Explanatory Theoretical Model Research Articles

Perceived Utility and Learning by Dominican University Students in Virtual Teaching–Learning Environments: An Analysis of Multiple Serial Mediation Based on the Extended Technology Acceptance Model

The global pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus brought about a true revolution in the predominant teaching–learning processes (i.e., face-to-face environment) that had been implemented up to that point. In this regard, virtual teaching–learning environments (VTLEs) have gained unprecedented significance. The main objectives of our research were to define an explanatory theoretical model and to test a multiple serial mediation model with four variables in series (one independent variable plus three mediators) to relate perceived utility (independent variable) in the use of a VTLE and perceived learning (dependent or criterion variable) in such contexts, taking into account the mediation of subjective norm (mediator 1), ease of use (mediator 2), and intention to use behavior (mediator 3), and using the extended technology acceptance model as the theoretical framework. Additionally, we aimed to analyze the direct and indirect relationships and effects among the variables that constituted the proposed model. Methodologically, the research can be classified as a cross-sectional causal ex post facto design. A representative sample of students enrolled in higher education institutions in the Dominican Republic was used as the research population, and a standardized Likert scale was administered to measure the five dimensions of the proposed model. Finally, it is worth noting that the obtained results indicate that all direct and indirect effects considered in the model were statistically significant, except for the indirect effect, where the four predictor variables were arranged in series to verify their influence on the criterion variable: perceived learning.

The impact of Industry 4.0 on occupational health and safety: A systematic literature review

Introduction: Industry 4.0 has brought new paradigms to businesses based on high levels of automation and interconnectivity and the use of technologies. This new context has an impact on the work environment and workers. Nevertheless, these impacts are still inconclusive and controversial, requiring new investigative perspectives. This study aimed to investigate the requirements sought, the risk factors identified, and the adverse effects on workers caused by the characteristics of I4.0. Method: The methodology was based on a systematic literature review utilizing the PRISMA protocol, and 30 articles were found eligible. A descriptive and bibliometric analysis of these studies was performed. Results: The results identified the main topics that emerged and have implications for workers' Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) and divided them into categories. The requirements are related mainly to cognitive, organizational, and technological demands. The most significant risk factors generated were associated with the psychosocial ones, but organizational, technological, and occupational factors were also identified. The adverse effects cited were categorized as psychic, cognitive, physical, and organizational; stress was the most cited effect. An explanatory theoretical model of interaction was proposed to represent the pathway of causal relations between the requirements and risk factors for the effects caused by I4.0. Conclusions and practical applications: This review has found just how complex the relationships between the principles of Industry 4.0 are (e.g., requirements, risk factors, and effects) and the human factors. It also suggests a pathway for how these relationships occur, bridging the gap left by the limited studies focused on connecting these topics. These results can help organizational managers understand the impacts of I4.0 on workers' safety and health.

Predictors of Condom Use among College Students.

Consistent condom use is recognized as one of the most effective strategies to prevent unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. Despite their effectiveness, condoms remain fairly well used among younger people. The conception of appropriate measures to change behaviors needs a deep understanding of the factors underlying poor adherence to condom use. This study aims to identify the predictors of condom use among college students. A cross-sectional, correlational, and predictive study was conducted involving a convenience sample of 1946 university students, with an average age of 21 years (20.74 ± 2.32). Pender's Health Promotion Model (HPM) was used as a conceptual and methodological framework to understand the relationship between the predictors of condom use. An explanatory theoretical model of condom use behavior was established using path analysis. Condom use among young people is infrequent, with only 39.4% of respondents reporting consistent use. Perceived benefits, positive feelings, and interpersonal influences emerged as variables with the most explicitly positive influence on the commitment to condom use, a trend confirmed for both sexes. Commitment was the strongest predictor of condom use behavior (β = 0.580; p < 0.001). Pender's HPM is effective in explaining the relationships between the predictors of condom use.

Relating Personality Traits to Neurocognitive Domains

Abstract Theoretical integration of several psychological and neuropsychological domains is one of the foci of the applied neuropsychology and neuroscience fields. Personality and neurocognition are two different but related study fields. Nevertheless, a thorough explanatory theoretical model regarding these two domains is still missing in the literature. The present paper aims to provide some explanations as to why this integration may not be straightforward. First, some potential explanatory models are described. Second, the issue of the lack of convergent measures is described. Third, a proposal based on the development of self-report instruments is suggested. By highlighting the omission of a thorough integrative model of the relationship between neurocognition and personality we intend to spur the interest of researchers and clinicians to take a conceptual and integrative approach to this issue. Keywords: Neurocognitive Domains, Personality Traits, Low Convergent Measures, Assessment Instruments.

Rethinking non-governmental organizations – at the crossroad of economics and civil society

RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: The article aims to close the existing knowledge gaps, show why non-governmental organizations are founded and maintained, and elaborate and systematize the existing knowledge through an analysis of the existing subdisciplines within economics, laying the groundwork for the economics of non-governmental organizations.&#x0D; RESEARCH PROBLEM AND METHODS: The article was written based on a structured literature review with an approach similar to the grounded theory method. The research question is: Why are NGOs founded and what is their modus operandi?&#x0D; PROCESS OF ARGUMENTATION: After determining the research question, literature evidence was collected from a variety of sources, which led to the creation of a theoretical explanatory model. Nevertheless, a deductive, top-down approach has been taken to present the final model in a more comprehensible and transparent way.&#x0D; RESEARCH RESULTS: Based on the institutional hierarchy of O.E. Williamson and drawing from the theoretical framework of the economics of the public sector and the motives behind the sharing economy, a model was built that explains why NGOs are founded and maintained, thus elucidating the route from social theory (in particular, institutional environments) all the way to undertaking actions to solve a given issue.&#x0D; CONCLUSIONS, INNOVATIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS: The article influences and enhances the current state of knowledge regarding non-governmental institutions, including the placement of NGOs in particular disciplines within economics. It also significantly supports researchers doing subsequent studies regarding this area of social science. After further research in the proposed direction, more practical implications may arise in the future, including improvements in the management of NGOs that will facilitate their more efficient operation.

Introduction to the Special Issue on Political Participation in Post-Communist Europe during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic altered the functioning of societies and people’s behavior in many areas of daily life. Studies of political participation during the pandemic do not constitute an extensive body of research, focusing mainly on Western European countries. Under these circumstances, we know very little about political participation in post-communist countries during the pandemic. This special issue aims to understand the dynamics of political participation in post-communist Europe through both qualitative and quantitative analyses. It proposes several innovative concepts and analytical frames that can be used to understand who participated, why, and with what consequences. This topic has often been surrounded by discussions referring to empirical matters much more than around general arguments and theoretical explanatory models. One of the special issue’s aims is to enrich the theoretical debate about political participation in new democracies and transition countries during the pandemic.

A co-design living labs philosophy of practice for end-to-end research design to translation with people with lived-experience of mental ill-health and carer/family and kinship groups.

There is increased recognition that people with lived-experience of mental ill-health ought to be centred in research design, implementation and translation, and quality improvement and program evaluation of services. There is also an increased focus on ways to ensure that co-design processes can be led by people with lived-experience of mental ill-health. Despite this, there remains limited explanation of the physical, social, human, and economic infrastructure needed to create and sustain such models in research and service settings. This is particularly pertinent for all health service sectors (across mental and physical health and social services) but more so across tertiary education settings where research generation occurs for implementation and translation activities with policy and services. The Co-Design Living Labs program was established in 2017 as an example of a community-based embedded approach to bring people living with trauma and mental ill-health and carers/family and kinship group members together with university-based researchers to drive end-to-end research design to translation in mental healthcare and research sectors. The program's current membership is near to 2000 people. This study traces the evolution of the program in the context of the living labs tradition of open innovation. It overviews the philosophy of practice for working with people with lived-experience and carer/family and kinship group members-togetherness by design. Togetherness by design centres on an ethical relation of being-for that moves beyond unethical and transactional approaches of being-aside and being-with, as articulated by sociologist Zygmunt Bauman. The retrospective outlines how an initial researcher-driven model can evolve and transform to become one where people with lived-experience of mental ill-health and carer/family kinship group members hold clear decision-making roles, share in power to enact change, and move into co-researcher roles within research teams. Eight mechanisms are presented in the context of an explanatory theoretical model of change for co-design and coproduction, which are used to frame research co-design activities and provide space for continuous learning and evolution of the Co-Design Living Labs program.

Factors related to occupational stress among private sector dentists in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This cross-sectional study examined factors associated with occupational stress among 384 dentists working in the private sector in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. Data were collected from August to October 2020 through an online form. Two outcomes - (1) anxiety and worry and (2) preparation and safety for work during the pandemic - constituted a proxy for occupational stress. The independent variables were grouped according to the explanatory theoretical model into individual, organisational and extra-organisational factors. Associations were tested by bivariate and multivariate logistic regression. Although prepared and confident, dentists felt anxious and worried about providing clinical care. Women, younger respondents and those who received no guidance on safety measures were more likely to report insecurity and unpreparedness. Younger professionals, those who did not participate in decision-making and who only sometimes had an assistant for four-hand work, were more likely to feel anxious and worried. In addition to individual factors, work organisation factors were associated with occupational stress among dentists in the first year of the pandemic.

Fatores associados ao estresse ocupacional entre cirurgiões-dentistas do setor privado no primeiro ano da pandemia de COVID-19

Abstract This cross-sectional study examined factors associated with occupational stress among 384 dentists working in the private sector in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. Data were collected from August to October 2020 through an online form. Two outcomes - (1) anxiety and worry and (2) preparation and safety for work during the pandemic - constituted a proxy for occupational stress. The independent variables were grouped according to the explanatory theoretical model into individual, organisational and extra-organisational factors. Associations were tested by bivariate and multivariate logistic regression. Although prepared and confident, dentists felt anxious and worried about providing clinical care. Women, younger respondents and those who received no guidance on safety measures were more likely to report insecurity and unpreparedness. Younger professionals, those who did not participate in decision-making and who only sometimes had an assistant for four-hand work, were more likely to feel anxious and worried. In addition to individual factors, work organisation factors were associated with occupational stress among dentists in the first year of the pandemic.

What are the psychological and cognitive wellbeing benefits as reported by people experiencing green space? A meta-ethnography

BackgroundThe world is increasingly subject to urbanisation. This has been associated with deleterious effects on mental health, as urban living can decrease access to green space. The benefits of green space for wellbeing have been investigated by a widely interdisciplinary field, however the majority of the evidence base is quantitative and does not offer exploration of individual experiences. This qualitative synthesis offers insight into the psychological and cognitive benefits reported by individuals experiencing green space. MethodsFollowing a systematic electronic database and hand-search of qualitative and mixed-methods studies from 2009 to the present, a meta-ethnography was undertaken. The thematic findings of the studies were related and translated into each other to give new third order constructs. These were then juxtaposed, and thematic constructs grouped to form an explanatory theoretical model. Results141 studies were screened at full text. 23 studies were included. 11 constructs were identified: Memory/connection, Freedom/escape, Peace/restoration, Symbolism/metaphor/perspective, Social, Not restorative, Agency, Sensory, Safety/protection, Emotion and Different way of thinking. A novel theoretical model was developed which proposes that the concepts “sense of self and others” together with “altered thinking” contribute to psychological wellbeing via the filter of “emotional processes”. ConclusionsA sense of self and others is an important part of the pathway for mental wellbeing in green space, demonstrating a need for individual and contextual factors to be included in future theory. Specific research and policy recommendations are discussed, especially in light of the green space inequality highlighted by the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Elderly participation in the decision-making process from community: application of the grounded theory method

The elderly are currently a pressing problem for moldovan society, exacerbated by the intensive demographic aging process, the migration of the young and adult population abroad, the decrease in the quality of life as a result of the budget deficit, the increase in dependence on social services. The created situation requires public and governmental authorities to pay more attention to this age group by including it in all public policies, programs and projects, etc. At the same time, measures are being created to increase social and economic activism among the elderly, so that they maintain their independence from social services and benefits. However, the results recorded are quite modest. Therefore, the purpose of the present study lies in explaining the participatory behavior of the elderly in the decisionmaking process in the local community by identifying the factors that obstruct an active involvement and establishing the mechanism by which these factors are conditioned. To achieve this goal, the grounded theory method was applied, the Straussian version. In the result, the central category was identified – discrediting the opinion of the elderly, as well as 15 other categories between which the causal relationships were established for generate the explanatory theoretical model. A set of operational hypotheses derived from the data were also formulated, which may constitute new avenues of research.

Explanatory model of the psychosocial variables related to the social acceptance of a uranium mine project in northwest Spain.

The demographic growth and the development of the welfare system have been accompanied by an important social dilemma between preserving nature or promoting energy development by assuming the benefits and risks of both proposals. This research attempts to address this social dilemma by analyzing the psychosocial factors that influence the acceptance or rejection of a new uranium mining development and exploitation project. The main objective was to test an explanatory theoretical model of uranium mining project acceptance, based on the interrelation of sociodemographic variables (e.g., age, gender, economic and educational situation, and level of knowledge about uranium energy) and cognitive variables (e.g., environmental beliefs, risk, and benefit perceptions), along with the activation of an emotional balance in response to the proposal of constructing a uranium mine. Three hundred seventy-one individuals responded to the questionnaire about the variables included in the model. The results showed that older participants showed lower levels of agreement with the mining proposal people, while women and those with greater knowledge of nuclear energy perceived greater risks and had a more negative emotional balance. The proposed explanatory model based on sociodemographic, cognitive, and affective variables showed good fit indices for explaining the assessment of the uranium mine. Thus, age, level of knowledge, risks and benefits, and emotional balance had a direct effect on the acceptance of the mine. Likewise, emotional balance showed a partial mediation effect between the relationships existing between the perception of benefits and risks and the acceptance of the mining proposal. The results are discussed based on the consideration of analyzing sociodemographic, cognitive, and affective variables to understand potential conflicts in communities affected by energy projects.

European Sentiment in time of crises. The point of view of young university students

The latest emergencies – economic, refugee, and the pandemic of Covid-19 – has impacted in European collective identity construction, especially in Southern Europe. This article investigates if the pandemic crisis has activated in young Italian and Spanish university students nationalistic or/and European responses. The analysis, based on an online survey, uses the partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) statistical method to perform an exploratory analysis of the explanatory theoretical model of European sentiment. The results show that young people attribute several meanings to Europe during the pandemic, which are based mainly on making informed decisions and recognizing a common space of interaction as an opportunity of peace, security and democracy. The findings highlight the role of EU communicative actions in increasing trust in national and European institutions.

Home Gardening and Food Security Concerns during the COVID-19 Pandemic

At times of crisis, home gardening has often been sought out as a potential solution for threats to food security and as a measure to increase socio-psychological effects, such as public sense of self-efficacy, trust in the government and care for one’s wellbeing. The objective of this study was to investigate if home gardening increased during the COVID-19 pandemic in the spring/summer of 2020 and to provide socio-psychological insights into the explanatory factors of such an increase. An explanatory theoretical model of home gardening was proposed and tested to analyse whether home gardening is correlated to food security concerns, and if so, to what extent. A non-representative survey was conducted in five European countries (Slovenia, Norway, Estonia, Switzerland, and Iceland) using snowball sampling via social media networks, reaching 1144 participants. The results showed the pandemic did prove to be an important psychological push towards home gardening prompted by food security concerns. Measured as loose as introducing at least one new gardening activity during COVID-19, this study found an approximately 10% increase in home gardening during the first wave of COVID-19 in the sample population, which was skewed towards educated, female, middle-class Europeans.

The effects of teamwork on critical thinking: A serial mediation analysis of the influence of work skills and educational motivation in secondary school students

The present study proposed to establish an explanatory theoretical model and sought to compare a serial mediation model in order to associate the influence of teamwork, trough work skills and educational motivation, on critical thinking in secondary school student. The research design was ex post facto and cross-sectional. A quantitative methodology was applied, taking a single measurement from a sample of 1159 participating secondary school students from Spain. Outcomes provide evidence that greater teamwork is related with better developed critical thinking skills. Further, greater teamwork and higher degrees of motivation increased critical thinking, whilst better conceptions of teamwork impacted upon better future work skills. Resultantly, these outcomes imply better educational motivation and higher levels of critical thinking.

Psychopathological descriptive model of hallucinogenic/psychedelic drugs effect in the treatment of depression and addictions

IntroductionThere is a growing and renewed interest in the use of hallucinogenic drugs in the treatment of psychiatric disorders, especially since the FDA approval of ketamine treatment for resistant depression. The response to hallucinogenic psychedelic substances (ayahuasca, psilocybin, LSD, ketamine) in the treatment of depression and addictions calls for a theoretical explanatory model.ObjectivesProvide a descriptive / explanatory psychopathological model of the response to treatment with hallucinogenic drugs based on the descriptions of the subjects and the comparison with other extreme life experiences.MethodsRelevant published literature on subjective experiences in treatment with hallucinogenic drugs for depression and addictions is reviewed. It is compared with subjective experiences in life changing experiences.ResultsIntense emotional states, mystical-type experiences including feelings of oneness, transcendence, ineffability, and the complex emotion of awe seem to be consistently presented as psychic elements related to the efficacy of these treatments. The genetic and cultural (memetic) evolutionary value of these emotions in the cohesiveness of human groups and the genesis of affective symptoms, and in the recalibration of cognitions and emotions, is discussed.ConclusionsThe efficacy of hallucinogenic drugs used in the treatment of depression and addictions is accompanied by complex and varied emotions but with common psychopathological elements that could mediate their action.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

“EdTech Integration Framework in Schools”: Systematic Review of the Literature

The process of integration of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in the Educational System is a dynamic process influenced by multiple interdependent factors. The most relevant studies published to date have highlighted the following as systemic levels of ICT integration: teachers, schools, and educational policy. The general objective of this work is to carry out a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) on the strategic planning of technology in primary and secondary schools from 2010 to 2021. This study is supported by a qualitative methodology based on a SLR, guided by the PRISMA protocol. For this purpose, a keyword-based document search was carried out in three databases: Eric, Scopus, and WOS. For the collection of information, the criteria applied for the inclusion of papers was by date (last 12 years) and type of document (journal articles). A total of 6,187 scientific journal articles were initially included in the CADIMA platform, where finally, after screening, 42 articles were selected that met the established criteria: studies with teachers and students in the educational stages of Primary and Secondary Education, excluding Higher Education. Empirical studies with quantitative and/or qualitative methods are also included, discarding theoretical studies. Research on digital technologies from a general perspective is also considered relevant, excluding studies on specific technologies. This SLR concludes by providing an explanatory theoretical model, defining the integration of ICT in educational centres as a complex, systemic and ecological process, where legislative and organisational structures, such as leadership, strategic planning, and collaboration among professionals, are essential elements. Therefore, the incorporation of technology in the classroom requires a redefinition of the organisational culture of schools.Systematic Review Registration: [zenodo.org], identifier [6343639].

THEORETICAL-EXPLANATORY MODEL OF THE CARE PROVIDED TO WOMEN IN SITUATIONS OF VIOLENCE IN PRIMARY HEALTH CARE

ABSTRACT Objective: to develop a theoretical-explanatory model of the care provided to women in situations of intimate partner violence in the context of Primary Health Care. Method: a study with a qualitative approach, whose theoretical-methodological contribution adopted was the updated Straussian strand of the Grounded Theory. Between February and December 2019, individual interviews were conducted with 31 professionals who worked in Family Health Units in the Health District of a capital from northeastern Brazil, members of the minimum team (first sample group) and of the Expanded Family and Primary Care Health Center (second sample group). The data were organized using an analytical tool called Paradigmatic Model, consisting of three components: condition, action-interaction and consequences. Results: the theoretical-explanatory model of the phenomenon called “enabling the empowerment of women in situations of intimate partner violence” allowed understanding the meanings attributed by the professionals to the care offered to women in situations of intimate partner violence within the scope of the Family Health Strategy. Conclusion: the model of care provided to women in situations of intimate partner violence, based on identification of the problem and intervention in the cases, is limited due to the characteristics of the organization of the services. In this sense, the study points to the importance of managerial actions to achieve favorable outcomes for female empowerment and consequent confrontation of violence.

Developing an explanatory theoretical model for engagement with a web-based mental health platform: results of a mixed methods study

BackgroundWith the growing need for accessible, high-quality mental health services, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been increasing development and uptake of web-based interventions in the form of self-directed mental health platforms. The Big White Wall (BWW) is a web-based platform for people experiencing mental illness and addiction that offers a range of evidence-based self-directed treatment strategies. Drawing on existing data from a large-scale evaluation of the implementation of BWW in Ontario, Canada (which involved a pragmatic randomized controlled trail with an embedded qualitative process evaluation), we sought to investigate the influences on the extent to which people engage with BWW.MethodsIn this paper we drew on BWW trial participants’ usage data (number of logins) and the qualitative data from the process evaluation that explored participants’ experiences, engagement with and reactions to BWW.ResultsOur results showed that there were highly complex relationships between the influences that contributed to the level of engagement with BWW intervention. We found that a) how people expected to benefit from using a platform like BWW was an important indicator of their future usage, b) moderate perceived symptoms were linked with higher engagement; whereas fewer actual depressive symptoms predicted use and anxiety had a positive linear relationship with usage, and that c) usage depended on positive early experiences with the platform.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that the nature of engagement with platforms such as BWW is not easily predicted. We propose a theoretical framework for explaining the level of user engagement with BWW that might also be generalizable to other similar platforms.

Suffering experiences of people with cancer undergoing chemotherapy: A meta-ethnographic study.

This meta-ethnography had the objectives of identifying, evaluating, and summarizing the findings of qualitative studies regarding the suffering experiences of people undergoing chemotherapy, as well as developing an explanatory conceptual structure regarding what affects these experiences. A systematic literature review was carried out, covering the past 10 years, in the following databases: CINAHL, Embase, Medline, LILACS and Scopus. By using meta-ethnographic synthesis methods, the following themes were found: the pain of loss; evaluating, measuring, and neutralizing the threat; and social contours of suffering. The experience of living with cancer and undergoing chemotherapy was synthesized into a theoretical-explanatory model with a structure that resembles barbed-wire loops. The model expresses people's suffering experiences as marked by the feeling of loss, restraint of emotions, and resilience. While transcendent movements broke the cycle of suffering, resilience emerged as a learning experience that made patients more resistant to the pain of loss. The results indicated a complex and diverse set of factors that influence suffering, which confirmed that experiences are individual, comprehensive, and continuously reinterpreted.