Hierarchical Multiple Linear Regression Models Research Articles

Birthweight trends and their explanatory factors in Hungary between 1999 and 2018: an analysis of the Hungarian Tauffer registry

BackgroundThe increasing birthweight trend stopped and even reversed in several high income countries in the last 20 years, however the reason for these changes is not well characterized. We aimed to describe birthweight trends of term deliveries in Hungary between 1999 and 2018 and to investigate potential maternal and foetal variables that could drive these changes.MethodsWe analysed data from the Hungarian Tauffer registry, a compulsory anonymized data collection of each delivery. We included all singleton term deliveries in 1999–2018 (n = 1,591,932). We modelled birthweight trends separately in 1999–2008 and 2008–2018 in hierarchical multiple linear regression models adjusted for calendar year, newborn sex, maternal age, gestational age at delivery, and other important determinants.ResultsMedian birthweights increased from 3250/3400 g (girl/boy) to 3300/3440 g from 1999 to 2008 and decreased to 3260/3400 g in 2018. When we adjusted for gestational age at delivery the increase in the first period became more pronounced (5.4 g/year). During the second period, similar adjustment substantially decreased the rate of decline from 2.5 to 1.4 g/year. Further adjustment for maternal age halved the rate of increase to 2.4 g/year in the first period. During the second period, adjustment for maternal age had little effect on the estimate.ConclusionsOur findings of an increasing birthweight trend (mostly related to the aging of the mothers) in 1999–2008 may forecast an increased risk of cardiometabolic diseases in offsprings born in this period. In contrast, the decreasing birthweight trends after 2008 may reflect some beneficial effects on perinatal morbidity. However, the long-term effect cannot be predicted, as the trend is mostly explained by the shorter pregnancies.

Spatial distribution and policy implications of the exhaust emissions of two-stroke motorcycle taxis: a case study of southwestern state in Nigeria

Two-stroke motorcycles emit harmful exhaust fumes because of incomplete combustion. Although they constitute the main fleet of motorcycle taxis in sub-Saharan Africa, monitoring, spatial assessment, and regulation are weak, leaving dire health consequences in cities. This study collected motorcycle raw exhaust emissions of 1,950 two-stroke petrol-driven motorcycle taxis, otherwise called okada, in Ogun State, Nigeria, using an idle mode test approach under 10 minutes and employed correlations, hierarchical multiple linear regression models, and spatial analysis. It was found that carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbons (HC) were the most highly concentrated, and the latter were beyond allowable limits. The concentration of CO was found to be at the minimum of 0.00 % and the highest being at 6.40% (an average of 1.05%), while the HC concentration was reported at the minimum of 18.00 ppm and the highest at 15446 ppm (an average of 3560 ppm). Notably, Kriging interpolation analysis indicated that cumulative effects due to the clustering and operations of motorcycle taxis could increase these concentrations over time, extending their long-term impacts. Given the severe effects of these emissions on health and the wider environment, a DPSIR policy framework is proposed to regulate two-stroke motorcycle taxis in sub-Saharan Africa.

Quantifying the relationship between gardening and health and well-being in the UK: a survey during the covid-19 pandemic

BackgroundRates of non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, and mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression, are high and rising in the urbanising world. Gardening could improve both mental and physical health and help prevent a range of conditions by increasing fruit and vegetable (F&V) consumption, promoting physical activity, and reducing stress. However, good quality quantitative research in the area is scarce, and our understanding of the role of allotments and home gardens, and the effects of the level of engagement in gardening and involvement with food production has thus far been limited.MethodsWe quantitatively assess the relationship between home and allotment gardening and various indicators and predictors of health and well-being using an online survey of gardeners (n = 203) and non-gardeners (n = 71) in the UK. The survey was composed of multiple validated questionnaires (including the Short Form Food Frequency Questionnaire (SFFFQ), the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS), the Physical Health Questionnaire (PHQ) and the Self-Rated Health question (SRH)) and self-defined questions relating to participants’ involvement with gardening and food production, and relevant demographic and lifestyle factors. Data were analysed using a series of hierarchical logistic and multiple linear regression models adjusting for socio-demographic variables.ResultsAfter adjusting for relevant socio-demographic factors, gardening related variables were associated with better self-rated health, higher mental well-being, increased F&V consumption. Higher F&V intake was in turn also associated with better self-rated health and decreased odds of obesity. Thus, gardening had a positive association with four different aspects of health and well-being, directly or indirectly via increased F&V consumption.ConclusionsOur results suggest that gardening in UK allotments and domestic gardens may promote different aspects of health and well-being via multiple mechanisms. Improving access to growing space and promoting regular gardening could provide a range of benefits to public health. More research on how socio-economic factors influence the health and well-being benefits of gardening will help policymakers devise strategies to maximise these benefits.

How health risk factors affect inpatient costs among adults with stroke in China: the mediating role of length of stay.

As stroke has become the leading cause of death and disability in China, it has induced a heavy disease burden on society, families, and patients. Despite much attention within the literature, the effect of multiple risk factors on length of stay (LOS) and inpatient costs in China is still not fully understood. To analyse the association between the number of risk factors combined and inpatient costs among adults with stroke and explore the mediating effect of LOS on inpatient costs. A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted among stroke patients in a tertiary hospital in Nantong City from January 2018 to December 2019. Lifestyle factors (smoking status, exercise), personal disease history (overweight, hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, atrial fibrillation), family history of stroke, and demographic characteristics were interviewed by trained nurses. Inpatient costs and LOS were extracted from electronic medical records. Hierarchical multiple linear regression models and mediation analysis were used to examine the direct and indirect effects of the number of risk factors combined for stroke on inpatient costs. A total of 620 individuals were included, comprising 391 ischaemic stroke patients and 229 haemorrhagic stroke patients, and the mean age was 63.2 years, with 60.32% being male. The overall mean cost for stroke inpatients was 30730.78 CNY ($ 4444.91), and the average length of stay (LOS) was 12.50 days. Mediation analysis indicated that the greater number of risk factors was not only directly related to higher inpatient costs (direct effect = 0.16, 95%CI:[0.11,0.22]), but also indirectly associated with inpatient cost through longer LOS (indirect effect = 0.08, 95% CI: [0.04,0.11]). Furthermore, patients with high risk of stroke had longer LOS than those in low-risk patients, which in turn led to heavier hospitalization expenses. Both the greater number of risk factors and high-risk rating among stroke patients increased the length of stay and inpatient costs. Preventing and controlling risk behaviors of stroke should be strengthened.

A Moderation Model for Bolstering Resilience to Suicidal Psychopathology: Positive Sociopsychological Constructs and Coping Flexibilities Buffering the Impact of Daily Life Stress Among Medical Students.

Positive sociopsychological constructs and coping flexibility may be helpful for alleviating suicidal psychopathology, although relatively little research has examined this possibility among medical students. This survey aimed to investigate whether positive sociopsychological constructs and coping flexibility could buffer the negative impact of daily life stress and bolster the resilience to suicidal ideations and attempts among medical students. This cross-sectional model was based on a study of 787 Indian medical students (725 women and 62 men; mean age, 21.08 years; SD = 2.78; range, 19-37 years) who were asked to complete a battery of self-administered questionnaires. For the purpose of determining the independent and interaction impacts of potential variables of influence, hierarchical multiple linear regression models were used. The moderation analysis investigated that the association between daily life stress and suicidal ideation was buffered among the students having higher levels of positive mental health and coping flexibility, whereas this association was no longer significant at the highest level of positive mental health. Furthermore, the relationship between daily life stress and suicidal attempts continued to be buffered by above-average levels of coping flexibility, emotional stability (ES), and optimism. These findings represent that promoting positive mental health, coping flexibility, ES, and optimism may be a promising approach to mitigate suicidal thoughts and attempts in interventions for medical students at high risk. These modifiable moderating factors can be enhanced by empirically supported treatment and prevention efforts to bolster suicidal resilience.

Predictors of academic achievement in distance learning for Sudanese nursing students

Objective: To investigate the factors that influence undergraduate Sudanese nursing students' academic achievement. Methods: An online survey was conducted among 235 Sudanese nursing students using several scales and questionnaires to assess cognitive, affective, and psychomotor domains of academic achievement, self-regulated learning (S.R.L.), engagement, academic stress, and grade point average (GPA). A hierarchical multiple linear regression model was used to identify the predictors of academic achievement. Results: Academic achievement was significantly correlated with SRL (r = 0.588, p<0.001), engagement in distance learning (r = 0.476, p < 0.001), academic stress (r = 0.355, p<0.001), and GPA (r = 0.162, p=0.02). No significant correlation was found between academic achievement level and demographic or learning experience variables, participating in a learning support program, voluntary study meetings, and receiving learning counseling. Engagement in distance learning and SRL were identified as significant predictors of academic achievement, with adjusted R2 values of 0.216 and 0.377, respectively. Conclusion: The study highlights the importance of engagement in distance learning and SRL among Sudanese nursing students in the context of distance learning. The nursing institutions need to develop effective strategies to enhance students' engagement and SRL skills to promote academic success in distil learning.

Consumo alimentar segundo o grau de processamento industrial dos alimentos em brasileiros graduados (Projeto CUME): uma análise hierarquizada dos fatores associados

ABSTRACT Objective Evaluate the food consumption of the participants of the Cohort of Universities of Minas Gerais, according to the degree of processing, and its relationship with socioeconomic, behavioral, and individual factors. Methods A total of 4,124 individuals from the baseline of the Cohort of Universities of Minas Gerais (2016 and 2018) participated in this study. Food consumption was self-reported by completing an online Food Frequency Questionnaire. The foods were divided into 3 groups: Group 1, in natura, minimally processed foods, culinary ingredients and culinary preparations; Group 2, processed foods; Group 3, ultra-processed foods. A hierarchical multiple linear regression model was used to verify the associated factors. Results Regarding the factors associated with food consumption, it is noteworthy that Group 1 was positively associated with the practice of physical activity, female gender, age, “non-white” skin color, and the presence of diabetes Mellitus; and negatively with “not married/without stable union” marital status, alcohol abuse, tobacco use, obesity, and depression. Considering Group 2, it was positively associated with alcohol abuse, tobacco use, and age; and negatively with physical activity, female gender, and “non-white” skin color. As for Group 3 it was positively associated with a marital status of “not married/without stable union”, obesity, and depression; and negatively with physical activity, age, “non-white" skin color, and presence of diabetes Mellitus. Conclusion The factors that are in at least one of the final hierarchical linear regression models stand out: marital status, physical activity, alcohol abuse, tobacco use, sex, age, skin color, obesity, diabetes mellitus, and depression.

Neighbourhood greenspaces and mental wellbeing among university students in England during the COVID-19 pandemic: an online survey under lockdown

ABSTRACT The COVID-19 pandemic mobility and socialization restrictions and the switch to online learning impacted the day-to-day life of university students in England, a group previously identified as at risk for low wellbeing. In April–May 2021, during the tail end of the third ‘lockdown’ in England, we implemented an online questionnaire to better understand mental wellbeing in relationship to use of outdoor green space among university students. This article presents the results from 424 responses collected across 4 universities in Oxford and Southampton. Analyses include descriptive results of indicators and hierarchical multiple linear regression models. Findings revealed that quality of greenspace had a greater importance on mental wellbeing than use and quantity of greenspace, even when controlling for sociodemographic factors. Also, neighbourhood greenspace quality contributed to wellbeing above and beyond sociodemographc, physical activity and social support. This result held true even among students with prior mental health difficulties. Findings underscore the importance of greenspace access for wellbeing. Neighbourhoods and university campuses should be planned with the notion in mind that greenspace matters and contributes to health.

Low Peer Acceptance and Classroom Engagement: The Protective Role of Elementary School Teacher-Student Relationships for Immigrant-Background Students

The increasing cultural diversity in host society schools highlights the need to better understand the conditions supporting the integration of students with an immigrant background. This study examines whether peer acceptance enhances the association between student-teacher relationship closeness and classroom emotional engagement, and whether this association is moderated by student immigrant status. This study followed 251 fifth- and sixth-grade first- (34.3%), second- (49.4%), or third-generation-plus (16.3%) students across two school years (46.6% boys). Measures included child-reported classroom emotional engagement, student-teacher relationships, peer acceptance, and immigrant status. Using a hierarchical multiple linear regression model, this study demonstrates that positive relationships with teachers represent a protective factor for classroom emotional engagement among students who do not feel accepted by classmates, but only for first-generation students ( b = .46, p < .001). Our results underscore the importance of developing intervention strategies for building student-teacher relationships to benefit the classroom integration of first-generation students.

Modelling arts professionals' wellbeing and career intentions within the context of COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic had a substantial effect on the creative and cultural industries in the United Kingdom (UK), as seen in our first snapshot of the HEartS Professional Survey (April-June 2020, Phase 1, N = 358). By analysing data collected one year later (April-May 2021, Phase 2, N = 685), the aims of the current study are to trace the contributors to (1) arts professionals' mental and social wellbeing and (2) their expectations of staying in the arts. Findings show that artists continued to experience challenges in terms of finances, and mental and social wellbeing. Over half of the respondents reported financial hardship (59%), and over two thirds reported being lonelier (64%) and having increased anxiety (71%) than before the pandemic. Hierarchical multiple linear regression models, using the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, Social Connectedness Scale, and Three-Item Loneliness Scale as outcome variables, indicate that perceived financial hardship continued to be associated with higher depression and loneliness scores. As in our first study, more physical activity before lockdown was associated with higher wellbeing and social connectedness scores, and higher self-rated health scores were associated with higher wellbeing and lower depression scores. Similarly, increases in physical activity during lockdown, as well as older age, were still associated with higher wellbeing and social connectedness scores and with lower depression and loneliness scores. An ordinal logistic regression model indicated three contributors to artists' professional expectations of remaining in the arts: greater proportion of income from the arts pre-pandemic, continued maintenance of skills, and greater proportion of freelance work. The results suggest that the wellbeing patterns observed at the start of the pandemic remained consistent a year on. They point to possible strategies to support wellbeing and underline the importance of finances for expectations of remaining in arts professions.

Water, sanitation, and hygiene implications of large-scale recycling of treated municipal wastewater in semi-arid regions

Access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH) is crucial for national development, as it improves human health and fulfills a fundamental need. This study examines the impact of a large-scale groundwater (GW) recharge scheme using secondary treated wastewater (STW) on WaSH characteristics and identifies the major determinants of improved WaSH charecteristics in drought-hit regions of Kolar district, southern India. The study quantifies improved WaSH practices by comparing WaSH characteristics between impacted areas (influenced by STW) and non-impacted areas (not influenced by STW) of Kolar, using household survey data. Pearson's chi-square and student's t-test are used to verify differences between WaSH characteristics. Furthermore, a composite WaSH score is formulated, and a hierarchical stepwise multiple linear regression model is constructed to identify major determinants of improved WaSH scores. The results show that impacted areas have better WaSH characteristics, including daily water supply by gram panchayat, enhanced toilet uses among all family members, bathing patterns, cloth washing practices, toilet cleaning patterns, and water consumption per capita per day. The maximum and minimum WaSH scores of impacted areas were 17.50 and 6.50, respectively, while those of non-impacted areas were 14 and 4.5. This study finds that improved water availability, quality, and security due to daily water supply at the household level are the major determinants of improved WaSH practices. These results can inform policymakers in designing sanitation and hygiene improvement policies that integrate water recycling projects in drought-hit areas.

The Associations Between Camouflaging, Autistic Traits, and Mental Health in Nonautistic Adults.

Camouflaging is frequently reported in autistic people and entails the disguising of autistic traits in social situations. Camouflaging is associated with poor mental health in autistic people. This study examined the manifestation of camouflaging in a nonautistic sample, examining the relationship between autistic traits, self-reported camouflaging, gender, and mental health. In total 110 nonautistic adults completed standardized self-report questionnaires that measured autistic traits, mental health symptoms, and camouflaging behaviors. Hierarchical multiple linear regression models were used to analyze data and examine the unique contributions of autistic traits and camouflaging to mental health. Self-reported autistic traits were associated with increased symptoms of poor mental health. However, autistic traits were not associated with mental health symptoms when controlling for self-reported camouflaging, and self-reported camouflaging predicted increased mental health symptoms over and above the effects of autistic traits. Women had poorer mental health than men in our sample, and in women there was a stronger relationship between camouflaging and mental health than in men. Camouflaging may contribute to poor mental health outcomes in the general population, just as it does for autistic people, to the extent that camouflaging more clearly relates to mental health profile than self-reported autism traits. This suggests camouflaging is an important construct for understanding mental health in general, and for exploring the complex relationship between autism and autistic traits.

The relationship between employee motivation and work performance in a manufacturing and retail foodservice organisation

ABSTRACT The interaction between work motivation and work performance has been extensively studied, however, few studies have aimed to analyze the link between the different types of motivation as described by the Self Determination Theory and different forms of work performance. Furthermore, related studies that have been conducted within the foodservice sector appear to be lacking. A cross-sectional survey was thus distributed within a foodservice organization in Malta (EU). Hierarchical multiple linear regression models demonstrated a clear link between work motivation and work performance. In particular, greater levels of autonomous and controlled motivation were associated with better task performance, contextual work performance, and lower levels of counterproductive work behavior. In terms of the individual regulations, greater levels of intrinsic, identified, introjected and extrinsic regulation were associated with better task and contextual performance, as well as lower levels of counterproductive work behavior. The paper thus highlights the potential performance-related benefits of adopting strategies to motivate workers.

Cortical thickness is related to cognitive-motor automaticity and attention allocation in individuals with Alzheimer’s disease: a regions of interest study

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by a distinct pattern of cortical thinning and resultant changes in cognition and function. These result in prominent deficits in cognitive-motor automaticity. The relationship between AD-related cortical thinning and decreased automaticity is not well-understood. We aimed to investigate the relationship between cortical thickness regions-of-interest (ROI) and automaticity and attention allocation in AD using hypothesis-driven and exploratory approaches. We performed an ROI analysis of 46 patients with AD. Data regarding MR images, demographic characteristics, cognitive-motor dual task performance, and cognition were extracted from medical records. Cortical thickness was calculated from MR T1 images using FreeSurfer. Data from the dual task assessment was used to calculate the combined dual task effect (cDTE), a measure of cognitive-motor automaticity, and the modified attention allocation index (mAAI). Four hierarchical multiple linear regression models were conducted regressing cDTE and mAAI separately on (1) hypothesis-generated ROIs and (2) exploratory ROIs. For cDTE, cortical thicknesses explained 20.5% (p = 0.014) and 25.9% (p = 0.002) variability in automaticity in the hypothesized ROI and exploratory models, respectively. The dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) (β = - 0.479, p = 0.018) and superior parietal cortex (SPC) (β = 0.467, p = 0.003), and were predictors of automaticity. For mAAI, cortical thicknesses explained 20.7% (p = 0.025) and 28.3% (p = 0.003) variability in attention allocation in the hypothesized ROI and exploratory models, respectively. Thinning of SPC and fusiform gyrus were associated with motor prioritization (β = - 0.405, p = 0.013 and β = - 0.632, p = 0.004, respectively), whereas thinning of the DLPFC was associated with cognitive prioritization (β = 0.523, p = 0.022). Cortical thinning in AD was related to cognitive-motor automaticity and task prioritization, particularly in the DLPFC and SPC. This suggests that these regions may play a primary role in automaticity and attentional strategy during dual-tasking.

Caregiver feeding decisions and sociodemographic characteristics are associated with snack food intake during infancy and toddlerhood

Snacking starts early in childhood, yet little is known about child versus family influences on snacking during infancy and toddlerhood. This secondary analysis of baseline data examined associations of child characteristics (e.g., appetitive traits, temperament), caregiver feeding decisions, and sociodemographic characteristics with the mean frequency of (times/day) and mean energy from (kcal/day) child snack food intake. Caregivers and their children (ages 9–15 months) were recruited in Buffalo, NY from 2017 to 2019. Caregivers reported on sociodemographics, child appetitive traits (Baby Eating Behaviour Questionnaire), and child temperament (Infant Behavior Questionnaire-Revised). Three 24-h dietary recalls were collected, and USDA food categories were used to categorize snack foods (e.g., cookies, chips, and puffs). Hierarchical multiple linear regression models examined associations of child characteristics (Step 1: age, sex, baseline weight-for-length z-score, appetitive traits, and temperament), caregiver feeding decisions (Step 2: breastfeeding duration and age of solid food introduction), and caregiver sociodemographic characteristics (Step 3: caregiver age, prepregnancy BMI, education, and household size) with mean child snack food intake. Caregivers (n = 141) were on average 32.6 years of age, predominantly white (89.1%), and college-educated (84.2%). Age of solid food introduction (B = −0.21, p = 0.03), prepregnancy BMI (B = 0.03, p = 0.04), and household size (B = 0.23, p = 0.02) were significantly associated with the mean frequency of (times/day) snack food intake, over and above other variables of interest. Child age (B = 15.96, p = 0.002) was significantly associated with mean energy from (kcal/day) snack food intake. Household size (B = 28.51, p = 0.006) was significantly associated with mean energy from (kcal/day) snack food intake, over and above other variables of interest. There were no significant associations of other child characteristics with snack food intake. Findings show that child snack food intake is more closely associated with caregiver feeding decisions and sociodemographic characteristics than child characteristics. Trial registrationNational Institute on Child Health and Human Development, Grant/Award Number R01HD087082-01.

Impact of transformational leadership on the person-organization fit of Chinese nurses: The moderating effect ofemotional intelligence.

To explore the relationships between transformational leadership and person-organization fit, as well as to test the moderating effects of emotional intelligence. A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used to conduct an online questionnaire survey among 326 nurses in Chinese hospitals between March and June 2022. Transformational leadership, person-organization fit and emotional intelligence were measured using the Person-Organization Fit Scale, Transformational Leadership Questionnaire and Emotional Intelligence Scale. Hierarchical multiple linear regression models and simple slope analyses were used. Transformational leadership had a significant positive impact on person-organization fit. Furthermore, emotional intelligence had a conditional moderating effect on the relationship between transformational leadership and nurses' person-organization fit. Under a high level of emotional intelligence, transformational leadership had a stronger positive effect on person-organization fit, while under a low level of emotional intelligence, the relationship between the two was not significant. Transformational leadership has a positive predictive effect on person-organization fit, but this positive predictive effect is driven by conditional effect. The emotional intelligence of nurses plays a moderating role between them.

SARS-CoV-2 infections in migrant populations in Germany: results from the COVID-19 snapshot monitoring survey

ObjectivesResearch shows that there is an increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in migrants and ethnic minorities. However, increasing evidence indicates that socio-economic factors, such as employment, education and income, contribute to the association between migrant status and SARS-CoV-2 infection. This study aimed to examine the association between migrant status and the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Germany and to discuss potential explanations for these associations. Study designThis was a cross-sectional study. MethodsData from the German COVID-19 Snapshot Monitoring online survey were analysed, and hierarchical multiple linear regression models were used to calculate the probabilities of self-reported SARS-CoV-2 infection. Predictor variables were integrated in a stepwise method as follows: (1) migrant status (defined by own or parental country of birth other than Germany); (2) gender, age and education; (3) household size; (4) household language; and (5) occupation in the health sector, including an interaction term of migrant status (yes) and occupation in the health sector (yes). ResultsOf 45,858 participants, 3.5% reported a SARS-CoV-2 infection, and 16% were migrants. Migrants, participants in large households, those speaking a language other than German in their household and those working in the health sector were more likely to report SARS-CoV-2 infection. The probability of reporting SARS-CoV-2 infection was 3.95 percentage points higher for migrants than non-migrants; this probability decreased when integrating further predictor variables. The strongest association of reporting a SARS-CoV-2 infection was observed for migrants working in the health sector. ConclusionsMigrants and health sector employees, and especially migrant health workers, are at an increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The results show that the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection is determined by living and working conditions rather than migrant status.

Impact of the main workplace components on employee satisfaction and performance in the context of digitalization

In the time of digitalization within the framework of the fourth technological revolution, it is necessary to return the human being to the first place in the science of management. Men and women as the performers of activities should be on the pedestal of all modern processes that take place in society and business, to avoid the problem in which the society was “trapped“, during the previous industrial revolutions. The application of information technology in general and artificial intelligence in particular affects the design and content of the main components of job design, which inevitably leads to a reflection on the satisfaction and performance of employees at the workplace. The paper aims to explore the impact of specific workplace components on employee satisfaction and performance, further recognizing which components contribute the most in the context of digitalization and 4IR. From Hackman and Oldham’s job design theory and Mintzberg’s organizational structure framework, we propose and test a research framework that investigated the impact of technical system, work assignment and worker features on employee satisfaction and performance in a contemporary context. The research was conducted in Bosnia and Herzegovina on a random sample of 125 respondents from public and private sector organizations, different industries and companies’ sizes. The analysis was realized through hierarchical multiple linear regression model and the key findings revealed that the task and knowledge characteristics of artificial intelligence-enabled jobs are vitally important for inducing innovative work behaviour among employees.

Burnout: personal and work factors in volunteer and career firefighters

PurposeFirefighters are daily confronted with adverse, unpredictable and demanding situations. It is a dangerous profession that puts firefighters at risk of developing burnout. Although the literature has already identified personal and work-related factors of burnout, the examination of specific factors explaining burnout among volunteer and career firefighters is still needed. The purpose of this study is to investigate the explaining role of personal and work-related factors on volunteer and career firefighters’ burnout.Design/methodology/approachA nonrandom convenience sample of 250 firefighters (67% volunteer; Mage = 31.88) completed a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory, the Proactive Coping Scale and a standard of living subscale item. Hierarchical multiple linear regression models were tested. Fisher’s criterion was considered, with p-values lower than 0.05 interpreted as statistically significant.FindingsPersonal and work-related factors accounted for 18% of volunteer and 31% of career firefighters’ variations in burnout. Personal factors offered a greater contribution explaining volunteer and career firefighters’ burnout. Still, variations in the role played by age, family responsibilities, proactive coping and satisfaction with standard of living on burnout were found among volunteer and career firefighters. Taking the work-related factors into account, working in rotative shifts constituted a risk factor for career firefighters’ burnout.Research limitations/implicationsThis study advances the understanding about the role of personal and work-related factors in volunteer and career firefighters’ burnout.Originality/valueThis study adds information about specific factors explaining burnout among voluntary and career firefighters. It deepens existing knowledge on variations in the role played by age, family responsibilities, work conditions, proactive coping and satisfaction with standard of living on the burnout of volunteer and career firefighters.

Investigating the effect of resin collection and detecting fungal infection in resin-tapped and non-tapped pine trees, using minimally invasive and non-invasive diagnostics

In pine stands systematic harvesting of forest products, such as resin extraction, are known to affect trees’ vitality and consequently their response to fungal diseases. The latter constitutes a serious threat for standing vigorous trees, thus early warning signals and short diagnosis time of fungal pathogens, are crucial for designing effective forest management practices. In this study, we explored the effects of the resin extraction process, which was one of the most prominent economic traditional activities throughout the Mediterranean region, on the pines’ growth, and we detected fungal presence in resin-tapped and non-tapped pine trees. For this, we obtained data from 333 resin-tapped and 163 non-tapped Pinus brutia trees, in 20 forest stands, on the island of Lesvos, Greece, by combining in-situ minimally invasive (tree coring) and non-invasive diagnostics (infrared thermography), with the trees’ phenotypic traits and indices. In each stand (30 × 30 m), tree cores were extracted from 34% of the total trees, while the fungal presence was confirmed (a) by the discoloration and decay patterns in the tree cores, (b) by external indicators of decay, such as fruiting bodies, and (c) by the sudden change in boring resistance during the tree cores’ extraction. To evaluate the effect of resin tapping on pines' growth, we developed hierarchical multiple linear regression models controlling parameters related to pines’ phenotypic traits, while for estimating the fungal presence, we used a set of logistic regression models. The results indicated that the number of tapping scars on the pines’ trunk surface, resulting from the resin extraction process, explained the decrease of (a) the average annual growth of the pines by 9.2%, (b) the annual growth after the resin extraction process by 11.7%, while the explanatory power increased to 19% in trees that were tapped early in their life. Fungal presence was successfully classified (a) in 91.5% of the resin-tapped trees, and (b) in 94.9% of the resin-tapped and non-tapped trees when combining trees’ phenotypic traits and indices with non-invasive diagnostics. These findings may contribute in monitoring forest stand dynamics in order to prevent or mitigate their degradation, and also towards effective management plans concerning resin extraction.