Individual Behavior Research Articles

A Meta-Analytic Review of Transformational Leadership Research in Public Administration

Despite the increasing research attention devoted to transformational leadership in public administration, there is still concern over whether it is appropriate and effective in the public context. To answer the important question of whether and when transformational leadership is effective, this study meta-analytically reviewed transformational leadership research based on 70 primary studies that include 151 independent effect sizes from 718,601 participants. It was found that transformational leadership was significantly related to outcomes at both individual (motivations, attitudes, and behaviors) and organizational (performance and innovation) levels, and positively related to transactional leadership and leader-member exchange. Moderation analyses revealed that national cultural values and public/semipublic affiliation of the studied samples, as well as measurement scales of transformational leadership explained some of the transformational leadership-outcome relationship variations. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Assessing Individual and Interpersonal Attitudes and Behavior Associated with School Outcomes in a Predominantly Low Income, Latino, and Immigrant High School Population.

Assessing Individual and Interpersonal Attitudes and Behavior Associated with School Outcomes in a Predominantly Low Income, Latino, and Immigrant High School Population.

Promoting employees’ innovative work behavior through innovation-specific leader behavior: An AMO-approach

Abstract Fostering employees’ innovative work behavior (EIB) has become one of the most important tasks of leaders. Although numerous studies have investigated the relationship between leadership and EIB, it is still unclear which specific leader behaviors promote EIB. Previous research has focused on leadership in terms of broad, non-innovation-specific leadership styles. Behavioral sub-factors have been neglected, and prioritization according to the importance of individual behaviors is still lacking. To address these issues, we identify innovation-specific leader behaviors and analyze which behaviors are best suited to increase EIB. To explain the relationship between the respective leader behaviors and EIB, we rely on the Ability–Motivation–Opportunity (AMO) framework and distinguish between ability-enhancing, motivation-enhancing, and opportunity-enhancing leadership behaviors. Our empirical analyzes are based on data from 1214 German employees. Our findings reveal that motivation- and opportunity-enhancing leadership behaviors foster EIB, with certain innovation-specific behaviors being particularly important for EIB. Building on our results, we provide guidelines for innovation-specific leadership.

Hybrid discrete‐continuum modeling of tumor‐immune interactions: Fractional time and space analysis with immunotherapy

In this paper, we introduce an innovative hybrid discrete‐continuum model that provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the intricate interactions between tumor cells, immune cells, and the effects of immunotherapy. This study distinguishes itself by addressing the limitations of traditional diffusion models, which often fail to capture the irregular and nonlocal movements of cells within the complex tumor microenvironment. To overcome these challenges, we employ fractional time derivatives and the fractional Laplacian operator, offering a more accurate representation of anomalous diffusion processes that are critical in cancer dynamics. Our research begins with a rigorous mathematical analysis, where we establish the global existence of a unique mild solution, laying a solid theoretical foundation for the model. A key innovation of our study is the introduction of the “invasion threshold,” a critical parameter inspired by the next‐generation operator used in epidemiological modeling. This threshold provides a powerful tool for determining the existence and stability of equilibrium points, offering deep insights into the conditions that either promote or inhibit tumor growth under immunotherapeutic interventions. By integrating a hybrid discrete‐continuum approach, we capture the individual behavior of each cell, allowing for a more detailed exploration of the dynamic interplay within the tumor microenvironment. This model not only advances our understanding of tumor‐immune interactions but also holds potential for informing more effective therapeutic strategies, making a significant contribution to the field of mathematical oncology.

Predicting Individual Mobility Behavior of Ride-Hailing Service Users Considering Heterogeneity of Trip Purposes

Predicting Individual Mobility Behavior of Ride-Hailing Service Users Considering Heterogeneity of Trip Purposes

Factors affecting social technologies driven knowledge sharing among Pakistani university librarians and its impact on library service innovation

This study explores the factors influencing knowledge sharing (KS) via social technologies (STs) among Pakistani university librarians and its effect on library service innovation. The research employed an expanded version of the theory of planned behavior as its theoretical framework. Data were gathered through a self-administered questionnaire to 281 university librarians of Pakistan using the convenience sampling technique. Descriptive statistics and a multiple linear regression test were used to analyze the collected data. The study found prevalent use of platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook. All nine hypotheses suggesting positive correlations among factors were supported. Key factors found to be shaping librarians’ KS behavior include trust, attitude, enjoyment in helping others, perceived behavioral control, and subjective norms. Additionally, individual behavior intention, perceived reciprocal benefits, and management support were also found to be crucial in fostering KS. On the whole, the study showed a positive impact in knowledge sharing through social platforms on library service innovation. This study will be useful for librarians around the world by providing evidence-based strategies and insights into fostering effective knowledge sharing through social technologies, which can lead to enhanced library services and innovation in diverse library settings globally.

Off-Body Sleep Analysis for Predicting Adverse Behavior in Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Poor sleep quality in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) individuals is linked to severe daytime behaviors. This study explores the relationship between a prior night's sleep structure and its predictive power for next-day behavior in ASD individuals. The motion was extracted using a low-cost near-infrared camera in a privacy-preserving way. Over two years, we recorded overnight data from 14 individuals, spanning over 2000 nights, and tracked challenging daytime behaviors, including aggression, self-injury, and disruption. We developed an ensemble machine learning algorithm to predict next-day behavior in the morning and the afternoon. Our findings indicate that sleep quality is a more reliable predictor of morning behavior than afternoon behavior the next day. The proposed model attained an accuracy of 74% and a F1 score of 0.74in target-sensitive tasks and 67% accuracy and 0.69 F1 score in target-insensitive tasks. For 7 of the 14, better-than-chance balanced accuracy was obtained (p-value 0.05), with 3 showing significant trends (p-value 0.1). These results suggest off-body, privacy-preserving sleep monitoring as a viable method for predicting next-day adverse behavior in ASD individuals, with the potential for behavioral intervention and enhanced care in social and learning settings.

Extreme temperature events, “Life’s Essential 8”, and prevalence of chronic kidney disease: A nationally representative surveillance in China

The population disease burden caused by extreme temperature events has been increasing. However, research on the long-term effects of extreme temperature events on chronic kidney disease (CKD), as well as the combined effects with individual behaviors and metabolic factors is still lacking. Based on 176,874 participants from the most recent nationally representative surveillance on CKD and validated high spatial resolution (0.1°) remote-sensing products, this study investigated the associations between extreme temperature events in the preceding five years before investigation and CKD (defined by reduced renal function or albuminuria) prevalence. We also investigated the associations between “Life’s Essential 8”, a recognized scale to evaluate overall cardiovascular health (CVH) based on individual behaviors and metabolic indicators and CKD prevalence, as well as its combined effects with extreme temperature events. One additional day of heat waves and cold spells per year was associated with increased ORs of CKD [1.10 (95 % CI: 1.08, 1.11) and 1.07 (95 % CI: 1.05, 1.09), respectively]. Meanwhile, per standard deviation (SD) increment in health behavior score (SD = 16.1), health factor score (SD = 18.4), and overall CVH score (SD = 12.4) were associated with decreased ORs of CKD [0.92 (95 % CI: 0.90, 0.93), 0.60 (95 % CI: 0.59, 0.61), and 0.64 (95 % CI: 0.63, 0.65, respectively]. Relative to higher heat wave & lower CVH score group, the ORs of CKD were 0.87 (95 % CI: 0.84, 0.90), 0.51 (95 % CI: 0.48, 0.53), and 0.42 (95 % CI: 0.40, 0.44) in lower & lower, higher & higher, and lower & higher group, respectively. Our findings underscore the importance of considering the synergistic effects of individual behavioral and metabolic factors for strategies to mitigate the impacts of climate change on CKD.

Pressure center behavior and plantar pressure distribution in patients undergoing total knee atropasty surgery

Objectives The study aimed to analyze the center of pressure behavior in individuals undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA), using a plantar pressure platform as an assessment tool. Methods Seventeen participants, with an average age of 71.23 years, diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis and undergoing TKA for the first time, were included. Inclusion criteria required participants to have no neurological dysfunctions, prior use of lower limb prostheses, or deformities on the plantar surfaces. The experimental protocol involved data collection on center of pressure behavior, arch index, and pain using the Visual Analog Scale, both with eyes open and closed. Results Revealed significant differences in anteroposterior center of pressure behavior (COPAP) and center of pressure area between moments with eyes open and closed. There were statistically significant variations in COPAP, indicating an influence of visual condition on postural stability. Other variables, such as arch index, average displacement speed, and percentage of pressure on the feet, did not show significant differences. Conclusion The visual condition, especially the difference between eyes open and closed, impacts the center of pressure behavior in patients undergoing TKA. The decrease in the center of pressure area with closed eyes suggests an adaptive response of the neuromuscular system to visual deprivation. This study emphasizes the importance of considering visual factors in the assessment of balance in pre-TKA patients, providing valuable insights for physiotherapeutic interventions and preoperative guidance.

The Association Between Specific Oral Behaviors and the Number of Temporomandibular Disorder Symptoms in the General Population: A Cross-Sectional Study.

This study aimed to thoroughly explore the relationship between individual oral behavior and the differing numbers of temporomandibular disorder (TMD) symptom in the general population. A total of 565 participants were recruited and completed a questionnaire containing demographic characteristics, eight specific oral behaviors, and five major TMD symptoms (5Ts) checklist. Multivariate linear regression analysis was performed to assess the relationship between individual oral behavior and the number of TMD symptoms, after controlling for confounders. The prevalence of TMD symptoms was up to 38.2% in the general population, with 64.6% of the participants engaging in one or more oral behaviors. Female participants showed a stronger positive association with most oral behaviors than males. Moreover, wake oral behaviors exhibited a higher correlation coefficient value with TMD symptom number than sleep oral behaviors. Among the eight oral behaviors, bruxism in sleep exhibited no significant correlation with the of TMD symptom number (P>0.05). Seven other specific oral behaviors were significantly correlated with the number of TMD symptoms by multivariate linear regression analysis (P<0.01). The associations between the seven oral behaviors and TMD symptom number remained significant in sleep posture pressuring jaw (β: 0.165, 95% CI: 0.080-0.250), bruxism in awake (β: 0.341, 95% CI: 0.132-0.550), teeth clenching (β: 0.422, 95% CI: 0.264-0.580), pressing, holding, or touching teeth together (β: 0.282, 95% CI: 0.169-0.395), holding or tightening muscles without clenching (β: 0.447, 95% CI0.304-0.589), holding jaw forward or to the side (β: 0.694, 95% CI0.526-0.861), and holding jaw in rigid or tense position (β: 0.571, 95% CI0.418, 0.724) after adjustment for demographic factors (P<0.01). There was a positive association between seven specific oral behaviors and TMD symptom number. Individuals with higher frequency of specific oral behaviors are more likely to suffer from more TMD symptoms. Sleep bruxism exhibited no association with TMD symptoms and symptom number.

Using citizen science to explore barriers and facilitators for healthy and sustainable lifestyles in office environments

The socio ecological model states that individual behaviors at work are shaped by the interactions between individual employees and their work environments. This study used citizen science to gain insights into which elements of the built, social, and organizational environment in an office and surrounding neighborhoods in two Swedish cities were perceived as barriers to or facilitators of healthy and sustainable behaviors at work. Participants in the eight-week Sustainable Office Intervention pilot study (SOFIA) (n = 33) were cluster-randomized into an experimental arm (sustainable lifestyle) or a control intervention arm (healthy lifestyle). They used the Our Voice Healthy Neighborhood Discovery Tool mobile app to document contextual elements at their workplaces. In total, 114 photos and text-based narratives were recorded, and four themes emerged: built environment, building design, office ergonomics, and food and beverages. Eighteen percent of the photos were linked to pro-environmental behaviors, all exclusively captured by the experimental arm. Twelve barriers and solutions for improving the workplace environment were identified during discussions with participants in both arms. The findings provide insights for designing or renovating office spaces and urban planning to promote healthier and more sustainable lifestyles for office workers.

Cultural Misbeliefs: A Fertile Ground at Service of Psychological Operations

This paper of ours further expounds on psyops and cultural misbeliefs-their complex interplay in how these deep-seated but very often cultural misbeliefs can be manipulated to have an influence upon perceptions and responses in the public. In psychological warfare, cultural misbelief has formed a two-edged sword wherein skilled players could use these in misleading the target groups in a direction that furthers the strategic aim. The present study has shown how rumors, especially those coinciding with deep-seated fears and prejudices can fuel acts of violence or justify negative behavior and has illustrated the huge impact which cultural background may have on individual behavior and social life. It also reflects upon the degree to which psychological operations have created public opinion and attempted to demoralize one's adversaries by using those cultural cleavages apt to awake social chaos and conflict and it also espouses critical thinking and education as imperatives for overcoming the aftermath of cultural misconceptions and propounds an inclusive approach toward attaining understanding and tolerance of the people within the community. It is when such misconceptions are identified and corrected that societies become resilient to such manipulative misinformation and create a united and peaceful atmosphere.

Dynamic policy in the presence of social norms

AbstractIndividual actions can depend on prevailing social norms. We investigate how optimal policy to promote pro‐social action should exploit the underlying social dynamics. We develop a dynamic model of prosocial action in which conformist consumers repeatedly choose whether to engage in some prosocial activity. Whereas individual behavior is not observed, the overall participation rate in the previous period is common knowledge. We demonstrate how conformity can lead to multiple steady states and how their selection depends on starting conditions and discount factors. We further show that the optimal subsidy path can be non‐monotonic and can decrease before reaching the steady state‐level. Our model thus provides a rationale for introductory subsidies to promote environmentally friendly behavior from a behavioral perspective.

Schema modes and social maladjustment: The mediating role of difficulty in emotion regulation

BackgroundStudies show that emotion regulation as a special form of self-regulation and schema modes as the basis of different states of awareness affect the behavior and cognition of individuals, which can also affect social adjustment in the sense of establishing a balance between the needs of oneself and society. The present study was conducted to investigate the relationship between schema modes and social maladjustment with the mediation of difficulty in emotion regulation in students. MethodThe participants were 670 students from a medical university who were selected by convenient sampling. Questionnaires on schema modes, Bell's social adjustment, and difficulty in emotion regulation were administered. Data analyzed by the R package robmed. ResultsThe results indicated the mediating effect of emotion regulation difficulty on the relationship between schema modes and social maladjustment. Child modes predict 16 %, coping modes 13 %, parent modes 12 %, and healthy adult modes 10 % of the variance of social maladjustment mediated by difficulty in emotion regulation.

Citizen science promotes knowledge, skills and collective action to monitor and protect freshwater streams

Abstract Citizen science has great potential to foster ecological knowledge, skills and collective action for biodiversity conservation. To date, however, there are few experimental studies of behaviour change outcomes induced by citizen science. We assessed the effects of citizen science in ecological stream monitoring on participants' individual and collective behaviour and action intentions to protect streams beyond the immediate scope of the citizen science project. For this we applied a three‐wave, quasi‐experimental survey design with a citizen science treatment group (N = 213 participants of the project FLOW in Germany) and two control groups (waiting control group: N = 92, panel control group: N = 250). In addition, we analysed citizen science effects on potential predictors of freshwater conservation behaviour, such as knowledge, skills, awareness of stream stressors and group identification. Results of linear mixed‐model analysis showed that, compared to the control groups, citizen scientists significantly increased their objective stream‐related knowledge, their self‐reported stream monitoring skills and their awareness of stream stressors. These changes remained stable 6 weeks after the citizen science intervention. Notably, citizen scientists also reported increased identification with their citizen science project group and higher levels of collective and personal behaviour to protect streams at posttest (e.g. contacting local politicians with ideas for stream protection or using biodegradable detergents). Analysis revealed that increases in group identification and collective stream protection behaviour were significantly correlated. We could show that the citizen science intervention was particularly effective for participants with high intrinsic motivation and for those with low prior knowledge and experience in stream monitoring. Synthesis and applications. Citizen science can serve as a useful tool to promote ecological understanding, awareness and collective action to conserve freshwater streams. By fostering volunteer skills and community building, citizen science projects can empower participants with different levels of experience to engage in freshwater monitoring and protection. Decision makers should actively support approaches for citizen participation in freshwater monitoring, recognising that collective engagement of diverse community members is needed to finally meet the European Water Framework Directive's goal of restoring the good ecological status of freshwater ecosystems. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Effects of comprehensive smoke-free legislation on smoking behaviours and macroeconomic outcomes in Shanghai, China: a difference-in-differences analysis and modelling study

China has one of the highest levels of tobacco consumption globally, and there is no national smoke-free legislation. Although more than 20 Chinese cities have passed local smoke-free laws since 2008, evidence on their effectiveness in reducing smoking behaviours and their economic benefits is scarce. By exploiting a natural quasi-experiment, whereby a comprehensive public smoking ban was implemented in Shanghai in March, 2017, this study aims to assess the impact of the policy on individual smoking behaviours and quantify its effect on macroeconomic outcomes. In this difference-in-differences analysis and modelling study, we used data on smoking behaviours from the 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2018 waves of the China Family Panel Studies. We used a difference-in-differences approach to investigate trends in smoking prevalence in respondents in Shanghai, relative to respondents from other direct-administered municipalities, provincial capital cities, and subprovincial municipalities (control group), after the implementation of a smoking ban in 2017. All respondents aged 18 years or older were included, with the exception of people who lived in Beijing and rural areas. The primary variable of interest in the difference-in-differences analysis was self-reported smoking status. Based on the difference-in-differences estimation of reduction in smoking prevalence, we then used a health-augmented macroeconomic model to estimate the potential macroeconomic gains if such a ban was implemented across China for the period 2017-35. 14 688 respondents were included in the analysis: 5766 from Shanghai and 8922 from the control group. After the implementation of the smoking ban in Shanghai in 2017, smoking prevalence decreased by 2·2 percentage points (95% CI 2·1-2·3), equivalent to an 8·4% reduction in the number of current smokers. The smoking ban had a larger effect on men, people with a higher level of education, unmarried people, and younger people when compared with their respective counterparts. The modelling analysis showed that implementing a nationwide comprehensive public smoking ban similar to that in Shanghai would result in a 0·04-0·07% increase in the national gross domestic product in China between 2017 and 2035, outweighing the economic costs of smoking ban enforcement. The smoking ban in Shanghai shows that a comprehensive public smoking ban with strict enforcement is effective in curbing smoking behaviours. Moreover, the implementation of a comprehensive public smoking ban across China would be cost-effective. National Social Science Fund of China.

Whole Organ Volumetric Sensing Ultrasound Localization Microscopy for Characterization of Kidney Structure.

Glomeruli are the filtration units of the kidney and their function relies heavily on their microcirculation. Despite its obvious diagnostic importance, an accurate estimation of blood flow in the capillary bundle within glomeruli defies the resolution of conventional imaging modalities. Ultrasound Localization Microscopy (ULM) has demonstrated its ability to image in-vivo deep organs in the body. Recently, the concept of sensing ULM or sULM was introduced to classify individual microbubble behavior based on the expected physiological conditions at the micrometric scale. In the kidney of both rats and humans, it revealed glomerular structures in 2D but was severely limited by planar projection. In this work, we aim to extend sULM in 3D to image the whole organ and in order to perform an accurate characterization of the entire kidney structure. The extension of sULM into the 3D domain allows better localization and more robust tracking. The 3D metrics of velocity and pathway angular shift made glomerular mask possible. This approach facilitated the quantification of glomerular physiological parameter such as an interior traveled distance of approximately 7.5 ±0.6 microns within the glomerulus. This study introduces a technique that characterize the kidney physiology which can serve as a method to facilite pathology assessment. Furthermore, its potential for clinical relevance could serve as a bridge between research and practical application, leading to innovative diagnostics and improved patient care.

School environment and adolescent health: Results from the HPTN 068 cohort

PurposeTo assess the relationship between school environment and health and behavior outcomes. MethodsData are from baseline and first follow-up of the HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) 068 longitudinal trial established in 2012 of adolescent girls and young women in rural Mpumalanga Province, South Africa. Data from 2212 participants are included. We measured the association between four school environment domains: school resources, school safety, negative personal experiences, and school connectedness, and several health and behavior outcomes: depressive symptoms, low attendance, recent pregnancy, recent unprotected sex, transactional sex, and having an older romantic partner. We used a g-computation approach to estimate risk differences (RD) for the longitudinal relationship between the school environment (measured at the individual and school level) on individual health and behavior outcomes, controlling for baseline covariates. ResultsThe mean age of participants at baseline was 15.4; mean age at first follow-up was 16.6. Individual baseline perceptions of an unsafe school environment (RD = 3.1 %, 95 % CI: 1.3–5.2 %) and more frequent negative experiences (RD = 4.0 %, 95 % CI: 2.0–5.9 %) were associated with higher absolute risk of depressive symptoms at follow-up. There was an overall trend toward higher risk of pregnancy, unprotected sex, and having an older partner among those who reported fewer school resources, lack of school safety, more negative personal experiences, and lack of school connectedness. ConclusionsOur findings provide evidence of an overall trend toward higher risk of depression, pregnancy, unprotected sex, and having an older partner among those reporting a worse school environment across four school environment domains.

Attitudes and Willingness of Patients Toward Organ Donation and Distrust in the Health Care System: Insights from Turkish Family Physicians

ObjectivesOrgan transplant recipients express trust in their physicians with the phrase, "I entrust my life first to Allah and then to you." However, trust is not reflected in organ donor rates in Türkiye despite the rising incidence of end-stage organ failures.The aim of this study was to map individuals' attitudes, willingness, and behaviour towards organ donation, relationships with distrust in the health care system, religious aspects, and demographic variables. Material and MethodsIn a descriptive cross-sectional approach, a face-to-face questionnaire was issued to randomly selected 557 patients in family medicine clinics of two tertiary hospitals in Istanbul city. Positive and negative attitudes subscales of the organ donation attitude scale and distrust in the health care system scale were used. ResultsThe organ donation rate was 12.4%, and 37.9% of participants were willing to donate. A higher education level revealed higher rates of willingness but did not supply a higher donation rate (p=0.001, p=0.048).The liver was the organ with the most potential to donate (90.3%).The average positive and negative attitude scores towards organ donation were 48.10 ± 21.41and 72.11 ± 26.47, highlighting negative tendency. The rate of refusals donated for religious reasons was 30.1%. It was observed that individuals who religiously refused organ donation were less willing to donate and showed higher distrust in the healthcare system (p<0.001; p<0.001),but they exhibited more positive and less negative donation attitude scores versus others (p<0.001; p<0.001). Approximately half of the participants reported awareness of organ donation law and brain death principles supporting a significantly higher donation rate(p<0.001; p<0.001). ConclusionsOur findings highlight a crucial mismatch between willingness, attitudes, distrust, religious aspects, and actual behaviour regarding organ donation. Strategically, educational materials and interventions on relevant laws, brain death principles, and reasons for becoming donors may be more effective than focusing solely on increasing donation rates.

A Method for the Analysis of Data About Dyadic Relationships

Psychological research in many subfields focuses on dyads because they influence individual cognitions, emotions, and behavior. However, the measurement of relationship characteristics has been elusive. Although direct observational methods have been hailed as the gold standard, they have some disadvantages, such as their high cost and external validity. We propose a factor-analytic method, specifically the bifactor model, using self-report data from each individual of a dyad. This method has been applied to many contexts but not yet to dyadic data. We show that the information that can be gleaned from these data is relatively low-cost but rich in terms of the insight it yields about the nature of the dyadic relationship. We demonstrate two different applications of the bifactor model to data from married couples.•The bifactor model can be used to identify the individual-specific and dyadic aspects of data reported by the members of a dyad.•The estimates of the bifactor model of dyadic data can yield information about hierarchical aspects of a relationship, which are not directly assessed.