Journal Description
Behavioral Sciences
Behavioral Sciences
is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal on psychology, neuroscience, cognitive science, behavioral biology and behavioral genetics published monthly online by MDPI.
- Open Access— free for readers, with article processing charges (APC) paid by authors or their institutions.
- High Visibility: indexed within Scopus, SSCI (Web of Science), PubMed, PMC, and other databases.
- Journal Rank: JCR - Q2 (Psychology, Multidisciplinary) / CiteScore - Q2 (Development)
- Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision is provided to authors approximately 21.5 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 2.6 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the second half of 2023).
- Recognition of Reviewers: reviewers who provide timely, thorough peer-review reports receive vouchers entitling them to a discount on the APC of their next publication in any MDPI journal, in appreciation of the work done.
Impact Factor:
2.6 (2022);
5-Year Impact Factor:
3.2 (2022)
Latest Articles
Links between Couples’ Cynical Hostility and Mental Health: A Dyadic Investigation of Older Couples
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(4), 283; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14040283 - 28 Mar 2024
Abstract
Whereas sharing a life with someone with high cynical hostility can be straining, little is known about how partner’s cynical hostility is associated with one’s mental health. In this paper, we report the findings from a longitudinal dyadic study using two waves of
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Whereas sharing a life with someone with high cynical hostility can be straining, little is known about how partner’s cynical hostility is associated with one’s mental health. In this paper, we report the findings from a longitudinal dyadic study using two waves of a large and representative American sample of older adults and their spouses to examine how one’s own and their spouse’s cynical hostility longitudinally affect anxiety and depressive symptoms. Results from APIM analyses suggest that both husbands’ and wives’ anxiety and depressive symptoms were negatively associated with their own cynical hostility, both within each time point and longitudinally. Partners’ cynical hostility, however, predicted only husbands’ mental health cross-sectionally. Furthermore, a moderating effect was identified, although it was not consistently observed across all analyses. Specifically, when a partner’s cynical hostility was high, the association between one’s own cynical hostility and their mental health was stronger, especially for women. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social Interactions and Aging)
Open AccessArticle
Exploring the Influence of YouTube on Digital Health Literacy and Health Exercise Intentions: The Role of Parasocial Relationships
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Jongho Kim, Heeok Youm, Sujin Kim, Hongjun Choi, Dohee Kim, Sungeun Shin and Jinwook Chung
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(4), 282; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14040282 - 28 Mar 2024
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to analyze the mediating role of digital health literacy and the moderating effect of parasocial relationships on the relationship between the viewing experience of health exercise-related YouTube content and the intention for health exercise behavior. Based on
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The purpose of this study was to analyze the mediating role of digital health literacy and the moderating effect of parasocial relationships on the relationship between the viewing experience of health exercise-related YouTube content and the intention for health exercise behavior. Based on the health action process approach, this study established a foundational theoretical model to analyze how digital health literacy mediates the impact of media viewing experience on health exercise behavior intention. Additionally, this study examined the moderating effect of parasocial relationships with YouTube creators. For empirical analysis, variables were measured using a self-administration method among 409 randomly sampled consumers of YouTube health exercise content. The collected data were analyzed using a structural equation model incorporating mediation parameters, and a multigroup model analysis was conducted to understand differences based on parasocial relationships. The results revealed that increased YouTube viewing experience enhanced cognitive, skill, and evaluative components of digital health literacy, which were significant factors in increasing health exercise behavior intention. Notably, the mediating effect of cognition played a crucial role, and the strengthening effect of parasocial relationships on this relationship was confirmed. These findings can be utilized as practical foundational data for designing digital health communication strategies, particularly in developing motivational mechanisms that encourage consumers to engage voluntarily and consistently in health behaviors based on online health information.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Behavioral and Psychological Intervention for Long Term Health Conditions)
Open AccessArticle
Implementing a Multi-Disciplinary, Evidence-Based Resilience Intervention for Moral Injury Syndrome: Systemic Barriers and Facilitators
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J. Irene Harris, Shawn Dunlap, Danielle Xanthos, Jeffrey M. Pyne, Eric Hermes, Brandon J. Griffin, Susannah Robb Kondrath, Se Yun Kim, Kristin B. Golden, Nathaniel J. Cooney and Timothy J. Usset
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(4), 281; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14040281 - 28 Mar 2024
Abstract
Moral injury syndrome (MIS) is a mental health (MH) problem that substantially affects resilience; the presence of MIS reduces responsiveness to psychotherapy and increases suicide risk. Evidence-based treatment for MIS is available; however, it often goes untreated. This project uses principles of the
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Moral injury syndrome (MIS) is a mental health (MH) problem that substantially affects resilience; the presence of MIS reduces responsiveness to psychotherapy and increases suicide risk. Evidence-based treatment for MIS is available; however, it often goes untreated. This project uses principles of the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) to assess barriers and facilitators to the implementation of Building Spiritual Strength (BSS), a multi-disciplinary treatment for MIS. Interviews were conducted with chaplains and mental health providers who had completed BSS facilitator training at six sites in the VA. Data were analyzed using the Hamilton Rapid Turnaround method. Findings included multiple facilitators to the implementation of BSS, including its accessibility and appeal to VA chaplains; leadership by VA chaplains trained in the intervention; and effective collaboration between the chaplains and mental health providers. Barriers to the implementation of BSS included challenges in engaging mental health providers and incorporating them as group leaders, veterans’ lack of familiarity with the group format of BSS, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Results highlight the need for increased trust and collaboration between VA chaplains and mental health providers in the implementation of BSS and treatment of MIS.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trauma, Resilience and Mental Health)
Open AccessArticle
Preschool Teachers’ Emotional Competence and Teacher Self-Efficacy towards Preschool Performance in Zhejiang Province of China
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Xiaolu Ye, Nor Aniza Ahmad, Nur Aimi Nasuha Burhanuddin, Meng Na and Danwei Li
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(4), 280; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14040280 - 28 Mar 2024
Abstract
This study investigates the interplay between emotional competence, self-efficacy, and teaching experience in determining preschool teachers’ performance. Drawing on Bandura’s Theory of Self-Efficacy, Goleman’s Emotional Intelligence Theory, and Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory, the research employs a quantitative approach, analyzing responses from preschool teachers
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This study investigates the interplay between emotional competence, self-efficacy, and teaching experience in determining preschool teachers’ performance. Drawing on Bandura’s Theory of Self-Efficacy, Goleman’s Emotional Intelligence Theory, and Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory, the research employs a quantitative approach, analyzing responses from preschool teachers in Zhejiang province, China. Key findings reveal that emotional competence significantly predicts teachers’ performance and self-efficacy, with self-efficacy further mediating this relationship. Interestingly, while teaching experience moderates the impact of emotional competence on self-efficacy, it does not significantly influence the relationship between self-efficacy and teaching performance. The study underscores the critical role of emotional competence in teaching efficacy and highlights the complexity of how teaching experience interacts with these dynamics. These insights are crucial for developing targeted interventions in teacher training programs, emphasizing emotional skills and self-belief as key drivers of effective teaching in early-childhood education.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Educational Psychology)
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Open AccessArticle
The Chain Mediating Role of Teachers’ Job Stress in the Influence of Distributed School Leadership on Job Satisfaction: Evidence from China, the United States, England, and Australia
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Jian Li, Eryong Xue and Yuxuan Liu
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(4), 279; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14040279 - 27 Mar 2024
Abstract
Distributed leadership has been shown to improve teacher job satisfaction and reduce teacher job stress. However, few studies have thoroughly explored the indirect effects of distributed leadership on increasing the teachers’ burden in school administration and management, thereby increasing work stress, and decreasing
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Distributed leadership has been shown to improve teacher job satisfaction and reduce teacher job stress. However, few studies have thoroughly explored the indirect effects of distributed leadership on increasing the teachers’ burden in school administration and management, thereby increasing work stress, and decreasing job satisfaction. Data from the Teaching and Learning International Survey were analyzed to investigate the relationships among distributed school leadership, teachers’ job stress, and job satisfaction. A total of 3976 teachers from 198 junior high schools in Shanghai, 2560 teachers from 166 junior high schools in the United States, 2376 teachers from 157 junior high schools in England, and 3573 teachers from 238 junior high schools in Australia were selected and examined using structural equation modeling. The results revealed that distributed school leadership directly predicted teachers’ job satisfaction; teachers’ job stress had an independent mediating effect on distributed leadership and teachers’ job satisfaction, whereas teachers’ time spent participating in school leadership had no mediating effect. We discuss the benefits of distributed school leadership on teachers’ job satisfaction and the possible mechanisms for promoting it in practice.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Exploring the Interplay of Psychology and Work-Related Health and Well-Being)
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Open AccessArticle
The Influence of Affective Empathy on Online News Belief: The Moderated Mediation of State Empathy and News Type
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Yifan Yu, Shizhen Yan, Qihan Zhang, Zhenzhen Xu, Guangfang Zhou and Hua Jin
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(4), 278; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14040278 - 27 Mar 2024
Abstract
The belief in online news has become a topical issue. Previous studies demonstrated the role emotion plays in fake news vulnerability. However, few studies have explored the effect of empathy on online news belief. This study investigated the relationship between trait empathy, state
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The belief in online news has become a topical issue. Previous studies demonstrated the role emotion plays in fake news vulnerability. However, few studies have explored the effect of empathy on online news belief. This study investigated the relationship between trait empathy, state empathy, belief in online news, and the potential moderating effect of news type. One hundred and forty undergraduates evaluated 50 online news pieces (25 real, 25 fake) regarding their belief, state empathy, valence, arousal, and familiarity. Trait empathy data were collected using the Chinese version of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index. State empathy was positively correlated with affective empathy in trait empathy and believability, and affective empathy was positively correlated with believability. The influence of affective empathy on news belief was partially mediated by state empathy and regulated by news type (fake, real). We discuss the influence of empathy on online news belief and its internal processes. This study shares some unique insights for researchers, practitioners, social media users, and social media platform providers.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Emergence of Cyberpsychology as an Essential Framework for Social Science Research)
Open AccessReview
Sex Differences in Sexual Motivation in Humans and Other Mammals: The Role of Conscious and Unconscious Processes
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Priscille Touraille and Anders Ågmo
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(4), 277; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14040277 - 27 Mar 2024
Abstract
In self-report questionnaires, men report higher scores than women on variables such as desire for sex, frequency of sexual thoughts, number of sex partners, etc. Based on this, men are considered to have a higher level of sexual motivation than women. However, retrospective
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In self-report questionnaires, men report higher scores than women on variables such as desire for sex, frequency of sexual thoughts, number of sex partners, etc. Based on this, men are considered to have a higher level of sexual motivation than women. However, retrospective self-reports may be unsuitable for estimations of the inherent level of sexual motivation. We review data on automatic (unconsciously controlled) responses and measures of implicit motivation during exposure to sexual stimuli. These responses and measures are inaccessible to willful manipulations and make it possible to determine whether the sex difference in answers to questionnaires is replicated when volitional response manipulations are unlikely. We complement the human data with observations from some rodent and non-human primate species. The attentional resources allotted to stimuli with sexual relevance as well as genital responses to such stimuli are similar in men and women. Measures of implicit motivation also fail to detect any sex difference. Finally, the frequency of masturbation is superior in female infants before the age at which social expectations begin to determine behavior. Neither in rodents nor in non-human primates is there any clear-cut evidence for sex differences in motivation. It seems that males and females are similar with regard to the intensity of sexual motivation. The responses to questionnaires may be affected by social learning of sexual scripts and/or the inferior quality of sexual experiences in women, among other things.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Biological Psychiatry)
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Open AccessArticle
Does Social and Organizational Support Moderate Emotional Intelligence Training Effectiveness?
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Ishara Madhunika Opatha and Yoshi Takahashi
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(4), 276; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14040276 - 26 Mar 2024
Abstract
Given the dearth of systematic research and inconclusive results regarding the effectiveness of emotional intelligence (EI) training in adult training, this study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of EI training. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of EI training on learning
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Given the dearth of systematic research and inconclusive results regarding the effectiveness of emotional intelligence (EI) training in adult training, this study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of EI training. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of EI training on learning and transfer outcomes, considering underexplored moderation of social and organizational support with experimental and longitudinal research design. Training transfer was measured through changes in organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) and counterproductive work behavior (CWB). Participants self-assessed their OCB and CWB levels, while their supervisors also provided evaluations, allowing for separate analysis. Data, from a sample comprising 176 government officials, were collected across different periods and analyzed employing diverse analytical tools. The results revealed positive effects of EI training on training outcomes in both samples but positive moderation effect of social and organizational support on the effect of EI training on training outcomes was observed in the self-evaluation sample but not in the supervisor evaluation sample. The findings advance the debate on social exchange theory and organizational support theory by showing the boundary condition of their applicability. Furthermore, this study clarifies the impact of EI training on training outcomes by emphasizing the nuanced role of social and organizational support.
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(This article belongs to the Section Organizational Behaviors)
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Open AccessReview
The Impact of Motherhood on Women’s Career Progression: A Scoping Review of Evidence-Based Interventions
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Ana Júlia Calegari Torres, Letícia Barbosa-Silva, Ligia Carolina Oliveira-Silva, Olívia Pillar Perez Miziara, Ully Carolina Rodrigues Guahy, Alexandra N. Fisher and Michelle K. Ryan
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(4), 275; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14040275 - 26 Mar 2024
Abstract
(1) Background: Despite the progress made by women in the workplace, mothers still face systemic barriers that prevent them from advancing professionally. This “motherhood penalty” involves a variety of discriminatory practices and experiences that mothers can face at work, including being held to
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(1) Background: Despite the progress made by women in the workplace, mothers still face systemic barriers that prevent them from advancing professionally. This “motherhood penalty” involves a variety of discriminatory practices and experiences that mothers can face at work, including being held to stricter standards regarding salary and recruitment. Despite ongoing research on the association between motherhood and career outcomes, few studies specifically explore how motherhood impacts career advancement and, consequently, access to leadership. This scoping review seeks to gain an understanding of how motherhood impacts women’s career progression, and how interventions can address the underrepresentation of mothers in leadership. (2) Methods: Following the PRISMA-ScR framework, we analyzed 52 articles from 2010 to 2022, drawn from 10 databases. (3) Results: The results showed both negative and positive impacts of motherhood on career progression, affecting mothers’ attitudes, feelings, and behaviors and yielding changes in interpersonal relationships and work conditions. Intersectionality is highlighted, urging a nuanced examination of challenges faced by mothers from a diversity of backgrounds. Recommendations for interventions include individual and institutional efforts, comprising societal support structures, organizational policy changes, and cultural shifts. (4) Conclusions: This scoping review offers an updated perspective on a classic challenge, providing practical insights for a more inclusive and structural understanding of the career trajectories of working mothers.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rethinking Leadership Development: Contributions from Theory and Research)
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An Empirical Study on Corporate ESG Behavior and Employee Satisfaction: A Moderating Mediation Model
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Tianxing Zhang, Jun Zhang and Siyuan Tu
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(4), 274; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14040274 - 26 Mar 2024
Abstract
As the role of human capital in enhancing corporate value becomes increasingly prominent in the new economic era, employee satisfaction has garnered widespread attention in organizational behavior theory and business practices. However, constrained by the traditional governance model of “shareholder primacy”, which tends
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As the role of human capital in enhancing corporate value becomes increasingly prominent in the new economic era, employee satisfaction has garnered widespread attention in organizational behavior theory and business practices. However, constrained by the traditional governance model of “shareholder primacy”, which tends to view employees instrumentally, adverse effects on employee satisfaction and organizational identification persist. Currently, corporate ESG behaviors are flourishing in China, bringing profound and extensive transformations to economic and social sustainability. Yet, the research on whether and how corporate ESG behaviors improve employee satisfaction remains unclear. This study, based on data from the “China’s 100 Best Employers Award” and employing regression analysis on panel data from listed companies on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges, reveals that corporate ESG behaviors have the potential to enhance employee satisfaction. Transparency in corporate environmental information and internal control mechanisms emerge as the primary means through which corporate ESG behaviors elevate employee satisfaction. Furthermore, heightened environmental awareness among executives and higher educational qualifications among employees strengthen the relationship between corporate ESG behaviors and employee satisfaction.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Managing Organizational Behaviors for Sustainable Wellbeing at Work)
Open AccessArticle
Working-Together Normative Appeals to Promote Pro-Environmental Donations
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Yanlin Wu, Yue Chen, Cancan Jin, Junsheng Qin, Lei Zheng and Yidi Chen
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(4), 273; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14040273 - 26 Mar 2024
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Investigating the role of social norms in fostering pro-environmental behaviors is crucial for advancing human efforts toward environmental protection. This study employed a one-way, two-level, between-participants experimental design, focusing on the type of social norm as the independent variable and pro-environmental donations as
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Investigating the role of social norms in fostering pro-environmental behaviors is crucial for advancing human efforts toward environmental protection. This study employed a one-way, two-level, between-participants experimental design, focusing on the type of social norm as the independent variable and pro-environmental donations as the dependent variable. This study aimed to explore the impact of working-together normative appeals on pro-environmental donations and to understand the underlying mediating mechanism. In total, 128 Chinese university students participated in an online experiment. The findings indicated that working-together normative appeals significantly increased both the intention to donate and the actual amount of pro-environmental donations in the experimental group compared to those in the control group. Furthermore, the perceived behavioral control and intentions towards pro-environmental donations were identified as mediators in the relationship between social norm categorization and pro-environmental donations. Notably, intentions towards pro-environmental donations alone had a substantial mediating effect. These results underscore the positive influence of working-together normative appeals on pro-environmental donations and offer valuable insights into encouraging active participation in the creation of an eco-friendly society, particularly within a collectivist cultural context.
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Effects of Yachting Motivation on Yachting Satisfaction and Re-Yachting Intention
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Jaehyun Ha and Dongwook Cho
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(4), 272; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14040272 - 25 Mar 2024
Abstract
It is clear that yachting tourists are motivated to spend their leisure time at sea. However, few studies have determined the relationship between tourists’ motivation and satisfaction with yachting, and re-yachting intention. Furthermore, the purpose of this study was to examine the relationships
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It is clear that yachting tourists are motivated to spend their leisure time at sea. However, few studies have determined the relationship between tourists’ motivation and satisfaction with yachting, and re-yachting intention. Furthermore, the purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among yachting motivation, yachting satisfaction, and re-yachting intention. More specifically, this study sought to examine whether yachting motivation influenced yachting satisfaction, and determine if re-yachting intention was affected by yachting motivation. In order to analyze the data for this study, a total of 240 questionnaires were distributed to yachting tourists at three private yacht club operators, utilizing the convenient sampling method. A total of 219 usable questionnaires were analyzed for this study, while 21 questionnaires were discarded due to incompletion of the survey. Data were analyzed with multiple regression analysis using SPSS version 27.0. The results revealed that entertainment, stress reduction, and family/friends were positively and significantly related to yachting satisfaction. However, socializing and external ostentation did not contribute to yachting satisfaction. Secondly, the results indicated that entertainment, socializing, and stress reduction had a positive and significant effect on re-yachting intention. Conversely, external ostentation and family/friends had no significant influence on re-yachting intention. It is necessary for yacht club business operators to recognize the yachting motivation of the participants. It is also recommended that appropriate marketing strategies are implemented to increase yachting tourism, which would possibly influence yachting satisfaction and re-yachting intention.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effects of Sports on Individual Cognition, Motivation and Mental Health)
Open AccessArticle
What Contributes to Student Language Learning Satisfaction and Achievement with Learning Management Systems?
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Hanxue Li and Aohua Ni
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(4), 271; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14040271 - 24 Mar 2024
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Learning management systems (LMSs) have received substantial global attention and have undergone extensive research, with most discussions focusing on users’ acceptance and continuation of LMS use in the higher education sector. However, research is scarce in terms of identifying the factors that are
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Learning management systems (LMSs) have received substantial global attention and have undergone extensive research, with most discussions focusing on users’ acceptance and continuation of LMS use in the higher education sector. However, research is scarce in terms of identifying the factors that are advantageous to K-12 students’ learning and satisfaction when using LMSs for language learning. This study aims to examine the impacts of internal and contextual factors on secondary students’ learning satisfaction and English achievement when using LMSs. Data were collected from 289 students through an online survey. The results of the structural equation modeling showed that satisfaction had the most significant impact on English achievement. Furthermore, both internal and contextual factors, including technology self-efficacy, interest, task value, teacher support, and technology facilitation, positively impacted learning satisfaction with LMSs. In addition, teacher support exerted the strongest impact on satisfaction, followed by interest and technology self-efficacy. However, only internal factors, such as interest and task value, were positively associated with English achievement. Neither teacher support nor technology facilitation significantly impacted English performance. Given the increasing availability of LMS usage, the findings of this study can facilitate the more effective implementation of LMSs in China and globally. The study contributes to the theory and practice of LMSs use in K-12 English education. The limitations and implications of the study were discussed as well.
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Open AccessArticle
Association between Family Functioning, Child Emotional and Behavioral Problems, and Parental Stress during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Thailand
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Sawitree Jetiyanuwat, Suttipong Kawilapat, Assawin Narkpongphun and Pichaya Pojanapotha
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(4), 270; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14040270 - 24 Mar 2024
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The COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on people of all ages, especially children. This is a cross-sectional study in Thailand to explore the emotional and behavioral problems of school-aged children and associated factors during the lockdown. An online survey was conducted
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The COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on people of all ages, especially children. This is a cross-sectional study in Thailand to explore the emotional and behavioral problems of school-aged children and associated factors during the lockdown. An online survey was conducted with 942 parents of school-age children. Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) scores showed that total difficulties and all subscale difficulties (hyperactivity, conduct problems, peer problems, and emotional problems) were increased, whereas prosocial behaviors were decreased in the pandemic period. The factors significantly associated with higher parental stress were higher emotional and peer problems after the COVID-19 outbreak, high family difficulty, and sleep problems. Sleep problems were associated with all children’s difficulties, except prosocial behavior. High score in family difficulty subscale was associated with increased emotional problems, whereas poor family communication was associated with increased hyperactivity. Appetite change was negatively associated with parental stress and some children’s difficulties. Higher household income, family time, physical activities, and recreational activities were associated with a decreased level of some difficulties and family functioning problems, but positively with an increase in the prosocial behavior of children. Additionally, higher screen time was associated with a higher level of hyperactivity, conduct problems, and poor family communication. This study demonstrated that Thai children were at high risk of developing mental health problems during the pandemic lockdown. We suggest that intervention to promote physical activities and reduce screen time is needed. Moreover, efficient monetary policy is urgently required. The limitations here include a recall bias with no baseline to compare and a potential selection bias due to parental selection and a webpage announcement.
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Open AccessArticle
Reducing Employees’ Time Theft through Leader’s Developmental Feedback: The Serial Multiple Mediating Effects of Perceived Insider Status and Work Passion
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Zhen Wang, Qing Wang and Daojuan Wang
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(4), 269; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14040269 - 24 Mar 2024
Abstract
Time theft, especially with the shift to remote work during the pandemic, is an increasing challenge for organizations. Existing studies demonstrate that both authoritarian leadership and laissez-faire leadership can exacerbate time theft, putting leaders in a behavioral dilemma of neither being strict nor
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Time theft, especially with the shift to remote work during the pandemic, is an increasing challenge for organizations. Existing studies demonstrate that both authoritarian leadership and laissez-faire leadership can exacerbate time theft, putting leaders in a behavioral dilemma of neither being strict nor lenient. Additionally, the pervasive and covert nature of time theft diminishes the effectiveness of subsequent corrective actions. Our study aims to investigate how to prevent time theft by mitigating employees’ inclinations. Based on role theory, our study examines whether supervisor developmental feedback can encourage employees to perform work roles more appropriately. To uncover the complicated internalization process of role expectation, our study incorporates perceived insider status and work passion as serial mediators and considers the boundary effect of leaders’ word–deed consistency. In Study 1, a survey of 402 employees revealed that supervisor developmental feedback can negatively predict employee time theft through employees’ perceived insider status and work passion. Study 2 employs the same sample to further identify three topics of supervisor developmental feedback: skill learning, attitude learning, and social learning. Moreover, serial multiple mediating effects are affirmed across topics. The findings suggest that providing feedback on employees’ learning and growth is an effective approach to prevent time theft.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Preventing and Addressing Negative Behaviors in the Workplace)
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Open AccessArticle
The Role of the Motor System in L1 and L2 Action Verb Processing for Chinese Learners of English: Evidence from MuRhythm Desynchronization
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Yuqing Zhang, Shifa Chen, Yule Peng, Xin Yang and Junjie Yang
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(4), 268; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14040268 - 24 Mar 2024
Abstract
The nature of semantic representation has long been a key question in linguistic research. The Embodied Cognition theory challenges the traditional view of language representation, stating that semantic information stems from the sensory-motor cortex, which is activated automatically during semantic processing. However, most
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The nature of semantic representation has long been a key question in linguistic research. The Embodied Cognition theory challenges the traditional view of language representation, stating that semantic information stems from the sensory-motor cortex, which is activated automatically during semantic processing. However, most of the evidence comes from monolingual studies; it remains unclear whether second-language (L2) comprehension involves different semantic representations or mirrors the pattern seen in first-language (L1) processing. Therefore, the present study investigated the role of the sensory-motor system in language processing via making Electroencephalography (EEG) recordings during the processing of L1 and L2 action verbs. The results showed that L1 (Chinese) action verbs generated higher mu-event-related desynchronization (ERD) than L1 abstract verbs in the early processing stage (250 ms after verb presentation), and the same phenomenon was also observed for L2 (English). The results also indicated that language modulated the processing of action verbs, with L1 action verbs eliciting stronger ERD than L2 action verbs. These results demonstrate that the sensory-motor cortex plays a crucial role in comprehending both L1 and L2 action verbs.
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(This article belongs to the Section Cognition)
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The Nexus of Training Duration, Body Image, Nutritional Practices, and Mental Health: Insights from a Strength Training Cohort
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Jorge Jiménez-Morcillo, Stephanie Rodriguez-Besteiro and Vicente Javier Clemente-Suárez
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(4), 267; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14040267 - 23 Mar 2024
Abstract
This study investigated the intricate relationship between strength training and its effects on body image, psychological health, and nutritional habits. By examining 605 participants, divided into two groups based on training frequency, the research aimed to discern how varying intensities of training influenced
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This study investigated the intricate relationship between strength training and its effects on body image, psychological health, and nutritional habits. By examining 605 participants, divided into two groups based on training frequency, the research aimed to discern how varying intensities of training influenced different wellness facets. The investigation employed a comprehensive survey, gathering demographic data, training specifics, dietary patterns, and psychological characteristics, utilizing statistical tools for analysis. Results unveiled significant differences in dietary habits and psychological profiles between groups with higher and lower training frequencies. The group with more frequent training displayed less favourable health outcomes and suboptimal dietary habits, challenging the prevailing notion that increased training frequency leads to better health. The study emphasized the necessity of a balanced approach to physical training, highlighting the need for personalized strategies that encompass both physical and mental health considerations. The findings exposed the complexities of training regimens and their broader implications on individual health, suggesting that enhanced training frequency alone does not assure improved health outcomes. This research significantly contributed to the domain by providing insights into how the frequency of strength training could differentially affect health and well-being, offering valuable guidelines for fitness professionals and healthcare providers.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Narrative Approaches and Practice in Health Psychology)
Open AccessArticle
The Relationship between Live Sports Learning and Exercise Behavior in College Students: A Serial Mediation Model
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Tiantian Guo, Liping Liu, Yuqing Yang, Yao Shang and Shan-Ping Chen
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(4), 266; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14040266 - 23 Mar 2024
Abstract
Physical exercise is crucial to the development of students’ physical and mental health. This study explored the relationship between live sports learning and college students’ exercise behaviors, and the mediating roles of exercise motivation and exercise commitment, aiming to provide theoretical bases for
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Physical exercise is crucial to the development of students’ physical and mental health. This study explored the relationship between live sports learning and college students’ exercise behaviors, and the mediating roles of exercise motivation and exercise commitment, aiming to provide theoretical bases for the future that explain the mechanism of live sports learning in exercise behaviors, as well as practical guidance for the promotion of positive physical exercise behaviors in college students. In total, 1189 college students from China volunteered to complete questionnaires. The results showed that live sports learning positively predicted college students’ exercise behavior and that live sports learning was able to affect exercise behavior through the mediating roles of exercise motivation and exercise commitment, with specific mediating paths including the two independent mediating paths and a serial mediating path of exercise motivation and exercise commitment. This study confirmed, for the first time, on live sports learning in the process of promoting exercise behavior. It is suggested that educators instruct college students to regulate their participation in live sports learning and to cultivate healthy exercise motivation and exercise commitment, which is an effective way to facilitate college students’ practice of physical activity.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effects of Sports on Individual Cognition, Motivation and Mental Health)
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Open AccessArticle
Narrative-Derived Indices of Metacognition among People with Schizophrenia: Associations with Self-Reported and Performance-Based Social Functioning
by
Melissa F. V. Kilicoglu, Nancy B. Lundin, Kaley Angers and Aubrey M. Moe
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(4), 265; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14040265 - 23 Mar 2024
Abstract
Metacognitive functioning—which broadly encompasses the mental processes involved in thinking about the thinking of one’s self and the thinking of others—is often impaired among individuals living with schizophrenia and may contribute to difficulties in social and interpersonal functioning. Although the majority of studies
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Metacognitive functioning—which broadly encompasses the mental processes involved in thinking about the thinking of one’s self and the thinking of others—is often impaired among individuals living with schizophrenia and may contribute to difficulties in social and interpersonal functioning. Although the majority of studies assessing metacognition among individuals with schizophrenia use standardized, laboratory-based measurements, an increasing number of studies have measured metacognitive capacity using natural language produced by individuals living with mental illness. At the same time, less is known about how language-derived indices of metacognitive function relate to key social outcomes among people with schizophrenia. The primary objective of this study was to employ a validated language coding system (the Metacognition Assessment Scale, Abbreviated; MAS-A) to assess metacognitive functioning from the spoken life narratives of individuals with schizophrenia (n = 32) and community controls (n = 15). Among individuals with schizophrenia, we also examined the associations between language-derived metacognition and measures of self-reported and performance-based social functioning. Our results suggest that most aspects of metacognition in our sample were not significantly diminished in people with schizophrenia compared to community controls. Unexpectedly, the MAS-A subscale related to one’s ability to master psychological difficulties was rated higher among individuals with schizophrenia. Further, our results suggest that among people with schizophrenia, higher metacognitive functioning in the domain of self-reflectivity was associated with poorer self-reported social functioning, while a greater metacognitive awareness of other individuals’ minds was associated with better scores on aspects of performance-based social functioning. Collectively, these results underscore the utility of assessing metacognitive functioning via life-story narratives to understand social outcomes and highlight possible aspects of resiliency among individuals who have experienced a serious mental illness.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prevention and Recovery in People with Schizophrenia and Related Disorders)
Open AccessArticle
The Impact of Praise on Cooperative Behavior in Three-Player Public Goods Games and Its Gender Differences
by
Jieyu Lv and Yingjun Zhang
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(4), 264; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14040264 - 22 Mar 2024
Abstract
Previous research has primarily focused on static factors influencing cooperative behavior in social dilemmas, with less attention given to dynamic factors within group social interactions, such as positive feedback received during interactions, i.e., praise. This study, through a between-subjects online experiment with a
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Previous research has primarily focused on static factors influencing cooperative behavior in social dilemmas, with less attention given to dynamic factors within group social interactions, such as positive feedback received during interactions, i.e., praise. This study, through a between-subjects online experiment with a single-factor, two-level design (praise: public praise/no praise), investigates the impact of praise on cooperative behavior changes across two rounds of a three-player public goods problem. Results revealed the following: (1) A positive correlation between individuals’ contributions across two rounds and a negative correlation with the number of correct answers in rule comprehension questions were evident; for men, a correlation between rule comprehension and first-round contributions was observed. (2) Multilevel model results showed that praise, role, and rule comprehension significantly positively affected contribution changes across two rounds; gender did not significantly affect contribution changes. Specifically, under public-praise conditions, contribution changes were greater. Publicly praised individuals showed positive or negative behavior changes, while those not praised in the same group showed positive changes. Men contributed significantly more in the first round than women, with no gender difference found in contribution changes. Rule comprehension positively predicted contribution changes, indicating that more correct answers led to greater positive changes in contributions. These results not only support the inferential social learning perspective, suggesting that through praise, individuals can infer external world perceptions and self-evaluations, affecting both the praised (positively or negatively) and positively influencing non-praised individuals in the same group, but also provide a theoretical basis and intervention strategies for team and organizational management in groups.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Risk and Protective Factors in Social Interactions: Behavioral and Neural Evidence)
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