Non-significant Relationship Research Articles

Adapting to change: an analysis of midwives' job satisfaction in the post-pandemic workplace

BackgroundMidwifery faces global workforce shortages exacerbated by the pandemic. Understanding job satisfaction drivers is vital for creating supportive work environments. This study explored the multifaceted nature of job satisfaction of midwives in the post-COVID era in order to understand the elements that contribute and the ones that don’t to midwives' sense of fulfilment and engagement at work.MethodsEmploying a quantitative descriptive methodology, a nationwide cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 169 actively practicing female midwives in Slovenia using the McCloskey-Mueller Satisfaction Scale. The survey focused on various dimensions of job satisfaction.ResultsResults revealed that midwives place high importance on praise/recognition, scheduling satisfaction, and work-life balance but exhibit a very weak non-significant negative relationship between job satisfaction and the importance they place on these factors. The study also identified a weak but statistically significant positive correlation between midwives' satisfaction with praise/recognition and the importance they attribute to it.ConclusionsThe study emphasises the need for a holistic approach in enhancing job satisfaction among midwives, fostering an environment that supports their professional development and acknowledges their contributions. It emphasizes the critical role of healthcare policymakers in developing inclusive and gender-sensitive workplace policies to improve the quality of maternal care and support the well-being and job satisfaction of midwives. Management strategies should focus on reinforcing positive work environments that facilitate professional development and work-life balance. Prioritizing these factors can improve job satisfaction, retention, and healthcare outcomes.

Prevalence of okra fruit rot caused by <i>Choanephora </i>in North Eastern Region of India Particular to Arunachal Pradesh

Choanephora fruit rot of vegetables is an emerging threat to vegetable growers in India. During the survey of disease incidence, okra fruit rot caused by Choanephora was noticed in Sika Tode Village, East Siang District, Arunachal Pradesh, and reported for the first time in the Northeast region. The pathogen attacks young fruits causing water soaked lesions and disintegrating the infected lesion. With the progression of infestation, the entire surface is covered with dense whitish cottony growth and turns brownish to blackish thus forming a black pinhead, the superficial sporangia. The morphological study revealed that sporangia are sub-globose in shape and brown in colour. The minimum disease incidence of 22.4% was noticed in the initiation of fruiting stage (June) and gradually reached the maximum incidence of 73.3% (August) with the growth of fruiting formation. Increase in the exposure periods of fruit rot infestation, percent disease incidence (PDI) increases resulting in great losses of okra yield. The correlation coefficient of PDI with weather parameters revealed a significant positive relationship with the maximum temperature at 5% probability (P=0.05) and a non-significant negative relationship with the relative humidity and total rainfall indicating favouring in the occurrence and spreading of the plant disease. Timely caution of the incidence of Choanephora causing fruit rot to okra and other economically important vegetable crops is the need of the hour for its judicious protection and management against this disease.

Parental expectations and adolescents’ happiness: the role of self-efficacy and connectedness

BackgroundA happy adolescent may live a healthy and successful life. This study focused on parental expectations in the Chinese cultural context and investigated whether and under what conditions adolescents’ perceived parental expectations are associated with their happiness, the affective component of subjective well-being.Sample and methodsThis cross-sectional study included a sample of 1510 Chinese adolescents; the average age of the adolescents was 12.39 years, and 55.40% were boys. A questionnaire including the perceived parental expectations scale, self-efficacy scale, connectedness subscale and one item that measured happiness was administered to the adolescents.ResultsThe results reveal that self-efficacy moderates the relationship between perceived parental expectations and happiness. For adolescents who exhibit higher levels of self-efficacy, perceived parental expectations are negatively correlated with happiness; in contrast, for adolescents who exhibit lower levels of self-efficacy, perceived parental expectations are not related to happiness. Moreover, the results reveal that connectedness moderates the relationship between perceived parental expectations and happiness. Among adolescents who exhibit higher levels of connectedness, a nonsignificant relationship is observed between perceived parental expectations and happiness; in contrast, among adolescents who exhibit lower levels of connectedness, perceived parental expectations are negatively related to happiness.ConclusionsThis study reveals that, under conditions featuring higher levels of self-efficacy or lower levels of connectedness, perceived parental expectations are not conducive to their happiness. These findings have important implications with regard to parenting practices.

Impact of health information seeking behavior and digital health literacy on self-perceived health and depression symptoms among older adults in the United States

Background: Understanding the impact of digital health literacy and health information-seeking behavior on the self-perceived health and depression symptoms of older adults is crucial, particularly as the number of older internet users is increasing. Methods: This study utilized data from the Health Information National Trends Survey to examine the relationship between these factors and the health outcomes of adults aged 50 and above. Results: The study found that digital health literacy has a positive but non-significant relationship with self-perceived health when other factors are considered. However, education level and body mass index consistently predicted self-perceived health. Moreover, higher digital health literacy was associated with a reduced likelihood of perceived depression symptoms, even after adjusting for demographic and health-related factors. Conclusions: These findings highlight the importance of digital health literacy in the mental well-being of older adults and provide insights for shaping future health policies and interventions.

The Relationship between Mental Workload and Job Satisfaction of Faculty Members with their Educational Performance

Introduction: Workload and job satisfaction are among the most influential factors affecting job performance. Therefore, this study aims to assess the cognitive workload and job satisfaction and their impact on the quality of education faculty members provide. Method: This study was conducted among 34 faculty members through a census. The NASA-TLX tool was used to assess cognitive workload, and a job satisfaction scale was employed to evaluate job satisfaction. Moreover, the training quality score was considered a criterion for assessing the educational performance of the participants. To determine the role of explanatory variables on the level of mental workload, multiple linear regression was used at a 95% confidence level. Result: The mean cognitive workload of faculty members was 52.94 ± 24.48. Efficiency and time demand scored the highest and lowest among the subscales of workload, respectively. Job satisfaction was 56.85 ± 27.61, with satisfaction with the department head and colleagues ranking highest and satisfaction with salary being the lowest in job satisfaction. The cognitive workload had a non-significant relationship with job satisfaction (P = 0.08, r = 0.56). However, the relationship between teaching quality and both cognitive workload and job satisfaction was not statistically significant. Conclusion: No significant relationship was observed between cognitive workload, job satisfaction, and teaching quality scores. However, it is recommended that measures be taken to improve the quality of work life for faculty members to enhance the quality of education they provide.

Differential Associations Between Device-Assessed and Parent-Reported Physical Activity With Indicators of Mental Health in Children and Youth With Disabilities.

We examined associations between device-assessed and parent-reported physical activity with mental health indicators among children and youth with disabilities. Physical activity and mental health data were collected from a larger national surveillance study of physical activity in children and youth with disabilities in Canada. A total of 122 children and youth with disabilities (mean age = 10y; 80% boys, 57% with developmental disability) wore a Fitbit for 28days to measure their daily steps. Parents reported the frequency and duration of their child's leisure-time physical activity during the previous 7 days. Parents also completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (ie,total difficulties score, internalizing problems, externalizing problems, and prosocial behavior) as a measure of mental health symptoms. Significant relationships were observed between parent-reported physical activity and total difficulties as well as internalizing problems but not externalizing problems. Nonsignificant relationships were observed between median daily step counts and mental health indicators. Differential relationships between physical activity and mental health indicators may exist among children and youth with disabilities depending on how physical activity is operationalized (ie,steps vs active minutes) and measured (ie,proxy report vs device assessed). Interventionists seeking to improve mental health outcomes among children and youth with disabilities through physical activity promotion should consider these findings when deciding upon methods to assess physical activity behaviors.

How tiktok shop drives beauty product purchase intentions among moeslem gen Z women in Medan

This study investigates the relationship between social commerce constructs, customer trust, and purchase intentions, focusing on the context of beauty products on TikTok. Through a quantitative approach utilizing a survey method, data were collected from moeslem women of Generation Z in Medan City. The research findings indicate a non-significant direct relationship between social commerce constructs and customer trust, suggesting minimal influence of these constructs on trust. Similarly, the direct impact of social commerce constructs on purchase intentions was found to be non-significant. However, a significant positive relationship was observed between customer trust and purchase intentions, highlighting the pivotal role of trust in driving purchase decisions. The study emphasizes the importance of fostering customer trust to enhance purchase likelihood in social commerce environments. While direct effects of social commerce constructs on trust and purchase intentions may be limited, efforts to build and maintain customer trust are crucial for boosting purchase intentions effectively. Further research and model refinement are recommended to explore additional factors influencing these dynamics.

Tax Evasion in Europe: Causes and Consequences

Abstract Corruption remains a perennial problem in Eastern Europe, especially in countries that have a socialist influence. This study examines the drivers, the effects on economic growth, and the measures that governments take to address this vice in these economies. Considering the empirical evidence and case studies from Bulgaria, Romania, and Hungary, this study finds that factors that have led to tax evasion are archaic taxation systems, high taxes, and inefficiency in the administrative systems. Descriptive and inferential statistics show that high taxes and unemployment have a positive relationship with tax evasion while GDP has a negative non-significant relationship. There is a decrease in government revenue which implies that fewer services will be provided to the public and increased social and economic disparity. Previous approaches to combating evasion include the simplification of the tax code and better enforcement, which have produced only limited success. The study also recommends that governments should broaden the policies to enhance the efficiency of the tax system by simplifying it, improving the mechanisms of compliance, and creating an investment-friendly environment. Thus, this research provides a historical and economic analysis of tax evasion and its impact on transitional economies and provides recommendations for how to reduce the effects of tax evasion on development. These results are valuable for policymakers who intend to improve fiscal sustainability and economic development in the Eastern European region.

The Effect of Ascorbic Acid on Salt Tolerance and Seedling Performance in Triticum durum Defs. ‘Douma 3’ Under Salinity Stress in Syria

This study was conducted to evaluate the laboratory tolerance of the durum wheat cultivar (Douma 3) when treated with two levels of ascorbic acid (5 ppm and 10 ppm, in addition to a control treatment soaked in water) under two levels of salt stress (50 mM and 100 mM NaCl, in addition to a control). The experiment took place at the Field Crops Department labs, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, University of Damascus, during the 2022–2023 agricultural season. The aim was to study the effect of ascorbic acid on seed reserve utilization efficiency, peroxidase enzyme activity, and its role in salt stress tolerance. The experiment followed a randomized complete block design (RCBD) using factorial ANOVA with two replicates. The results showed significant differences between the treatments, with the priming of seeds soaked in a 5 ppm ascorbic acid solution (A1) significantly outperforming in terms of seedling dry weight (22.67 mg/seedling), remaining seed dry weight (7.5 mg/seed), seed reserve utilization efficiency (0.47 mg/mg), and salt tolerance index (89.80%). Simple correlation analysis showed a significant positive correlation between seedling dry weight (SDW), seed reserve utilization efficiency (SRUE) (0.881), and salt tolerance index (STI) (0.746 *). However, a negative and non-significant relationship was observed between the remaining seed dry weight (RSDW) and other traits. Moreover, SRUE had a significant positive correlation with STI (0.814). Both total soluble protein concentrations and peroxidase enzyme activity increased under salt stress conditions following pre-treatment with ascorbic acid compared to the control. The highest protein concentration and peroxidase enzyme activity were observed with the 5 ppm ascorbic acid treatment (A1).

Economic Predictors of Plastic Surgery Expenditure: A 14-Year Analysis of Unemployment, Disposable Income, and Stock Indices

Abstract Macroeconomic conditions significantly affect consumer spending patterns, including aesthetic surgery expenditure. This study examines the longitudinal relationship between unemployment rates, disposable income, stock indices, and aesthetic surgery spending from 2006 to 2019. Data on aesthetic surgery expenditure were collected from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), while unemployment data came from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, disposable income from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, and stock indices from the Federal Reserve Economic Data. Time series correlational analyses and Granger causality tests were used to explore these relationships. Unemployment was inversely related to total aesthetic surgery expenditure and most individual procedures. However, Granger causality tests did not reveal a significant predictive relationship between unemployment and aesthetic procedure spending for most procedures. Disposable income was most strongly associated with expenditure on injection procedures and had non-significant relationships with more invasive procedures including breast augmentation, liposuction, abdominoplasty, and blepharoplasty. The analysis demonstrated a significant positive relationship between the NASDAQ, S&P 500, and Dow Jones with all aesthetic procedures, except rhinoplasty. Granger causality tests revealed significant predictive relationships for several procedures at different lags using disposable income and stock indices as predictive variables. These findings highlight a nuanced relationship between macroeconomic conditions and consumer spending on aesthetic surgery. Overall, this paper provides new insights offering a foundation for further investigation into aesthetic plastic surgery consumption on an individual level, rather than on aggregate.

Evaluation of risk factors for postpartum cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, a multicenter retrospective observational study.

The postpartum period is a well-defined risk factor for cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST). However, it is unclear which patients are at risk for CVST in the postpartum period. Thus, determining some CVST risk factors in postpartum patients may be useful for preventing the disorder in this population. Previous studies have shown that preeclampsia (PE) is a risk factor for pulmonary thromboembolism and deep vein thrombosis, but whether it is related to postpartum CVST has not yet been evaluated. This study aimed to determine if this relationship exists. This study was a case-control study of retrospectively screened patients diagnosed with CVST between 2018 and 2023 at the Uludağ University Faculty of Medicine Department of Neurology, the Eskişehir Osmangazi University Faculty of Medicine and the Bursa City Hospital Health Sciences University Department of Neurology. All of the women who delivered between 2018 and 2023 at the Uludağ University Faculty of Medicine Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology were included in the control group. In total, 57 out of 322 cases and 4299 out of 4452 controls were included in this study. A nonsignificant relationship was found between CVST and spinal anesthesia, but a significant relationship was found between PE and stillbirth. Women with PE who had recently delivered were found to be at increased risk of developing CVST. The primary limitation of this study is that it was retrospective, and the control group was hospital-based. We recommend that these findings be confirmed by multicenter prospective international studies.

Platelet-Leukocyte Aggregate and Interleukin-6: An Emerging Perspective on a New Diagnostic and Therapeutic Clue for Acute Coronary Syndrome, A Case-Control Study.

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is one of the most important cardiovascular diseases. The rupture of atherosclerotic plaques in coronary arteries is considered the underlying pathophysiology of ACS. The interaction between cytokines and leukocytes in the presence of platelets results in platelet-leukocyte aggregate (PLA). Monocytes, neutrophils, and cytokines are prime factors that promote PLA formation, which leads to atherosclerotic plaque progression and subsequent ACS development. This study aimed to investigate PLA (PMA and PNA) formation and cytokine (IL-6 and TNF-α) levels as well as the correlation between them in ACS patient samples to identify diagnostic markers. A total of 30 patients with ACS and 24 healthy controls participated in this study. Flow cytometry analysis was performed to evaluate PLA formation, and the serum levels of cytokines were assessed by ELISA. The Pearson's correlation coefficient and ROC curve were calculated to investigate the correlation between the parameters and their diagnostic value, respectively. The results showed that PMA, PNA, and IL-6 levels were significantly higher in ACS patients than in healthy controls. Additionally, TNF-α levels were not significantly increased in the patient group. In addition, the Pearson's correlation coefficient results revealed a direct linear and statistically significant relationship between PMA-IL-6 and PNA-IL-6 as well as a direct linear but statistically nonsignificant relationship between IL-6-TNF-α and PMA-PNA, whereas a convers linear but nonsignificant correlation was shown between PMA and TNF-α and no correlation was detected between PNA and TNF-α. Finally, ROC curve analysis revealed that the PMA, PNA, and IL-6 can have diagnostic value. In conclusion, the PMA, PNA, and IL-6 can be used as powerful diagnostic markers in ACS patients. Therefore, disrupting PMA and PNA formation and inhibiting cytokine production may be new strategies for the treatment of ACS. However, further investigations are required to explore these parameters in the clinical diagnosis of ACS.

Parental influence on career choice in Jos North Islamic Secondary Schools, Nigeria

This study sought to analyzed parental influences on career choice in Jos North Islamic secondary schools. A sample of ten schools was selected using simple random sampling technique and total of 323 student participated in the research. The data obtained was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The result shows that there is positive but non-significant relationship between parental religiosity and career choice of their children. The result also reveals that there is positive and significant relationship between parental socio-cultural and economic influences and their children career choices at 5% and 10% significant level respectively. The study recommends the need to uplift career counseling unit in Islamic secondary schools. It also recommends the development of good relationship between parent and school counsellors towards guiding the students to Islamic career choice preference.

A New Endogenous–Exogenous Factor Framework to Analyze China’s Distinctive Land Supply Participation in Macro-Control Processes During the 2001–2021 Period

Investigating the experience and improvement measures for China’s distinctive land supply participation in macro-control processes holds significance for full utilization of land policy. However, the spatial heterogeneity and its theoretical and comprehensive analysis of drivers are still poorly revealed. This paper uses spatial analysis methods and micro-scale big data on land transactions to depict the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of land supply, and analyses its driving mechanisms via an endogenous–exogenous factor framework and regression models. Land supply experienced fluctuating “growth–decline–growth” trends in 2001–2021, spatially showed a large cluster in the east, a small cluster in the center and scattering in the west, with the gravity center relocating southwest, and formed a multi-core, hierarchical, circular structure of high density in core cities, density in peripheral cities and sparseness in districts. Endogenously, total land resources and road accessibility facilitated land supply, while topographic relief and urban proximity showed inhibitory effects; land supply positively correlated with land finance dependence, officials’ appraisal pressure, local government competition and officials’ corruption but negatively related with fiscal tax revenues and fiscal transparency; construction land indicators directly determined land supply, while the intensity of use control restricted the conversion of arable land and weakened land supply. Exogenously, urbanization, industrialization, capital investment, technological innovation and marketization level promoted land supply, while the substitution of human capital reduced the demand for land; economic fluctuations showed non-significant relationships with land supply. Differentiated impacts of multiple factors on land supply pattern are emphasized and should be integrated into formulating land policy and optimizing land allocation.

Self-employment and inflammation in older adults: Examining biomarkers in the survey of health, ageing and retirement in Europe

Previous studies using SHARE data explored self-employment and perceived well-being in older adults, and extending this line of prior studies, this study examines the link between self-employment and inflammation, a key biological pathway related to health and well-being. Incorporating C-reactive protein (CRP) levels from SHARE biomarker data assesses whether perceived self-reports correlate with longer-term biomarkers of well-being. Accounting for demographic, socioeconomic, health, and other biomarker variables, our findings show a non-significant relationship between self-employment and CRP levels, with no evidence of heterogeneity in effects across participants.

The Impact of Life-History Traits on Vulnerability to Extinction of the Oviparous Species in Reptiles.

A species' vulnerability to extinction is influenced by both extrinsic threats (e.g., habitat loss and invasive species) and intrinsic biological traits (such as life-history traits, reproductive mode, and reproductive output). In this study, we investigated the roles of intrinsic biological traits in determining the risk of extinction across 960 oviparous species of non-avian reptiles. Our findings revealed that vulnerability to extinction is negatively correlated with clutch size, but positively correlated with egg size when controlling for body size. Surprisingly, we found that body size alone is not a predictor of extinction risk. Additionally, we observed a nonsignificant relationship between the activity phase and vulnerability to extinction across oviparous species. These results suggest that the increased risk of endangerment in oviparous reptiles may stem from declining population density due to decreasing clutch size and increasing egg mass.

Self-efficacy mediates but does not moderate the relationship between grit and L2 achievement

ABSTRACT Purpose: The current study examined whether self-efficacy could mediate and moderate the relationship between grit (i.e. perseverance of effort) and second/foreign (L2) achievement. Methodology: Participants involved 535 year-two students (M age = 16.15, SD = .63, females = 59%) from a senior middle school in mainland China. Students’ grit, self-efficacy, and L2 (English) achievement were measured. Multilevel structural equation modeling with latent interaction was used to explore the relationships among these three variables. Findings: The results showed that grit positively predicted self-efficacy, which positively predicted L2 achievement. Meanwhile, the interaction produced a nonsignificant relation to L2 achievement. We concluded that self-efficacy mediated but did not moderate the relationship between grit and L2 achievement. Originality: Grit and self-efficacy have been recognized as two essential predictors of L2 learning. This study is an empirical attempt to address the underexplored nature of the interplay between grit and self-efficacy in determining L2 achievement.

Effect of cardiovascular fitness on performance metrics in Bangladeshi women cricket: a role-specific analysis employing the harvard step test

Background: Cardiovascular fitness is essential for sports performance, enabling players to endure intense training, delay fatigue, and reduce injury risk—all critical factors for achieving optimal results in competitive sports like cricket. Emphasizing inclusive health ensures that all athletes enhance their cardiovascular fitness and overall performance. Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the impact of cardiovascular fitness, assessed using the Harvard Step Test, on the performance indicators of Bangladeshi women cricketers across their respective playing roles. Method: 104 players, including 34 batters, 38 bowlers, and 32 all-rounders, were voluntarily selected from the “Bangladesh National Women’s Cricket League 2021-22”. Cardiovascular fitness was evaluated through the Harvard Step Test, and role-specific performance metrics such as strike rate, bowling economy, and dismissal rates were analyzed. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics and one-way ANOVA to assess differences in aerobic fitness across player roles and correlation analyses to examine the relationships between performance metrics and Harvard Step Test scores. Results: The multi-group comparison did not reveal a statistically significant difference in aerobic fitness across the playing roles, F(2, 101) = 0.668, p = 0.515. Additionally, the Harvard Step Test scores showed a weak and statistically non-significant relationship with role-specific performance metrics: strike rate (r = 0.20, p = 0.06) for batters, bowling economy (r = -0.09, p = 0.51) for bowlers, and dismissals (r = 0.10, p = 0.38) for fielders. Conclusion: Cardiovascular efficiency is similar across batters, bowlers, and all-rounders among Bangladeshi women cricketers. The Harvard Step Test score is not directly associated with role-specific performance in women's cricket. These findings suggest that training programs should adopt a holistic physical fitness approach, incorporating role-specific training to enhance the overall abilities of female cricketers and contribute to the development of women's cricket in Bangladesh.

Brand Hate as a Mediator: The Study of Brand Image and Brand Relationship Quality in Virtual Brand Communities

The goal of this study is to look at the relationship between the independent variable brand image, mediated by brand hate, and the dependent variable of brand relationship quality (BRQ) in a virtual brand community. This study adopts a quantitative design using the random stratified sampling method to select 340 Xiaomi cell phone users in China to fill out a questionnaire to collect empirical collection and analyze the interrelationships between the constructs based on PLS-SEM. The results show that of the three dimensions of brand image (functional, symbolic and experiential) in relation to BRQ, only symbolic image has a non-significant relationship with BRQ. Brand hate played a significant mediating role in the relationship between brand image and BRQ. The theoretical and practical contributions are explained for insight enhancement toward the variables involved and further support existing literature. Brand image composition and brand hate composition are closely related to BRQ. In particular, this study aims to determine the factors that affect BRQ in the virtual brand community (VBC) according to the VBC characteristics. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the maintenance of brand image, reduce brand hate, and improve the BRQ in the cell phone VBC.

Synergy between Positive Intelligence and Critical Thinking: A Study in Educational Psychology Master's Students in the San Martin Region, Peru

The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between positive intelligence and critical thinking in the Master's students of Educational Psychology at the Cesar Vallejo University of Tarapoto. A basic methodology was used, with a quantitative approach, non-experimental design and descriptive correlational scope. A population and sample of 80 students was counted. The results showed that positive intelligence is at a medium level with 95% and critical thinking is also medium with 84%. It was concluded that there is a very low, non-significant positive relationship between positive intelligence and critical thinking in the Master's students of Educational Psychology, with a statistical coefficient of Spearman's Rho of 0.151 and a p-value of 0.181. In addition, there is only 2.28% of variability.