Admist intensifying academic and shifting regulatory landscape of China’s “Double Reduction” policy, this study investigates the language attitudes and investment behaviors of urban middle-class families in Changsha, a major city in monolingual central China. Through a purposive sample of 350 parents of primary school students, the findings reveal broadly positive attitudes toward English, with use value rated highest and demonstrating strong consensus, while exchange value showed the greatest dispersion. Family investment in English education is characterized by substantial material expenditure and high levels of parental intellectual, non-intellectual, and social interaction, reflecting a composite strategy of capital conversion. Path analysis indicates that while exchange value exerts the most direct influence on annual family expenditure, use value and symbolic value indirectly shape investment through social interaction. The study further identifies a “manager mother” model, wherein maternal educational background significantly predicts the intensity of family involvement. These micro-level strategies are nested within macro-level structures, demonstrating how family agency both responds to and potentially reinforces educational stratification and policy shifts. The research contributes to FLP literature by applying an investment perspective in a monolingual context, addressing a geographical bias toward coastal metropolises, and providing quantitative evidence of the complex interplay between parental beliefs and strategic resources mobilization.

The 21st century has witnessed an emergence of strategies in a variety of fields that promote empathy as a catalyst for change. This paper seeks to understand how, and to what effect these strategies have had on the realisation of women’s human rights. Guthridge et al. previously developed a model of affective empathy for advancing gender equality. The present study aims to understand the practical application of this model, which is based on three identified substrates of empathy: intersubjectivity, multisensory engagement and empathic embodiment. We interviewed 16 experts from eight countries about how their programmes used one or more of these substrates to bring about gender equality or other social justice outcomes. We found that programmes must first consider the context and the conditions of the problem they were targeting. Then, intersubjectivity, multisensory engagement and empathic embodiment were amplified by building a connection through empathising with others; where empathic experiences are achieved through embodiment and supported by ongoing dialogue . Further, we elucidate these seemingly ambiguous elements by providing real-world examples. Now, we must pioneer new ways to test and impart this emerging knowledge through cultural adaptations and intervention evaluations with the ultimate goal of achieving long-term impact on population-based behaviour change strategies, national policy and international human rights implementation for the advancement of women’s human rights.

Internships in international organizations are highly valued for the development of global competency. Drawing on the combination of the United Nations Competencies for the Future and the onion competency model as a theoretical framework, this study examines the global competency of Chinese university students by conducting in-depth qualitative interviews with 44 interns stationed at international organizations. The thematic analysis reveals that the global competency of Chinese interns in international organizations is characterized as multifaceted, which characterized by high level of professionalism, underdeveloped communication competencies, practical competency gaps and creativity deficiency from a knowledge and skills perspective. In terms of roles and attitudes, Chinese interns tend to view the internship as international civil servants and display a growth mindset. Regarding motivations and personality, they exhibit a high degree of intercultural disposition and demonstrate a combination of cosmopolitan identity and patriotism. Strategic implications are discussed regarding how Chinese universities cultivate students’ global competency, particularly as an adaptive response to the shifting complexities of a globalized and multi-polar world.

Considering the need to achieve global food sustainability and contribute to environmental sustainability, it is essential to explore strategies to enhance the acceptability of insect-based foods, particularly in regions where such consumption is not part of traditional dietary patterns. This study investigated the effects of packaging communication, insect-based ingredient information, and personal recommendations on e-commerce platforms on consumers’ purchase intention, brand perception, and taste perception of insect-based foods. A 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design was applied, testing three factors: positive versus negative word-of-mouth (WOM), ingredient information indicating insect flour versus oat flour, and packaging featuring a cricket cartoon versus packaging without such imagery. The sample consisted of 245 consumers aged 18 to 25 years. The results showed significant main effects of WOM on brand perception, whereas ingredient information and packaging imagery did not exert independent effects on taste perception or purchase intention. Moreover, interaction effects among the three factors were observed. Overall, the findings suggest that young adults demonstrate a general openness to trying novel foods and display a willingness to experiment with alternative dietary options.

Critical thinking is considered as one of the most significant skills for the graduates of today. Less attention, however, has been paid to this skill by academics and practitioners in developing countries including Pakistan. This research examines prospective teachers’ preparedness to implement critical thinking skills in their teaching when they join teaching profession. It specifically focuses on prospective teachers’ experiences at a higher education institution to elicit their understanding and awareness of CT, the strategies used to promote their CT skills, and their readiness to teach CT skills. Considering the purpose and objectives of the research, a qualitative case study approach was used. Participants of the study consisted of a total of 10 members of final-year students of the B.Ed. program of a higher education institution. The research used a purposive sampling procedure to recruit the participants. The data collection tools were semi-structured interviews and observations of teaching-learning processes. The thematic analysis procedure was used to analyze the emerging data. The study’s findings revealed that students perceive CT as strong observation skills, and consider it as a natural process where, through teachers’ guidance and support, students can gain a grip on this skill. They also identified a variety of strategies to promote CT that their teachers use. However, the prospective teachers foresee several challenges in their work contexts to implement CT skills. The study argues that by undertaking successful approaches to improve students’ critical thinking skills, we can support to overcome the possible challenges in the work context ultimately producing graduates equipped with this important skill.

This study examines the determinants of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows into 24 economies in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region from 1980 to 2023. Utilizing Dunning’s Eclectic Paradigm (OLI framework), institutional theory, and transaction cost economics, this research investigates how ownership, location, and internalization advantages influence FDI decisions in a region characterized by significant resource dependence and institutional heterogeneity. To ensure the robustness of our findings, we employ second-generation panel data techniques, including Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares (FMOLS), Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares (DOLS), Common Correlated Effects Mean Group (CCEMG) and Augmented Mean Group (AMG). These methodologies effectively address issues such as Cross-Sectional Dependence (CSD) and Slope Heterogeneity (SH). Our results indicate that institutional quality, particularly in relation to control of corruption and government effectiveness, exerts a strong positive impact on FDI inflows. Conversely, natural resource abundance demonstrates a negative relationship with overall FDI, thus corroborating the “resource curse” hypothesis within the MENA context. Market size significantly positively influences FDI attraction. Notably indicators of political stability and regulatory quality do not consistently show statistical significance across the model, implying that broader stability metrics may inadequately capture investor sentiment. In contrast, control of corruption and government effectiveness emerge as more salient institutional mediators of FDI decisions. These findings contribute to the existing literature by providing a context-specific analysis of FDI dynamics in the MENA region, employing advanced econometric estimators that have been underutilized in prior studies, and enhancing methodological transparency through the construction of composite variables. The results furnish actionable insights for policymakers seeking to attract sustainable foreign investment through institutional reform and macroeconomic stabilization.

Doctoral student burnout represents a critical global concern, yet the lived experiences of this phenomenon among women in the rapidly evolving Chinese higher education context remain inadequately understood. Employing Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), this study explored the psychological trajectory of burnout among six female PhD students. Interpreted through the lenses of Maslach’s three-dimensional model, the analysis reveals a dynamic, sequential progression of burnout organized into three superordinate themes: starting with exhaustion, moving to detachment, and culminating in reduced accomplishment. This progression underscores burnout not as a static state but as a dynamic process intensified by gendered socio-academic pressures. The study concludes with implications for developing more flexible, gender-sensitive support structures designed to support the well-being of female doctoral students.

This systematic review (SLR) evaluated the effectiveness of interventions aimed at enhancing psychosocial well-being and empowerment (PWE) for women affected by gender-based violence (GBV). Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, studies were systematically analyzed from Scopus and Web of Science, published between 2018 and 15 January 2024. The PICO framework guided inclusion criteria: (P) women affected by GBV, (I) interventions to enhance PWE, (C) comparison between initial and final intervention phases, and (O) assessed outcomes related to PWE. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) tools assessed the risk of bias, while the GRADE system evaluated evidence quality. Thirteen studies involving 1,813 participants met the inclusion criteria. The experimental groups demonstrated significant improvements, including reductions in symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, and PTSD, and increased resilience, self-esteem, self-efficacy, and quality of life. Mindfulness and relaxation techniques, counseling, and expressive therapies emerged as the most effective strategies. This review highlights the positive impact of targeted interventions on PWE among women affected by GBV. Nonetheless, limitations such as small sample sizes, methodological quality, and geographical diversity indicate the need for larger, culturally sensitive studies. These findings inform future intervention development and stress the importance of integrating structured and evidence-based interventions into health and social policies to enhance PWE for women impacted by GBV. Culturally adapted approaches are recommended to maximize their effectiveness. This SLR is registered with CRD42024514325. Madalena Cruz is a research fellow of the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) of Portugal.

Following the inaugural game of the Women’s Australian Football League (AFLW), the number of women’s community teams has grown exponentially. This increased presence of women’s teams in formerly male-dominated clubs has highlighted gender inequities that create barriers to participation, reducing women’s access to the manifold social and emotional health benefits associated with community sport. This protocol paper outlines a novel, strengths-based, doctoral study examining gender equity in Women’s community-level Australian Rules football. This project aims to explore experiences and practices of gender norms and expectations within women’s Australian Rules Football community clubs in Western Australia (WA). The project will employ a phased, mixed-methods approach, underpinned by queer theory and feminist frameworks, to better understand the socio-cultural context of embedded attitudes and values regarding gender roles, norms, and expectations. The three phases of the study will comprise: (a) scoping review; (b) quantitative survey; (c) embedded case studies examining clubs with strong inclusion policies for their women’s teams. Unobtrusive methods (observation and audit) and participatory methods (group-based modelling workshops and in-depth, semi-structured interviews) will be utilised in phase three. The findings from each phase will be integrated using complexity theory to highlight the multiple intertwining relationships between complex cultural and gendered phenomena and their operationalisation in community club contexts. In doing so, the researchers aim to develop a template to empower clubs to address inequities in their unique contexts and facilitate all genders’ access to the social, mental and health benefits of community Australian Rules football participation.

This study examines the impact of COVID-19 on the lives of youth experiencing homelessness (YEH) using a concurrent mixed-methods approach. We recruited individuals aged 18–25 ( n = 314) who were homeless and unstably housed (e.g., living in the streets with friends, hotels, or shelters). We measured COVID-19 fear and impact quantitatively and analyzed it using descriptive statistics. Concurrently, we conducted in-person or phone interviews to examine the experiences of YEH ( n = 40). Thematic analysis was used to organize the findings. YEH identifying as LGBTQ+ youth within this community confronted exacerbated challenges. LGBTQ+ youth had significantly higher fear and impact scores when compared to non- LGBTQ+ youth ( p = .02). Qualitative narratives illuminated the profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, revealing systemic inequities that disproportionately affected LGBTQ+. Distinct vulnerabilities emerged, encompassing economic strains, restricted healthcare access, and intensified social disconnections. Findings underscores the intricate layers of vulnerability within YEH populations during global health crises. The research accentuates the urgent need for systemic reforms and targeted interventions by integrating insights from a Social Determinants of Health framework. The findings offer invaluable knowledge for policymakers, service providers, and stakeholders, advocating for strategies that address disparities and promote equitable health outcomes among YEH.