Significant Direct Effect Research Articles

Cross-lagged effects of physical exercise on mental health: the mediating effects of emotional expression and self-efficacy

This longitudinal study investigated the bidirectional relationship between physical exercise and mental health among college students, focusing on the mediating roles of emotional expression and self-efficacy. Using a cross-lagged panel design with three time points over an academic year, data were collected from 500 undergraduate students in China. Structural equation modeling revealed significant reciprocal effects between physical exercise and mental health outcomes. Mediation analysis demonstrated that emotional expression and self-efficacy collectively accounted for 38% of the total effect of physical exercise on mental health. Physical exercise at earlier time points positively predicted both emotional expression (β = 0.16, p < .01) and self-efficacy (β = 0.19, p < .001) at subsequent time points, which in turn predicted improved mental health outcomes. The study also found significant direct effects of physical exercise on mental health (β = -0.182, p < .001), indicating unique contributions beyond the examined mediators. These findings highlight the complex mechanisms through which physical exercise influences mental health and suggest that interventions integrating physical activity with strategies to enhance emotional regulation and self-efficacy may be particularly effective in promoting mental well-being among college students. The results underscore the importance of adopting a holistic approach to mental health promotion that considers both physical and psychological factors in young adult populations.

Artificial intelligence-driven brand strategy: Impact on awareness, image, equity, and loyalty

The study investigates the impact of artificial intelligence (AI)-powered chatbots on brand dynamics within the banking sector, focusing on the interrelationships between AI implementation and key brand dimensions, including awareness, equity, image, and loyalty. Using structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis on data collected from 520 banking customers, the study tests eight hypotheses to explore the direct and indirect effects of AI-driven interactions on brand development. The findings reveal that AI chatbots significantly enhance brand awareness in banking services, demonstrating moderate positive effects on both brand equity and brand image. Notably, while brand awareness exerts a strong influence on brand image, it does not have a significant direct effect on brand loyalty. Instead, the study shows that brand loyalty is primarily developed through the mediating effects of brand equity and image, with brand image exerting a particularly strong influence on brand equity. For banking practitioners, these insights suggest a need to integrate AI chatbots within a comprehensive brand strategy that merges technological innovation with traditional relationship-building approaches. Limitations of the study and potential directions for future research are also discussed, providing avenues for further exploration of AI’s role in brand management.

Anhedonia Links Sleep Problems and Suicidal Thoughts: An Intensive Longitudinal Study in High-Risk Adolescents.

Growing research indicates that sleep problems are a robust independent risk factor for suicidal thoughts and behaviors among youth. However, relatively little is known about how this risk is conferred. This study used an intensive longitudinal design to investigate anhedonia as a mechanism linking sleep problems and next-day suicidal thoughts in a clinically high-risk sample of adolescents. Adolescents (N = 48; Mage=14.96; 77.1% white, 64.6% female) completed an ecological momentary assessment (EMA) study design for 28 days following discharge from acute psychiatric care for suicide risk. Daily sleep diaries were used to assess prior night total sleep time and sleep onset latency. Ecological momentary assessment was used to assess anhedonia and suicidal thoughts up to six times per day. A series of multi-level structural equation models were used to examine facets of anhedonia as parallel mediators of the association between sleep problems and next-day suicidal thoughts. Significant direct effects were found between sleep problems and consummatory anhedonia, consummatory anhedonia and suicidal thoughts, and anticipatory anhedonia and suicidal thoughts. There were significant indirect (mediated) effects between sleep problems and next-day suicidal thoughts through consummatory anhedonia, but not anticipatory anhedonia. Findings provide initial evidence as to how sleep problems may confer risk for next-day suicidal thoughts- by increasing consummatory anhedonia. Future research is needed to replicate these findings in larger samples and investigate how modifying anhedonia may mitigate suicide risk in youth.

The Missing Link: Academic Motivation as a Mediator in the Relationship between Mindfulness and Critical Thinking Skills in Indonesian First-Year Undergraduates

Background Critical thinking is essential for university students to deal with academic demands. Preliminary research indicates that first-year undergraduate students in Indonesia have low critical thinking skills, highlighting the importance of developing these skills early to better adapt to university life. Objective This research examined the role of academic motivation as a mediator between mindfulness and critical thinking skills among first-year undergraduate students in Indonesia. Methods Data were collected through e-flyers and questionnaires distributed via social media, using convenience and snowball sampling techniques. The sample included 186 first-year students (aged 18–23, M = 18.9) from the class of 2022. Critical thinking was assessed with the Analog Test, mindfulness was measured using the 15-item Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ-15), and academic motivation was evaluated with the Indonesian Short Version of the Academic Motivation Scale. Pearson correlation and regression analyses were performed. Results The study found a statistically significant indirect effect of mindfulness on critical thinking, mediated by intrinsic academic motivation (β = 0.010, p = 0.027, 95% CI = 0.00065–0.023). While this mediation effect was significant, the effect size was small, suggesting that while mindfulness influenced critical thinking through intrinsic motivation, its practical significance was limited. Conclusion This study highlights that mindfulness predicts critical thinking primarily through intrinsic academic motivation, with no significant direct effect. The small effect size suggests that other factors may also influence this relationship. Further research is needed to identify additional mediators or contextual variables.

Impact of job insecurity, job stress and negative emotions on counterproductive work behaviour among academic employees in Ghana

The antecedents of counterproductive work behaviour (CWB) in the higher education sector have remained unexamined in available literature. Moreover, the impact of job insecurity, job stress, and negative emotions on the occurrence of CWB within the academic context have hardly been interrogated. This study therefore, aimed at investigating the impact of job insecurity, job stress and negative emotions on CWB and further examining the mediating role of job stress and negative emotions in the occurrences of CWB among academics. Data was collected from 716 academics in Technical Universities in Ghana using self-reported questionnaires with close-ended questions and a convenient sampling technique. Confirmatory Factor Analysis was conducted to verify the measurement structure of the constructs. Structural Equation Model was employed to test the hypotheses in the conceptual model. The result showed a statistically significant direct effect of job insecurity, job stress and negative emotions on the occurrence of counterproductive work behaviour among academics. It was further revealed that there is a positive relationship between job insecurity and job stress, with job stress partially mediating the relationship between job insecurity and counterproductive work behaviour. Furthermore, negative emotions acted as a partial mediator in the relationship between job stress and counterproductive work behaviour. The findings have implications for higher education institutions in taking steps to address job insecurity, job stress, and negative emotional experiences of academics to mitigate counterproductive work behaviour among academics.

Fostering Young Entrepreneurs: Family Support as the Cornerstone of Intentions

The present study investigates the influences of perceived family support (PFS), perceived desirability (PD), and perceived feasibility (PF) on entrepreneurial intentions (INT) among youth in both urban and rural settings. Grounded in the Entrepreneurial Event Model (EEM), this research highlights the complex interplay between individual and social factors that shape entrepreneurial aspirations. The EEM underscores the critical roles of PD and PF in predicting entrepreneurial intentions alongside the propensity to act. A quantitative research methodology was employed, utilizing a cross-sectional survey design with a diverse sample of 291 youth aged 16-24 years, including university students from both urban and rural areas. Data were collected through paper-based surveys distributed across educational institutions and community centers. The results reveal significant direct effects of PD (β = 0.318) and PF (β = 0.380) on INT, confirming the importance of cognitive factors in entrepreneurial decision-making. Furthermore, PFS positively influences both PD (β = 0.334) and PF (β = 0.469), highlighting the multidimensional role of family support. Notably, both PF and PD serve as mediators in the relationship between PFS and INT, underscoring the critical role of family dynamics in shaping the entrepreneurial aspirations of young individuals. This study contributes to the EEM by reaffirming PD and PF as crucial predictors of INT while illustrating how PFS enhances these perceptions. The findings emphasize the importance of family involvement in nurturing entrepreneurial intentions, suggesting that targeted programs to engage family support could strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Additionally, this research prompts future investigations into other external factors influencing perceived desirability and feasibility, thereby broadening the applicability of the EEM across diverse contexts.

Family intimacy and depression: a comparative study among adolescents in Finland

Background Substantial research has demonstrated the strong influence of family factors on adolescent depressive symptoms. However, the mechanisms underlying this relationship, particularly the moderating effects of sex and sexual orientation, remain unclear. Objectives This study aimed to investigate the direct and indirect effects of family intimacy on depressive symptoms among adolescents, while examining the mediating role of social inclusion and anxiety disorders. Furthermore, it explored how these effects are moderated by sex and sexual orientation. Method Data from the nationwide School Health Promotion Study in Finland were used (N = 155,166; adolescents aged 14–17 years). The analysis included a multiple mediation model to evaluate the pathways linking family intimacy to depressive symptoms, through social inclusion and anxiety disorders. Moderation analyses were conducted to explore the moderating effects of sex and sexual orientation on these pathways. Results Family intimacy had a significant direct negative effect on depressive symptoms. Social inclusion and anxiety disorders were identified as mediators, with social inclusion serving as a significant buffer to depression. Moderation analysis revealed that these effects were stronger for non-heterosexual adolescents and varied by sex, with females showing a stronger impact of social inclusion on depressive symptoms, whereas males were more influenced by the pathway through anxiety disorders. Conclusion The findings highlight the crucial roles of social inclusion and family intimacy in mitigating depressive symptoms among adolescents. Interventions should prioritize enhancing social inclusion, particularly for non-heterosexual adolescents, and tailor strategies based on sex differences to optimize outcomes.

The Impact of Social Influences on Investment Decision-Making: A Multi-Method Analysis of Vietnamese Investors

This study explores the impact of social influences on investment decision-making, focusing on Vietnamese investors and employing a multi-method approach. Drawing on Social Contagion Theory, Behavioural Finance Theory, and Information Cascade Theory, the research examines how social media, peer pressure, and expert opinions shape investment behaviour. A representative sample of 368 individual investors was analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) and fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA), revealing significant direct effects of social influences, moderated by investment self-efficacy and risk perception. Notably, novice investors were more susceptible to peer pressure and social media, while experienced investors relied heavily on expert advice. The findings extend theoretical frameworks by elucidating the mediating and moderating mechanisms of social influences and providing boundary conditions based on investor experience. Methodological contributions include the integration of quantitative and qualitative approaches and advanced analytical techniques. Practical implications highlight the need for investment platforms to provide tailored decision-support tools, financial advisors to enhance investor self-efficacy, and regulators to address misinformation risks in digital platforms. Despite limitations such as reliance on self-reported data and a cross-sectional design, the study offers a robust foundation for future research into the dynamic interaction of social and cognitive factors in financial decision-making.

The Effect of Social Media Marketing on Tourist Loyalty: a Mediation - Moderation Analysis in the Tourism Sector under the Stimulus-Organism-Response Model

This study investigates the impact of social media marketing (SMM) activities on destination loyalty, emphasizing the mediating roles of tourist satisfaction and engagement, and the moderating role of destination trust in an extended Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) model in the context of an emerging country (Vietnam). Data from 514 domestic tourists collected in Vietnam's coastal destinations were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The results reveal significant direct effects of SMM on tourist satisfaction, engagement, and loyalty. Satisfaction and engagement mediate the relationship between SMM and loyalty, while destination trust strengthens these effects. This study offers significant theoretical contributions to the field of tourism marketing by extending the application of the S-O-R framework. It demonstrates how SMM influences destination loyalty not only through direct pathways but also through indirect mechanisms involving tourist satisfaction and tourist engagement. By examining these mediating and moderating roles, the study expands our understanding of how emotional and behavioral responses to SMM drive destination loyalty. The findings suggest that destination marketing organizations (DMOs) should develop SMM strategies that not only enhance engagement and satisfaction but also incorporate trust mechanisms to foster long-term loyalty, particularly in emerging tourism markets.

Religiosity and corruption acceptability in a developing country: does patriotism mediate the relationship?

Purpose Religiosity is believed to have an effect on corruption acceptability but the mechanism by which its effect is realized is not fully known. In this study, we explore the potency of patriotism as a mediating variable on the relationship between religiosity and corruption acceptability in a developing context. Design/methodology/approach We use cross-sectional data from the World Values Survey on Ghana which was collected from 1,552 respondents. We analyse the data using descriptive statistics, correlation and macro PROCESS model in SPSS. Findings We ascertain that while religiosity has a significant direct negative effect on corruption acceptability, it has no significant direct effect on patriotism or indirect effect on corruption acceptability. However, patriotism has a positive significant effect on corruption acceptability. Furthermore, the findings reveal that private-sector employees, as compared to public sector employees, are more likely to perceive corruption as unacceptable. Similarly, females are more likely than males to perceive corruption as unacceptable. We conclude that patriotism does not mediate the relationship between religiosity and corruption acceptability. Originality/value Our findings have bridged the gap in extant literature by revealing that patriotism is not an effective mediator in the relationship between religiosity and corruption acceptability in developing country context. Therefore, we provide evidence for building a strong link between religiosity and socio-moral conduct, where the conscience of citizens will be developed against the acceptability of corruption.

Genetic Variability and Characters Association for Lodging, Yield and Related Traits of Field Pea (Pisum sativum L.) Genotypes in Contrasting Plant Types

A total of 49 field pea genotypes, belonging to two different plant types were evaluated for 13 traits at Bekoji and Kofele in 2020 to assess the extent of genetic variability and association among morpho-agronomic traits. Analysis of variance revealed a highly significant difference between plant types and among the tested genotypes within each plant type for most of traits. Relatively, genotypes within prostrate type are more variable in thousand seed weight and genotypes within semi-leaf less type are more diverse in plant height, ascochyta blight and lodging severity score. Moderate to high genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV), heritability in broad sense (H2b) and genetic advance as a percent of mean (GAM) combination were recorded from seed yield, thousand seed weight, plant height and number of seeds per plant in both plant types. The path and correlation analysis showed that lodging score had significant negative association and negative direct effect on seed yield in prostrate type. Number of seeds per plant and plant height had both positive direct effects and significant positive association with seed yield consistently in both plant types. Thousand seed weight also showed both positive direct effects and significant positive association with seed yield in semi-leaf less type. Therefore, great emphasis should be given for those traits while making selection of field pea genotypes for high seed yield. However, for the improvement of yield and lodging simultaneously there should be balance between yield and lodging related traits especially in prostrate type. The principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that the first five principal component axes accounted for 71.67% of the total variability. Generally, the results suggested the possibility of further improvement of seed yield and associated desired traits through selection in both plant types.

The Mediating Role of Depressive Symptoms and Treatment Burden on Health-Related Quality of Life Among Multimorbid Patients With Hypertension: A Multi-Group Analysis.

Multimorbidity negatively affects health-related quality of life (HRQoL), though the underlying mechanism remained unclear. This study aims to investigate the mediating role of depressive symptoms and multimorbidity treatment burden (MTB) in the association between disease burden and HRQoL in multimorbid patients with hypertension and to determine differences in mediating effects between and within age groups (< 60 years vs. 60 and above). Disease burden, depressive symptoms, MTB, and HRQoL were assessed by self-reported questionnaires. We conducted path analysis with all subjects and multi-group path analyses with two age groups. Results from the path analysis with all subjects (n = 498) showed a significant direct effect of disease burden on HRQoL and a significant indirect effect via depressive symptoms and MTB. No significant differences in mediating effects were found between age groups. However, in the older patients, depressive symptoms had a greater indirect effect than MTB. Our results underscore the importance of addressing both depressive symptoms and MTB in interventions tailored to the patient's age.

The Impact of remittances on economic activity in the region of Central and Southeastern Europe

The countriesof Central and Southeastern Europe (CSEE)aresignificant net recipientsof remittances, primarily due to the intensive emigration trends that occurred after they transitionedto market economies.The fact that these countries are among the highest recipients of private remittances in Europe,suggeststhatsuch financial inflows could potentially have a significant influence on fostering their economic growth. Hence, themain aim of our research isto empirically investigate the relationship between economic growth and remittancesin a selected group oftwelve CSEE countries. The empirical research was conducted using static unobserved effects panel data models. Specifically, we estimated fixed and random effects models within the Cobb-Douglas framework that incorporate remittances as the primary variable of interest, in addition to the standard determinants of economic growth. For this purpose,we usedan unbalanced panel data set obtained from the World Bank World Development Indicators database with an annual frequency spanning over the 2002-2022 period. The empirical findings provide evidence that remittances indeed exert a positive and significant direct effect on economic growth in the analyzed group of countries, along with some of the other standard growth factors, such as physical and human capital.Given this conclusion, policymakers should implement appropriate strategies to maximize their impact.

Moderating effect of entrepreneurial self-efficacy on the strength of the mediated relationship between networking capabilities and SME performance via entrepreneurial competencies

The purpose of this study was determine the effect of networking capabilities on firm performance while controlling for entrepreneurial competencies, to determined the moderating effect of entrepreneurial self-efficacy on the relationship between entrepreneurial competencies and SME performance and ultimatrely to establish the moderating effect of entrepreneurial self-efficacy on the strength of the mediated relationship between networking capabilities and Small and Mediam Enterprises (SME) performance via entrepreneurial competencies. The study sdopted the positivist research philosophy asserting the existence of an objective reality that can be quantified, offering both explanatory and predictive capabilities. The research adopted an explanatory research design. Hayes Model 4 and 59 process Macro approach was used to analyse data and test the hypotheses. The results showed that networking capabilities had a significant direct effect on firm performance. The study also revealed that the interaction of entrepreneurial self- efficacy between the entrepreneurial competencies and firm performance was significant. Ultimately, the study determined the conditional indirect effect of Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy (ESE) on the strength of the mediated relationship between networking capabilities and SME performance via entrepreneurial competencies. The study concluded that positive and significant moderated mediation analysis was evident. More importantly, the conditional indirect effect was much stronger with firms having lower levels of ESE. The study concluded that entrepreneurial self-efficacy has significant conditional indirect effect on the strength of the mediated relationship between networking capabilities and SME performance via entrepreneurial competencies. These findings emphasise the importance of self-efficacy, networking capabilities and competencies of the entrepreneurs as a predictor to improved firm performance.

Bridging knowledge management and training to boost hospital efficiency: evidence from private hospitals in Uganda

ABSTRACT This study examined the mediating effect of knowledge management on the relationship between Employee training and operational performance of Uganda’s hospitals. A cross-sectional survey was conducted to 106 respondents from 53 general private hospitals with each hospital represented by two respondents. PLS-SEM using SmartPLS software was used to test the hypotheses about the relationship among variables. Results showed that Employee training had a negative and insignificant direct relationship with operational performance. The findings further indicated that knowledge management had a positive and significant direct effect on operational performance. More so, employee training had a positive direct relationship with knowledge management. Lastly, knowledge management positively and significantly mediated the relationship between employee training and operational performance. Hospitals were advised to create a suitable environment for creating, storing, sharing and utilizing knowledge in order to achieve better operational performance. Furthermore, managers need to encourage training transfer and use the attained knowledge to train other staff which would create more knowledge needed for improving operational performance.

The relationship between proactive personality and college students' short-form video addiction: A chain mediation model of resilience and self-control.

With the explosive development of the short-form video (SFV) industry in recent years, the issue of SFV addiction among young people has attracted increasing attention from scholarship. Researchers have found that proactive personality is negatively associated with behavioral addiction. Additionally, SFV Apps tend to place users in a "filter bubble" to passively consume the pushed video content. Proactiveness could be an effective trait to resist the excessive use of SFVs. Thus, proactive personality may be a negative predictor of SFV addiction. The present study aims at investigating the relationship between proactive personality and SFV addiction among college students, and the psychological mechanism underlying the relationship, i.e., the mediating roles of resilience and self-control. Convenience sampling was adopted to conduct an online questionnaire survey among college students from 8 universities in 5 provinces of China. Proactive personality scale (PPS), brief resilience scale (BRS), Brief self-control scale (BSCS), and SFV addiction scale were applied in designing the questionnaire. A total of 560 valid questionnaires were obtained with ages ranging from 17 to 22 (19.32±1.14), among whom 40.18% were males and 59.28% females. SFV addiction among college students was negatively correlated with proactive personality, resilience, and self-control. Proactive personality has significant direct effect on SFV addiction, and the other two variables play partial mediating roles including chain mediation between proactive personality and SFV addiction. The ratio of SFV addicts amounted to 23.57%, which was slightly higher compared to previous research findings. Proactive personality negatively predicts SFV addiction among college students and the mediators of resilience and self-control play partially mediating roles between proactive personality and SFV addiction.

Understanding Mental Health Impact of COVID-19 on Puerto Rican Youth: Influence of Parental Stress

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted all areas of society. The socioemotional effects of isolation, financial instability, and educational and employment uncertainty are anticipated to have a ripple effect on the mental health of parents and children, which has not yet been studied in the Puerto Rican context. To examine the impact of COVID-19 on Puerto Rican families, we used a cross-sectional, correlational research design that studied the following: (a) Adverse experiences (AE) related to the COVID-19 pandemic reported by parents; (b) Parental stress; (c) Parental psychopathology: (d) The mental health of their children. We hypothesized that AEs have direct and indirect effects on child mental health, which are mediated by parental mental health and stress. One hundred and thirty-five parents with children aged 4 to 18 years completed an anonymous online survey from March to May 2022. Results show that COVID-19 AEs have significant direct and indirect effects on child mental health, which are mediated by parental stress and parental psychopathology. We observed medium-to-large effect sizes in the associations between child mental health and COVID-19 AEs, which are mediated by parental stress and psychopathology. Children’s mental health symptoms worsen as parental stress and parental psychopathology increase in the context of COVID-19 AEs.

Coach-athlete relationships, self-confidence, and psychological wellbeing: The role of perceived and received coach support.

Coaches are recognized as key support providers, although there is limited understanding of how coach support relates to athletes' self-confidence and psychological wellbeing. This study examined relationships among perceived coach support, received coach support, coach-athlete relationship, self-confidence, and psychological wellbeing. A further aim was to identify mechanisms through which coach-athlete relationship influences self-confidence and psychological wellbeing. A total of 537 athletes (Mage=21.83 and SD=3.67) from a range of sports completed measures of perceived coach support, received coach support, coach-athlete relationship, self-confidence, and psychological wellbeing. Mediation analysis revealed a significant direct effect of coach-athlete relationship on perceived coach support (b=1.44 and p=0.04) and received coach support on psychological wellbeing (b=1.94 and p=<0.05). Coach-athlete relationship was associated with a significant indirect effect on psychological wellbeing via received coach support (ab = 0.82 and 95% CI [0.40 and 1.26*]) but not perceived coach support. In contrast, coach-athlete relationship was associated with a significant indirect effect on self-confidence via perceived coach support (ab=0.16 and 95% CI [0.10 and 0.22*]) but not received coach support. These findings demonstrate the significant role perceived coach support and received coach support plays in potentially explaining the relationship between the coach-athlete relationship with self-confidence and psychological wellbeing. Additionally, the results highlight that different forms of social support uniquely mediate the relationship among the coach-athlete relationship, confidence, and wellbeing. These results have implications for coaching practices, as coaches can use their relationships with athletes to provide optimal support and thereby enhance the athletes' self-confidence and wellbeing.

Distraction or motivation? Unraveling the role of fear of missing out on college students’ learning engagement

BackgroundDespite the recognition of the impact of Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) on learning engagement, research conclusions remain inconsistent. This inconsistency may be due to a lack of exploration of the underlying mechanisms and the singularity of research perspectives.MethodsDrawing from motivational dynamics model for learning engagement, this study investigated the relationship between FoMO and learning engagement from both variable-centered and person-centered perspectives, and further explored the mediating role of self-control. A total of 1,510 college students from eastern China were selected via an online platform, including 642 males and 868 females.ResultsThe results from the variable-centered analysis indicated that FoMO had a significant positive direct effect on learning engagement (effect = 0.293, 95% CI = [0.185, 0.401]). FoMO negatively predicted self-control, which in turn had a negative impact on learning engagement (effect = -0.375, 95% CI = [-0.456, -0.295]). This suggests that self-control acts as a masking effect between FoMO and learning engagement. The person-centered results suggest the presence of four latent profiles of FoMO: the low trait-FoMO low state-FoMO group, the high trait-FoMO low state-FoMO group, the low trait-FoMO high state-FoMO group, and the high trait-FoMO high state-FoMO group. Specifically, compared to the low trait-FoMO low state-FoMO group, self-control acts as a masking role between the low trait-FoMO high state-FoMO group, the high trait-FoMO high state-FoMO group and learning engagement.ConclusionsFoMO exhibits a “dual-edged sword effect”. Educators should adopt diverse instructional methods to leverage the positive aspects of FoMO while guiding students in self-control training to mitigate its negative effects to enhance college students’ learning engagement.

Affect mediates culture’s effects on COVID-19 risk perceptions, behavioral intentions, and policy support among americans

The Affect Heuristic-Cultural Cognition Theory (AH-CCT) model and the Solution Aversion-based (SA) model both suggest affect, meaning feelings or discrete emotions about a target, mediates associations between ‘culture,’ such as political ideology or cultural biases, and risk responses, such as risk perceptions, protective behaviours, and supportive attitudes towards protective policy. However, the models differ respectively by defining negative affect as directed towards the hazard (‘hazard affect’) or a specific behaviour or policy response (‘solution aversion,’ negative affect about a proposed risk reduction method). We compare these models with longitudinal mediation analysis of U.S. COVID-19 survey data (n = 866 in smallest-sample wave). Solution aversion accounted for more associations of culture with risk perceptions, such as personal risk, collective risk, and risk severity; behaviour and behavioural intentions, regarding mask wearing, avoiding large public gatherings, and vaccination; and support for risk mitigation policies, regarding mask mandates, public gathering bans, and vaccination mandates. Statistically significant direct effects were rare and were mainly for egalitarian cultural bias; indirect effects occurred for egalitarians, political conservatives, and individualists. Implications for further research on risk responses are discussed relative to limited previous work on these affect-mediation models.