The psychological future of unemployed individuals and workers: invariance measurement model and mean differences

This study compared the psychological future of unemployed individuals and workers during the Covid-19 pandemic. It used the data from two previous data collections, one with unemployed individuals and another with workers. Participants from the two datasets were paired considering the same gender and similar age and education degree. The analyzed sample consisted of 352 participants, of which 176 were unemployed individuals and 176 were workers. The psychological future was measured by the Future Time Orientation Scale and the Life Project Scale. Both scales fit the sample of unemployed individuals and were invariant at the metric level across occupation status. Partial scalar model met good fit after freeing the intercepts of one item in each scale. In contrast to the hypothesis, compared to workers, unemployed individuals did not have lower rates in the assessed features of their psychological future. Conversely, for some variables, the rates were even higher among unemployed individuals. Unexpected results and limitations are discussed.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12144-023-04565-6.

Reliability and validity of the brief psychosomatic symptom scale (BPSS) in patients from general hospitals

OBJECTIVES

To verify the Brief Psychosomatic Symptom Scale (BPSS) among patients with psychosomatic-related disorders in general hospitals and determine the threshold of BPSS.

METHODS

The BPSS is a shortened 10-item version of the psychosomatic symptoms scale (PSSS). Data from 483 patients and 388 healthy controls were included for psychometric analyses. Internal consistency, construct validity, and factorial validity were verified. The threshold of BPSS in distinguishing psychosomatic patients from healthy controls were determined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. The ROC curve of the BPSS was compared with that of the PSSS and patient health questionnaire-15 (PHQ-15) by using Venkatraman's method with 2000 times Monte-Carlo simulations.

RESULTS

The reliability of the BPSS was good with Cronbach's α of 0.831. BPSS was significantly correlated with PSSS (r = 0.886, P < 0.001), PHQ-15 (r = 0.752, P < 0.001), PHQ-9 (r = 0.757, P < 0.001) and GAD-7 (r = 0.715, P < 0.001), which indicated good construct validity. ROC analyses demonstrated that the AUC of the BPSS was comparable with that of PSSS. The gender-specific threshold of BPSS was determined as ≥8 in males and ≥ 9 in females.

CONCLUSIONS

The BPSS is a brief and validated instrument for screening common psychosomatic symptoms.

How do local government information sources affect the purchase willingness of low-carbon agricultural products? The example of regional brand agricultural products

Introduction

In order to achieve the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals, the agricultural sector has been given high priority to reduce carbon emissions. Since consumption is the ultimate goal of production, the consumption of low-carbon agricultural products is of great significance to promote the reduction of agricultural carbon emissions. Regional brand agricultural product is an important tool to promote the development of regional economy to “green, low-carbon, branded and high-quality”, and has the technical and institutional conditions to develop into low-carbon agricultural product, so this study takes regional brand agricultural products as the representative of low-carbon agricultural products. As a information source to guide the public to consume in the green and low-carbon way, local government can effectively develop the market for low-carbon agricultural products and drive the development of low-carbon agriculture from the demand side.

Methods

Based on structural equation model with bootstrap method, this paper focuses on the mechanism of the influence of local government information source characteristics (credibility, professionalism, and attractiveness) on consumers' willingness to purchase low-carbon agricultural products, and explores the mediating role of perceived benefits and perceived risks.

Results

The following findings are established: first, the credibility and professionalism of local governments play a positive role in influencing the purchase willingness of low-carbon agricultural products through perceived benefits, with credibility having the greatest degree of influence. Second, the attractiveness of local governments positively influences consumers' willingness to purchase low-carbon agricultural products through perceived risk. Third, perceived benefits play a fully mediating role between credibility and purchase intention, play a partially mediating role between professionalism and purchase willingness, perceived risks play a partially mediating role between attractiveness and purchase willingness.

Discussion

This study provides new ideas for the construction of low-carbon agricultural products and low-carbon development in the agricultural sector from the perspective of local government information sources.

Information, ingestion, and impulsivity: The impact of technology-enabled healthy food labels on online grocery shopping in impulsive and non-impulsive consumers

Introduction

Unhealthy food consumption is a problem for society, companies, and consumers. This study aims to contribute to knowledge regarding such issues by investigating how technology-enabled healthy food labels can impact food choice in an online grocery store context. We conceptualized unhealthy and healthy food choice as a matter of impulsivity problems. Three technology-enabled healthy food labels were derived based on variables that might impact self-control, and their influence on food choice was investigated.

Methods

The empirical study consisted of three parts. In the first part, participants’ impulsivity was measured using an adjusting delay task. Part two investigated the effects of self-monitoring, pre-commitment, and social comparison-based technology-enabled healthy food labels on food choice in a hypothetical online grocery shopping setting using a choice-based conjoint experiment. Lastly, in the third part, three where demographical questions were asked.

Results

The results (n = 405) show that self-monitoring, pre-commitment, and social comparison-based technology-enabled healthy food labels had the most to least impact on food choice in that order. Furthermore, the results indicate that self-monitoring and pre-commitment labels had more impact on the choice for impulsive compared to non-impulsive participants. Similarly, the results indicate that social comparison had more impact on choice for non-impulsive participants. These findings suggest that self-monitoring of previous healthy food choices might be more effective than pre-commitment based on discounts for healthy food products. However, these differences were minor.

Discussion

This finding has managerial implications as grocery stores might increase their revenue by introducing self-monitoring labels in an online grocery shopping setting. Future research should investigate these technology-enabled healthy food labels in natural food purchase settings.

Coaching leadership and creative performance: A serial mediation model of psychological empowerment and constructive voice behavior

This study empirically analyzes the role of coaching leadership in enhancing an organization's creative performance, discussing and evaluating important mediating paths of coaching leadership regarding creative performance. As a result of an empirical analysis based on survey data collected from 332 employees of Korean companies, this study first confirms that coaching leadership has a positive effect on both employees' creative performance. We also found that psychological empowerment and constructive voice behavior positively mediated the relationship between coaching leadership and creative performance. Finally, the serial mediating effect of coaching leadership on creative performance was tested through psychological empowerment and constructive voice behavior and confirmed to have a positive effect. This study indicates the importance of leadership as a critical variable that promotes employees' creative performance. In addition, by confirming the serial mediating role of psychological empowerment and constructive voice behavior, this study improves understanding of key mechanism in which coaching leadership leads to creative performance.

Perceived anthropomorphism and purchase intention using artificial intelligence technology: examining the moderated effect of trust

Purpose

This study explores features that impact consumers' purchase intention through artificial intelligence (AI), because it is believed that through artificial intelligence, consumers' intention to purchase grows significantly, especially in the retail sector, whereby retailers provide lucrative offers to motivate consumers. The study develops a theoretical framework based on media-richness theory to investigate the role of perceived anthropomorphism toward an intention to purchase products using AI.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on cross-sectional data through an online survey. The data have been analyzed using PLS-SEM and SPSS PROCESS macro.

Findings

The results show that consumers tend to demand anthropomorphized products to gain a better shopping experience and, therefore, demand features that attract and motivate them to purchase through artificial intelligence via mediating variables, such as perceived animacy and perceived intelligence. Moreover, trust in artificial intelligence moderates the relationship between perceived anthropomorphism and perceived animacy.

Originality/value

The study investigates and concludes with managerial and academic insights into consumer purchase intention through artificial intelligence in the retail and marketing sector.

A tree dries from the top: how manager’s knowledge hiding is morally disengaging employees to hide knowledge

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to explicate how leaders’ knowledge hiding results in employees’ knowledge hiding. In addition, the study was intended to explore under what conditions leaders’ knowledge hiding affects employees’ moral disengagement more deleteriously.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 321 employees at three different times which were two months apart from each other. Structural equation modeling was used for data analysis.

Findings

The study found leaders’ knowledge hiding to be related to employee moral disengagement. In addition, the study found moral disengagement to affect employees’ knowledge-hiding behavior. Moral disengagement was found to mediate the relationship between leaders’ knowledge hiding and employees’ knowledge hiding. Finally, the study found that employees with high moral identity show more perseverance to preserve their moral engagement when led by knowledge-hiding leaders.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the study was first to establish a relationship between a leader’s knowledge hiding and employees’ moral disengagement. The study also established the mediating role of moral disengagement to work as a mediating mechanism linking leaders’ knowledge hiding to employees’ knowledge hiding. Finally, the study found that moral identity moderates the relationship between leaders’ knowledge hiding and employees’ moral disengagement.

Dark side of leadership and information technology project success: the role of mindfulness

Purpose

The success of projects is a major challenge for information technology (IT) project-based businesses (PBOs). Employees' negative emotions (NE) disrupt the employees' usual work activities by creating obstacles to routine operations. Organizations should take steps to lessen these NE. The current study assessed the mediating role of NE and the moderating influence of employee mindfulness in the association between despotic leadership (DL) and IT project success (PS).

Design/methodology/approach

Time-lagged data were collected from 341 employees working in various IT-based project organizations in Pakistan using purposive sampling.

Findings

Results were consistent with the authors' hypothesized framework, as DL increases employees' NE, which in turn negatively affects IT PS. In addition, mindfulness plays a buffering role in mitigating the damaging impact of DL on NE.

Originality/value

Previous researchers focused on the positive aspects of leadership and its influence on PS and paid limited attention to the dark leadership style. The authors' study's findings help understand how project-based organizations can reduce employees' NE.

Is transformational leadership always good for innovation? The moderating effect of transformational leadership on the personality–innovativeness link through knowledge sharing

Purpose

Based on the model of Big-Five personality traits and theories of person–environment interaction, this study aims to investigate the moderating effects of personality traits on innovativeness through knowledge sharing (KS).

Design/methodology/approach

A sample of 318 Vietnamese employees was collected. The hypothesized model was tested by using partial least squares structural equation modelling.

Findings

The results indicate that extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness and openness to experience have relationships with innovativeness through the mediating effect of KS. Furthermore, transformational leadership (TL) mitigates the positive relationship between agreeableness and openness to experience and innovativeness.

Practical implications

Based on the research results, the authors suggest several practical implications for enhancing employees' innovative organizational behaviours. Transformational leaders should be aware of and control the relationships with employees high in agreeableness and open to experience to ensure that employees' innovativeness can be freely developed.

Originality/value

This research systematically investigates the effect of each personality on employees' innovativeness. Furthermore, this study contributes to the leadership literature by suggesting the dark side of TL that can negatively influence the innovative ability of employees with certain personality traits.

Green HRM and employee green behavior in the manufacturing firms: do psychological green climate and employee green commitment matter?

Purpose

Green human resource management (HRM) plays a vital role in improving employees’ green behaviour. A research gap exists in the roles psychological green climate and employee green commitment have in the relationship between green HRM and employees’ green behaviour. Building on social exchange and social identity theories, this study aims to propose a model of the effects of green HRM on employees’ green behaviour through the serial mediation of psychological green climate and employee green commitment.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 297 full-time employees working in various manufacturing organizations in India using cross-sectional research design and self-reported measures. Structural equation modelling was used to examine the model fit of the serial mediation model, and PROCESS macro with a bias-corrected bootstrapping method was used to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The result of the study revealed that green HRM impacts employees’ green behaviour. Further, the findings showed that both psychological green climate and employee green commitment individually mediate the relationship between green HRM and employees’ green behaviour. The key outcome of this research is the partial serial mediation of psychological green climate and employee green commitment in the relationship between green HRM and employees’ green behaviour.

Originality/value

This is one of the primary studies that examined the serial mediating effect of psychological green climate and employee green commitment in the relationship between green HRM and employees’ green behaviour. This study contributes to the existing literature on green HRM and green behaviour by evincing the mediating mechanism of psychological green climate and employee green commitment.

Corporate social responsibility and employee engagement: the mediating role of personal environmental norms and employee green behavior

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the influence of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on employee engagement (EE) through mediating effect of personal environmental norms (PEN) and employee green behavior (EGB).

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed model was validated using 360 employees data from manufacturing and service industries.

Findings

The findings confirmed that CSR is the positive and significant driver of EE. The results also demonstrated PEN and green employee behavior partly mediate this relationship.

Practical implications

The finding of this study enriches the existing literature and social outcomes of CSR. Theoretical and practical contributions have been discussed in detail.

Originality/value

The study demonstrates CSR is significantly related to EE, mediated via PEN and EGB, highlighting the necessity for micro-level CSR research. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first and foremost empirical research that establishes the mediating effects of PEN and EGB between CSR and EE in the Indian context.

The role of CSR practices in generating consumer perceived value: empirical evidence from Moroccan banking sector

Purpose

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has a positive impact on consumer behavior; however, how CSR affects consumer perceived value (CPV) has been neglected. The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of CSR on CPV. More specifically, this paper investigates how the dimensions of CSR can generate the three types of CPV.

Design/methodology/approach

This research is confirmatory and therefore quantitative. Thus, the choice fell on the questionnaire survey of 108 customers of conventional banks in Morocco. The partial least square method was chosen for the data analysis.

Findings

The results show that the link between CSR and customer perceived value can vary according to the CSR dimension. This study finds that the economic dimension is the only one to contribute the three types of CPV (functional value, emotional value and social value). The environmental dimension affects only the functional value. The social dimension does not generate any value.

Research limitations/implications

CSR is not the only variable that generates CPV. The consideration of other constructs seems to be considered. Restricting this study to a single category of banking customers and to a single sector is another limitation. Future research might replicate this study on a sample of clients from participatory banks as well as from other sectors.

Practical implications

The results can help Moroccan banks identify the dimensions of CSR that can meaningfully generate CPV. This will help them to increase customer loyalty, develop a competitive advantage and improve their performance by prioritizing CSR initiatives capable of creating value for consumers.

Originality/value

No previous research in Morocco, to the best of the author’s knowledge, has explored the effect of CSR on CPV. This paper therefore provides the first empirical evidence in North Africa on the link between CSR and CPV in Morocco. This study also extends previous studies by considering CSR as a multidimensional construct covering three dimensions (social, environmental and economic).

Adoption of Digital Vaccination Services: It Is the Click Flow, Not the Value—An Empirical Analysis of the Vaccination Management of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Germany

This research paper examines the adoption of digital services for the vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany. Based on a survey in Germany’s federal state with the highest vaccination rate, which used digital vaccination services, its platform configuration and adoption barriers are analyzed to understand existing and future levers for optimizing vaccination success. Though technological adoption and resistance models have been originally developed for consumer-goods markets, this study gives empirical evidence especially for the applicability of an adjusted model explaining platform adoption for vaccination services and for digital health services in general. In this model, the configuration areas of personalization, communication, and data management have a remarkable effect to lower adoption barriers, but only functional and psychological factors affect the adoption intention. Above all, the usability barrier stands out with the strongest effect, while the often-cited value barrier is not significant at all. Personalization is found to be the most important factor for managing the usability barrier and thus for addressing the needs, preferences, situation, and, ultimately, the adoption of the citizens as users. Implications are given for policy makers and managers in such a pandemic crisis to focus on the click flow and server-to-human interaction rather than emphasizing value messages or touching traditional factors.

The subjective career success of women: The role of personal resources

Introduction

Research on women’s career success has been the subject of extensive investigations, emphasizing the barriers they encounter in their careers. However, far less attention has been given to the personal resources that promote women’s career success. The purpose of our study was to provide more conclusive evidence regarding the role that personal resources such as resilience and grit can play in the relationship between women’s person-environment fit and the perceptions of their career success. Underpinned by the Job Demands Resources and social cognitive theory, our study aims to investigate whether resilience and grit could either explain how person-environment fit translates into feelings of subjective career success or could strengthen this relationship.

Method

A cross-sectional online survey research design was used, and a convenience sample of 408 female employees was obtained. Relationships were explored through structural equation modelling.

Results

When controlling for age, the findings of this study revealed significantly positive relationships between the constructs, with person-environment fit, resilience, and grit, explaining a large portion of the variance in subjective career success. Although our data supported the mediating role of grit and resilience in the person-environment fit and subjective career success relationship, the moderating effects of grit and resilience could not be established.

Discussion

These findings illustrate both grit and resilience as mechanisms that indirectly affect the person-environment fit and subjective career success relationship of women. However, our findings indicate that resilience and grit cannot be considered mechanisms that would buffer against poor person-environment fit’s effect on their career success perceptions. Firstly, our study advances our understanding of the roles personal resources such as resilience and grit play in women’s career success as ways to overcome obstacles and workplace barriers. Secondly, using the motivational process of the Job Demands Resources Framework as theoretical background, we contribute by shedding light on how personal resources (resilience and grit) can be considered underlying factors influencing the person-environment fit and career success relationship for women. If women experience good person-environment fit, there is a greater opportunity for developing resilience and grit and, consequently, subjective career success.

“Control yourself or someone else will control you. Effect of job demands on employee burnout: a perspective from self-regulation theory”

Purpose

This paper aims to show the role of employees’ self-regulation in defining the effect of job demands on employees’ burnout. Moreover, the paper also highlights the importance of a high-performance work system (HPWS) on the relation between job demands and employee self-regulation.

Design/methodology/approach

Data has been collected from public sector hospital nurses through a survey strategy following a time-lagged approach. This data has been analysed to validate the measure and to test the hypotheses through structural equation modelling.

Findings

Results of this study indicate that job demands affect employees’ burnout through adaptive regulation (recovery) and maladaptive regulation (self-undermining). Adaptive regulation minimizes while maladaptive regulation supports this effect. Moreover, results also highlight the role of HPWS in mitigating the negative impact of job demands on adaptive regulation.

Practical implications

This study serves as a guide for managers to minimize the burnout of their subordinates in the face of increasing job demands. This study also emphasizes the use of HPWS in organizations so that the burnout of the employees may be decreased by increasing adaptive self-regulation or recovery.

Originality/value

This study enriches the literature on the job demand resource theory by showing how employee job demands, employee self-regulation (psychological processes) and HPWS (organizational processes) collaborate to determine the extent of job burnout of employees.

Sustainable entrepreneurship out of entrepreneurial opportunity identification: The mediating role of psychological capital

Introduction

The aim of the present study, was to examine the simultaneous effects of entrepreneurial opportunity identification (EOI) and psychological capital (PC) on university students' entrepreneurial intention (EI). Compared with necessity-driven entrepreneurship, opportunity-driven entrepreneurship is more sustainable. Scholars have shown that EOI is key to forming EI, but little has been discussed about its association with PC.

Methods

A total of 555 university students in China were enrolled by means of convenience sampling. Descriptive statistics and correlation analysis of variables were performed using SPSS 21.0 software. Structural equation modeling analysis (SEM) with AMOS 21.0 was used to examine the structural effects of EOI and PC on university students' EI.

Results

According to the results, university students' EOI and PC had a positive and insignificant influence on their levels of EI. Furthermore, PC was found to fully mediate the impact of EOI on EI.

Discussion

The present study could shed light on new instructions to examine the interaction between the cognitive and psychological components of EI in the field of entrepreneurship. It is recommended that educators and practitioners should pay regard to the role of EOI and PC.

Development and psychometric properties of the Stressors in Breast Cancer Scale

Background

A diagnosis of breast cancer generates psychological stress, due not only to treatment and its side effects but also to the impact on different areas of the patient’s daily life. Although there are instruments for measuring psychological stress in the cancer context, there is currently no tool for assessing stressors specific to breast cancer.

Aims

The aim of this study was to develop the Stressors in Breast Cancer Scale (SBCS).

Method

A panel of experts evaluated the clarity and relevance of scale items, providing validity evidence based on test content. Psychometric properties of the scale were then analyzed.

Results

Validity evidence based on the internal structure of the SBCS was obtained through exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), following a cross-validation strategy. The CFA supported a second-order factor model with five dimensions: physical appearance and sex strains, health and daily difficulties, interpersonal relationship strains, healthcare strains, and worries and concerns about the future. This structure was invariant across two groups distinguished by time from cancer diagnosis (less than 3 and 3 years or more from diagnosis). Reliability, based on McDonald’s omega and Cronbach’s alpha coefficients, ranged from 0.83 to 0.89 for factor scores, and reached 0.95 for total scores. Validity evidence was also provided by correlations with depression, anxiety, perceived stress, and perceived health and quality of life.

Discussion

The results support the use of the SBCS for measuring stress as a stimulus in the breast cancer context. Implications for clinical practice and research are discussed.

The role of digitalization in business and management: a systematic literature review

Digitalization is a powerful engine for economic growth in the world. In 2018, digitally transformed firms represented 13.5 billion US dollars of global GDP and, towards the end of 2023, they are expected to represent 53.3 billion US dollars, over half of the general nominal GDP (Statista, Nominal GDP driven by digitally transformed and other enterprises worldwide 2018–2023. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1134766/nominal-gdp-driven-by-digitally-transformed-enterprises/, 2022). The main objective of this study is to provide information (highlighting principal research topics and research agendas) from the literature on state-of-the-art digitalization within firms through a Systematic Literature Review (SLR). In all, 119 review articles on the most mature functional areas of the firm are analyzed: management, marketing, and finance and accounting, published in the WOS over the period 2018-April 2022. In this study, key relevant tendencies are identified in the most mature areas of the firm, which are the impact of digital technologies on the analysis of consumer behavior; digitalization and green innovation within organizations; and blockchain technology applied to financial services. The main contributions of this work are as follows: (1) to provide the most complete and up-to-date review of digitalization from a global perspective, summarizing the current state of knowledge within an integrated framework; (2) to reduce the complexity of digitalization by offering structure and clarity; and (3) to offer links between digitalization and established points of view in the literature on management, marketing, finance, and accounting. The novelty of this paper is centered on a joint analysis of digitalization, digital transformation, and digital technologies, taking into account the most mature functional areas of the firm.

Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Lending Risk Management: Assessing Credit Risk on Social Lending Platforms using Textual Factors

Peer-to-peer (P2P) lending platforms offer Internet users the possibility to borrow money from peers without the intervention of traditional financial institutions. Due to the anonymity on such social lending platforms, determining the creditworthiness of borrowers is of high importance. Beyond the disclosure of traditional financial variables that enable risk assessment, peer-to-peer lending platforms offer the opportunity to reveal additional information on the loan purpose. We investigate whether this self-disclosed information is used to show reliability and to outline creditworthiness of platform participants. We analyze more than 70,000 loans funded at a leading social lending platform. We show that linguistic and content-based factors help to explain a loan's probability of default and that content-based factors are more important than linguistic variables. Surprisingly, not every information provided by borrowers underlines creditworthiness. Instead, certain aspects rather indicate a higher probability of default. Our study provides important insights on information disclosure in the context of peer-to-peer lending, shows how to increase performance in credit scoring and is highly relevant for the stakeholders on social lending platforms.

Investigating the serial psychological processes of workplace COVID-19 infection risk and employees' performance

Drawing on concepts from conservation of resources theory, this study examines the effects of perceived workplace COVID-19 infection risk on employees' in-role (i.e., task), extra-role (i.e., OCBs: organizational citizenship behaviors), and creative performance via three mediators, namely, uncertainty, self-control, and psychological capital (i.e., PsyCap), and the moderation of leaders' safety commitment. Three sets of surveys were collected from 445 employees and 115 supervisors working in various industries during the 2021 COVID-19 (Alpha and Delta variants) outbreak in Taiwan, when vaccinations were not yet readily available. The Bayesian multilevel results reveal that COVID-19 infection risk (Time 1) is negatively associated with creativity (Time 3) as well as supervisor-rated task performance and OCBs (Time 3) via PsyCap. Additionally, the relationship between COVID-19 infection risk and creativity is mediated by the serial psychological processes of uncertainty (Time 2), self-control (Time 2), and PsyCap (Time 3). Furthermore, supervisors' safety commitment marginally moderates the relationships between uncertainty and self-control and between self-control and PsyCap. Conditional indirect results show that the effect of uncertainty on PsyCap via self-control is significant for supervisors with high-level safety commitment, and the effect of self-control on creative performance via PsyCap is significant for supervisors with both high- and low-level safety commitment. In summary, workplace COVID-19 infection risk stimulates a tandem psychological process and impairs employees' work-related performance; PsyCap plays a dominant role in this context. Leaders may prevent similar negative impacts by committing to ensuring workplace security to compensate for employees' resource loss when facing future crises or threats.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12144-023-04583-4.

Applying deep learning to predict innovations in small and medium enterprises (SMEs): the dark side of knowledge management risk

Purpose

This study aims to predict the dark side of knowledge management risk to innovation in Portuguese small and medium enterprises (SMEs). It examines the spinner innovation model factors of knowledge creation, knowledge transfer, private knowledge, public knowledge and innovation in uncertain environments.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors developed a conceptual model to support the analysis. The survey data stemmed from a sample of 208 Portuguese SMEs in Portugal. The authors analyzed the primary data from the ad hoc survey using the data mining (deep learning) technique.

Findings

The research sets out and tests factors relevant to understanding how to predict innovation in uncertain business environments. This study identifies four factors fostering innovation in SMEs: knowledge creation, knowledge transfer, public knowledge management and private knowledge management. Knowledge creation showed the best return and presented the closest relationship with innovation.

Originality/value

Innovation models generally measure the relationships between variables and their impacts on the economy (economic and regional development). Predictive models are considered in the literature as a gap to be filled, especially in an uncertain environment in the SME context.

Digital resilience and new business models in the post-COVID-19 scenario: from B2B perspective in the era of knowledge economy

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine how the pandemic impacted on business-to-business (B2B) cooperation and coordination, as well as on firms' financial and operational performance, from the B2B context in the era of knowledge economy.

Design/methodology/approach

With the help of social network theory, coordination theory and existing literature, a theoretical model was developed conceptually. Later, the conceptual model was validated using structural equation modelling technique with consideration of 712 respondents from different firms who are engaged in managing B2B relationships on behalf of their firms.

Findings

The study found that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a considerable moderating impact on the relationship between B2B cooperation and coordination with B2B relationship satisfaction. The study also highlighted that there is a degradation of financial and operational performance of firms due to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on their B2B relationship management.

Practical implications

There is a challenging and ever-evolving global economy caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Although it is argued that the pandemic has accelerated the growth of some online firms, it has also had a catastrophic effect, culminating in many firms failing. This study has developed a new business model which helps in improving financial as well as operational performance of the firms in post COVID-19 scenario, especially in the era of knowledge economy.

Originality/value

This is a unique study as this study (1) develops a unique theoretical model with high explanative power, (2) demonstrates how digital reliance and new business model help the firms in post COVID-19 pandemic and (3) adds to the body of literature in the domain of digital reliance, knowledge economy and B2B relationship management.

Government administrative capacity, e-government performance and citizen’s e-government adoption: evidence from a transition country

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of government administrative capacity and e-government performance on the citizens’ intention to use e-government services by integrating into the technology acceptance model (TAM). In addition, the study investigates the mediating effect of perceived usefulness in these nexus.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative and cross-sectional approach is used to gather the data from 443 respondents in Vietnam. The squares structural equation modeling is used to access the impact of government administrative capacity and e-government performance on the citizens’ intention to use e-government, the mediating effect of perceived usefulness.

Findings

The results show that e-government performance, government administrative capacity and perceived usefulness are critical determinants of citizens’ intention. Furthermore, government administrative capacity positively impacts e-government performance. More importantly, perceived usefulness plays a mediating role in these relationships. The results also show that both age and qualification moderate the relationship between perceived usefulness and intention.

Practical implications

The findings of this study provide valuable evidence and implications. Public officials must enhance the administrative capacity as the determination for the application of e-government. They must demonstrate their commitment to implementing e-government initiatives. Moreover, the government should continually carry out policies to improve e-government performance.

Originality/value

This study uses the TAM by incorporating government administrative capacity and e-government performance. Evidence about the mechanism linking government administrative capacity and e-government performance to citizens' intention to use e-government is scant. With this stated, this study fills these gaps by pioneering exploring the mediating role of perceived usefulness in these relationships.

The impact of adolescent achievement goal orientation on learning anxiety: The mediation effect of peer interaction

Learning anxiety is one of the most critical emotional disturbances, which also has a high incidence rate in adolescents. Peer interaction is critical and unique for adolescents. Although previous studies have found that achievement goal orientation has an important role in the development of learning anxiety, its mechanism has not been clarified. This study surveyed 470 adolescents (191 middle school students and 279 high school students; 211 boys) and established a structural equation model to explore the mediating role of peer interaction in the influence of achievement goal orientation on learning anxiety. Results showed that (1) there were significant gender differences in mastery-avoidance goal orientation, peer interaction, and learning anxiety, and there were grade differences in performance-approach goal and performance-avoidance goal orientations; (2) mastery-approach, mastery-avoidance, and performance-avoidance goal orientations directly predicted learning anxiety; and (3) social anxiety in peer interactions had a mediating effect on the influence of mastery-approach, mastery-avoidance, and performance-avoidance goal orientations on learning anxiety. The findings extend theoretical considerations by teasing out the process of peer interaction affecting the relationship between achievement goal orientation and learning anxiety. Additionally, the results have practical implications for the effective use of peer interaction to reduce learning anxiety.

Predicting pregnant women's intentions toward normal vaginal delivery based on the expanded Theory of Planned Behavior

Cesarean delivery continues to increase due to various reasons, considering its negative effects, our aim in this research is to investigate the behavioral intention of pregnant women who choose vaginal delivery. In this regard, the expanded Theory of Planned Behavior was used by increasing two predictor variables. About 188 pregnant women voluntarily participated in this research in some healthcare centers in Tehran County, Iran. Our results showed that this enhanced model can increase the power of the original theory. Overall, the expanded model successfully described the mode of delivery among Iranian women and explained 59.4% of the variation in the intention variable with a stronger effect. The effect of the variables added to the model was indirectly significant. Among all the variables, attitude showed the best effect on the choice of normal vaginal delivery, and after that, the variable of general health orientation had a greater effect on attitude.

Psychometric Properties of the Serbian Smartphone Application-Based Addiction Scale (SABAS) and Validation of the English Version Among Non-native English Speakers

The present study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Serbian Smartphone Application-Based Addiction Scale (SABAS) and the original English version of the same scale administered to a Serbian-speaking sample. In Study 1, 599 participants completed Serbian SABAS, with 189 having both test and retest data. Results suggested good internal consistency (α = .81) and test–retest reliability (ICC = .795, p < .001, 95% CI [.731, .844], rtest-retest = .803) of the scale. Convergent validity of the SABAS was evaluated through correlations with the Smartphone Addiction Scale–Short Version (SAS-SV), as well as with anxiety, depression, worry, duration, and purpose of smartphone use. Divergent validity of the SABAS was evaluated through comparing the correlations with entertainment and productive smartphone use. The modified CFA model showed an acceptable fit (χ2(8) = 25.53, p = .001, CFI = .961, TLI = .926, RMSEA = .096, SRMR = .042), confirming the unidimensionality of the SABAS. In the second study, the English SABAS, completed by 335 non-native speakers from Serbia, also showed a good fit of the single-factor model (χ2(9) = 12.56, p = .184, CFI = .990, TLI = .984, RMSEA = .036, SRMR = 0.026), and good psychometric features. Based on the study’s findings, the Serbian version of SABAS is a reliable and valid measure for screening the risk of smartphone addiction. Moreover, the English version can be used among non-native Serbian English speakers.

Determinants of customer value at department stores in Taiwan: An application of fuzzy AHP

Evaluating the factors affecting customer value in department stores will shed light on the motivations of customers when choosing department stores, which will help department stores to improve their business performance and competitiveness. This paper applies the fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method to empirically analyze the determinants of customer value at department stores in Taiwan. This study first found the major factors influencing customer value at department stores in Taiwan through a review of the literature and expert interviews, and these factors consisted of four evaluation dimensions and 20 evaluation criteria. An empirical investigation was then conducted through an AHP expert questionnaire survey. The main findings of this paper were as follows: (1) “Physical environment” was the most important evaluation dimension for customer value at department stores in Taiwan. (2) The four leading factors influencing customer value in department stores were “roomy and comfortable space,” “responsive customer service,” “planning of lines of movement at counters,” and “parking area and facilities.” This study also performed further discussion of the four evaluation criteria as a reference for department stores that wish to raise their competitiveness.

US consumers’ mental associations with meat substitute products

Negative impacts of meat consumption on both consumers’ health and the environment call for alternative sources for protein intake. In the last decades, the development of meat substitute products has made enormous progress. Given the beneficial aspects of reduced meat consumption, meat substitutes might be a promising approach for a more plant-based diet. However, despite the continuous improvement of meat substitute products and their increasing market potential, meat consumption in the US is still at a high level. Extant literature acknowledges that meat substitute products prompt several negative thoughts and feelings in various European countries, while US consumers’ perceptions of meat substitute products have not been investigated so far. However, understanding consumers’ thoughts and feelings toward meat substitute products provides valuable insights which can help policymakers and marketers to efficiently promote meat substitute products. Against this background, the current research investigates US consumers’ mental associations (i.e., connections of information and prior experiences with the product category stored in memory) with meat substitute products and explores if there are any differences between women and men. A sample of 175 US citizens acquired through an online panel provider completed a free word association technique resulting in 824 mental associations that qualified for the subsequent analysis. In a deductive-inductive content analysis, we assigned the mental associations to 20 categories (e.g., taste, health, environment) and determined their valence (i.e., positive, neutral, or negative). Frequencies and relationships among the categories were analyzed by employing frequency analyses, Chi-square difference tests, and multidimensional correspondence analysis. The findings reveal that meat substitute products elicit more negative mental associations than positive ones. Results validate categories identified in existing literature, but also reveal new categories of mental associations. Furthermore, the findings demonstrate that mental associations differ between women and men, with women tending to perceive meat substitutes more negatively than men. The multiple correspondence analysis resulted in four different consumer profiles (skeptics, innovators, health-oriented consumers, and avoiders) which can guide policymakers and brand managers on the effective promotion of meat substitute products.

Music in business and management studies: a systematic literature review and research agenda

Music is the background of life, representing an international language that connects different cultures. It is also significant with respect to economies, markets, and businesses. The literature in the music field has identified several issues related to the role of digitalization in the revolution of music, the distribution of music products, the management and organization of music events, music marketing strategies, and the position of musicians as entrepreneurs. This paper comprises a systematic literature review of the most recent articles discussing the numerous connections between music, business, and management (2017–2022). Through a rigorous protocol, this research discusses the effects of the digital revolution on the music industry, with particular reference to the persisting oligopoly of major labels and the new business models that integrate music streaming and social networks. The findings show the renaissance and relevance of live music events, the fundamental role of segmentation strategies for managing festivals, and the limited presence of sustainability as a priority during festivals and events management. Furthermore, the literature highlights the relevance of discussions concerning musicians’ identity, especially in light of the complex relationship between the bohemian and the entrepreneurial nature of their profession. This is followed by numerous reflections on future research opportunities, recommending theoretical and empirical in-depth studies of music industry competition, futuristic management philosophies and business models, and the roles of technology, sustainability, and financial elements in fostering artists’ success in the digital era. Finally, the paper discusses business models and strategies for musicians, festivals management, stores, and sustainability.

Sensory Analysis and Consumer Preference: Best Practices

Sensory science is a multidisciplinary field that encompasses a wide variety of established and newly developed tests to document human responses to stimuli. Sensory tests are not limited to the area of food science but they find wide application within the diverse areas of the food science arena. Sensory tests can be divided into two basic groups: analytical tests and affective tests. Analytical tests are generally product-focused, and affective tests are generally consumer-focused. Selection of the appropriate test is critical for actionable results. This review addresses an overview of sensory tests and best practices.

Psychometric evaluation and invariance of the Spanish version of the Block Fat Screener (BFS-E) in university students

Introduction

University students constantly face a number of health challenges related to an unhealthy diet, characterized by a high intake of saturated fats.

Objective

This study aimed to analyze the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Block Fat Screener (BFS-E) food frequency questionnaire in a university population.

Methods

An observational analytical study of instrumental type was carried out in 5608 Peruvian university students. Based on the Block Fat Screener questionnaire, a back-translation and cultural adaptation process was carried out. The validity of the questionnaire was determined through exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), hypothesizing a unidimensional structure. For the determination of reliability, the alpha coefficients were considered; likewise, the ω and H coefficients were used to evaluate the construct. The model explained 63% of the cumulative variance.

Results

The CFA confirmed the unidimensionality of the 16-item questionnaire with appropriate goodness-of-fit indicators; therefore, which model of the Peruvian version adequately fits the observed data. The values of the reliability coefficients were higher than 0.90, with ordinal α = 0.94, ω = 0.94, and H = 0.95.

Conclusion

The Spanish version of the Block Fat Screener food frequency questionnaire presents adequate psychometric properties and is therefore a valid scale to quickly measure fat intake in university students in a Latin American context.

Elderly Users’ Emotional and Behavioral Responses to Self-Service Technology in Fast-Food Restaurants

While COVID-19 has accelerated digital transformation, increasing labor costs and 52-h workweek rules are replacing human labor with self-service technologies (SSTs). Self-service technology is increasingly being implemented in restaurant settings. However, the elderly, who have relatively lower levels of digital literacy, are being excluded from services that can alleviate the economic and social difficulties of their daily lives. This study thus aims to explain how elderly users feel about and respond to SST in fast-food restaurants. An off-site survey was conducted with individuals who had experience using SST. We analyzed the data using the partial least squares structural equation modeling method by SmartPLS 3.0. The results showed that SST’s reduction, perceived ease of use of SST, and perceived time pressure significantly influenced users’ negative emotions toward the SST. However, perceived physical condition and perceived crowding did not have significant influences on users’ emotions. In empirically investigating individuals’ negative emotions toward and coping strategies for challenges posed by SST, this study emphasizes the development of a nationwide digital inclusion policy that can help bridge the digital divide.

The Dual Effect of Participation Level on Consumer Participation in Participatory CSR: The Role of CSR Fit and Social Support

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) provides companies with two benefits: creating social value and strengthening consumer relationships. Companies implement various types of CSR to maximize the positive effects of CSR, participatory CSR being one of these types. However, although the number of companies using participatory CSR in practice is increasing, academic interest in the effectiveness of participatory CSR has been insufficient. In particular, prior studies on the consumer perception of the participation level presented in participatory CSR do not show clear results. This study examines the influence of the participation level based on CSR fit and social support. The results of this study indicate that when there is a high CSR fit, consumers perceive the participation level as a benefit. However, when the CSR fit is low, consumers perceive the participation level as a cost. Additionally, the results show that the interactive effect of the participation level and CSR fit occurs only when there is less social support. When there is strong social support, consumers perceive the participation level as a benefit regardless of the CSR fit. Finally, the academic and practical implications of the results of this study are presented.

Insights into How Vietnamese Retailers Utilize Social Media to Facilitate Knowledge Creation through the Process of Value Co-Creation

Social media usage is a direct result of Internet connectivity and is gaining increased prominence in business-to-consumer (B2C), business-to-business (B2B), and consumer-to-business (C2B) relationship building, which is allowing marketers to devise and implement digital marketing strategies that are perceived as enhancing a customer’s well-being. Through the process of utilizing social media (SM) to share information with consumers, marketers are affording themselves with the concept of value co-creation and ensuring that the development of knowledge is given priority. To explain how this happens in an emerging economy, in-depth personal interviews were undertaken with the owners of five retail fashion companies in Vietnam. The findings indicate that fashion retail companies in Vietnam are deploying digital marketing strategies that deliver perceived enhanced value to consumers through the process of value co-creation. This highlights the advantage of using SM in relation to increasing retail staff’s ability to convert information into usable resources such as intelligence and knowledge. By achieving knowledge conversion, retail staff fulfill the role of ‘knowledge broker’ and ‘knowledge connector’, and identify how organizational intervention, such as new operating structures, can help to deliver perceived enhanced value to customers.

Adaptation, confirmatory factor analysis, and psychometric properties of the Brazilian version of the Repetitive Eating Questionnaire

OBJECTIVE

The Repetitive Eating Questionnaire (Rep(eat)-Q) is a brief self-report measure developed to assess grazing behavior-an understudied problematic eating behavior associated with eating disorder psychopathology and poor weight management. This study aimed to adapt and test the psychometric properties and factor structure of the Rep(eat)-Q in a Brazilian community sample.

METHOD

We used the International Test Commission guidelines for the adaptation of psychological measures between cultures. Participants were recruited from the community and on a university campus and completed a set of questionnaires including the Rep(eat)-Q, psychological measures, and sociodemographic data.

RESULTS

A total of 718 (86.4% female) completed the Rep(eat)-Q and were eligible for the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Only 542 completed the entire survey (Rep(eat)-Q and other psychological measures) and were eligible for the analysis of the validity evidence based on the relations to other variables. CFA revealed support for a two first-order model as originally proposed, however, a hierarchical (i.e., second-order) model is proposed. We found support for second-order scalar invariance across sex. Both first- and second-order internal consistency estimates presented very good evidence. Analysis (n = 542) revealed moderate to strong correlations (≥.58 to .77) between grazing (total score and subscales) and binge eating and other psychological measures, presenting good convergent evidence.

DISCUSSION

This study reports good psychometric properties of the Rep(eat)-Q for the Brazilian community sample.

PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE

Grazing is a problematic eating behavior and the Rep(eat)-Q is one of the measures to assess grazing. The article aimed to adapt and test the psychometric properties of the Rep(eat)-Q in a Brazilian community sample. The results support a two-factor structure and suggest that the Rep(eat)-Q possesses good psychometric properties to be used with the Brazilian populations.

Determinants Influenced by COVID-19 Vaccine: Employing the Health Action Process Approach and the Belief in Conspiracy Theories

Vaccination is considered a practical approach to improving individuals’ health behavior to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the currently manufactured COVID-19 vaccines can only work for a limited time. Thus, continuous vaccination intention is crucially essential. The current study explores critical factors influencing citizens’ continuous vaccination intentions for COVID-19 vaccines, based on the modified health action process approach (HAPA) model and belief in a conspiracy theory. A questionnaire survey was used to collect data from people living in Taiwan. Three hundred ninety responses were employed for the final investigation. The findings suggest that openness to experience, government communication, and pandemic knowledge significantly influence vaccination intention, but the COVID-19 threat is insignificant. Second, descriptive norms play a significant role in promoting vaccination intention. Third, a belief in conspiracy theories negatively influences vaccination intention. Fourth, vaccination behavior positively influences both perceived benefits and value co-creation. Fifth, perceived benefits positively impact value co-creation and continuous vaccination behavior. Finally, value co-creation has a significant influence on continuous vaccination behavior. The proposed model, the key contributor to the current study, confirms citizens’ continuous vaccination intentions in a three-stage procedure: motivation to volitional, volitional to behavior, and volitional to continuous vaccination intention.

Childhood Centeredness is a Broader Predictor of Young Adulthood Mental Health than Childhood Adversity, Attachment, and Other Positive Childhood Experiences

This study introduced the novel concept of Centeredness, a measure of the emotional atmosphere of the family of origin and a target adult individual’s perception of feeling safe, accepted, and supported from childhood primary caregivers and other family members. This study developed a Centeredness scale for adult respondents and tested hypotheses that higher levels of overall Centeredness would predict lower levels of depression and anxiety symptoms; suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs); and aggressive behavior; and higher levels of life satisfaction. Predictive effects of Centeredness were compared against attachment-related anxiety and avoidance, and adverse and benevolent childhood experiences (ACEs and BCEs). Participants were recruited via the Prolific-Academic (Pro-A) survey panel into two large independent samples of US young adults aged 19–35 years [Sample 1 (test sample), N = 548, 53.5% female, 2.2% gender non-conforming, 68.3% White, recruited before the pandemic; Sample 2 (replication sample), N = 1,198, 56.2% female, 2.3% gender non-conforming, 66.4% White; recruited during the pandemic]. Participants completed the novel Centeredness scale, which showed strong psychometric properties, and standardized, publicly available assessments of childhood experiences and mental health outcomes. Centeredness was the only variable that significantly predicted each mental health outcome across both samples. BCEs predicted all outcomes except aggressive behavior in the test sample. Centeredness and BCEs were also the only two variables that significantly predicted a dimensional mental health composite in both samples. Neither attachment-related anxiety and avoidance nor ACEs were as broadly predictive. The Centeredness scale assesses emotional aspects of childhood family relationships with individuals of diverse backgrounds and family compositions. Clinical and cultural implications are discussed.

Pharmacy students' attitudes and intentions of pursuing postgraduate studies and training in pharmacogenomics and personalised medicine

BACKGROUND

Pharmacists' contribution to pharmacogenomics (PGx) implementation in clinical practice is vital, but a great proportion of them are not aware of PGx and its applications. This highlights the university education's crucial role to prepare pharmacists to face future challenges in such a constantly evolving and demanding environment.

OBJECTIVES

Our study aims to examine pharmacy students' training satisfaction, knowledge, self-confidence and attitudes towards PGx on their intentions for postgraduate training in PGx and personalised medicine (PM).

METHODS

An initial model on students' intention to pursue postgraduate training in PGx and PM and its predicting factors, based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), was proposed. Based on it, a questionnaire was developed and distributed to 346 pharmacy students of all study years, capturing the selected factors influencing students' intentions to postgraduate training in PGx and PM, as well as their demographics. Structural equation modelling (SEM) analysis was employed to determine the effects of both the examined factors and demographics on students' intentions.

RESULTS

Students did not consider themselves adequately prepared for using PGx in clinical practice. Their attitudes towards PGx implementation were the most important factor influencing their intentions to pursue postgraduate training in PGx and PM. Other factors such as self-confidence and training satisfaction also affected students' intentions, but to a lower extent. Students of the last two study years (40% of the whole sample) and male (36%) students stated to be less willing to pursue PGx-related studies in the future. Only 10% of the participants claimed to have undergone a recent PGx or genetic test, but this did not affect their intentions.

CONCLUSION

There is an important gap in pharmacy school curriculum regarding PGx and PM training which coupled with the slow rate of PGx and PM implementation into clinical practice seems to restrain students' aspiration to further expand their knowledge and horizons in terms of PGx and PM.

"I-just-wanna-get-by" hurts teachers and their work: Linking preschool teacher identity to work withdrawals in an emerging economy

Motivation deficit in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) has implications for teacher well-being and education outcomes. This study, utilizing the job demand resource (JD-R) theory, explores the role of teacher identity as a motivational resource that antecedes emotional labor strategies - deep acting and surface acting. We further examined the relationship between emotional labor strategies and teacher work withdrawals - presenteeism and lateness, and the intervening role of teacher emotional exhaustion. We tested our theoretical model using 574 preschool teachers in Ghana. We found that teacher identity relates positively to deep acting but negatively to surface acting. And that deep acting relates to work withdrawals negatively whilst surface acting is associated with them positively. Deep acting diminishes work withdrawals because of its capacity to prevent emotional exhaustion, but the mediation role of emotional exhaustion in surface acting and work withdrawal links was non-significant. Our study presents preliminary evidence from an emerging economy on the central role of teacher identity (motivation component) in emotion management in an attempt to reduce emotional strain, thereby lessening negative work behaviors.

Knowledge, perceptions, and readiness of telepharmacy (KPR-TP) questionnaire among pharmacists: Development and psychometric evaluation

INTRODUCTION

The pandemic increased pressure on healthcare services and forced limited care in all health facilities to ensure the care of all patients. Telepharmacy appears as an alternative to the remote pharmacy practice approach through information and communication technologies, but there are no comprehensive tools to measure pharmacists' knowledge, perception, and readiness to implement telepharmacy. This study developed and validated a questionnaire version of the Knowledge, Perceptions, and Readiness of Telepharmacy (KPR-TP) for pharmacists.

METHODS

The KPR-TP assessed three domains: knowledge, perception, and readiness. Its factor structure, reliability, and validity were assessed using 7730 pharmacists from 34 Indonesian provinces. The validity of the model's three-factor structure was assessed using confirmatory factor analysis. Cronbach's alpha and composite reliability were used to validate the consistency of our factors, whereas convergent and discriminant validity established significant relationships between them.

RESULTS

The goodness-of-fit index indicated that the model was economical and reasonable. Furthermore, the correlation between the three domains revealed a significant positive relationship. KRP-TP is a viable instrument for assessing pharmacists' perceptions of telepharmacy in Indonesia.

CONCLUSION

Overall, we discovered that our questionnaire contains critical constructs for assessing a pharmacist's knowledge, perception, and level of readiness to implement telepharmacy. This study will help pharmacists identify appropriate strategies for skill improvement.

Purchasing Under the Influence of Alcohol: The Impact of Hazardous and Harmful Patterns of Alcohol Consumption, Impulsivity, and Compulsive Buying

The current research examined how hazardous and harmful patterns of alcohol consumption, problematic online shopping when drinking alcohol, impulsivity, and compulsive buying were associated with and predicted the frequency of making purchases while under the influence of alcohol. A sample of American adults between the ages of 25 and 64 who reported having at least one drink per week over the past 6 months were surveyed. Regression-based path modeling revealed for those who made online purchases while moderately intoxicated, hazardous and harmful patterns of drinking alcohol and, problematic online shopping when drinking alcohol, predicted the frequency of making purchases while intoxicated. For those who made online purchases while heavily intoxicated, hazardous and harmful patterns of drinking alcohol, impulsivity, problematic online shopping when drinking alcohol, and compulsive buying predicted the frequency of making purchases while intoxicated. We explain our findings by suggesting individuals engage in frequent drunk purchases because they are motivated to alleviate their negative mood states.

Exploring Dynamics of Changes in Psychological Skills in the Development of Talented Athletes

In this study we examined changes in a psychological skill set, defined as crucial for the growth of talented athletes, through repeated assessments of the six-factor Psychological Characteristics of Development Excellence Questionnaire (PCDEQ). In a first phase of this study, we built and evaluated a French adaptation of the PCDEQ: the PCDEQ-SV (18 items). After confirmatory factor analysis, Cronbach's alpha revealed that scales for its six factors ranged from very good to just below minimally acceptable as a model fit. The mean inter-item correlations for the scales, built on three items per scale, were optimal, leading us to assume that this short version was reliable. In the second phase, we analyzed the changes in the skill sets of 67 talented Swiss athletes who were given the PCDEQ-SV three times over 1 year. Feedback on the scores was provided to participants in comparison to the test's cutoffs after T1 and T2. The analysis then focused on those who scored below the cutoffs and their resources for skill improvements. We found that the highest number of participants scored below the cutoffs at testing times, T1 and T2 on Factors 2, 6 and 1. Changes in scores were characterized by overall dynamics of improvement. The resources most used to effect those changes were "personal work with no outside help," "discussions with significant others," and "specific work with the coach." The results are discussed in relation to the iGen's resources for self-determination of psychological skills improvement.