate the mediating roles of customer trust and customer engagement in explaining the relationship between ethical and sustainability perceptions and customer loyalty. Using the Stimulus–Organism–Response (SOR) framework and the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) as theoretical foundations, this research examines how ethical and sustainability perceptions within social commerce environments influence customers’ psychological states and behavioral responses. A quantitative approach was used, involving data collection from 360 Thai consumers who had previously bought sustainable fashion items through social media. The proposed model was then evaluated using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The results suggest that consumers’ evaluations of seller ethics significantly enhance their perceptions of product sustainability, customer trust, and engagement. Furthermore, perceived sustainability of fashion products affects both trust and engagement. Customer trust subsequently promotes both engagement and loyalty; however, customer engagement exhibits the most substantial direct effect on customer loyalty. Mediation analysis confirms the essential functions of trust and engagement in mediating the impacts of ethical and sustainability perceptions on loyalty. These findings highlight the importance of ethical transparency and proactive customer engagement in fostering trust and long-term customer loyalty within social media-based sustainable fashion commerce. Therefore. This study provides both theoretical and practical insights for sustainable fashion enterprises functioning within digital contexts. Full article

Tourism drives economic growth but also intensifies environmental pressure at travel destinations, particularly by exacerbating local challenges in waste management. Rather than merely testing the theoretical validity of the norm activation model (NAM), this study utilizes its key constructs—specifically moral and accountability variables—as a strategic framework to examine the psychological drivers of waste reduction in the urban context of Vientiane, Laos. Data from 382 domestic tourists were analyzed using ordinary least squares regression. Ascription of responsibility (AR) (β = 0.219, p < 0.001) was the strongest predictor of intention, followed by personal norm (PN) (β = 0.173, p < 0.01) and actual waste management behavior (β = 0.160, p < 0.01). Notably, environmental knowledge and awareness of consequences—factors often emphasized in traditional environmental campaigns—had no significant influence. The findings demonstrate that, in addressing urban waste challenges in developing regions, fostering internalized moral sentiments (AR and PN) is far more effective than mere pro-environmental education. This study concludes that sustainable waste management may benefit from operationalized interventions that activate personal accountability rather than relying solely on general environmental awareness. Full article

Rural land art festivals serve as an important practical vehicle for integrating urban and rural culture and tourism. They constitute a crucial component of rural tourism in China and play a key role in the sustainable development of rural areas. However, in practice, these festivals are generally confronted with the dilemma of superficial tourist participation and insufficient sustainability. This study aims to uncover the intrinsic psychological evolution mechanism underlying tourists’ responses to external stimuli and their value co-creation. The S-O-R model and the two-factor theory are integrated to construct an analytical framework: “external stimulus–psychological sequence–behavioral response.” Using “Modern Fields” as the case study and 437 valid data points, an empirical analysis is conducted with PLS-SEM and artificial neural networks (ANNs). The results indicate that tourist participation is directly driven by destination quality. Content stickiness exerts an indirect influence through perceived value. Perceived value facilitates value co-creation only when it is fully mediated by tourist participation. The path from participation to co-creation is significantly strengthened by restorative environmental perception. A multi-group analysis further reveals that inexperienced tourists exhibit a “stimulus-driven” characteristic, whereas experienced tourists follow a “value internalization” path. The ANN analysis further shows that the strongest nonlinear predictive power for co-creation behavior is held by restorative environmental perception. A significant direct nonlinear effect is also exerted by destination quality. The evolutionary nodes and boundary conditions of tourists’ psychological sequence during this process are revealed. The boundary effect of restorative environmental perception as a catalyst for rural art tourism is demonstrated. A theoretical basis and practical insights are thereby provided for the segmented operation and sustainable development of these activities. Full article

The digital transformation of agriculture is a critical pathway for promoting sustainable rural livelihoods in transition economies. This study examines the determinants of mobile agricultural application adoption among 327 smallholder farmers in Tajikistan, integrating the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) with New Institutional Economics (NIE). We develop a formative Institutional Support Index (ISI) comprising cooperative membership, extension access, and regulatory familiarity. Using binary logistic regression and multi-model robustness checks (probit, LPM, IV-probit), we identify three core findings. First, perceived usefulness (PU) is the dominant positive driver (AME = +12.2 pp; p < 0.001). Second, perceived risk (PR) constitutes a significant psychological barrier (AME = −7.6 pp; p < 0.01), while perceived trust (PT) partially offsets this deterrent effect (AME = +6.4 pp; p < 0.01). Third, we document a “land ownership puzzle,” where land ownership exerts a robust negative conditional effect on adoption (AME = −14.2 pp; p < 0.01). This finding suggests a property-rights-based “conservatism bias” unique to transition contexts, where asset-protection motives increase the adoption threshold for landowners compared to tenants. Exploratory analysis indicates a tentative “Sensitization Effect,” in which institutional support may increase risk awareness in the absence of financial risk-sharing mechanisms. These results broaden the applicability of the TAM to post-Soviet transition environments and suggest that digital extension initiatives must incorporate risk-management tools to effectively assist smallholder farmers. Full article

The transition to a low-carbon economy is the cornerstone of global sustainability, requiring high-emission enterprises to shift from carbon-intensive production to genuine green innovation. However, this study uncovers a significant structural impediment to this transition: the “defensive greenwashing” response to climate stress. Focusing on listed companies in China’s high-emission industries (2009–2024), we employ a Debiased Machine Learning (DML) framework and Causal Forest analysis to capture the non-linear impacts of multi-dimensional climate risks. Our findings reveal a robust “threshold-trigger” mechanism: once climate pressures—whether physical shocks or policy-induced transition risks—exceed corporate endurance levels, firms aggressively pivot toward strategic “information arbitrage” rather than substantive decarbonization. We identify a profound “capability paradox” in sustainability governance, where firms with higher digital maturity and resource slack leverage their technical prowess to “calibrate” sophisticated narratives, thereby widening the monitoring gap and distorting green asset pricing. Furthermore, CEO risk preference acts as a psychological accelerator, amplifying strategic decoupling, particularly under transition-risk-induced uncertainty. By demonstrating how climate stress inadvertently incentivizes symbolic compliance over sustainable transformation, this research offers critical micro-level insights for policymakers. These findings are vital for refining sustainability oversight and ensuring that capital allocation fosters a resilient, equitable transition toward true ecological and economic decoupling. Full article

As a multi-functional systemic carrier, rural tourism integrates diverse rural resources and serves as a key endogenous driver for sustainable rural development and the enhancement of rural residents’ livelihoods. However, excessive tourism development may lead to environmental pressures and exacerbate inequities in benefit distribution, rendering well-being gains uncertain. This study aims to explore the multidimensional mechanisms through which rural tourism influences rural residents’ well-being by utilizing national data from the 2020 China Rural Revitalization Survey (CRRS). The results indicate that village-level tourism development exerts a positive effect on material and psychological well-being. Effects are particularly strong in eastern and hilly regions and in villages where the party secretary also serves as committee director. Further analysis identifies four channels through which rural tourism enhances well-being: fostering digital financial inclusion, advancing empowerment reforms, reallocating resources, and optimizing governance frameworks. Additionally, tourism development leads to improvements in indicators such as road quality, living environment, and satisfaction with village committee performance—while highlighting policy attention to social security, housing, and income satisfaction. Full article

Given the increasing relevance of sustainability certification in food supply chains and, at the same time, rising confusion among consumers about the multitude of labels on food products, concerns about the value of sustainability certification occur frequently. This paper aims to investigate consumers’ evaluation and purchase intentions, and willingness-to-pay (WtP) for blockchain-enabled sustainability certification in coffee. Utilizing a questionnaire guided by an extended model of Ajzen’s theory of planned behavior (TPB), an online survey was conducted with n = 400 German consumers. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling and cluster analysis. The results revealed perceived behavioral control (PBC) and subjective norms (SN) as the most influential factors on WtP, whereas intention to buy is shaped by PBC and environmental concerns. Notably, trust in blockchain technology did not emerge as a significant direct predictor, suggesting it operates as a background condition rather than a behavioral driver. Three distinct clusters were identified with concise preference, intention, and WtP profiles, highlighting heterogeneous consumer motivations. The study contributes to the literature in three ways: it provides the first consumer-behavioral evidence from the German market; it demonstrates that blockchain-specific trust constructs do not constitute independent behavioral drivers, suggesting that adoption follows generic TPB mechanisms; and it empirically differentiates intention and WtP as distinct psychological outcomes driven by different construct sets. Full article

This study examines emotional dependency on generative artificial intelligence among vocational high school (VHS) students. Guided by Taiwan’s 108 Curriculum Guidelines, an interactive “Health and Nursing” course on AI reliance was implemented. The sample included 1000 students from five VHSs in central Taiwan (January–February 2026). Data were collected through questionnaires and classroom feedback to assess AI interaction frequency, emotional projection, and perceived effects on relationships and psychological needs. Research data were analyzed using SPSS 22.0 and SmartPLS 4. Findings show that some students displayed moderate to high emotional attachment to AI, particularly for support and stress relief, with blurred ethical boundaries. After the intervention, students reported greater awareness of risks and increased self-reflection. This study concludes that integrating AI literacy with emotional education into curricula is crucial for responsible technology use and healthy relational development. Overall, emotional reliance on AI among VHS students appears statistically significant but bounded, reflecting a balanced pattern of engagement that supports sustainable psychological well-being. Full article

Background: Healthcare systems globally continue to experience persistent workforce and system-level challenges as increased workloads, lasting wellbeing impacts, and retention issues remain following the pandemic. To inform strategies and interventions to address these issues, this paper explored the workplace experiences of Victorian (Australia) frontline healthcare workers with parenting responsibilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A total of 39 frontline healthcare workers from a large metropolitan hospital were interviewed between October 2020 and February 2021. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyse transcripts. Results: Three superordinate themes and five subordinate themes were identified. Themes highlighted the significant pressure that rapid workplace changes placed on healthcare staff and leaders, affecting their physical, mental, and relational health. Support from peers and supervisors was protective, though this increased demands on supervisors themselves. While many staff reported pride in their work, some experienced reduced career satisfaction and concerns about lasting psychological impacts. Conclusions: This study identifies how workplace supports operate through communication transparency, leadership capacity, and protected peer-support space, translating to organisational priorities for the post-pandemic workforce. In the context of ongoing workforce shortages and heightened demands post-pandemic, these findings underscore the importance of strengthening leadership capacity, embedding sustainable workplace supports, and addressing the psychological needs of healthcare staff. Such system-level responses are essential for pandemic recovery, improving workforce retention and staff wellbeing in the modern healthcare environment. Full article

Regular physical activity is essential for physical and mental health, yet participation among Norwegian university students remains below nationally recommended levels. This study explored facilitators and barriers for physical activity among first-year students, using the COM-B model as a conceptual framework. Fifteen physically active first-year students from two higher education campuses in Bodø were interviewed in spring 2025, and the data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Analysis showed that students’ activity behaviours were shaped by a dynamic interaction between physical and psychological capabilities, particularly in relation to technical competence, previous injuries, and self-regulation strategies. Opportunity-related factors—such as time constraints, financial limitations, commuting distance, and access to facilities—substantially influenced students’ ability to maintain regular activity, while social support from friends, family, and peers functioned as an important facilitator. Motivation emerged through a mixture of automatic processes—including stress reduction, enjoyment, and habits—and reflective processes such as goal-setting and health-oriented decision-making. For students in physically demanding study programmes, professional identity and body-related expectations also contributed to their engagement. Overall, this study highlights the need for institutional strategies that simultaneously address structural, social, and psychological factors to support sustainable physical activity habits during the transition to university life. Full article

Background: Specialized palliative care requires nursing professionals to address the complex physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs of patients with advanced incurable illness. This study aimed to assess the perceived adequacy of formal educational preparation among nurses working in specialized palliative care services in the Republic of Croatia and examine its association with self-assessed knowledge and the perceived need for additional education. Methods: A nationwide cross-sectional survey was conducted among nursing professionals employed in specialized palliative care services across Croatia. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire assessing sociodemographic characteristics, perceived adequacy of formal education, self-assessed knowledge, as well as the need for additional education in physical, psychological, social and spiritual care domains. An Educational Sufficiency Discrepancy Index (ESDI) was calculated to quantify the difference between perceived educational sufficiency and continuing education needs. For inferential statistics significance was set at p < 0.05 (two-tailed). Results: Among the 194 nursing professionals who participated in the study, perceived educational sufficiency was highest in the physical domain (87.5%), where it exceeded the reported need for additional education (31.6%). Negative discrepancies were observed in social (−12.9) and spiritual care (−17.6), indicating perceived educational deficits. Representation of physical care content in formal education was significantly associated with higher self-assessed knowledge across several domains (physical p < 0.001; psychological p = 0.008; social p < 0.001; spiritual p = 0.008). No significant associations were found between self-assessed knowledge and age, work experience or level of education. Conclusions: Formal nursing education alone may not fully meet the multidimensional competency requirements of specialized palliative care practice. Strengthening structured continuing professional development, particularly in psychosocial and spiritual care, may support holistic palliative care delivery and sustained professional competence. Full article

Background: Burnout is a relevant occupational health concern in Emergency Medical Services (EMSs), with potential implications for workforce well-being, occupational health, and the sustainability of prehospital care. Although burnout has been widely studied among healthcare professionals, evidence concerning Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) students remains limited. This exploratory study aimed to estimate high burnout prevalence among EMT students and practising EMT professionals in Madrid, Spain, describe burnout dimensions in both groups, and examine sociodemographic correlates of high burnout status. Methods: A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted between March and June 2024 using a convenience sample of 85 participants: 43 EMT students and 42 practising EMT professionals. Burnout was assessed using validated Spanish versions of the Maslach Burnout Inventory: the MBI-SS for students and the MBI-HSS for professionals. Because these instruments are population-specific and rely on different norms and thresholds, between-group comparisons of raw scores were interpreted as exploratory. Descriptive analyses, between-group comparisons with effect sizes, correlation analyses, and an exploratory binary logistic regression model were performed. Results: High burnout was identified in 22 EMT students (51.2%) and 23 practising EMT professionals (54.8%), with no statistically significant between-group difference detected (p = 0.73; Cramer’s V = 0.04). Between-group comparisons of burnout dimensions showed small effect sizes for Emotional Exhaustion (Cohen’s d = 0.17), Depersonalisation (Cohen’s d = 0.24), and Personal Accomplishment (Cohen’s d = −0.26). Age was positively associated with Emotional Exhaustion (r = 0.29, p = 0.008) and Depersonalisation (r = 0.24, p = 0.028), and negatively associated with Personal Accomplishment (r = −0.26, p = 0.019). In the exploratory adjusted logistic regression model, age was associated with high burnout status (OR = 1.05; 95% CI 1.01–1.10; p = 0.017), whereas group and sex were not significant correlates. Conclusions: High burnout levels were observed in both EMT students and practising EMT professionals in this regional exploratory sample. However, the findings should be interpreted cautiously due to the cross-sectional design, convenience sampling, modest sample size, limited statistical power, and use of population-specific burnout instruments. These results suggest that burnout-related distress may be relevant across the EMT training-to-practice pathway and support the need for larger longitudinal and multicentre studies incorporating occupational, educational, and organisational variables. Full article

With the rapid growth of short-video platforms, it has become increasingly important to understand the psychological processes that sustain prolonged engagement and contribute to individual evaluative responses. This study examines the dual pattern of associations involving perceived time spent on TikTok by investigating whether it is positively associated with overall user satisfaction while also being linked to psychological cost-related responses, including privacy concerns, health consciousness, social interaction anxiety, and social media fatigue. Data were collected through an online survey administered via Prolific and analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA). The findings show that perceived time spent on TikTok is significantly associated with health consciousness and social interaction anxiety. Perceived time spent on TikTok is also directly and positively associated with overall user satisfaction. Moreover, privacy concerns and social media fatigue are negatively associated with overall user satisfaction. The fsQCA results further reveal six configurations associated with high user satisfaction. These configurations illustrate the principle of equifinality and indicate that no single condition reached the conventional threshold for necessity. Overall, the findings suggest that high user satisfaction can coexist with different combinations of psychological cost-related responses, thereby offering a more nuanced account of how users experience short-video platforms. Full article

Sustainable (ESG) investments have gained significant interest, prompting renewed attention to retail investors’ decision-making processes. ESG investing is motivated by both financial concerns and psychological factors. However, despite growing interest, the motivational underpinnings of sustainable asset allocation remain underexplored. This study bridges economic psychology and sustainable finance to examine drivers of ESG investment intentions and choices in the Italian market. Drawing on the Theory of Planned Behavior, it explores how attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and trust shape ESG investing intentions and choices. Results show that each factor significantly influences investing intentions when considered independently. In particular, the affective dimension of attitudes emerges as especially relevant. These findings challenge traditional views of financial rationality in ESG contexts, suggesting that the motivations of sustainability-oriented investors may differ meaningfully from those of traditional investors. Practical implications are that ESG communication should appeal to emotional and ethical dimensions of decisions, while educational initiatives should enhance investors’ ability to critically assess ESG-related information. Full article

Humming is a ubiquitous yet understudied form of human vocalisation that may play a role in regulating internal bodily states during early development. Unlike speech or singing with lyrics, humming consists of continuous, semantically unstructured vocal sounds produced with a closed mouth. It generates sustained sonic, vibratory and respiratory patterns that engage interoceptive and autonomic processes. This paper explores the hypothesis that humming critically contributes to homeostatic regulation in caregiver–infant interaction. Drawing on research in developmental psychology, perinatal care and vocal practice, we propose that humming provides a simple mechanism through which caregivers may scaffold the infant’s developing interoceptive awareness, paving the way to subsequent social cognition abilities. Through slow rhythmic breathing, chest and cranial vibration, and temporally structured vocal phrasing, humming may influence cardio-respiratory rhythms and support autonomic balance while also organising moments of social engagement. Evidence is gathered from studies of maternal humming during kangaroo care with preterm infants, showing that these vocalisations can stabilise physiological parameters and invite infant vocal participation. We argue that humming may function as an embodied, interoceptive form of co-regulation for both infants and caregivers, linking physiological homeostasis with early communicative exchange. Full article