This study aims to identify the factors causing employer-induced disruption in construction projects and to examine why contractors do not file claims despite frequently encountering such losses. It also aims to develop a scale with tested reliability and validity to measure the causes of employer-induced disruption. Data for the study were collected through a structured questionnaire administered to architects and civil engineers working on the contractor side in projects conducted under the Public Procurement Law No. 4734. The data obtained in the study were analyzed using SPSS 27.0 and AMOS 24 software. The scale development process included exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses using separate samples following the reliability and validity assessments. The findings indicate that the proposed scale possesses a valid and reliable single-factor structure. Additionally, the results reveal that the most significant reasons for not filing a claim are: the lack of qualified technical staff required for record-keeping, the absence of a clause in the contract regarding disruption, and concerns about the potential deterioration of future employment relations with the employer. This study contributes to the literature by providing a validated measurement tool for assessing employer-related disruptions. It also offers recommendations for improving contract management, the documentation process, and awareness of issues among technical staff.

This study tests how Instagram Stories features shape Consumer Brand Engagement (CBE) among active users in Jordan. The market here is mobile first. A cross-sectional online survey produced 443 valid responses from individuals with active Instagram accounts who regularly view Stories and follow at least one brand account, with eligibility confirmed through screening questions embedded at the start. Judgmental purposive sampling guided recruitment, and only respondents passing the use and frequent-viewing checks were retained. The sample is 60.7% female, largely 19–25 years old (72.9%), and mostly holds a bachelor’s degree (77.9%). Measurement validity was tested with confirmatory factor analysis, and the CBE model was estimated using structural equation modeling (SEM) that achieved good overall fit. The fit indices indicate solid performance. Key statistics are CFI = 0.934 and RMSEA = 0.044. Five Stories features, namely entertaining content, interactivity, user-generated content, influencer trustworthiness, and up-to-date information, were modeled as antecedents of cognitive processing, which then predicted affection and activation consistent with the common three-stage structure of engagement. All five features had positive and significant effects on cognitive processing, with the strongest paths for entertaining content (β = 0.321, p < 0.05) and influencer trustworthiness (β = 0.318, p < 0.05). Entertainment leads in this model clearly. User-generated content (β = 0.200, p < 0.05), up-to-date information (β = 0.171, p < 0.05), and interactivity (β = 0.142, p < 0.05) followed in size. Cognitive processing strongly predicted affection (β = 0.647, R2 = 0.418) and activation (β = 0.718, R2 = 0.515), while its own explained variance was modest at R2 = 0.241. Taken together, these results position Stories features as practical levers that can lift engagement in a mobile-first Middle Eastern market, even if cognitive processing captures a modest share of upstream variance in the model.

This study develops a scale to assess school principals' social network leadership behaviors and examines these behaviors through various demographic variables based on teachers' perceptions. To achieve this, the research team designed a draft scale comprising 36 items with expert input and administered it to teachers in public schools in Mardin province during the 2023-2024 academic year. We categorized the data into three study groups. The first group's data (300 participants) underwent exploratory factor analysis, while the second group's data (201 participants) was subjected to confirmatory factor analysis. The third group, consisting of 352 participants, provided insights into school principals' social network leadership levels and their analysis across different variables. Exploratory factor analysis revealed a five-dimensional structure with 33 items named "Homophily," "Network Quality and Structural Gap," "Establishing the Structure," "Network Coverage," and "Social Capital." Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the model's fit and construct validity. Consequently, the scale was deemed valid and reliable for evaluating principals' social network leadership from teachers' perspectives. Teachers generally rated principals' social network leadership behaviors at a "moderately agree" level. Among the variables assessed—marital status, professional experience, educational status, career title, and job title—teachers' perceptions significantly differed only by job title. Given the positive impact of principals' social network leadership on social capital, the study recommends fostering social network awareness among school administrators aligned with institutional goals.

Prolonged grief disorder (PGD) is characterised by persistent yearning and intense emotional pain, and is often accompanied by identity disruption and social withdrawal. Research has identified various PGD risk factors; however, limited research has examined how relationship to the deceased relates to PGD risk. This study introduces 'simpatico', a novel construct assessing a mourner's perceived similarity and connection to the deceased as a risk factor for PGD. Grounded in the micro-sociological theory of bereavement, the study hypothesises that simpatico relationships heighten PGD risk because of the particular social deprivations their absence creates. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Turkey via online surveys with 400 bereaved. Data were analysed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, as well as correlation- and regression-based analyses. A nine-item Simpatico Scale was validated within a Turkish bereaved adult sample (N = 400), demonstrating good internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.90). Regression analyses revealed that elevated simpatico scores, particularly felt similarities with the deceased, were significantly associated with PGD symptom severity (β = 0.31, p < 0.001), even when controlling for demographic, cause of death, relationship to deceased and social support variables. Results identify simpatico as a new, particularly influential, interpersonal risk factor for PGD. Further, according to the micro-sociological theory, results suggest that promotion of simpatico relationships among bereaved persons may compensate for the social deprivations resulting from simpatico relationship losses. In these ways, this study identifies mourners at risk and suggests promising ways to intervene to reduce mourners' risk of PGD.

For four decades, stakeholder theory has played a key role in many research fields, from strategy to business ethics. More recent developments in the field of behavioral stakeholder theory highlight the importance of individual managers and their mindsets. The role of stakeholder theory mindsets of managers, however, has not been empirically investigated. Despite the prominence of stakeholder theory in management research, no measurement scale exists at the level of individuals that would allow scholars to assess the degree to which a manager agrees with the key assumptions of stakeholder theory. This research develops a scale to measure managers’ stakeholder theory mindsets. To do so, we followed scholarly best practices: First, we generated items based on existing stakeholder theory literature and then had expert stakeholder scholars evaluate them. This step was followed by two independent studies for exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis and a nomological network study. The actual scale development was complemented by an additional study, which tests the predictive power of the stakeholder theory mindset scale and demonstrates its incremental validity. As a result, we propose a validated measurement scale of stakeholder theory mindsets, consisting of 18 items that load on four factors corresponding to the four main assumptions in stakeholder theory: value creation, the integration thesis, jointness of stakeholder interests, and the responsibility principle. We draw out how future research can be inspired by using this scale, which inter alia allows testing antecedents of stakeholder theory mindsets, as well as consequences for managerial decision-making.

With the rise of positive psychology, increasing attention has been directed toward the role of positive emotions in fostering personal growth and well-being in second and foreign language learning. Although the PERMA and PERMA+4 frameworks offer valuable perspectives on well-being, they primarily emphasize positive constructs, leaving negative emotions and fixed mindsets largely unexplored. This gap is significant, as both positive and negative emotions, as well as growth and fixed mindsets, jointly shape learners’ psychological experiences. This study examined the effects of growth and fixed language mindsets on university students’ sense of accomplishment in English learning, with positive and negative achievement emotions and student engagement serving as sequential mediators. Using a short-term longitudinal design, large-scale quantitative questionnaire data were collected at 3 time points over an 18-week semester from 501 university students in Taiwan to assess second-language (L2) mindsets (Time 1), achievement emotions (Time 2), and engagement and sense of accomplishment (Time 3). Descriptive statistics, confirmatory factor analysis, structural equation modeling, and mediation analyses were conducted using IBM SPSS and AMOS. Structural equation modeling revealed that students with growth mindsets experienced stronger positive emotions, weaker negative emotions, greater engagement, and higher accomplishment in English learning. In contrast, fixed mindsets did not predict positive emotions or accomplishment but positively predicted negative emotions. Sequential mediation analyses showed that positive emotions and engagement together exerted the strongest indirect effect, followed by positive emotions alone and negative emotions combined with engagement. No mediating effects were found for fixed mindsets. These findings extend the PERMA+4 framework by highlighting the differential roles of adaptive and maladaptive emotions and mindsets in explaining well-being and accomplishment in English-as-a-foreign-language (EFL) learning.

Abstract Objectives This study aimed to perform the cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric validation of the Mindfulness Adherence Questionnaire (MAQ) for the Brazilian context, in order to offer an adequate instrument to measure adherence to mindfulness practice in mindfulness-based interventions. Method The adaptation process followed international guidelines for translation and semantic equivalence, including translation-back-translation methodology, review by an expert committee, and application in a pilot study. A convenience sample composed of 303 participants (82.61% women), aged between 22 and 73 years, was recruited online. Participants completed the Brazilian versions of the MAQ, Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS-21), Big Five Inventory (BFI), Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), and Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ). Construct validity was assessed through exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Reliability was analyzed using Cronbach's alpha and omega coefficients. Results The factor structure showed good adequacy, with satisfactory factor loadings. Internal consistency measures were adequate. The MAQ showed positive correlations with all variables related to mindfulness and personality traits, except for anxiety and stress scores. Conclusions The Brazilian version of the MAQ demonstrated acceptable psychometric properties and the preliminary findings suggest that the MAQ shows promising evidence of validity and reliability to assess the quantity and quality of formal and informal mindfulness practice, contributing to research and the integrity of clinical practice in Brazil. Preregistration This study is not preregistered.

Objectives To evaluate the psychometric properties of the perception evaluation scale of the structured objective clinical examination in health sciences students at a private university. Methods Quantitative, descriptive, and cross-sectional study conducted in two phases. In the first phase, a literature review was performed and an instrument was developed to evaluate perceptions regarding the OSCE. Subsequently, its psychometric properties were assessed through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses and reliability using Cronbach's Alpha coefficient. Results 354 students from 5 careers in the health area participated, their average age was 25 years. The final scale was made up of 22 items. Regarding the exploratory factor analysis, it showed 3 factors, which account for 69% of the variance. The confirmatory factor analysis showed an adequate model fit, supporting the construct validity of the instrument. Cronbach's Alpha coefficient obtained an excellent value of 0.921. Conclusions The instrument developed and validated in this research offers a solid and reliable tool to measure students’ perceptions and emotions in the OSCE activity.

Although loss of control over alcohol use is an important premorbid risk factor for alcohol use disorder, its prevailing measures remain limited. As just one example, many items capture noncompulsive (e.g., social) reasons for exceeding drinking limits and may also fail to capture uncontrolled drinking for those with no intentions to moderate drinking. In a sample of adult drinkers, we developed and validated a novel survey to assess loss of control over alcohol to address these limitations. Twenty-nine adults diverse in racial and ethnic identities and balanced on sex assigned at birth completed cognitive interviews to refine the item set. A quantitative survey was administered to 246 adults (55.7% White, 44.3% Black, 41.6% assigned male sex, 58.4% assigned female sex). The resultant items (Loss of Control-Alcohol [LOSS-A] scale) were administered alongside the AUDIT, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition-adapted alcohol use disorder symptoms, heavy drinking frequency, alcohol treatment history, and existing impaired control measures. Confirmatory factor analysis, item response theory, and a series of validity analyses were performed. The LOSS-A scale was invariant by race and sex. After removing one item that showed differential item functioning by race, a one-factor model fits the data well (comparative fit index/Tucker-Lewis index = 1.00, root-mean-square error of approximation = 0.027, standardized root-mean-square residual = 0.030). The LOSS-A scale showed convergent and criterion validity as well as incremental predictive validity for several alcohol outcomes over existing loss of control and impaired control measures. The eight-item LOSS-A scale is a brief and valid way to measure loss of control across a range of drinkers that addresses limitations of existing measures. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).

Measurement invariance and group differences of the Adolescent Time Attitude Inventory: A multi-group comparison across gender and school stages in Chinese adolescents.

ABSTRACT Purpose This study aims to empirically define the competency profile of social work professionals in educational institutions by identifying and structuring core competencies that articulate their professional role within the educational system. Materials and methods A quantitative descriptive-exploratory design was employed. Data were collected from 859 participants (students and graduates linked to Andalusian universities). An initial 24-item questionnaire was developed and subsequently refined through statistical analysis. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted to examine the factorial structure of the instrument. Results The analysis resulted in a factorial structure comprising 15 competencies organized into three interrelated factors: competencies related to work with teaching staff, competencies focused on students, and competencies oriented toward families. The model demonstrated satisfactory goodness-of-fit indicators, supporting the internal coherence and empirical consistency of the proposed competency framework. Discussion Findings contribute to clarifying the professional role of social work within educational institutions by providing an empirically grounded structuring of competencies. The results address the existing gap between the discursive recognition of school social work and the limited systematic delimitation of its competency profile. Conclusion This study offers an evidence-based competency framework that strengthens the alignment between university training and professional practice, contributing to the disciplinary delimitation and institutional positioning of social work in educational contexts.

Purpose The purpose of this study is to tackle the pressing challenge and provoke thoughts regarding improving supply chain responsiveness (SCR) in Indian food industry using Big Data Capabilities (BDCs) with procurement and production innovation. Specifically, the study seeks to empirically examine how BDC affects SCR through strategic procurement and production innovation capabilities. Design/methodology/approach The authors used confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling for validation of the proposed theoretical constructs, as well as their hypothesized relationships. In this study, an online survey instrument was administered to the professionals from the Indian food industry and data were analyzed for reliability, validity and statistical significance of path coefficients. Findings BDC is found to improve SCR by enabling data-based strategy and in procurement practices, as well as in production innovation. BDC is found to be positively and statistically significantly associated with strategic procurement and production innovation capabilities in the Indian food industry, indicating that BDC critically enables supply chain agility and responsiveness. Originality/value This study provides a framework to establish synergistic effects of BDC together with strategic procurement and production innovation on SCR within specific Indian food industrial context. This study fills the gap in previous research by offering industry-specific perspectives on how organizations can use big data to enhance supply chain responsiveness.

Longitudinal prospective cohort study. This study aimed to translate, culturally adapt, and validate the Spinal Cord Independence Measure Version IV (SCIM-IV) for European Portuguese (EU-PT). Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) unit of a rehabilitation center in Portugal. The translation followed Beaton's guidelines and included cognitive debriefing by rehabilitation professionals. Psychometric validation complied with COSMIN standards, including internal consistency (Cronbach's α, item-total correlations), construct and structural validity, and responsiveness. Construct validity was tested via correlations with the motor domain of the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and the International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI) motor scores. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to assess structural validity. Sixty-six adults (81.8% male; median age 62.5 years) were assessed at admission and discharge during the subacute phase of SCI. The EU-PT version demonstrated strong semantic and conceptual equivalence. Cognitive debriefing improved the clarity and comprehension of the items. Internal consistency was high for the total scale (α = 0.86-0.91), although it was lower in the 'Respiration and Sphincter Management' subscale. Strong construct validity was supported by correlations with the motor FIM (r = 0.84-0.95) and motor scores (r = 0.63-0.77). Structural validity was suboptimal, particularly in the 'Respiration and Sphincter' domain. The scale was highly responsive (effect size=1.35) and correlated with functional gains (r = 0.77). The EU-PT SCIM-IV version exhibited strong linguistic and psychometric properties. This enables standardized assessment in EU-PT-speaking contexts and supports international collaboration in SCI rehabilitation research and training.

Purpose This study investigates the influence of interactive Ethno-STEM learning on the development of 21st-century skills among university mathematics students, with a focus on critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, innovation and digital literacy. Design/methodology/approach A convergent mixed-methods design was adopted, combining quantitative and qualitative data. The study involves 314 undergraduate mathematics students from USTED, Kumasi campus, selected using simple random, convenience and purposive sampling. Data were collected through an online questionnaire and focus group discussions following a four-week Ethno-STEM instructional program. The data were analyzed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, reliability tests, and structural equation modeling, while qualitative data were analyzed thematically to support and clarify the statistical results. Findings The focus group discussions showed that the students generally viewed interactive Ethno-STEM learning in a very positive light. Finally, Ethno-STEM learning positively influences students' critical thinking skills, students' problem-solving skills, students' creativity and innovation and students' digital literacy and technology skills. Research limitations/implications The study's mixed sampling approach may have introduced some bias, limiting the generalizability of the findings beyond the selected sample. Practical implications The findings suggest that integrating Ethno-STEM approaches in university mathematics education can strengthen students' 21st-century skills, support culturally responsive teaching, and inform curriculum development and pedagogical strategies. Originality/value This study is among the first to empirically examine the impact of interactive Ethno-STEM learning on multiple dimensions of 21st-century skills in a university mathematics context, highlighting the value of blending cultural knowledge with STEM education.

Participation quality and intrinsic learning motivation in research-based learning: Self-efficacy as a mediator of college students' innovative capability.

Purpose Entrepreneurial orientation (EO) is widely recognised as an important driver of economic development, yet its role in agricultural contexts – particularly in relation to policy-relevant behavioural responses – remains underexplored. This study seeks to address this gap by providing new empirical evidence on how farmers' EO is conceptualised and how it shapes income-generating strategy intentions (IGSIs) under conditions of uncertainty. Design/methodology/approach The study draws on survey data from 497 farm households in the rural Mekong Delta of Vietnam. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) is employed to conceptualise EO, while probit regression models are used to estimate the impact of EO on farmers' IGSIs under alternative income-loss scenarios. Findings The results indicate that EO may be represented as either a unidimensional or a multidimensional construct; however, the unidimensional specification provides the best empirical fit in this context. Regression estimates further show that EO exerts a consistently positive and statistically significant effect on farmers' IGSIs across different income-loss scenarios. Research limitations/implications A limitation of this study is the use of a single-method approach. Incorporating both quantitative and qualitative methods in future research could offer a more comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing farmers' livelihood diversification, including knowledge acquisition, policy context, and access to markets and infrastructure. Originality/value This study contributes to the entrepreneurship and development economics literature by validating a context-appropriate EO construct for smallholder farmers and by examining the role of EO in shaping forward-looking IG, rather than realised diversification outcomes. By focusing on intentions under climate-related uncertainty, the study offers policy-relevant insights into how EO may support adaptive capacity in rural, climate-vulnerable regions.

Introduction: European studies have demonstrated the three-dimensional structure and adequate reliability of the EORTC QLQ-FA12 for assessing cancer-related fatigue. Objective: To evaluate the dimensional structure and internal consistency of the Brazilian version of the EORTC QLQ-FA12. Method: A cross-sectional study with 278 patients at a High-Complexity Oncology Care Center located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Confirmatory factor analysis was performed using the Weighted Least Squares Mean and Variance Adjusted estimator and polychoric correlation matrices. Exploratory structural equation models were tested using confirmatory factor analysis methods and geomin oblique rotation. The Comparative Fit Index, Tucker-Lewis Index, and Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) were used to evaluate model fit. Internal consistency was assessed through composite reliability, and correlations between dimensions were examined to investigate discriminant factorial validity. Results: The confirmatory factor analysis of the three-dimensional structure, despite a borderline RMSEA, showed overall good statistical fit, with factor loadings ranging from 0.608 to 0.873 in the original dimensions, adequate internal consistency, and acceptable discriminant validity. However, in exploratory structural equation models, this structure presented cross-loadings as well as a borderline RMSEA. Internal consistency was considered adequate, and correlations between dimensions were acceptable. Conclusion: The Brazilian version of the EORTC QLQ-FA12 appears to be three-dimensional, with all items coherently representing the construct of cancer-related fatigue.

Despite the significance of spiritual health in health psychology literature, existing instruments are mostly grounded in Western frameworks and cannot assess dimensions of Islamic spirituality. The present study sought to develop and validate an Islamic Spiritual Health Questionnaire, grounded in authoritative Quranic and narrative sources, to provide an indigenous, valid instrument for evaluating spiritual aspects rooted in a monotheistic worldview. The study employed a sequential exploratory mixed-methods design. In the qualitative phase, 27 components of spiritual health were extracted from Islamic texts (the Holy Quran, Nahj al-Balāghah, al-Ṣaḥīfah al-Sajjādiyyah, al-Kāfī, and several other hadith collections) through inductive content analysis, yielding 54 items. The content validity of 27 items was then confirmed via CVR and CVI indices based on the opinions of 10 experts in theology and psychology. In the quantitative phase, the 27-item questionnaire was first piloted with 63 participants, yielding an overall Cronbach's alpha of 0.946; two items were removed based on participant feedback and expert judgment. In the final stage, the 25-item version was administered to 438 individuals selected via stratified random sampling from the general population, and exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted using PLS-SEM in SmartPLS 3 software. Exploratory factor analysis identified four main factors: theocentrism, public relations, control of carnal desires, and social responsibility. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that all item loadings exceeded 0.4, and all paths were significant at the 0.05 level (t > 1.96). The indices of convergent validity (AVE > 0.5), discriminant validity, and composite reliability (CR > 0.7) were acceptable for all dimensions. R2 values were moderate-to-strong for all dependent variables in the model, and Q2 values were strong for all endogenous constructs. The overall goodness-of-fit index (GOF = 0.818) reflected a strong model fit. This instrument's total reliability was supported by a Cronbach's alpha of 0.973, split-half coefficients ranging from 0.823 to 0.963, and a test-retest correlation of 0.67 over a 2-week interval. The criterion validity of the questionnaire was also confirmed through significant positive correlations with the "Spiritual Health Scale Based on Islamic Sources (r = 0.719, p < 0.001) and the "Paloutzian and Ellison Spiritual Well-Being" scale (r = 0.553, p < 0.001). The Islamic Spiritual Health Questionnaire demonstrates established content, construct, and criterion validity, along with high reliability, and can be employed as a robust and precise instrument for assessing spiritual health based on Islamic teachings in research, educational interventions, and clinical settings.

This study developed and psychometrically validated the Cognitive-Spiritual Algorithmic Responsiveness in Teaching Scale (C-SARTS) for AI-supported secondary education in Jordan. Using a sequential mixed-methods design, we generated and refined items through qualitative interviews and literature review, then administered the scale to 552 teachers. Exploratory factor analysis suggested a coherent four-factor solution-integrative multidimensional responsiveness, cognitive responsiveness in live pedagogy, spiritual responsiveness in teaching encounters, and algorithmic responsiveness in instructional design-which was subsequently confirmed by confirmatory factor analysis with acceptable fit indices. Reliability was strong across dimensions (α/ω/CR at or above conventional thresholds). Convergent and discriminant validity were largely satisfactory; one construct showed AVE slightly below 50 but met composite reliability criteria, indicating conservative yet acceptable convergence. Measurement invariance held across gender. Network-based exploratory graph analysis with bootstrap replications supported a stable four-dimensional structure, and a random-forest check highlighted the integrative dimension and items that combine AI-readable design with attention to students' psychosocial context as most influential. C-SARTS offers a concise, multidimensional measure of how teachers align cognitive, ethical-spiritual, and algorithmic considerations in AI-rich classrooms, supporting applications in educational research, teacher professional development, and ethically grounded technology integration in Jordanian secondary schools.

Sexual cognitive schemas are central cognitive representations of sexual aspects of self that shape the interpretation of sexual experiences and may contribute to individual differences in sexual functioning. The present study aimed to validate the Questionnaire of Cognitive Schema Activation in Sexual Context (QCSASC) in a Hungarian sample and to examine whether sexual cognitive schemas mediate the relationship between personality traits and sexual functioning. A total of 256 university students (202 females) completed the QCSASC and the Zuckerman–Kuhlman–Aluja Personality Questionnaire. Moreover, the Female Sexual Function Index was administered. The factor structure was examined using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, and associations among personality, schemas, and sexual function were tested using correlational, regression, and mediation analyses. Results supported a five-factor structure of the Hungarian QCSASC, identifying Helplessness, Incompetence, Rejection, Unattractiveness, and Unlovability schemas, all showing good internal consistency. Sexual cognitive schemas were positively related to Neuroticism and negatively to Extraversion. Female sexual function was related to the Incompetence schema. Personality traits showed no direct link with female sexual functioning; however, through the sexual cognitive schema, there was a significant indirect link between personality (Extraversion, Neuroticism) and female sexual functioning. These findings suggest that sexual cognitive schemas can represent a pathway between personality traits and sexual functioning.