Indirect Effects Research Articles

Unpacking the dark side of positive online destination brand engagement: effects on stress, disengagement, and switching intention

ABSTRACT The brand engagement has always been a key objective for destination marketers due to its positive outcomes. However, using the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) theory, this study delves into an unexplored area by investigating the detrimental effects of positive online destination brand engagement (DBE) on perceived stress, disengagement, and destination-switching intention. The study also delves into the sequential mediation effects of perceived stress and consumer disengagement between online DBE and destination-switching intention. The authors conducted an experimental study with three levels of engagement (low, moderate, and high) in an online DBE scenario. They analysed data from 278 consumers using SmartPLS. The study's findings reveal that online DBE positively impacts perceived stress, which in turn leads to consumer disengagement, ultimately resulting in destination-switching intention. The results validate sequential mediation, indicating that the online DBE's indirect effect on destination-switching intention, as mediated through perceived stress and consumer disengagement. Importantly, the experimental manipulation demonstrated that a moderate level of engagement with destination brands yields more favourable outcomes compared to low and high levels, thereby enhancing the study's practical relevance. The study's findings offer valuable insights for destination marketers, underlining the need to manage online brand engagement effectively to avoid negative consequences.

Discrepancy Between Desired Time in Bed and Desired Total Sleep Time, Insomnia, Depression, and Dysfunctional Beliefs About Sleep Among a Clinical Sample of Patients With Insomnia.

This study investigated whether the discrepancy between desired time in bed and desired total sleep time (DBST) index could be a meaningful indicator for assessing insomnia severity in a clinical sample of patients with insomnia. Furthermore, we sought to identify the mediators of the association between DBST and insomnia severity in individuals with insomnia. We collected the medical records of 127 patients with insomnia. Each participant's DBST index was calculated using sleep indices, including time and duration variables. Psychological symptoms were investigated using the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Patients Health Questionnaire-9 items (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, Dysfunctional Beliefs and Attitudes about Sleep-16 items (DBAS-16), and Epworth Sleepiness Scale. The DBST index was significantly correlated with the ISI (r=0.20, p<0.05), desired total sleep time (r=-0.52, p<0.001), and desired time in bed (r=0.32, p<0.01). Linear regression analysis revealed that insomnia severity was associated with age (β=-0.18, p=0.018), DBST (β=0.23, p=0.003), PHQ-9 (β=0.23, p=0.031), and DBAS-16 (β=0.42, p<0.001). The DBST directly influenced insomnia severity, although indirect effects of mediators were not significant. The DBST index directly influenced insomnia severity regardless of the mediating effects of psychological factors among a clinical sample of patients with insomnia. This finding implies that the DBST index can be a simple measure of insomnia severity, even among patients with insomnia.

Relationship between patient safety culture and patient experience in hospital settings: a scoping review

BackgroundMeasures of patient safety culture and patient experience are both commonly utilised to evaluate the quality of healthcare services, including hospitals, but the relationship between these two domains remains uncertain. In this study, we aimed to explore and synthesise published literature regarding the relationships between these topics in hospital settings.MethodsThis study was performed using the five stages of Arksey and O’Malley’s Framework, refined by the Joanna Briggs Institute. Searches were conducted in the CINAHL, Cochrane Library, ProQuest, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, SciELO and Scopus databases. Further online search on the websites of pertinent organisations in Australia and globally was conducted. Data were extracted against predetermined criteria.Results4512 studies were initially identified; 15 studies met the inclusion criteria. Several positive statistical relationships between patient safety culture and patient experience domains were identified. Communication and teamwork were the most influential factors in the relationship between patient safety culture and patient experience. Managers and clinicians had a positive view of safety and a positive relationship with patient experience, but this was not the case when managers alone held such views. Qualitative methods offered further insights into patient safety culture from patients’ and families’ perspectives.ConclusionThe findings indicate that the patient can recognise safety-related issues that the hospital team may miss. However, studies mostly measured staff perspectives on patient safety culture and did not always include patient experiences of patient safety culture. Further, the relationship between patient safety culture and patient experience is generally identified as a statistical relationship, using quantitative methods. Further research assessing patient safety culture alongside patient experience is essential for providing a more comprehensive picture of safety. This will help to uncover issues and other factors that may have an indirect effect on patient safety culture and patient experience.

Ambivalent Feelings and Relationship Quality in Dementia Family Caregivers: Associations with Depressive Symptomatology

ABSTRACT Objectives Ambivalent feelings in dementia family caregivers have been found to be related to caregivers´ stress associated with the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD-related stress), and depressive symptoms. Ambivalent feelings may also affect caregivers´ perceived quality of the relationship with the person living with dementia (PLwD), but this variable has been scarcely studied. This study analyzes the role of ambivalent feelings in the association between caregivers’ BPSD-related stress, perceived quality of the relationship with the PLwD, and depressive symptomatology. Methods A theoretical model was developed and tested in a sample of 390 family caregivers. Results The obtained tested model had an excellent fit to the data, explaining 24% of the variance of depressive symptomatology. A significant association was found between caregivers’ BPSD-related stress, ambivalent feelings, and depressive symptomatology. Also, an indirect effect in the association between ambivalent feelings and depressive symptomatology was found through the perceived quality of the relationship. Conclusions Ambivalent feelings in dementia family caregivers are associated with caregivers’ BPSD-related stress, perception of a lower relationship quality, and higher depressive symptomatology. Clinical Implications Targeting caregivers’ ambivalent feelings and the quality of the relationship in interventions for dementia family caregivers may decrease their distress.

Temperature and biodiversity influence community stability differently in birds and fishes.

Determining the factors that affect community stability is crucial to understanding the maintenance of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in the face of global warming. We investigated how four temperature components (that is, median, variability, trend and extremes) affected diversity-synchrony-stability relationships for 1,246 bird and 580 fish communities from temperate regions. We hypothesized a stabilizing effect on the community if the variation in species' response to changing median temperature decreases overall community synchrony (hypothesis H1) and if temperature extremes reduce interspecific synchrony at extreme abundances due to variation in species' thermal tolerance limits (hypothesis H2). We found support for H1 in fish and for H2 in bird communities. Here we showed that the abiotic components (that is, the median, variability, trend and extremes of temperature) had more indirect effects on community stability, predominantly by affecting the biotic components (that is, diversity, synchrony). Considering various temperature components' direct as well as indirect impacts on stability for terrestrial versus aquatic communities will improve our mechanistic understanding of biodiversity change in response to global climatic stressors.

Effects of exercise on bone marrow adipose tissue in children with overweight/obesity: role of liver fat.

Exercise reduces adiposity, but its influence on bone marrow fat fraction (BMFF) is unknown; nor is it known whether a reduction in liver fat content mediates this reduction. (i) To determine whether incorporating exercise into a lifestyle program reduces the lumbar spine (LS)-BMFF, and (ii), to investigate whether changes in liver fat mediate any such effect. Ancillary analysis of a two-arm, parallel, non-randomized clinical trial. Primary care centres in Vitoria-Gasteiz (Spain). A total of 116 children with overweight/obesity were assigned to a 22-week family-based lifestyle program (control group [n=57]) or the same program plus an exercise intervention (exercise group [n=59]. The compared interventions consisted of a family-based lifestyle program (two 90-minute sessions/month) and the same program plus supervised exercise (three 90-minute sessions/week). The primary outcome examined was the change in LS-BMFF between baseline and 22 weeks, as estimated by MRI. The effect of changes in hepatic fat on LS-BMFF were also recorded. Mean weight loss difference between groups was 1.4±0.5 kg favour of the exercise group. Only the children in the exercise group experienced a reduction in LS-BMFF (effect size [Cohen d] -0.42, CI: -0.86, -0.01). Importantly, 40.9% of the reductions in LS-BMFF were mediated by changes in percentage hepatic fat (indirect effect: β=-0.104, 95%CI=-0.213, -0.019). The impact of changes in hepatic fat on LS-BMFF was independent of weight loss. The addition of exercise to a family-based lifestyle program designed to reduce cardiometabolic risk improves bone health by reducing LS-BMFF in children with overweight or obesity. This beneficial effect on bone marrow appears to be mediated by reductions in liver fat.

Dynamic path analysis for exploring treatment effect mediation processes in clinical trials with time-to-event endpoints.

Why does a beneficial treatment effect on a longitudinal biomarker not translate into overall treatment benefit on survival, when the biomarker is in fact a prognostic factor of survival? In a recent exploratory data analysis in oncology, we were faced with this seemingly paradoxical result. To address this problem, we applied a theoretically principled methodology called dynamic path analysis, which allows us to perform mediation analysis with a longitudinal mediator and survival outcome. The aim of the analysis is to decompose the total treatment effect into a direct treatment effect and an indirect treatment effect mediated through a carefully constructed mediation path. The dynamic nature of the underlying methodology enables us to describe how these effects evolve over time, which can add to the mechanistic understanding of the underlying processes. In this paper, we present a detailed description of the dynamic path analysis framework and illustrate its application to survival mediation analysis using simulated and real data. The use case analysis provides clarity on the specific exploratory question of interest while the methodology generalizes to a wide range of applications in drug development where time-to-event is the primary clinical outcome of interest.

How Attitudes Toward Evidence-Based Practice Impacts Burnout: A Sequential Mediation Model

ABSTRACT Purpose With the rapid development of China’s social work sector, the increasing job pressures, and risks of professional burnout among social workers have become more prevalent. This study examined the relationship between Chinese social workers’ attitudes toward evidence-based practice (EBP) and burnout, exploring the mediating mechanisms of evidence-based knowledge (EBK) and service quality perception (SQP). Materials and methods We applied PROCESS 4.2 macro in SPSS to analyze the data from 5,931 social workers, testing the sequential mediation effects of EBK and SQP between their attitudes toward EBP and burnout. Results The findings revealed: (1) Attitudes toward EBP had significant indirect positive effects on burnout; (2) EBK partially mediated the relationship between EBP attitude and burnout; (3) SQP partially mediated the relationship between attitudes toward EBP and burnout; (4) Attitudes toward EBP had a sequential mediated effect on burnout through EBK and SQP. Discussion The findings emphasize the need to implement targeted interventions and training programs to foster positive attitudes toward EBP, promote continuous professional development, and provide access to EBP resources. Moreover, nurturing EBK and SQP could help alleviate burnout by improving social workers’ ability to address client issues and enhance their sense of confidence and accomplishment. Conclusion This study fills a research gap by providing empirical evidence on the negative correlation between Chinese social workers’ attitudes toward EBP and burnout, while demonstrating the mediating roles of EBK and SQP.

Psychometric properties and moderated mediation analysis of the ICIQ-NQOL in Chinese primary care patients with nocturia

BackgroundMany individuals consider nocturia a significant nuisance, leading to a reduced health-related quality of life (HRQOL). However, there has been a lack of psychometrically sound patient-reported outcome measures to assess the impact of nocturia on patients in Chinese contexts. This study aimed to translate, culturally adapt, and validate the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Nocturia Quality of Life Module (ICIQ-NQOL) for use among primary care patients in Hong Kong, China. Additionally, it sought to investigate the mechanisms that link nocturia and sleep quality with HRQOL by employing moderated mediation analysis.MethodsThe traditional Chinese version of the ICIQ-NQOL was developed through iterative translations, cognitive debriefing interviews, and panel reviews. The psychometric evaluation included assessments of factor structure, convergent validity, concurrent validity, known-group validity, internal consistency, test-retest reliability and responsiveness. Study instruments included the ICIQ-NQOL, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and a modified Incontinence Impact Questionnaire-Short Form (IIQ-7).ResultsA total of 419 primary care patients were recruited from general outpatient clinics, among whom 228 experiencing an average of two or more nocturia episodes per night over the past four weeks. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the two-factor structure of the ICIQ-NQOL. Concurrent validity was confirmed by moderate correlations between the IIQ-7 total score and the total score as well as two domain scores of the ICIQ-NQOL (r ranging from 0.43 to 0.49, all p < 0.001). The ICIQ-NQOL also had moderate correlations with the IPSS total symptom score (r ranging from 0.40 to 0.48, all p < 0.001). Convergent validity was supported by moderate correlations between the global PSQI score and the total score as well as two domain scores of the ICIQ-NQOL (r ranging from 0.42 to 0.52, all p < 0.001). Known-group comparisons showed that the ICIQ-NQOL could differentiate between patients with and without nocturia in terms of sleep/energy domain score (p < 0.001), bother/concern domain score (p < 0.001), and total score (p < 0.001), each demonstrating a moderate Cohen’s d effect size. Item-total correlations corrected for overlap exceeded 0.4, and Cronbach’s alpha coefficients were greater than 0.7. Test-retest reliability was confirmed with intraclass correlation coefficients exceeding 0.7 among patients reporting no change in their nocturia symptoms at a 2-week follow-up. Regarding responsiveness, the Cohen’s d effect sizes for differences in domain and total scores between the baseline and 2-week follow-up assessments were greater than 0.3 among patients showing improvement in nocturia. Our moderated mediation analysis indicated that sleep quality significantly moderated the impact of nocturia on HRQOL, with a notably stronger indirect effect among females compared to males.ConclusionsThe ICIQ-NQOL is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing the HRQOL in primary care patients suffering from nocturia. The findings advocate for gender-specific approaches in the management and treatment of nocturia to optimize HRQOL.

Effects of stress on burnout among infection control nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic: the mediating effects of social support and self-efficacy

BackgroundThis study investigated the mediating effects of self-efficacy and social support on the relationship between stress and burnout among infection control nurses (ICNs) during an emerging infectious disease pandemic.MethodsThe study participants encompassed 210 ICNs with at least six months’ experience in an infection control unit at a general hospital in South Korea during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were analyzed using independent t-tests or one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), while descriptive statistics were performed using SPSS/WIN 26.0 software. Hayes’s PROCESS macro 4.2 software was used to verify the significance of the indirect effects of the mediators.ResultsStress had a significant positive effect on burnout (β = 0.80, p < .001), accounting for 73% of the variance. Self-efficacy (β = − 0.26, p < .001) and social support (β = − 0.11, p = .034) had a significant negative effect on burnout, accounting for 78% of the variance. Stress was lower when self-efficacy and social support were entered into the model (β = 0.80 → 0.59), indicating that self-efficacy and social support mediated the relationship between stress and burnout.ConclusionThis study is significant in that it confirms the effects of self-efficacy and social support on the relationship between stress and burnout among ICNs. The results highlight the importance of establishing organizational support systems and developing and implementing programs for enhancing self-efficacy in order to reduce burnout among ICNs.

Toxic effects of cadmium on the growth and predation capacity of the predator Orius sauteri

The heavy metal cadmium (Cd) leads to significant bottom-up effects on food chains of plants, herbivores, and predators in agroecosystems. Through the transfer and accumulation of Cd. In addition to the indirect effects of this cascading effects, predators Orius sauteri fed with artificial diets containing Cd also have a direct effect. We found that O. sauteri fed with sucrose solutions containing Cd at high concentrations of 125 mg/L and 625 mg/L significantly decreased the survival of the 3rd and 5th instar, female, and male adults (except 125 mg/L) of O. sauteri. However, the survival of O. sauteri nymphs was significantly increased when they fed with low concentrations of 1 mg/L, 5 mg/L and 25 mg/L Cd sucrose solutions. Cd stress has differing effects on the LC50 of each age of O. sauteri, the lowest LC50 for male adults (153 mg/L), followed by 3rd instar nymphs (192 mg/L), 5th instar nymphs (289 mg/L) and female adults (383 mg/L). It is interesting that 1 mg/L, 5 mg/L, and 25 mg/L of sucrose solutions containing Cd significantly improved the predation capacity of the nymphs of O. sauteri to the Bemisia tabaci pupa. The predation ability of the male adults of O. sauteri on B. tabaci pupa were significantly improved, but significantly decreased in the female adults when they fed with 125 mg/L and 625 mg/L sucrose solutions containing Cd. This difference needs to be studied in depth in the future, controlling Cd contamination and protecting natural enemies to enhance the biological control of pests.Graphical

Investigating the relationships between language mindsets, attributions, and learning engagement of L2 writers

Despite the growing interest in unveiling the effect of attributions on L2 learning, there is a dearth of literature on the relationships between attributions and other motivational factors to better explain the motivation of second language (L2) learners. To fill this gap, this study examined the antecedents (language mindsets) and consequences (learning engagement) of students’ attributions to their writing achievement with a sample of 242 second-year students from a Chinese high school. Structural equation modeling results demonstrated the positive associations between growth mindset and internal attributions (i.e., ability and effort) and between fixed mindset and external attributions (i.e., context and luck) to their writing achievement. Further, internal attributions were positively associated with behavioral, emotional, and cognitive engagement, whereas external attributions were negatively related to these three types of learning engagement, with context attribution showing no relationship with behavioral engagement. In terms of the indirect effect, only one path from fixed mindset to emotional engagement via luck attribution was evident. The study contributes to the literature by exploring the nuanced relationships between language mindsets, attributions, and learning engagement in L2 writing learning, based on which pedagogical implications and suggestions for future research are proposed.

Dementia Care Partner Preparedness and Desire to Seek Long-Term Care at Hospital Discharge: Mediating Roles of Care Receiver Clinical Factors

ABSTRACT Objectives The purpose of this study was to explore the mediating roles of care receiver clinical factors on the relationship between care partner preparedness and care partner desire to seek long-term care admission for persons living with dementia at hospital discharge. Methods This study analyzed data from the Family centered Function-focused Care (Fam-FFC), which included 424 care receiver and care partner dyads. A multiple mediation model examined the indirect effects of care partner preparedness on the desire to seek long-term care through care receiver clinical factors (behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia [BPSD], comorbidities, delirium severity, physical function, and cognition). Results Delirium severity and physical function partially mediated the relationship between care partner preparedness and care partner desire to seek long-term care admission (B = -.011; 95% CI = -.019, −.003, and B = -.013; 95% CI = -.027, −.001, respectively). Conclusions Interventions should enhance care partner preparedness and address delirium severity and physical function in hospitalized persons with dementia to prevent unwanted nursing home placement at hospital discharge. Clinical Implications Integrating care partner preparedness and care receiver clinical factors (delirium severity and physical function) into discharge planning may minimize care partner desire to seek long-term care.

Does peer tutoring have negative effects? An investigation and intervention on tutors’ implicit theories and beliefs of intelligence

Peer-tutoring (PT) is a widely studied learning strategy. No studies, to our knowledge, have examined the effects of PT on tutors’ metacognitive abilities, particularly in relation to implicit theories of intelligence. Study 1 aimed to determine the effects of PT on tutors’ theory and beliefs of intelligence and self-confidence in their own intelligence. Study 2 aimed to explore the efficacy of a metacognitive training administered to tutors on some metacognitive dimensions for both tutors and tutees. In Study 1, we compared tutors and no-tutors before and after PT; in Study 2 we compared tutors, who completed a brief metacognitive training, with a group of standard tutors, as well as their relative tutees. Participants were assigned to experimental conditions and assessed using various standardised questionnaires. Study 1 revealed a surprising negative effect: after PT, tutors tended to abandon the idea of intelligence as a modifiable construct and adopt a more dysfunctional theory of entity intelligence (Cohen’s d = .66). Study 2 also showed that the PT experience negatively affected tutors’ theory of intelligence (Cohen’s d = .94), but this held only for untrained tutors. We also found a positive indirect effect of the training on tutees’ attitudes towards maths.

Unraveling the dynamics: exploring the nexus between abusive supervision, counterproductive work behaviors and the moderating influence of mindfulness

PurposeRelying on the affective events theory, this study conceptualizes abusive supervision as a micro-affective event and tests a multilevel moderated mediation arguing that abusive behaviors from the supervisor trigger negative affective reactions that, in turn, will enhance the likelihood of counterproductive work behaviors (interpersonal and organizational). We further propose that mindfulness will shape how employees react to abusive behaviors from supervisors.Design/methodology/approachA daily diary study conducted for five consecutive days was developed with Portuguese working adults (N = 176*5 = 880).FindingsThe multilevel findings showed that abusive behaviors triggered negative affect and this, in turn, promoted both forms of counterproductive work behaviors. The indirect effect regarding interpersonal counterproductive work behavior was moderated by mindfulness in such a way that the indirect effect was stronger for those who scored lower on mindfulness (versus higher levels). The indirect effect on organizational counterproductive work behavior was not significantly moderated by mindfulness.Practical implicationsThe examination of mindfulness as a moderating factor contributes significantly to management by delineating practical strategies to assist employees in effectively managing micro-events involving abusive behaviors from supervisors. Consequently, these findings may inform the development of research-backed strategies aimed at mitigating the affective and behavioral repercussions of an abusive supervisor.Originality/valueThe inclusion of mindfulness in the model is an added value.

The Mediating Effect of Social Participation Restriction on the Association Between Role Overload and Mental Health Among Caregivers of Older Adults with Dementia.

Caregivers of older adults with dementia (dementia caregivers) often experience high role overload (i.e., feeling overwhelmed by caregiving demands that exceed available resources), which can take a toll on their mental health. Moreover, dementia caregiving can restrict caregivers' participation in valued social activities. This study aims to examine the mediating effect of social participation restriction on the relationship between role overload and mental health among dementia caregivers. A total of 894 dementia caregivers (mean age = 61.77) were selected from the National Study of Caregiving. The sample was predominantly women (64%) and White (78%). Path analysis shows that social participation restriction partially mediated the associations between (1) role overload and psychological distress (indirect effect β = .08, p < .001) and (2) role overload and psychological wellbeing (indirect effect β = -.05, p < .05). Interventions targeting coping strategies and healthcare-recreation programs are needed to improve social participation among dementia caregivers.

Identifying dryland-resilient chickpea genotypes for autumn sowing, with a focus on multi-trait stability parameters and biochemical enzyme activity

BackgroundChickpea is a key pulse crop grown in the spring in dryland regions. The cold resistance potential of chickpeas allows for the development of genotypes with varying sowing dates to take advantage of autumn and winter rainfall, particularly in dryland regions. In this study, we assessed grain yield, plant height, 100-seed weight, days to maturity, and days to flowering of 17 chickpea genotypes in five autumn-sown dryland regions from 2019 to 2021. Additionally, the response of selected chickpea genotypes to cold stress was examined at temperatures of -4 °C, 4 °C, and 22 °C by analyzing biochemical enzymes.ResultsMixed linear model of ANOVA revealed a significant genotype × environment interaction for all traits measured, indicating varying reactions of genotypes across test environments. This study reported low estimates of broad-sense heritability for days to flowering (0.34), days to maturity (0.13), and grain yield (0.08). Plant height and seed weight exhibited the highest heritability, with genotypic selection accuracies of 0.73 and 0.92, respectively. Moreover, partial least square regression highlighted the impactful role of rainfall during all months except of October, November, and February on grain yield and its interaction with environments in autumn-planted chickpeas. Among the genotypes studied, G9, G10, and G17 emerged as superior based on stability parameters and grain yield. In particular, genotype G9 stood out as a promising genotype for dryland regions, considering both MTSI and genotype by yield*trait aproaches. The cold assay indicated that − 4 °C is crucial for distinguishing between susceptible and resistant genotypes. The results showed the important role of the enzymes CAT and GPX in contributing to the cold tolerance of genotype G9 in autumn-sown chickpeas.ConclusionsSignificant G×E for agro-morphological traits of chickpea shows prerequisite for multi-trial analysis. Chickpea`s direct root system cause that monthly rainfall during plant establishment has no critical role in its yield interaction with dryland environment. Considering the importance of agro-morphological traits and their direct and indirect effects on grain yield, the utilization of multiple-trait stability approches is propose. Evaluation of chickpea germplasm reaction against cold stress is necessary for autumn-sowing. Finally, autumn sowing of genotype FLIP 10–128 C in dryland conditions can led to significant crop performance.

Relationship Between Nostalgia Proneness, Generativity, and Ego Integrity.

This study examined the effect of nostalgia proneness on the level of achievement of developmental tasks during the later stages of adulthood (generativity and ego integrity) and the indirect effect of nostalgia on ego integrity. The level of nostalgia proneness changes with age and contributes to subjective well-being in old age. We assumed that nostalgia proneness affects generativity and ego integrity. To confirm the causal relationship between nostalgia proneness and achievement of developmental tasks, a longitudinal study was conducted. We conducted an Internet survey twice with 600 Japanese adults (aged 20-87). The first and second surveys (T1 and T2) were conducted in March 2021 and March 2022, respectively. The questionnaire comprised the Inventory of Psychosocial Balance scale, positive/negative nostalgia proneness scale, and state functions of the nostalgia scale. An autoregressive path model indicated that high and low levels of positive and negative proneness, respectively, predicted ego integrity. The results of the mediation analysis suggested that social connections have an indirect effect on ego integrity and that people who tend to feel positive emotions are less likely to feel negative emotions when they remember nostalgic memories, which leads to a sense of social connection and the acquisition of ego integrity. The findings provide an understanding of the processes through which developmental tasks are facilitated in later adulthood and elucidate the efficacy of psychosocial interventions in older adults.

Linking Self-Esteem to Problematic Mobile Phone Use: A Moderated Mediation Model of Fear of Missing Out and Ruminative Subtypes

Low self-esteem has been identified as a risk factor for problematic mobile phone use (PMPU). However, the magnitude of self-esteem’s effect on PMPU varied across different studies. Drawing on the Interaction of Person-Affect-Cognition-Execution model and the response styles theory, this study developed a moderated mediation model to investigate the mediating role of fear of missing out (FoMO) and the moderating roles of ruminative subtypes (i.e., brooding and reflection) in the relationship between self-esteem and PMPU. We conducted a cross-sectional survey among 806 undergraduate students (Mage = 19.35 years, SD = 1.18) using the convenience sampling method. Results showed that self-esteem was negatively associated with PMPU. Mediation analysis revealed that the association between self-esteem and PMPU was mediated by FoMO. Furthermore, moderated mediation analyses revealed that the mediating effect of FoMO was moderated by both brooding and reflection, such that the indirect effect became stronger for individuals with higher levels of brooding/reflection. These findings add to previous research by shedding light on how (i.e., mediation) and under what conditions (i.e., moderation) self-esteem is associated with PMPU and have implications for early prevention and intervention of individual PMPU.

Path analysis reveals combined winter climate and pollution effects on the survival of a marine top predator.

Marine ecosystems are experiencing growing pressure from multiple threats caused by human activities, with far-reaching consequences for marine food webs. Determining the effects of multiple stressors is complex, in part, as they can affect different aspects of biological organisation (behaviour, individual traits and demographic rates). Determining the combined effects of stressors, through different biological pathways, is key to predict the consequences for the viability of populations threatened by global change. Due to their position in the food chain, top predators such as seabirds are considered more sensitive to environmental changes. Climate change is affecting the prey resources available for seabirds, through bottom-up effects, while organic pollutants can bioaccumulate in food chains with the greatest impacts on top predators. However, knowledge of their combined effects on population dynamics is scarce. Using a path analysis, we quantify the effects of climate change and pollution on the survival of adult great black-backed gulls, both directly and through effects of individuals' body mass. Warmer ocean temperatures in gulls' winter foraging areas in the North Sea were correlated with higher survival, potentially explained by shifts in prey availability associated with global climate change. We also found support for indirect negative effects of organochlorines, highly toxic pollutants to seabirds, on survival, which acted, in part, through a negative effect on body mass. The results from this path analysis highlight how, even for such long-lived species where variance in survival tends to be limited, two stressors still have had a marked influence on adult survival and illustrate the potential of path models to improve predictions of population variability under multiple stressors.