The Italian Behavioral, Emotional, and Social Skills Inventory (BESSI-I)

The importance of social, emotional, and behavioral (SEB) skills is recognized worldwide, but their measurement has always been a challenge. The BESSI measures 32 SEB skills, divided into five domains (social engagement, cooperation, self-management, emotional resilience, and innovation), but its validity must be expanded to new languages and contexts. Across two studies (N1 = 990, N2= 824) we developed the Italian version of the BESSI, provided further support for its convergent and discriminant validity with the Big Five, and expanded its nomological network to procrastination, self-efficacy, and emotion regulation. The BESSI-I showed excellent internal reliability and satisfactory fit indices at the facet, domain, and overarching framework level. We also confirmed the correlations between the SEB skills and the Big Five personality traits and found meaningful correlations with the selected external outcomes. Overall, we confirm that the BESSI-I is a valid and useful instrument to assess SEB skills for research and clinical purposes.

A Phenomenological Exploration of Experiences Related to Learning Styles Among Undergraduate Medical Students in a Barbadian Medical School

Introduction

Learning style (LS) frameworks have been implemented by educators to promote participatory learning in order to strengthen learner engagement and to enhance learning outcomes. Self-efficacy has been shown to have an association with learning style and is a predictor of clinical performance and other qualities in medical students. This study examined the perspectives of second and final year medical students in a Caribbean-based medical school, relative to their learning approaches, teaching exposures and preparation for assessments.

Methods

An interpretivist qualitative approach was used to analyze data from two focus groups, conducted as part of a sequential mixed-methods study (November 2018-February 2019) with medical students in the second and final year of study. Discussions were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and inductively coded with in-depth thematic analysis assisted by NVivo software.

Results

Six Year 2 (Female: Male = 5:1) and seven Year 5 (Female: Male = 5:2) participants, ranging between 18 and 34 years and with a range of LS were recruited into the study. Analysis and data reduction produced three organizing themes: "Dynamics of information delivery and acquisition", "Pivoting", and "LS identification, awareness and mutability", and the global construct "Individual and environmental factors modulate the influence of LS preference in triggering self-efficacy". In managing information received in class, students used textbooks, YouTube videos, and collaborative learning to augment perceived gaps in lectures and their personal notes. Learning style self-awareness is useful for facilitating self-efficacy throughout medical school, especially at points of transition within the programme of study.

Conclusion

LS theory and testing appear to be useful for student and teacher awareness. In practice, honing students' adaptability to varying learning settings may be more relevant in helping students achieve self-efficacy.

Flourishing or Languishing? The Relationship Between Mental Health, Health Locus of Control and Generalised Self-Efficacy

Mental health is a core component of overall wellbeing and can contribute to positive functioning and purpose in life. Mental health is purportedly related to the constructs of generalised self-efficacy (GSE) and health locus of control (LOC). Most research, however, has explored GSE and LOC and their relationship with psychopathology, or defined mental health as a lack of psychopathology indicators. This contradicts the two continua model of mental health, as it does not incorporate positive mental functioning. The current study sought to re-examine the relationship between health LOC, GSE, and mental health, whilst controlling for potential confounding factors. It was anticipated that health LOC and GSE would predict mental health. A sample of 224 adults completed an online survey comprised of validated psychometric tools scales. Regression analyses were conducted to determine whether health LOC and GSE predicted mental health, after controlling for self-esteem, social support, and coping. Results indicated that GSE was a significant unique positive predictor of mental health. Health locus of control was not a significant predictor of mental health. Limitations were present, including a cross-sectional research design and use of convenience sampling. This study builds upon existing research in providing a better understanding of contributors to mental health, which may assist in the development of evidence-based mental health promotion interventions.

Laying the Foundation for the Challenge–Hindrance Stressor Framework 2.0

Although traditional views of workplace stress assume that all job demands have deleterious consequences, research indicates that some job demands may benefit employees. Notably, the Challenge–Hindrance Stressor Framework (CHSF) proposes that, although job demands that constrain, hinder, or thwart personal growth and achievement (hindrance stressors) have negative effects on work-related outcomes, job demands that provide the potential for personal growth and achievement (challenge stressors) have positive effects on these outcomes. Despite the attention generated by the CHSF, several criticisms and limitations hinder the potential of this framework. Thus, this article reviews our current understanding of the CHSF, addresses important criticisms about the nature and effects of challenge and hindrance stressors, and discusses how future research should approach conceptual and methodological challenges to lay the foundation for the next iteration of this framework—CHSF 2.0. Building on this new framework, we discuss some implications for cross-cultural research and for practitioners.

Perspectives on Emergency Remote Teaching during COVID-19 Pandemic in a Sample of Greek Undergraduate Students: The Role of Self-Image

Emergency remote teaching replaced the in-person education in academic institutions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Students with different personality traits experienced this abrupt change to distance learning in different ways. Thus, this research aims to examine the interplay between several facets of the students' experience of emergency remote teaching, such as concerns about, tiredness with, and lack of communication during the first Greek lockdown, and their self-image through their core self-evaluations. The study sample consisted of 341 undergraduate students derived from 13 Greek universities, that completed a self-report questionnaire concerning students' experiences with distance education, as well as the Core Self-Evaluation Scale measuring self-image components. A cross-section design was used and multiple regression and mediation analyses were applied. The results showed that self-image has an effect on students' feeling of tiredness with distance learning, while female students demonstrated higher tiredness with distance learning and lack of communication. Moreover, except for gender and disability, all other variables along with self-image significantly predicted perspectives on distance learning. On the other hand, only gender, concerns about, and lack of communication significantly predicted students' e-attendance of theoretical courses. In this transformative era, it is a challenge for universities to create effective online courses concerning students' self-image. Finally, limitations and future directions are discussed.

Core self-evaluation and subjective wellbeing: A moderated mediation model

Objectives

Much has been written documenting the positive association between core self-evaluation and adolescents' subjective wellbeing, but little is known about the mediating and moderating mechanisms which underlay this relationship. This study constructed a moderated mediation model to examine whether meaning in life mediated the relationship between core self-evaluation and subjective wellbeing, and whether this mediating process was moderated by adolescents' self-esteem.

Methods

A sample of 1,185 adolescents (11-17 years of age, 51.3% females) completed the Core Self-Evaluation Scale (CSES), the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ), the Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale (RSES), and the Index of Wellbeing Scale (IWS).

Results

The results indicate that after controlling for gender and age, core self-evaluation contributed significantly to subjective wellbeing (β = 0.900, p < 0.001). Meaning in life played a mediating role in the relationship between core self-evaluation and subjective wellbeing (β = 0.143, p < 0.01), with core self-evaluation indirectly affecting subjective wellbeing through meaning in life (β_indirect = 0.068, 95% CI = [0.024, 0.119]). Self-esteem moderated the path mediated by meaning in life, more specifically, the conditional indirect effect between core self-evaluation and wellbeing was significant for adolescents with medium and low self-esteem (effect = 0.056, 95% CI = [0.014, 0.106]; effect = 0.092, 95% CI = [0.034, 0.159]. Both mediating and moderating effects were shown to exist in the association between core self-evaluation and adolescents' subjective wellbeing.

Discussion

Based on the results, the following suggestions can be made: subjective wellbeing can be promoted through interventions such as enhancing adolescents' core self-evaluation and helping them understand the meaning in life, and that greater attention needs to be paid to adolescents with low self-esteem. The findings of this study helpful to clarify the mediation and moderating mechanism of the beneficial influence of adolescents' core self-evaluation on subjective wellbeing.

Should I Stay or Should I Go (to the Office)?-Effects of Working from Home, Autonomy, and Core Self-Evaluations on Leader Health and Work-Life Balance

Leaders represent a high-demand group in organizations. The effects of leaders' personal and workplace resources on their health and work-life balance have often slipped under the radar, as most studies are directed outwardly and focus on follower outcomes. With this study, we closed a gap in the research and investigated the positive effects of remote work, autonomy, and leaders' core-self evaluations (CSE) on two important leader outcomes: health and work-life balance. We hypothesized that the relationship between remote work and the outcomes would be moderated by leaders' CSE and their autonomy-in such a way that leaders with lower resources benefit more from remote work and achieve better health and work-life balance the more days they spend working from home. A sample of 367 leaders reported their frequency of working from home, their autonomy, and CSE. Their health and work-life balance were assessed five months later. Results showed a moderating effect of CSE on both outcomes, indicating that leaders with low CSE benefit more in terms of health and work-life balance. There was no moderating effect of autonomy. Leaders with high resources (autonomy and CSE) had overall higher levels of health and work-life balance regardless of work location. Practitioners in organizations should consider working from home as a resource for leaders, particularly if personal resources are lower.

The relationship between perceived competence and self-esteem among novice nurses - a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Novice nurses' responsibilities are greater than what their actual level of competence can cope with. This can cause increased levels of stress, which many studies have shown is a factor resulting in reduced self-esteem, which affects not only the well-being of nurses but also the quality of care provided.

AIMS

To investigate the relationship between the self-assessment of nursing competencies and self-esteem among novice nurses and the moderation role of the sociodemographic variables and intention to leave the nursing profession on this relationship.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A correlational cross-sectional study was performed using an online questionnaire. The study was conducted between July and October 2019 among 122 novice nurses. The study tool consisted of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the Nurse Professional Competence Scale-Short Version, and metrics. Calculations were performed using SPSS Statistics, version 25. To approach research questions hierarchical multiple regression was performed.

RESULTS

The self-esteem level of novice nurses have been identified as low. Novice nurses who declared their willingness to leave their profession had a higher level of self-esteem than nurses who did not declare this willingness. The highest-rated competencies were in the fields of nursing care and value-based nursing care, while the lowest were in the areas of development, leadership, and the organisation of nursing care. Correlations between postgraduate education and competencies in the majority subscales were revealed. The results showed a negative correlation between self-esteem and all subscales of the competence scale. Seniority and postgraduate education were important moderators in the relationship between some competence subscales and self-esteem.

CONCLUSION

Novice nurses present a low level of self-esteem. Nurses with a higher competence level showed lower self-esteem. Developing competencies at the beginning of one's nursing practice, which is crucial for patients' outcomes, should be accompanied by the strengthening of novice nurses' self-esteem.KEY MESSAGESNovice nurses with a higher level of self-esteem more often declared their willingness to leave their profession.The results showed a negative correlation between self-esteem and all subscales of the competence scale.Seniority and postgraduate education are important moderators in the relationship between some competence subscales and self-esteem.

A corticostriatal pathway mediating self-efficacy enhancement

Forming positive beliefs about one's ability to perform challenging tasks, often termed self-efficacy, is fundamental to motivation and emotional well-being. Self-efficacy crucially depends on positive social feedback, yet people differ in the degree to which they integrate such feedback into self-beliefs (i.e., positive bias). While diminished positive bias of this sort is linked to mood and anxiety, the neural processes by which positive feedback on public performance enhances self-efficacy remain unclear. To address this, we conducted a behavioral and fMRI study wherein participants delivered a public speech and received fictitious positive and neutral feedback on their performance in the MRI scanner. Before and after receiving feedback, participants evaluated their actual and expected performance. We found that reduced positive bias in updating self-efficacy based on positive social feedback associated with a psychopathological dimension reflecting symptoms of anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. Analysis of brain encoding of social feedback showed that a positive self-efficacy update bias associated with a stronger reward-related response in the ventral striatum (VS) and stronger coupling of the VS with a temporoparietal region involved in self-processing. Together, our findings demarcate a corticostriatal circuit that promotes positive bias in self-efficacy updating based on social feedback, and highlight the centrality of such bias to emotional well-being.

Paved with good intentions: role of situational and dispositional influences on employees’ unethical pro-organizational behavior

Purpose

The rise in the instances of ethical scandals in recent times has brought to light the hitherto ignored phenomenon of unethical proorganizational behavior (UPB) by employees. Drawing upon the social exchange theory, this study aims to examine the role of perceived organizational support (POS) and organizational identification on UPB. The research also investigated the moderating role of core self-evaluation (CSE) and positive reciprocity beliefs.

Design/methodology/approach

The hypotheses were tested with three-wave survey data collected from 306 executives from India. Data was analyzed using mediation and moderated mediation analyses on PROCESS v 3.0 macro.

Findings

Results showed that organizational identification mediated the relationship between POS and UPB. Further, CSE and positive reciprocity beliefs were seen to moderate the mediated relationship providing support for the moderated mediation framework.

Practical implications

The study highlights the importance of clear code of ethics, communication of ethical guidelines and ethical behavior of the managers as some of the ways to reduce the menace of UPB. Further, managers should be more vigilant toward the employees low on CSE and high on positive reciprocity beliefs as they are more prone to engage in UPB given their identification with the organization.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the mediating role of organizational identification in the relationship between POS and UPB. Further, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, no previous study has explored the moderating role of CSE and positive reciprocity beliefs in the aforesaid mediation.

Enabling the Creative Performance of Indian IT Employees Through Their Voice: The Mediating Role of Psychosocial Prosperity

Organizations largely depend on their employees’ creativity to attain a competitive advantage. Drawing on Ability-Motivation-Opportunity (AMO) theory, this study examines whether employees’ voice behavior (promotive and prohibitive) can be harnessed to improve their creative performance. By exploring the mediating role of psychosocial prosperity and moderating effects of employees’ perception of their influence at work and their feelings of alienation, this study offers a unique model that enhances the literature on voice and creativity. Data collected from 285 Information Technology professionals in India reveals that both forms of voice lead to creative performance, and psychosocial prosperity mediates this positive relationship. This finding offers different insight for scholars as much of the voice literature expects prohibitive voice to yield negative results for the employee because of its associated risks. Also, employees’ perceived influence at work strengthens the positive effect of promotive voice on psychosocial prosperity, while alienation weakens the relationship between psychosocial prosperity and creativity performance. The study concludes by discussing the implications, limitations, and directions for future researchers.

Self-Efficacy as a Mediator of the Impact of Social Capital on Entrepreneurial Orientation: A Case of Dayak Ethnic Entrepreneurship

Amid global disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, entrepreneurship is more important than ever before, believed to be a key driver of economic development and recovery as well as poverty alleviation. However, although research on entrepreneurial benefits is becoming well-established, our understanding of the effects of specific social processes on entrepreneurial orientation is fairly limited. The research gap is even larger in an ethnic entrepreneurship setting. This study, therefore, aims to understand the impact of social capital on entrepreneurial orientation through self-efficacy in Dayak, the indigenous ethnic, non-Malay people of Borneo. Utilizing a survey, we found that social capital is positively related to entrepreneurial orientation, and self-efficacy was found to mediate this relationship. Kinship or regional ties among Dayak group members foster social capital in the form of trust, solidarity, and reciprocal obligations. However, although Dayaks are willing to learn and participate in economic activities, including becoming entrepreneurs, they are unlikely to take initiative due to both financial and non-financial obstacles. For these reasons, we suggest an institutional economic approach, designing a specific educational program to help improve the Dayak’s self-efficacy in escalating their entrepreneurship commitment. Local universities and vocational schools can develop an effective curriculum to tap the potential of Dayak in business and entrepreneurship.

Managing knowledge reuse: the duality of innovator personality

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide new insights for managing knowledge reuse in terms of the duality of innovator personality. Continuously developing new products is crucial for firms to maintain and enhance their competitive advantages. However, the limited and highly specialized knowledge can cause innovators of firms to face difficulties in the process of new product development (NPD). In this setting, knowledge reuse becomes a solution that may benefit innovators to overcome the innovation dilemma. Given the fact that innovators with different personality are likely to form incongruent cognitions and affection on knowledge reuse, thus subsequently affecting the performance of NPD, there is an urgent need to investigate the effects of innovator personality in the entire process of knowledge reuse.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper exploits five-factor model (FFM) of personality to comprehensively investigate the dual effects of innovator personality in managing knowledge reuse based on the two distinct sets of knowledge reuse initiation and implementation.

Findings

By using the data from 981 innovators of knowledge-intensive firms in China, this study finds that the FFM traits of conscientiousness and agreeableness had opposing effects on initiation and implementation of knowledge reuse. While the FFM traits of emotional stability and openness to experience both positively affect the knowledge reuse initiation and implementation. Moreover, the FFM traits of extraversion benefit the shaping of knowledge reuse initiation whereas encumbering the implementation of knowledge reuse.

Originality/value

First, this study reveals the different roles of cognitive and affective traits of personality in shaping knowledge reuse. Second, this study exposes the role of innovator personality in determining the performance effects of knowledge reuse implementation. Third, this study highlights the dual effects of innovator personality in managing knowledge reuse. This study offers evidence for arranging the innovators with appropriate FFM traits in various stages of knowledge reuse.

Core Self-Evaluations Increases Among Chinese Employees: A Cross-Temporal Meta-Analysis, 2010–2019

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the changes in core self-evaluation (CSE) scores among Chinese employees during 2010–2019. We conducted a cross-temporal meta-analysis including 50 studies (17,400 Chinese employees) to evaluate the relationship between the year of data collection and levels of CSE. We found that correlations between levels of CSE and year of data collection were strong and positive (r > 0.500). Regression results showed that the year of data collection could predict the CSE score when the mean sample age and sex ratio (%female) were controlled. In addition, CSE scores were positively related to GDP per capita and negatively related to the unemployment rate.

The origins of cognitive skills and non-cognitive skills: The long-term effect of in-utero rainfall shocks in India

Skills are an important predictor of labour, education, and wellbeing outcomes. Understanding the origins of skills formation is important for reducing future inequalities. This paper analyses the effect of shocks in-utero on human capital outcomes in childhood and adolescence in India. Combining historical rainfall data and longitudinal data from Young Lives, we estimate the effect of rainfall shocks in-utero on cognitive and non-cognitive skills development over the first 15 years of life. We find negative effects of rainfall shocks on receptive vocabulary at age 5, and on mathematics and non-cognitive skills at age 15. The negative effects on cognitive skills are driven by boys, while the effect for both cognitive and non-cognitive skills are driven by children of parents with lower education, suggesting that prenatal shocks might exacerbate pre-existing inequalities. Our findings support the implementation of policies aiming at reducing inequalities at very early stages in life.

Perceived Parental Care and Next-Generation Family Members’ Succession Intentions: The Sequential-Mediating Role of General Self-Efficacy and Perceived Person-Job Fit

Whereas the existing literature on the relationship between parental behavior and family business succession mainly focuses on parental behavior in the business domain, we highlight the importance of parental behavior in the family domain. Integrating attachment theory, the family business succession literature, and person-job fit literature, our study proposes a theoretical framework hypothesizing that general self-efficacy and perceived person-job fit mediate the association between perceived parental care (an underrepresented family-domain-specific parental behavior) and next-generation family members’ succession intentions. This framework is tested by data from two surveys and further verified by qualitative interviews of next-generation family members. Multivariate analysis results suggest that next-generation family members’ general self-efficacy and perceived person-job fit played a sequential-mediating role in the relationship between perceived parental care and next-generation family members’ succession intentions. Our interviews not only confirm these results but also reveal new insights, particularly into the specific Chinese context in the study of family business succession.

Goal Missed, Self Hit: Goal-Setting, Goal-Failure, and Their Affective, Motivational, and Behavioral Consequences

Setting high and specific goals is one of the best-established management tools to increase performance and motivation. However, in recent years, potential downsides of goal-setting are being discussed. One possible downside is the high risk of failing the goal. In an approach to integrate research on the consequences of goal-failure and the basic assumptions of goal-setting theory, we investigated whether failure of a high and specific goal has detrimental effects on a person's affect, self-esteem, and motivation. In Experiment 1, 185 participants received fictitious feedback about attaining or failing an assigned high and specific goal. In Experiment 2 with 86 participants, we manipulated goal-failure through task-difficulty and we included task choice as a behavioral measure of motivation. In both experiments, participants who failed the high and specific goal showed a decrease in affect, self-esteem, and motivation compared to participants who attained that goal. Results indicate that failing a high and specific goal can be damaging for self-related factors that may be crucial for organizational long-term outcomes. We advise organizations to consider potential undesirable effects when using goal-setting interventions.

The relation of servant leadership with followers' organizational citizenship behaviour (OCB): mediating role of generalized self-efficacy (GSE) and organization–based self-esteem (OBSE)

Purpose

This study aims to understand the relationship between servant leadership (SL) and followers’ organizational citizenship behaviour (OCB) along with the mediational role of generalized self-efficacy (GSE) and organization-based self-esteem (OBSE) on the relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

A review of literature on leadership has been carried out to formulate a conceptual model that has focussed on the relationship between SL and followers’ OCB. The paper has also drawn the role of GSE and OBSE with relation to SL and followers’ OCB.

Findings

The literature has highlighted the importance of SL in promoting followers’ OCB, GSE and OBSE, and the positive relation of GSE and OBSE with followers’ OCB is also demonstrated.

Research limitations/implications

This is a conceptual work that has drawn from secondary material. A further empirical examination can help validate the ideas that have been proposed here.

Practical implications

This paper has highlighted the role of SL in organizations. It has also provided ample scope for practitioners to rethink about their current leadership style/approach and to plan their approach in such a way that can facilitate followers’ OCB, GSE and OBSE, which may result in organizational productivity and sustainability.

Originality/value

This paper has tried to connect two mediators, i.e. GSE and OBSE with SL in the Indian context that has been studied differently concerning different contexts, and that may add a new dimension to the discourse on SL.

Effects of Project Leader Workplace Anxiety on Project Team Member Organizational Citizenship Behavior: A Moderated Mediation Model

This study investigates how and when project leader workplace anxiety influences project team member organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). Drawing from social information processing theory and the dual process model, we propose that project leader workplace anxiety negatively affects project team member OCB via job frustration and career adaptability. We also propose that project team member core self-evaluation moderates these hypothesized relationships. We test our hypotheses using multisource and time-lagged data from a sample of 269 matched project leader-member dyads. Theoretical and practical implications and future research directions are discussed.

Work Personality, Core Self-evaluation and Perceived Career Barriers in Young Adult Central Nervous System Cancer Survivors

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between work personality, core self-evaluation (CSE), and perceived internal and external barriers to employment in a group of young adult CNS survivors.

METHODS

The participants consisted of 110 young adult survivors of pediatric central nervous system (CNS) tumors aged between 18 and 30 years old (M = 23.05, SD = 3.36). Mediation analysis with structural equational modeling (SEM) technique was used to correlate a number of different measures (Work Personality [WP], Perceived Employment Barriers [PEB], and Core-Self Evaluation [CSE]).

RESULTS

Results revealed an exceptionally well-fitting model to our data with work personality predicting CSE positively: β = 0.34, SE = 0.07, 95% CI (0.18, 0.47) while CSE inversely predicts Perceived Barriers to Employment, β = - 0.60, SE = 0.06, 95% CI (- 0.70, - 0.49). There is a direct pathway from WP to PEB once CSE was accounted for β = - 0.20, SE = 0.07, 95% CI (- 0.33, - 0.06). The presence of both significant direct and indirect effects of WP on PEB implied that there was a partial mediating effect of CSE on the association between WP and PEB.

CONCLUSIONS

Work personality is a robust construct that can be applied to young adult CNS survivors in effort to gain more insight into the personality and psychological factors that impact career development and employment in this group. The major finding of this study was that work personality and CSE had a significant direct effect on perceived career barriers and that there was a significant indirect effect with CSE acting as a mediator between developmental work personality and perceived career barriers.

Core self‐evaluations: a review of the trait and its role in job satisfaction and job performance

Over the past five years there has been a growing body of literature that examines the relationships among some of psychology's most studied traits (Neuroticism, self‐esteem, and locus of control). Core self‐evaluation theory posits a conceptual and empirical relationship between these traits and job satisfaction. After briefly reviewing core self‐evaluation theory, we examine the empirical evidence documenting a relationship between these traits and the two central criteria of interest to I/O psychologists—job satisfaction and job performance. We then examine the relationship between core self‐evaluation traits and the Big Five personality traits. We conclude with a discussion of the contributions and limitations of core self‐evaluation research and opportunities for future research. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

General Self-Efficacy and Body Weight: The Role of Race and Gender

Overweight and obesity have become a prominent concern for policymakers, the Surgeon General, scholars, and for work organizations. The estimated annual cost of obesity in terms of lost productivity is in the tens of billions of dollars, and the estimated annual medical cost of obesity is in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Psychologists have become increasingly interested in issues related to body weight, such as ways to help people reduce body weight. The aims of our study are twofold. First, based on social cognitive theory, we offer the first study of the relationship between general self-efficacy (GSE) and body weight based on a large, representative sample. Second, we also offer an understanding of the role of race and gender as potential boundary conditions of this relationship. Findings indicate that race moderates the relationship between GSE and body weight (both BMI and perceived weight) such that this relationship is positive for Blacks but negative for Whites. Gender did not moderate the relationship between GSE and body weight. These results suggest that body weight is unrelated to general self-efficacy in the population writ large and that body weight is differentially related to self-efficacy based on race but not gender.

Correlates of Self-Estimated Intelligence

This paper reports two studies examining correlates of self-estimated intelligence (SEI). In the first, 517 participants completed a measure of SEI as well as self-estimated emotional intelligence (SEEQ), physical attractiveness, health, and other ratings. Males rated their IQ higher (74.12 vs. 71.55) but EQ lower (68.22 vs. 71.81) than females but there were no differences in their ratings of physical health in Study 1. Correlations showed for all participants that the higher they rated their IQ, the higher their ratings of EQ, attractiveness, and health. A regression of self-estimated intelligence onto three demographic, three self-ratings and three beliefs factors accounted for 30% of the variance. Religious, educated males who did not believe in alternative medicine gave higher SEI scores. The second study partly replicated the first, with an N = 475. Again, males rated their IQ higher (106.88 vs. 100.71) than females, but no difference was found for EQ (103.16 vs. 103.74). Males rated both their attractiveness (54.79 vs. 49.81) and health (61.24 vs. 55.49) higher than females. An objective test-based cognitive ability and SEI were correlated r = 0.30. Correlations showed, as in Study 1, positive relationships between all self-ratings. A regression showed the strongest correlates of SEI were IQ, sex and positive self-ratings. Implications and limitations are noted.

Psychometrical Properties of a French Version of the General Self-Efficacy Short Scale (ASKU)

Abstract. General self-efficacy is a central personality trait often evaluated in surveys as context variable. It can be interpreted as a personal coping resource reflecting individual belief in one’s overall competence to perform across a variety of situations. The German-language Allgemeine-Selbstwirksamkeit-Kurzskala (ASKU) is a reliable and valid instrument to assess this disposition in the German-speaking countries based on a three-item equation. This study develops a French version of the ASKU and tests this French version for measurement invariance compared to the original ASKU. A reliable and valid French instrument would make it easy to collect data in the French-speaking countries and allow comparisons between the French and German results. Data were collected on a sample of 1,716 adolescents. Confirmatory factor analysis resulted in a good fit for a single-factor model of the data (in total, French, and German version). Additionally, construct validity was assessed by elucidating intercorrelations between the ASKU and different factors that should theoretically be related to ASKU. Furthermore, we confirmed configural and metric as well as scalar invariance between the different language versions, meaning that all forms of statistical comparison between the developed French version and the original German version are allowed.

Mystery Shopping and Well-Being of Service Workers in South Korea

Background

Mystery shopping is a method in which a company monitors quality of service and employee conduct and compliance with regulations using an evaluator posing as a customer. It is a typical tool of customer-centered bureaucratic control insofar as it provides overall and standardized evaluation of intangible elements of customer service as well as physical elements of service environments. The purpose of this study is to examine how mystery shopping is related to the health status of service workers in South Korea.

Methods

Data from semistructured interviews with 15 workers were collected from January to April 2019 to obtain information on service worker experiences with mystery shopping. Data were analyzed using the constant comparison method.

Results

Mystery shopping limits worker autonomy and stiffens the workplace environment by standardizing and monitoring labor processes for service workers. In addition, mystery shopping heightens work stress through increased labor intensity. Five mechanisms by which mystery shopping affects service worker health are identified and comprise (1) multifaceted and multilayered surveillance, (2) evaluator subjectivity and irrational requirements, (3) standardized rules combined with high pressure to achieve sales, (4) self-esteem degradation because of evaluator results, and (5) musculoskeletal disorders because of strict adherence to labor processes based on evaluator results.

Conclusion

Mystery shopping as an evaluation method should be reconsidered not only in terms of health problems but also in terms of organizational efficiency and issues of human rights.

Eat to avoid negative self-awareness: Locus of control and core self-evaluation as serial mediators in the effect of stress on food intake

The primary hypothesis of escape theory lies in that those who are under stress eat to escape from negative self-awareness. Although escape theory has been well cited in the eating literature, relatively few studies have directly tested its applicability to stress-induced eating. The aim of the present study is to provide causal evidence on using escape theory to explain the effect of stress on food intake. Specifically, we examined whether locus of control (LOC) and core self-evaluation (CSE) are serial mediators in the effect of stress on food intake. By a longitudinal experimental design, participants were randomly assigned to a stress group or a control group, and data on LOC, CSE, and food intake were collected at 3 waves. The results indicated that LOC and CSE are serial mediators in the effect of stress on food intake, though the direct effect of stress conditions remained significant. Our findings support the applicability of escape theory to interpret why stress increases food intake, and exclusion of LOC as an indicator of CSE. Thus, the present study provides causal evidence on escape theory by shedding light on the sequential mediating effect of LOC and CSE. Future research need to pay more attention to the evaluative process in stress-induced eating.

The role of risk avoidance and locus of control in workers' near miss experiences: Implications for improving safety management systems

The process industry has made major advancements and is a leader in near-miss safety management, with several validated models and databases to track close call reports. However, organizational efforts to develop safe work procedures and rules do not guarantee that employees will behaviorally comply with them. Assuming that at some point, every safety management system will need to be examined and realigned to help prevent incidents on the job, it is important to understand how personality traits can impact workers' risk-based decisions. Such work has been done in the mining industry due to its characteristically high risks and the results can be gleaned to help the process industry realign goals and values with their workforce. In the current study, researchers cross-sectionally surveyed 1,334 miners from 20 mine sites across the United States, varying in size and commodity. The survey sought to understand how mineworkers' risk avoidance could impact their near miss incidents on the job - a common precursor to lost-time incidents. Multiple regressions showed that as a miner's level of risk avoidance increased by 1 unit in the 6-point response scale, the probability of experiencing a near miss significantly decreased by 30% when adjusting for relevant control variables. Additionally, a significant interaction between risk avoidance and locus of control suggested that the effect of risk avoidance on near misses is enhanced as a miner's locus of control increases. A one-unit increase in locus of control appends the base effect of risk avoidance on near misses with an additional 8% decrease in the probability. Findings are discussed from a near-miss safety management system perspective in terms of methods to foster both risk avoidance and locus of control in an effort to reduce the probability of near misses and lost time at the organizational level within the process industry and other high-hazard industries.

Are self-leaders more willing to mentor others? A study among Indian and Spanish university teachers

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to understand the influence of self-leadership on the intention to mentor among university teachers considering the mediating role of self-efficacy and the moderating role of individualism-collectivism dimensions.

Design/methodology/approach

A standardized questionnaire was used to collect data from Indian (n=88) and Spanish (n=105) university teachers. The hypothesized relationships were analyzed using structural equation modeling and hierarchical multiple regression analysis.

Findings

Self-leadership strategies influence the intention to mentor through university teachers’ self-efficacy. The positive relationship between self-efficacy and intention to mentor becomes stronger when the respondents are inclined toward vertical collectivistic or horizontal individualistic values.

Research limitations/implications

The study extends mentoring literature since it incorporates both individual and cultural variables, allowing observing their interplay and giving a holistic understanding of the issue. The main limitation of the study is its cross-sectional survey design, which is the use of data collected from a single-sitting, self-reporting measure. Different procedures were used to control method biases.

Practical implications

Intention to mentor can help university teachers (especially the younger staffs) and students to establish the process that can reinforce their commitment toward realistic goals. In the long term, entering into a mentoring relationship might boost self-efficacy and self-leadership qualities of the mentors themselves.

Originality/value

The comprehensiveness and relevance of the variables in the context chosen is the primary strength of this research. In the scenario of increasing professionalization and globalization, the cross-cultural nature of this study brings in a global perspective of the research problem.

Food insecurity, sexual risk taking, and sexual victimization in Ghanaian adolescents and young South African adults

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this study were to examine whether food insecurity is associated with sexual risk taking and victimization in young people (aged 16-24); and to investigate whether the relationship of food insecurity with sexual risk taking and victimization is moderated by gender.

METHODS

Cross-sectional data were obtained in 2014 from a sample of Ghanaian adolescents (n = 773) and in 2015 from young South African adults (n = 823). We used multilevel logistic regression given the study's binary outcome and clustered data. We tested a moderation effect of gender by including an interaction between gender and food insecurity.

RESULTS

Food insecurity was highly prevalent (72% in Ghana and 83% in South Africa). Food insecurity was significantly associated with unwanted sexual contact among Ghanaian adolescents (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.02, 1.08) and age-disparate sex among young South African adults (OR 1.03, 95% CI 1.00, 1.06). Results indicated no moderating effect of gender.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings underscore the importance of food access on young people's sexual health, regardless of gender. Prevention efforts may be more relevant when integrated with food security interventions that target vulnerable adolescents and young adults, irrespective of gender.

Learning behaviors as a linkage between organization-based self-esteem and in-role performance

Research indicates that there is a positive relationship between organization-based self-esteem and in-role performance. The intervening process that creates this relationship, however, has not been investigated. Thus, the purpose of this study is to examine employee learning behavior as a process between organization-based self-esteem and in-role performance. Additionally, this study examines perceived delegation as a boundary condition of a positive relationship between two variables. The sample size consisted of 293 employees from a Korean company, and the study findings revealed that employees’ learning behaviors mediate the relationship between organization-based self-esteem and in-role performance. Further, perceived delegation moderated the strength of the mediated relationship. Therefore, this study provides implications for how human resource practitioners and their organizations could support volitional learning behaviors through formal training, development-focused performance feedback, and the creation of new work experiences and learning opportunities.