Path Analytic Approach Research Articles

Family communication and courageous coping in Korean adolescents and young adults: a cross-sectional study.

Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer are a vulnerable population during a critical developmental transition that can benefit from the adoption of courageous coping. Parental support is crucial in enhancing adjustment and coping skills. The linkage between parent-adolescent communication (PAC) and the use of courageous coping (UCC), however, remains unclear. This study examined the association between PAC and UCC and possible mediators of this relationship among Korean AYAs with cancer. In this cross-sectional, correlational study, self-report data were collected from 144 AYAs aged 11-26 years. A path analytic approach was employed using a hierarchical regression model to test for the direct relationship between PAC and UCC and the indirect effects of a proposed primary mediator (family cohesion) and two intermediary mediators (uncertainty of illness, hope) on PAC-UCC relationship. The mean age of the sample was 17 years (SD = 3.8), with 42% currently receiving cancer treatment. Greater PAC was significantly associated with increased UCC (mother figure: p = .0024, father figure: p = .0042). Increased family cohesion significantly mediated the PAC-UCC relationship, indicated by a diminished PAC-UCC relationship after controlling for family cohesion (mother: p = .2753; father: p = .8107). Mediated mediation models indicated that increased hope stemming from decreased uncertainty was the mechanism through which family cohesion impacted the PAC-UCC relationship. Findings underscore that greater PAC can facilitate UCC among Korean AYAs with cancer and provide insights for therapeutic parent-child communication. Results further demonstrate the complex mediating role of fostering family cohesion, reducing uncertainty, and fostering hope can play in the PAC-UCC relationship.

Examining the Relationship Between Social Support, Self-Efficacy, Diabetes Self-Management, and Quality of Life Among Rural Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes in Eastern China: Path Analytical Approach.

Patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in rural China frequently exhibit inadequate diabetes self-management (DSM) and a reduced quality of life (QoL). Social support and self-efficacy are known to influence DSM and QoL. However, the pathways through which social support and self-efficacy impact DSM and QoL among patients with T2D in rural China has yet to be fully elucidated. This study offers a foundation for developing policies in rural chronic disease management, thereby, contributing to the improvement of T2D prevention and control in China and other transitional countries. This study used a cross-sectional design, collecting data from a survey conducted between May and July 2021 on DSM and QoL among rural patients diagnosed with T2D in 2 townships in East China. All patients with T2D were enrolled through cluster sampling from the township health center database, and a questionnaire survey was administered by investigators. Structural equation modeling and multiple regression analyses were used to explore the pathways through which social support influences DSM and QoL, as well as the mediating role of self-efficacy. It was found that the DSM score (mean 37.42, SD 7.70) was less than half of the maximum theoretical score. The QoL score (mean 48.92, SD 8.88) accounted for 36% of the maximum theoretical score. Social support directly and positively affected the DSM and QoL of Chinese rural patients with T2D (P<.01); an increase of 1 unit in social support was associated with a direct increment of 0.339 units in DSM and 0.397 units in QoL. Self-efficacy played a positive mediating role (P<.01), further increasing DSM and QoL by 0.147 and 0.159 units, respectively. The mediating effect of self-efficacy accounted for 30.2% and 28.6% of the total effect of social support on DSM and QoL. Furthermore, the family and friend dimension of social support, along with the symptom and disease management dimensions of self-efficacy, were significantly associated with DSM or QoL (P<.01). The study confirmed the direct and indirect influences of social support on DSM and QoL and elucidated the mediating effect of self-efficacy among rural patients with T2D in eastern China. Interventions should be developed to enhance both social support and self-efficacy, creating a positive cycle of mutual reinforcement to improve DSM and QoL among this group.

Examining research motivation, self-efficacy, and anxiety in TEFL graduate students: a structural equation modelling approach

ABSTRACT Applied linguistics has recently seen a surge in research and methodological approaches to do stronger studies. One important factor affecting such a new movement is the researchers’ individual differences in shaping their research repertoire. Therefore, this study, which employs a path-analytic approach, investigates the interrelationship between three significant individual factors in the EFL (English as a Foreign Language) context: research self-efficacy, anxiety, and motivation. This nationwide survey included 561 male and female Iranian MA students studying TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language). The researchers administered three adopted instruments, namely the research motivation scale, the research anxiety scale, and the research self-efficacy scale. The path-analytic findings revealed such interrelationships among the three factors. In particular, the findings indicated that there is a negative relationship between research anxiety and motivation to conduct research. In our study, however, the relationship between research self-efficacy and motivation is positive. These evidence-based findings can help policymakers shape an evidence-based research policy. Recommendations and implications of the results for policymakers, research methodologists, research instructors, and MA students are discussed.

“I must make the grade!”: the role of cognitive appraisals, irrational beliefs, exam anxiety, and affect, in the academic self-concept of undergraduate students

ABSTRACT Background and objectives Examination anxiety is a common occurrence, and is potentially detrimental to student attainment. In recent theorizing, it has been suggested that cognitive appraisals, as put forth in cognitive appraisal theory, and irrational beliefs, as put forth in rational emotive behavior therapy, may interact to predict affectivity. The current research examines the antecedents and associates of examination affect and academic self-concept in undergraduate students. Design A preliminary study applied confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to test the factor structure of an irrational beliefs inventory. Study 1 utilized a cross-sectional and correlational approach to testing core theoretical assumptions. Study 2 took a two-wave longitudinal and path analytical approach to examine temporal effects between target variables. Method All self-report data collection took place in the United Kingdom with university students. We recruited n = 1150, n = 362, n = 662 for preliminary, study 1, and study 2, respectively. Results Across studies, data indicated that a pattern of adaptive cognitive appraisal was associated with more advantageous affectivity, and better academic self-concept. Conclusions Reciprocal temporal relationships were revealed between many variables, supporting an interactive and bidirectional view of how cognition and affect are related pertaining to examination anxiety.

Language Mindset, Anxiety, and Proficiency: What Does Path Analytic Approach Indicate?

Language Mindset, Anxiety, and Proficiency: What Does Path Analytic Approach Indicate?

Implications on self-care behaviors among older Korean immigrants diagnosed with diabetes residing in the United States: a path analytical approach.

Diabetes is a prevalent chronic disease. Although self-care is the crucial element in managing diabetes, older Korean immigrants with diabetes face challenges in performing effective self-care related to vulnerability as minority immigrants. This study measures sociodemographics, self-efficacy, social support, diabetes knowledge, and diabetes self-care activities among older Korean immigrants in the United States. This study also aims to demonstrate the direct and indirect effects of the related factors on diabetes self-care activities using a path analysis. This study uses a cross-sectional design. Convenience sampling targeted Korean immigrants aged 55 or older using paper and online surveys. Four instruments were used to measure variables: self-efficacy was measured by the General Self-Efficacy scale, diabetes knowledge by the Simplified Diabetes Knowledge Test, social support by the Lubben Social Network Scale-6, and diabetes self-care by the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities questionnaire. Using path analysis, the effects of related factors on self-care activities were analyzed. 190 older Korean immigrants participated, 53.2% female, and 46.8% male. The mean age was 67.2 (SD = 9.9; range, 58-93). A path model shows that sociodemographics (sex, age, education, and years in the United States), diabetes knowledge, self-efficacy, and family support predict diabetes self-care. The path model demonstrates the effects of sociodemographics, self-efficacy, diabetes knowledge, and social support on diabetes self-care among older Korean immigrants. The findings can help to understand diabetes self-care among the minority ethnic older group and can be used to develop culturally tailored education, counseling, and healthcare services. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40200-023-01363-6.

Does increasing the number of beds or health workers contribute to the rational use of scarce public health resources?

Turkey makes substantial investments to increase the number of qualified beds in hospitals, the shortage in health professionals remains one of the main obstacles of the health system in the country. To address this research gap, the study aims to formulate a rational solution for the dilemma on whether to invest in beds or health professionals contribute to the rational use of scarce public health resources. Data for testing the model were derived from the Turkish Statistical Institute across 81 provinces in Turkey. The path analytic approach was used to determine the associations among hospital size, utilization/facility, health workforce, and indicators of health outcomes. The results point to a strong link between quantity of qualified beds, utilization of health services, and facility indicators, and health workforce. Rational use of scarce resources, optimal capacity planning, and increased quantity of health professionals will be beneficial for the sustainability of health care services.

Unpacking Parallel Mediation Processes between Green HRM Practices and Sustainable Environmental Performance: Evidence from Uzbekistan

This study primarily focused on the behavioral modifications among employees while keeping the contextual factors that enable them to strive for sustainable environmental performance in view. The aim of this research was to uncover the impact of GHRM practices on intrinsic motivation (IM), harmonious work passion (HWP), and sustainable environmental performance (SEP) in small and medium enterprises in Uzbekistan. Moreover, this study mainly investigated intrinsic motivation and harmonious work passion as potential mediators in the relationship between GHRM practices and sustainable environmental performance. Additionally, this study included green mindfulness as a moderator in the association between GHRM practices and mediators (i.e., intrinsic motivation and harmonious work passion). In total, 345 Uzbekistan employees from small and medium enterprises completed a survey. This study deployed the path-analytical approach by using Mplus 8.0. Our findings demonstrate that GHRM practices are positively associated with IM, HWP, and SEP. In addition, this research confirms that intrinsic motivation significantly mediates the relationship between GHRM practices and SEP. Consequently, harmonious work passion also significantly mediates the association between GHRM practices and SEP. Furthermore, this study shows that a high level of green mindfulness strengthens the direct effect of GHRM on IM and HWP, along with the indirect effect of GHRM practices on sustainable environmental performance. Indeed, investigating the associations among study variables via moderated mediation mechanisms remarkably contributes to the extant literature.

Does Facebook intensity matter for academic self-efficacy? A path analytic approach

There is mixed evidence about the educational impacts of Facebook with some research indicating how using Facebook facilitates academic outcomes while other investigations showing the link of Facebook usage to maladaptive educational outcomes such as reduced academic self-efficacy and performance. Prior studies also paid much attention to the academic-related consequences of this social networking in Western societies such as the United States which might have limited generalizability to students from non-Western countries. This study contributes to this line evidence by exploring whether Facebook use intensity dimensions would predict academic self-efficacy and study habits in selected Filipino undergraduate students using a path analytic approach. A survey packet comprising questionnaires about Facebook use and academic self-efficacy was administered to 566 Filipino undergraduate students. Results of path analysis via full maximum likelihood estimation approach demonstrated that whereas self-expression positively predicted academic self-efficacy, overuse negatively predicted this outcome. Boredom positively predicted study habits. This research has implications for understanding how different motives of using social media platforms can influence academic behaviors in higher education contexts.

The Role of Strategic Backtracking When Reading Digital Informational Text for Understanding

ABSTRACT This study used a correlational design and a path analytic approach to investigate direct and indirect relationships between strategic backtracking and integrated text understanding when undergraduates read a digital informational text on a tablet or a smartphone. In digital reading contexts, strategic backtracking involves that readers intentionally scroll or page backwards in the text to check or reread something in a previously read paragraph. We measured strategic backtracking by means of observation and integrated text understanding by means of post-reading written reports. Students’ backtracking during reading was found to be a unique positive predictor of integrated text understanding when variance associated with working memory, reading comprehension skills, and processing time were controlled. Further, the relationship between backtracking and integrated text understanding was fully mediated by students’ productivity in the form of the extent of their written reports. These findings are consistent with the notion that a more mindful, deeper approach is beneficial when reading digital informational text for understanding and may, thus, form the basis of future intervention work targeting adaptive processing in digital reading environments.

Abusive Supervision Impact on Employees’ Creativity: A Mediated-Moderated Perspective

The drive for the current study was to describe the findings carried out to understand abusive supervision and employees’ creativity in business organizations. This research investigated the effect of abusive supervision on employees’ creativity. The influence of employment insecurity as a mediating variable and the moderating role of locus of control has also been examined. The study was based on Hobfoll’s conservation of resources theory. The data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire from 500 employees working in different business organizations in Pakistan. To analyze the data, the study employed path analytic approaches using multilevel modeling in Mplus 7.1. The empirical analysis has confirmed that abusive supervision and employment insecurity have a significant negative impact on employees’ creativity. Employment infectivity partially mediates the effect of abusive supervision on employees’ creativity. Moderation analysis was performed and established that the locus of control moderates the effect of abusive supervision on employment insecurity as well as the effect of employment insecurity on employees’ creativity. The current research has contributed towards developing a better understanding of the studied variables, i.e., abusive supervision, employment insecurity, locus of control, and employees’ creativity. To the best of authors’ knowledge these variables have been studied together here for the first time. The study also forwarded practical recommendations for managers and entrepreneurs.

Mediation Function of Desired Quality of Life Between Place-Making and Liveable Communities in African Cities

The challenges which confront urban spaces in developing countries have become so enormous, and they continue to challenge the capacity of States in these countries to respond effectively. These challenges range from poor infrastructure to weak infrastructure governance systems, which has created urban liveability differentials within these Cities across Africa. Therefore, this paper examines the mediation role of Desired Quality of life between Place-making and Liveable communities in Africa using a partial least squares path analytic method. This study employed the use of a questionnaire to investigate the desired Quality of life criteria, the place-making preferences, and the focus of liveable communities within these African Cities through an online Google form survey, posted through social media outlets to different respondents across various cities in Africa. The Snowball technique was employed to achieve sampling of 390 respondents across Africa. The responses obtained were synthesized and analyzed using a path analytic approach; the paper examines the relationship between the study's constructs. The data analysis findings show that place-making indeed influences Liveable communities, and Desired Quality of life mediates the relationship between place-making and liveable communities. The results indicate that Cities that prioritize Quality of Life and place-making have better liveable community spaces over those that do not. The study findings have implications for Liveable communities, as it could help city development planners to acknowledge the influence of Quality of life on Placemaking and liveable communities. The study contributes to the current debate on measuring urban Livability within the African City Space by creating a set of desired indicators that suit the African setting's needs regarding City infrastructure planning and provision.

Predictors and outcomes of behavioral engagement in the context of text comprehension: when quantity means quality

Using a path analytic approach with a sample of Norwegian undergraduate readers, we investigated the effects of behavioral engagement on text comprehension as reflected in students’ post-reading written reports on the topic in question. Results indicated that the behavioral engagement components of writing time and the length of the written responses had distinctive, unique effects on comprehension performance, and that behavioral engagement also mediated the effects of cognitive (prior knowledge, working memory) and motivational (intrinsic reading motivation) individual differences on comprehension performance. Prior knowledge about the topic affected comprehension performance directly as well as indirectly through behavioral engagement. The results highlight the importance of behavioral engagement in the context of written comprehension assessment, and both theoretical and educational implications of these results are discussed.

“Reluctant stayers do not get what they want”: the relationship between procedural injustice and workplace incivility

PurposeResearch has explored the behavioural responses of reluctant stayers to various organisational perceptions. This study extends current research to explain how employees who perceive procedural injustice respond, when they intend to leave but are unable to, due to limited job alternatives. This study postulates that employees who perceive procedural injustice are more likely to develop turnover intentions. Procedural injustice is expected to indirectly influence workplace incivility, with turnover intentions as the mediator. Further, the availability of job alternatives is expected to moderate the relationship between turnover intentions and workplace incivility, to form a moderated-mediation model.Design/methodology/approachData was collected from 204 retail employees across five major shopping malls within the Caribbean nation of Trinidad, using a two-wave research design. A path-analytic approach was used to test the research hypotheses.FindingsThe findings provided support for the propositions that procedural injustice predicts turnover intentions, that turnover intentions mediate the procedural injustice – workplace incivility relationship, and that the availability of job alternatives moderate the relationship between turnover intentions and workplace incivility.Originality/valueThis study addresses a clear research gap since no study has examined how employees' perceptions of procedural injustice affect their behaviour when they intend to leave but are unable to, due to limited job alternatives. This study extends research on the behaviour of reluctant stayers.

The Relevance of Competences for a Healthy, Physically Active Lifestyle in Persons with Multiple Sclerosis: a Path Analytical Approach

To promote health and counteract the decline associated with the disease, persons with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) are advised to lead healthy, physically active lifestyles. The physical activity-related health competence (PAHCO) model posits that individuals must meet three integrated, person-related requirements for the adoption of such a lifestyle: movement competence, control competence, and self-regulation competence. To gain insights into the needs and challenges of pwMS, the goal of the present study was to empirically examine the roles of these competences within this target group. A total of 475 pwMS underwent a multidimensional, online-based assessment of PAHCO. These participants self-reported their amount of physical activity (PA), health status, disease-related, and sociodemographic information. We used a series of path analyses to investigate the relevance of the three competence areas for each individual’s PA level and subjective health. Stepwise multivariate analyses revealed that self-regulation competence was significantly associated with overall PA volume. In contrast, movement competence did not contribute to this prediction. Control competence was also not related to PA level. However, in accordance with the PAHCO model, this factor exerted an independent, qualitative effect on participant health. In summary, self-regulation competence appears to play a crucial role with regard to PA volume. Specifically, control competence appears to be key for the qualitative aspect of PA promotion, characterizing the individual’s application of an appropriate stimulus for the achievement of health. Integrating the promotion of self-regulation and control competences into rehabilitation practices can help to foster healthy, physically active lifestyles in pwMS. Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/08964289.2021.1935437 .

Inattentive Behavior and Homework Performance in Elementary School: the Mediating Effects of Academic Enablers

Early attention skills have been found to be a significant and consistent predictor of academic outcomes, grades, and achievement results (Rabiner et al., School Psychology Review, 45(2), 250–267, 2016; Rhoades et al., Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 26(2), 182–191, 2011). A significant portion of students in elementary school experience attention difficulties, which can lead to difficulties attaining fundamental academic skills and enablers (DiPerna & Elliot, School Psychology Review, 31(3), 293–297, 2002; Merrell & Tymms, British Journal of Educational Psychology, 71(1), 43–56, 2001). The current study aimed to investigate the role of four academic enablers—motivation, study skills, interpersonal skills, and engagement—in the relationship between inattention and homework performance. Teachers completed questionnaires on inattention, academic enablers, and homework for 147 students in 1st through 4th grades. Using a multivariate path analytic approach, we tested the hypothesis that the academic enablers would have mediational, and potentially differential, effects on the relationship between inattention and two facets of homework performance—homework responsibility and homework competence. Our proposed model was supported by the data; results suggested that academic enablers play a significant role in the relationship between inattention and homework performance. These findings support a shift in focus to supporting students’ academic enabling behavior as a means of providing the necessary academic skills to mitigate the effects of attention difficulties on academic outcomes.

The effect of increases in the Syrian refugee population in Turkey on public maternal and child health outcomes

Our purpose in this study is to explore the effect that increases in the Syrian refugee population could have on public maternal and child health outcomes. Data collected from official records from 81 Turkish provinces in 2018, and then, subjected to mediating analysis using a path analytic approach to examine the interrelationships between the Syrian population, adolescent marriage, and economic integration factors on refugee maternal and child health outcomes. An increase in the Syrian population would lead to a rise in adolescent birth rates and under-5 mortality under the mediating effect of an increase in adolescent female marriage.

Abiotic and biotic interactions as drivers of plant reproduction in response to fire frequency

Plant reproduction is influenced by abiotic resources and biotic mutualistic and antagonistic interactions, which in turn can be affected by anthropogenic disturbances such as increased fire frequency. Because frequent fires deplete soil fertility and thus decrease resource availability for plants, we hypothesize that increased fire frequency decreases specific leaf area (SLA) and reproductive success. In addition, lower SLA levels in frequently burned sites should decrease herbivore damage because of reduced leaf palatability. Finally, increased fire frequency will have stronger negative effects on specialist insects (seed predators) as compared to generalist feeding insects such as herbivores and pollinators, which can have direct consequences on plant reproduction. Through an integrative path analytical approach, we assess fire frequency effects on the reproductive success of two resprouting legumes from the Chaco Serrano (Desmodium uncinatum and Rhynchosia edulis), estimating the relative importance of SLA along with pollination, insect herbivory and seed predation interactions. Increased fire frequency decreased SLA but it did not affect biotic interactions in both plant species, with the exception of increased leaf herbivory in R. edulis. Sexual reproduction of D. uncinatum was reduced in burned sites but it remained similar across burned and unburned sites in R. edulis. Within burned areas, both species efficiently maximized the allocation to reproduction, showing a conservative strategy in the use of resources when SLA levels are extremely low. Decreased plant fecundity, especially in D. uncinatum, is likely to impact on the density and long-term viability of populations growing in anthropogenic high fire frequency areas.

Learners’ satisfaction with native and non-native English-speaking teachers’ teaching competence and their learning motivation: a path-analytic approach

ABSTRACT This study explored the relationship between learners’ perceptions of native and non-native English-speaking teachers’ teaching competence and their motivation for learning English as a foreign language (EFL). Data were collected from 218 EFL learners in an intensive English programme in four universities in mainland China using two instruments: Student Satisfaction Questionnaire and English Learning Motivation Questionnaire. We conducted path analysis with latent variables to investigate the relationships between teacher competence and motivation using AMOS. It was found that: (1) EFL learners’ degree of satisfaction with native and non-native English-speaking teachers’ teaching competence had a minor impact on their English learning motivation; (2) there were several direct causal relationships of the subcategories of satisfaction with teaching competence to the subtypes of English learning motivation; and (3) satisfaction with teaching competence had an indirect influence on the subtypes of English learning motivation. We conclude with a discussion on the implications of the findings for our understanding of the construct of teaching competence and pre-service or in-service EFL teacher education.

Influence of stress and coping strategies on undergraduate students' performance

PurposeThis study examined the causes of academic stress amongst undergraduate students in the Department of Quantity Surveying to ascertain whether stress has an influence on their academic performance.Design/methodology/approachThis research explores the relationships between these constructs: academic stress, non-academic stress, coping strategies and academic performance, using a survey questionnaire to collect data from 190 undergraduate students in the Quantity Survey department. Descriptive statistics have been used to analyse the data and a path analytical approach has been adopted to evaluate the relationship between the constructs discussed in the paper.FindingsSignificant linear associations have been established between all the proposed paths and the outcome factor (p &lt; 0.00). Coping strategies were an important mediator (p = 0.000), as they explained 32.9% of the association between academic stress and non-academic stress. However, the findings have shown that the stress faced by students is an optimal degree of stress that improves learning capabilities.Practical implicationsExplanation and clarification of the effects of academic and non-academic stress and coping mechanisms on the academic performance of university undergraduate students could help to reduce the risk of suicide amongst the teeming youths. It will also afford the university administration the opportunity to engender stress-free environment that is conducive for learning through the formulation of appropriate policies that promote “balanced learning” for the students. The outcome of this study may provide a launch pad for researchers who are interested in knowing how the possible causes of stress may impact on the health of university students.Originality/valueThe findings will be of great importance to the academic advisers and university administration in developing a flexible academic calendar and adopt policies that will eliminate academic stress and promote strategies to cope with non-academic stress. The study is the first attempt to examine academic stress, non-academic stress, coping strategies and academic performance in a single research in the Nigerian context due to limited literature found. This study has pedagogical implications to education practice by offering tertiary institutions the opportunity to appraise and device a means of managing students' stress by identifying their needs and increase students' coping skills based on prevailing modalities that give students' opportunities to strengthen the strategies of coping.