Motivation Research Articles

Scroll, Stop, Shop: Decoding impulsive buying in social commerce

Technological advancements within social commerce platforms, such as “action buttons” on Facebook or Instagram (e.g., the “Shop” button), have simplified how customers interact with brands, leading to greater impulse buying opportunities. Using a mixed methodology in two studies involving Instagram users in the United States (US), this research conceptualizes (Study 1) and operationalizes (Study 2) a higher-order model of consumer motivation for social commerce engagement as a hierarchical construct that drives the urge to impulse buy. Further, consumer–brand identification and perceived social risk of commenting are included in the proposed framework. Results show consumer motives of brand intimacy, shopping planning, entertainment, channel advantage, remuneration, and escapism influence impulse buying. Findings further identify consumer–brand identification as a mediating mechanism between consumer motivation and the urge for impulse buying, which also neutralizes the negative moderating effect of the perceived social risk of commenting on social platforms. This study contributes to motivation and impulse buying theory as well as social commerce practice. The findings inform content marketing activities seeking to heighten customers’ urge for impulse buying and mitigate contingency variables. This study also acknowledges related ethical considerations, including the need for brands to understand the urge to impulse buying behaviors to ensure responsible marketing practices that align with principles of consumer well-being.

Meditation and Self-transcendence: A Human Need?

Building on Fircks (2023), who aims at integrating the theoretical and historical roots of mindfulness into psychology through a bridge between Taoism, relying on the polarity of life and wu wei (the principle of not-forcing) and Mead's Social Psychology, this commentary seeks to further explore how mindfulness, meditation and self-transcendence plays a role in the personal needs hierarchy of the human organism. This is done in the framework of Abraham Maslow's theory of human motivation and his hierarchy of needs, where a model that introduces a new layer in the hierarchy of needs, the need for self-transcendence, is presented. This model containing the new hierarchy of self-transcendence is based on Maslow's own notion of peak-experiences, as well as related to William James' notion of mystical experiences. Fircks' (2023) autoethnographic meditative experience is conceptualized as a peak-experience and analyzed to show how human beings strive to experience this state of being.

Predictors of the Intention to Perform Preventive Behaviors Against the Occurrence of Breast Cancer

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. The purpose of study was to determine the predictors of the intention to perform preventive behaviors against the occurrence of breast cancer (BC) based on the protection motivation theory (PMT). Methods: This research was a cross-sectional study that was conducted on 400 women aged 18 to 70 living in Babol city with a multi-stage sampling method. The data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire containing demographic information, questions on BC risk factors based on the constructs of PMT. data was entered into SPSS V20 and analyzed with chi-square, independent t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation-test and linear regression at a significance level of 0.05. Results: More than of the participants were single. 66% of participants had no risk factors, 12.5% had one risk factor, 7.5% had three risk factors, and 1.5% had more than four risk factors. The strongest predictors of the intention to perform preventive behaviors against BC were perceived severity (β = 0.280), number of risk factors (β = 0.206), death of a relative due to BC (β = 0.147), and self-efficacy (β = 0.141). Among PMT constructs, perceived severity and self-efficacy constructs were the strongest predictors of preventive behaviors against BC. Conclusion: The PMT plays an important predictive role in the intention to perform cancer prevention behaviors. In this context, it is necessary to design and implement training programs based on these constructs of this model, especially the perceived intensity, self-efficacy and response efficiency.

PCR181 Predicting COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy through Integrated Protection Motivation Theory Constructs

PCR181 Predicting COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy through Integrated Protection Motivation Theory Constructs

Determining Factors Influencing Filipinos’ Behavioral Protection against COVID: Integrating Extended Protection Motivation Theory, Theory of Planned Behavior, and Ergonomic Appraisal

This study examined the perceived protective behavior of Filipinos towards COVID-19. It utilized the extended protection motivation theory (PMT) and theory of planned behavior (TPB) models with the integration of ergonomic appraisal, applying partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to determine the factors affecting the protective behavior of Filipinos against COVID-19. A questionnaire was developed and distributed to 3000 Filipino citizens to measure the factors and their relationships. Results showed that understanding COVID-19 significantly influences the Filipinos’ perceived virus severity and vulnerability. In turn, perceived severity, self-efficacy, attitude, and subjective norms were the significant factors that affected the behavioral intention, impacting protective behavior. In addition, cognitive and macro ergonomics have been found to be the factors that influence the protective behavior of Filipinos against COVID-19. Thus, the study’s findings can be used as a framework for developing pandemic response initiatives that aim to inform and educate Filipinos, especially those who do not have the privilege of accessing information. Lastly, the outcome of this study can be used as a theoretical framework for future researchers who aim to conduct a study in a similar discipline.

Authentic leadership and performance of public servants in Tanzania context: the mediation role of motivation

PurposeThis study examined the relationship between authentic leadership and employee performance among public servants in Kigoma/Ujiji municipality in Tanzania. Further, we investigated the mediating role of motivation on the relationship between authentic leadership and employee performance.Design/methodology/approachA cross-sectional research design was applied along with a quantitative research approach. The study sampled 260 public servants selected by random sampling from a total of 800 employees. Data were analyzed using Mplus software using the maximum likelihood estimator to test for hypotheses.FindingsThe findings show a positive significant relationship between authentic leadership and employee performance, a positive significant relationship between authentic leadership and motivation and a positive significant relationship between motivation and employee performance. Furthermore, motivation was found to be a significant mediator in the relationship between authentic leadership and employee performance among public servants in Tanzania.Practical implicationsThis study contributes to the corpus of research on authentic leadership, motivation and employee performance, especially in the context of public service. Additionally, it provides advice on how to use authentic leadership and motivation to enhance public servants performance. Managers should strive to create a motivational work climate characterized by trust, empowerment and recognition. By fostering a sense of ownership and investment in their work, managers can enhance employee motivation and engagement, leading to improved performance outcomes.Originality/valueOur study is one of a kind to emphasize the crucial roles that authentic leadership and motivation play in promoting commitment, dedication and positive social interactions at work. Our study also advances the understanding of public service motivation (PSM) theory.

Acute effects on the psychological perception of university students after participation in the "RegulACTION" workshop for the improvement of emotional health and promotion of an active lifestyle.

Prospective research in Health Sciences and Sports Sciences warns of the need to design and implement educational program at the different stages of human development, that promote emotional competences, interpersonal competences, an adequate level of healthy physical activity as well as adherence to the Mediterranean diet and a more active lifestyle on a physical and social level. The main objective of the study was to design an intervention program on intra-and interpersonal competences together with emotional education, nutritional education and healthy physical activity, called 'RegulACTION'. The preliminary study sample consisted of 11 participants aged 21-28 years (M = 5.00, SD = 8.76) (8 female and 3 males) university students. An ad hoc questionnaire was elaborated to evaluate the participant's perception of the usefulness of the 'RegulACTION' experience and a semi-structured interview of 5 questions to assess their perception, identification of their emotions, awareness of their cognitions, emotions and behaviors in the different areas of their lives. The descriptive results show that the participants are receptive to continuing training in the regulation of cognitions (thoughts) and emotions to increase their satisfaction in different areas of their lives. Regarding the qualitative results, the participants' perception, collected verbatim, is that they feel the need to apply the knowledge about personal and social emotions, as well as healthy behavior in terms of nutrition and exercise, in their daily lives. The 'RegulACTION' program is designed based on the assessment of the prevalence of mental illness in the young adult and adult population, in line with the literature review in the area of knowledge of the theory of emotions, motivational theories and on the occasion of the development of a workshop organized.

Empathy helps, dehumanization harms: Beliefs about the causes of homelessness are (in)directly related to intentions to help and harm those who are unhoused

AbstractHomelessness is a complex social issue that can be attributed to a constellation of dispositional, situational, and health‐related causes. The extent to which these causal attributions are associated with the treatment of individuals experiencing homelessness, however, is not well understood. The current study addressed this gap by exploring the extent to which individual beliefs about the causes of homelessness were associated with intentions to help as well as endorsements of restrictions and legalistic harm aimed at those who are unhoused. Results demonstrated that structural and dispositional, but not health, attributions were associated with helpful and hurtful behaviors. Further, a structural equation model revealed that these effects were explained, in part, by empathy for and the dehumanization of individuals experiencing homelessness. Attributions were most clearly associated with intentions to help via empathy and endorsements of harm via distinct forms (animalistic and mechanistic) of dehumanization. Theoretical implications pertaining to Attribution Theory of Emotion and Motivation and the practical implications for improving the treatment of and support for individuals experiencing homelessness are also discussed.

Enhancing protection motivation for disaster preparedness among actors at UNESCO-designated heritage sites in Africa

Heritage sites face escalating threats from natural and human-induced hazards, posing risks to centuries of cultural heritage and environmental diversity. Despite this pressing challenge, there is a notable scarcity of qualitative studies linking protection motivation and disaster preparedness in UNESCO-designated sites. Guided by the Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) this study fills this critical gap by examining these aspects within UNESCO-designated sites in Africa. By adopting a directed qualitative content analysis approach, key informant interviews of 21 actors, covering 10 countries provided pertinent data for this study. While threat appraisal was strong, coping appraisal was weak, with partial disaster preparedness among UNESCO actors. Notably, the absence of fear as a predominant motivating factor for protection and disaster preparedness was compensated by other factors namely: a strong sense of heritage stewardship, and sustainability/resilience commitment. These findings extend the PMT framework and advocate for future research integrating elements of place attachment theory. By leveraging these insights, stakeholders can collaboratively enhance preservation efforts, ensuring the long-term sustainability of Africa's cultural and natural heritage.

Understanding Factors Motivating Generation Z with Application of Maslow’s Theory of Motivation

Generation Z or digital natives is a fast growing workforce. As they are in born in the era of technological advancement, there lifestyle, thinking patterns, values are varied from previous generations. As they will be the largest workforce in near future, it becomes the point of concern that motivates them for their work. Understanding factors of their motivation is important as it help the organizations in there management effectively. This articles attempts to understand motivational factors among Generation Z which drives them to work using the framework of Abraham Maslow’ theory of motivation. Article is based on secondary research using qualitative data and using descriptive method of research. Key findings of the study are that Generation Z looks for work life balance, meaningful work and supportive environment as their basic motivational factors. There other driving forces are financial security, positive work environment, team bonding, open communication, reward and recognition and learning and development. Recommendation for future managers is that they should keep these factors into consideration while managing Generation Z for their effective management.

Cracking the Code

With the expanding reach of the Internet of Things, information security threats are increasing, including from the very professionals tasked with defending against these threats. This study identified factors impacting information security behavior among these individuals. Protection motivation theory and the theory of planned behavior were employed along with work-related organizational factors as a theoretical framework. Data were collected through a survey of 595 information security professionals working in Saudi information technology companies. Structural equational modeling was used to analyze the data. Threat susceptibility, threat severity, self-efficacy, response cost, fear attitude, behavioral control, subjective norms, and organizational commitment were found to play a significant role in information security protection motivation and behavior, while job satisfaction did not.

Unraveling influential factors shaping employee cybersecurity behaviors: an empirical investigation of public servants in Vietnam

PurposeGovernment employees must comply with policies on information security regulations, online security practices, social networking usage, internet addiction, online cyberthreats and other related habits. These activities are considered cybersecurity behaviors. Government social media (GSM) accounts are increasingly used to educate employees about cybersecurity risks. To support the effectiveness of cybersecurity practices in government organizations, the purpose of this study is to investigate the impacts of GSM and organizational policy compliance on employees’ cybersecurity awareness, motivation and behaviors.Design/methodology/approachData were obtained by administering a questionnaire survey to public personnel in Vietnam. A total of 330 valid responses were obtained, and the research hypotheses were tested using partial least squares–structural equation modeling.FindingsFirst, cybersecurity awareness enhances information protection motivation and employee protective behavior. Second, GSM has positive impacts on cybersecurity knowledge and information protection motivation. Third, there is a strong positive association between information protection motivation and employee protective behavior. Finally, while organizational compliance significantly increases cybersecurity awareness, its impact on employee protective behavior is ind irect.Originality/valueThis research enhances the literature on the behavioral dimension of cybersecurity. The primary objective of this study is to assess the influence of cybersecurity awareness on protective behaviors rather than intents and attitudes alone. Furthermore, this research integrates protection motivation theory and cultivation theory to provide a more thorough assessment of cybersecurity awareness and protective behavior. By investigating the impact of GSM on the level of cybersecurity awareness among employees within government organizations, this study provides valuable insights into the efficacy of recent governmental initiatives aimed at fostering cybersecurity.

Study on The Implementation Intention of Health Protection Behavior of College Students in Epidemic Situation of Infectious Diseases

From the perspective of social cognitive theory, this paper refines and integrates the theory of protective motivation, the theory of planned behavior and the individual and social environment factors in risk research, a comprehensive analytical framework was built to predict the implementation intention of public health behaviors. Through the investigation of the college students during the epidemic of Covid-19, we found that the willingness of the public to carry out health behaviors was influenced by two kinds of factors: external social environment and individual internal conditions. As far as the external environment is concerned, perceived normative influence of “Significant others” and informational influence from mass media can positively promote the implementation intention of health protection behavior. At the same time, media attention can also indirectly affect the public's willingness to carry out health behaviors through the mediating effects of self-efficacy and coping efficacy, respectively. As far as internal factors are concerned, self-efficacy is the most powerful direct factor to predict individuals' health behaviors. The existence of cognitive deficit and optimism bias results in the failure of the predictive power of the element of threat assessment on the willingness to carry out health behaviors, however, perceived severity can have a negative effect on health behavior intention through the mediation of the “Avoidance” concept. The study also found that the emotional response not only positively affected the intention to carry out healthy behaviors independently of the cognitive assessment process, but also played a positive moderating role between media attention and the intention to carry out healthy behaviors, however, improper risk concept may have a blocking effect on the implementation intention of health behavior.

Impact of Livestock Insurance Schemes on Smallholder Farmers’ Resilience to Climate Change in Sub-Saharan Africa

Purpose: This study sought to investigate the impact of livestock insurance schemes on smallholder farmers’ resilience to climate change in Saharan Africa. Methodology: The study adopted a desktop research methodology. Desk research refers to secondary data or that which can be collected without fieldwork. Desk research is basically involved in collecting data from existing resources hence it is often considered a low cost technique as compared to field research, as the main cost is involved in executive’s time, telephone charges and directories. Thus, the study relied on already published studies, reports and statistics. This secondary data was easily accessed through the online journals and library. Findings: The findings reveal that there exists a contextual and methodological gap relating to the impact of livestock insurance schemes on smallholder farmers’ resilience to climate change in Saharan Africa. Preliminary empirical review revealed that livestock insurance schemes significantly enhanced the resilience of smallholder farmers to climate change in Sub-Saharan Africa by providing financial protection against climate-induced livestock losses, maintaining livestock assets, and stabilizing household incomes during climatic shocks. However, barriers such as high premium costs, limited awareness, and distrust in insurance providers hindered widespread adoption. Recommendations included premium subsidies, extensive education programs, and improved transparency to increase uptake. Integrating insurance with broader risk management strategies was also emphasized to maximize resilience benefits. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) and Resource Dependence Theory (RDT) may be used to anchor future studies on livestock insurance schemes on smallholder farmers’ resilience to climate change. The study recommended integrating socio-economic factors into theoretical frameworks, enhancing practical training and capacity-building for farmers, and creating supportive regulatory policies to improve the adoption of livestock insurance schemes. It emphasized the importance of integrating insurance with broader risk management strategies, leveraging technological innovations to enhance accessibility, and conducting continuous monitoring and evaluation to ensure the schemes' effectiveness. These recommendations aimed to enhance smallholder farmers' resilience to climate change, maximize the benefits of livestock insurance, and ensure sustainable agricultural development in Sub-Saharan Africa. Keywords: Livestock Insurance Schemes, Smallholder Farmers, Resilience, Climate Change, Sub-Saharan Africa, Index-Based Livestock Insurance (IBLI)

Adaptive and maladaptive factors behind password manager use: A hope-extended protection motivation perspective

Robust password management is crucial for users’ information security. The use of password manager technology, which constitutes adaptive coping, is the dominant method for robust password management. Nonetheless, many users engage in maladaptive coping, adopting poor password management behaviors, such as using easy-to-remember passwords and using the same password across multiple accounts. Against this backdrop, this paper considers both adaptive and maladaptive coping factors for studying password manager use. As such, we incorporate the adaptive coping factor of password manager trustworthiness and the maladaptive coping factor of password mismanagement convenience into a research model that draws upon Hope-extended Protection Motivation Theory. We tested our model with a survey of US users. Our main findings indicate that password manager trustworthiness drives users’ appraised coping potential and that password mismanagement convenience has a context-specific (i.e., specific to the password manager use context) intricacy in how it reduces password manager use. Our theoretical contributions include expanding the range of Protection Motivation Theory's input sources, expanding the range of the studied context-specific factors in the password manager use context, and unveiling the uniqueness of the password manager context. This work also informs practice, especially with respect to how messages that aim to promote password manager use may be designed.

Parental Involvement Influence on Education Participation for Learners with Hearing Impairments in Special Public Primary Schools in Meru and Isiolo Counties- Kenya

Globally need for education, as a measure of one's ability to function fully in today's society, is an important motivator for efforts to achieve the highest level of education in the world. The persistent under achievement of deaf students in Kenyan schools is of great concern as evidenced by final average scores in their formative and summative scores in their assessments. This study aimed to find out how parental involvement influences education participation for learners with hearing impairment. The study was guided by Maslows theory of motivation in learning. A phenomenological research design was utilized. The study targeted three primary schools handling learners with hearing impairments in Meru and Isiolo counties that is Kaaga, Njia, and Isiolo school for learners with hearing impairment. A thematic approach was used to analyze the qualitative data. The study revealed that parental involvement was minimal. Based on the study findings, collective effort should be made to sensitize the parents on their roles in the education of their children. Employers of parents of students with hearing impairments should be given days off with pay when going to attend to their children's issues in school like closing days, opening days, and clinic days for their children. The school should provide some incentives to parents like meals during the school meetings to help reduce parents’ expenses. The government should ensure tax waivers for parents of students with hearing impairments. The stakeholders should help change parental attitudes that their children will not make it.

Placement Option Influence on Education Participation for Learners with Hearing Impairments in Special Public Primary Schools in Meru and Isiolo Counties- Kenya

Globally need for education, as a measure of one's ability to function fully in today's society, is an important motivator for efforts to achieve the highest level of education in the world. The persistence underachieving of deaf students in Kenyan schools is of great concern as evidenced by final average scores in their formative and summative scores in their assessments. This study aimed to find out how placement options influence education participation for learners with hearing impairment. The study was guided by Maslows theory of motivation in learning. A phenomenological research design was utilized. The study targeted three primary schools handling learners with hearing impairments in Meru and Isiolo counties that is Kaaga, Njia, and Isiolo school for learners with hearing impairment. A thematic approach was used to analyze the qualitative data. The study revealed that the assessment of learners for placement was not effectively done. The following were some recommendations made. Parents should be made aware of the existence of EARC and its role. Learners should be assessed early enough to avoid the placement of overage learners in lower grades. The EARC should be staffed with the right and adequate personnel for effective assessment. The government should fund EARC so that the staff can effectively carry its role of sensitization and mobilization in a wide area thus helping in early identification, assessment, and placement.

Advancing the dual learning system in Kazakhstan: Perspectives of agri‐business sector employers

AbstractThe dual learning system gained prominence as part of the education system in Kazakhstan, involving training students in close collaboration with businesses to equip them with the skills and expertise needed for a modern workforce. This study contributes to existing literature examining the adoption and implementation of German‐originated training practices in developing countries using an empirical evaluation of the performance of the dual learning system and traditional education in the Kazakhstani agri‐food business sector based on perceptions of businesses, their attitudes and motivation for participation. A qualitative methodology based on the Expectancy Theory of Motivation was utilized by implementing Focus Group Discussions with employers of 19 businesses of different sizes. Results showed that while certain businesses implementing dual learning excel in attracting skilled professionals, most employers highlight hesitance among younger individuals to pursue careers in the agri‐food sector. Small businesses mainly encounter difficulties in effectively communicating the benefits of working in the sector, coping with high costs, and grappling with uncertainties surrounding the retention of graduates. Managerial and policy recommendations from the study include incentivizing businesses for data sharing on the implementation of dual learning, facilitating graduate retention support and standardizing training conditions.

Особливості застосування змістовних теорій мотивування працівників в умовах воєнного стану

The article examines the intricacies of staff motivation at Ukrainian enterprises in the conditions of unprecedented challenges associated with the ongoing crisis and martial law. Modern motivation strategies, aimed at identifying and satisfying actual needs, should contribute to the formation of conditions that provide staff with a sense of stability and security, thereby contributing to an increase in their productivity and satisfaction at the workplace. By studying the main theories of motivation, such as Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, the theory Alderfer’s ERG, McClelland’s acquired needs theory, and Herzberg’s two-factor theory, the authors highlight the multifaceted implications of each perspective, especially as applied to the unique context of wartime. The scholarly study begins with a comprehensive analysis of motivation theories, providing readers with a detailed understanding of their applicability and challenges in various contexts. The article outlines Maslow’s hierarchical progression of needs as opposed to her more variable Alderfer classification. The researchers proposed A. Maslow’s Adapted Pyramid of Needs for motivating employees in martial law conditions, which, when used effectively, will help managers create the necessary psycho-emotional environment and minimize staff turnover. In addition, David McClelland’s emphasis on achievement, affiliation, and power needs, which are not the priority desires of employees compared to safety needs, is explored in detail. Herzberg’s dichotomy between hygiene and motivational factors is also described, which gives insight into the importance of balancing the satisfaction of hygiene and motivating needs. This article highlights the renewed relevance of foundational motivational theories in shaping pragmatic strategies in a changing business landscape. In particular, Maslow’s hierarchy and Herzberg’s two-factor theory become the main guidelines for the development of effective motivational interventions, especially taking into account the urgent needs of employees, such as physiological and safety requirements, which are the most important in the modern Ukrainian environment. The authors of the article give examples of specific measures that Ukrainian enterprises can take. use to increase the motivation of personnel in wartime conditions. In particular, intangible incentives such as support, team building, volunteering, extra days off and vacations are effective. At the end of the article, the importance of understanding and adapting motivation theories to the specific context of Ukrainian enterprises during the war is emphasized. By recognizing the nuances of their workforce’s needs, managers can effectively implement motivational strategies that promote employee engagement, productivity, and resilience in the face of conflict.

Passionate About Esports: Esports Players’ Motivation to Participate in and Watch Esports Events

Alderfer’s ERG (i.e., existence, relatedness, and growth) theory of motivation (1969) was adopted in this study to analyze individuals’ motivations for engaging in esports. This study investigated the relatively new field of esports viewership and participation by concentrating on the motivating factors behind esports consumption to establish whether esports viewership and participation are distinct markets that stand alone or are comparable to or complement each other for consumption. The study was conducted using qualitative methods consisting of semistructured focus-group interviews. The transcript was coded using open, axial, and selective coding to develop themes fitting within the ERG theory. The current study found similarities and unique findings in esports participation and consumption motivation factors under the ERG groups. Practical applications are proposed for employing the results of the study to further marketing and development efforts in this field.