Post-pandemic Era Research Articles

Impacts of task value belief and relational quality on hMOOC learner satisfaction in the post-pandemic era: The mediating roles of Learner Engagement and Knowledge sharing

Impacts of task value belief and relational quality on hMOOC learner satisfaction in the post-pandemic era: The mediating roles of Learner Engagement and Knowledge sharing

Alterations in Circadian Rhythms, Sleep, and Physical Activity in COVID-19: Mechanisms, Interventions, and Lessons for the Future.

Although the world is acquitting from the throes of COVID-19 and returning to the regularity of life, its effects on physical and mental health are prominently evident in the post-pandemic era. The pandemic subjected us to inadequate sleep and physical activities, stress, irregular eating patterns, and work hours beyond the regular rest-activity cycle. Thus, perturbing the synchrony of the regular circadianclock functions led to chronic psychiatric and neurological disorders and poor immunological response in several COVID-19 survivors. Understanding the links between the host immune system and viral replication machinery from a clock-infection biology perspective promises novel avenues of intervention. Behavioral improvements in our daily lifestyle can reduce the severity and expedite the convalescent stage of COVID-19 by maintaining consistent eating, sleep, and physical activity schedules. Including dietary supplements and nutraceuticals with prophylactic value aids in combating COVID-19, as their deficiency can lead to a higher risk of infection, vulnerability, and severity of COVID-19. Thus, besides developing therapeutic measures, perpetual healthy practices could also contribute to combating the upcoming pandemics. This review highlights the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on biological rhythms, sleep-wake cycles, physical activities, and eating patterns and how those disruptions possibly contribute to the response, severity, and outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Perceived service quality and visitors' sustainable visit intentions in theme parks: empirical analysis on the THEMEQUAL scale

Theme parks, as indispensable commodities within the tourism industry, wield significant influence in fostering local and national economic development. However, despite their crucial role, there remains a dearth of comprehensive research concerning the determinants of theme park visits. Employing the THEMEQUAL scale, this study uses an ordered logit model and an in-depth interview method to investigate the effects of service quality on visitors' sustainable visit intentions (SVIs). The results show that service quality is the most pivotal determinant shaping SVIs and that the effects are moderated by COVID-19, i.e., a reduced emphasis on service quality in bolstering visitors' sustainable visit inclinations during this pandemic. In particular, the staff delivering assurances and being courteous markedly influence visitors' perceptions. This research contributes to a comprehensive interplay between service quality, COVID-19, and visitors' SVIs, providing references for policymakers and managers to develop theme park recovery policies in the post-pandemic era.

Flexwork and flextravel

Flexwork—flexible work arrangements that depart from the standard in-office, nine-to-five schedule—has become a staple in the post-pandemic era. The inherent flexibility of place and time in flexwork has significant implications for the travel and tourism sectors. This flexibility gives rise to adaptable travel/tourism arrangements, further blurring the boundaries between work and travel/tourism. Consequently, it creates a potential state where productivity and leisure are seamlessly interwoven. A theoretical framework is developed to encapsulate the temporality, spatiality, and liminality of this flexwork–flextravel state. This conceptualization, as a response to the increasingly indistinct demarcation of time–space dimensions and work–travel domains, carries implications for emerging travel patterns and the potential transformation of tourism landscapes and travel-related activities.

Editorial: Viral infections and mental health during the post-pandemic era

Editorial: Viral infections and mental health during the post-pandemic era

Emotional intelligence in leadership styles of human resources managers in Peruvian retail companies

In the post-pandemic era, organizational challenges have intensified, particularly in leadership and management within the retail sector. This study focuses on the pivotal role of Emotional Intelligence (EI) in shaping leadership styles among human resource managers. Given the complexities introduced by the pandemic, which include managing remote teams and addressing heightened emotional stressors, the study argues that leaders must possess a profound understanding of both their own and their team members' emotional dynamics. Employing a quantitative approach, the study surveyed 385 human resource managers across Peruvian retail companies to assess how EI influences their leadership styles. The analysis utilized ordinal logistic regression, revealing that EI significantly affects leadership modalities, accounting for 27.2% of the variation in leadership styles. This suggests that EI is a critical predictor of effective leadership. The findings underscore the necessity for HR leaders to excel in emotional management, which is essential not only for improving team cohesion and workplace atmosphere but also for enhancing overall business profitability. The study concludes that in the evolving retail landscape, fostering leaders with high EI could be the key to navigating post-pandemic challenges effectively.

Motivation, work experience, and teacher performance: A comparative study

This research study investigates the effect of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation on employee performance, with a specific focus on the moderating role of employees' work experience. This investigation utilizes a proposed framework, focusing on higher educational institutions in West Bengal, India. It contributes to the human resource management field by comparing teacher performance in private and government academic institutions based on their motivation levels. The study employs a quantitative approach, collecting data from 250 teachers in West Bengal, India, using a structured questionnaire. The dataset underwent analysis employing Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) due to its inherent capacity to accommodate smaller sample sizes while delivering precise and insightful outcomes. The results indicate a strong positive relationship between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation and teacher performance in both types of institutions. Work experience moderates the connection between intrinsic motivation and performance in both sectors but has no significant impact on the relationship between extrinsic motivation and performance in private academic institutions. This study links a gap in the literature by empirically exploring the impact of teacher motivation on their performance and provides valuable insights into the complex interplay among motivation, work experience, and performance. Practically, it emphasizes the importance of employee motivation and accumulated work experience in enhancing performance. This study attempts to underscore the role of work experience as a moderating variable, thereby contributing to the novel discourse in the educational landscape of the post-pandemic era. The findings demand to identification of diverse organizational developmental drivers as work experience does not exhibit a strong mediation effect. However, limitations such as potential response bias should be considered in future research in this area.

Analysis of Financial Literacy, Financial Inclusion and Mental Accounting on Investment Decisions of The Millenial Generation in Surabaya

There are several factors that influence investment decision making, one of which is the psychology of the millennial generation in Surabaya in making investment decisions. The basis for making investment decisions consists of rate of return, risk and time period. Investment decisions are steps taken by individuals to place their funds in the hope of obtaining a rate of return in the future. This cannot be separated from the influence of financial literacy, financial inclusion and accounting mentality. This research aims to analyze the influence of financial literacy, financial inclusion and mental accounting on investment decisions of the millennial generation in Surabaya. This research method uses quantitative methods. The instrument used was a questionnaire. The data used is data from 152 millennial generation respondents in Surabaya and the data was analyzed using the Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) method. The research results show that financial literacy, financial inclusion and mental accounting have a significant positive effect on the investment decisions of the millennial generation in Surabaya. The contribution of this research in the future can provide an overview of investment products for the millennial generation in Surabaya in making investment decisions related to the level of financial literacy, financial inclusion and mental accounting in the post-pandemic era.

Integration and Enabling: Macao's Social Policy Shift during Post-Pandemic Era

The COVID-19 epidemic has had a great impact on the economies of various countries, and social policies are also facing a period of major adjustment opportunities. According to people's expectations, it is necessary to re-examine the supply mechanism of social welfare through social policy innovation. As a result of the epidemic, Macao's economic fluctuations are exacerbated and the government's fiscal revenue has declined. This has led to a certain degree of vulnerability in the social welfare system dominated by government financial investment, which directly affects the stability and sustainability of Macao's social policy system. Based on the challenges and countermeasures of the epidemic in Macao, this paper proposes that it is necessary to further integrate existing social policies, build a social safety net, strengthen investment in human capital, enhance residents' ability to resist social risks in pursuit of welfare, promote economic development through social policy adjustment to balance government-market-individual welfare responsibilities, establish sustainable social policies, and push for high-quality social development. 

Health risk perception and exercise intention of college students: a moderated mediation model of health anxiety and lay theories of health

BackgroundHealth risk perception is an important predictor of health-protective behaviors according to the health belief model. However, the underlying mechanism connecting health risk perception and exercise behaviors is not well understood. The current study investigates how health risk perception predicts college students' exercise intention in the post-pandemic era in China and analyzes the mediating effect of health anxiety and the moderating effect of lay theories of health.Materials and methodsThis cross-sectional study adopted convenience sampling and recruited 767 students from a province in central China. The Health Risk Perception Scale, Health Anxiety Scale, Lay Theories of Health Scale, and the Chinese version of the Exercise Intention Scale were used to measure the levels of health risk perception, health anxiety, implicit health theory, and exercise intention, respectively.ResultsThe results of the moderated mediation model indicated that the health risk perception of college students significantly and positively affected exercise intention (β = 0.110, t = 2.852, p < 0.01). Meanwhile, the indirect effect of health anxiety on the relationship between health risk perception and exercise intention was significant. Furthermore, lay theories of health buffered the association between health anxiety and exercise intention, according to the moderated mediation analysis (β = 0.068, t = 2.067, p < 0.05). For college students holding incremental health theory, the influence of health anxiety on exercise intention was positively and statistically significant.ConclusionThe health risk perception of college students can lead to health anxiety, which can positively affect their exercise intention. In addition, lay theories of health can moderate the effect of health anxiety on exercise intention. The results have practical implications for developing effective, applicable, and scalable interventions to promote physical exercise by reducing the level of entity theory of health or increasing the level of incremental theory.

Proposed Initiatives to Protect Small Businesses in Wales; the United Kingdom Due to Covid-19

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, small businesses worldwide have faced unprecedented challenges. This study presents a detailed analysis of these challenges and explores the effectiveness of government interventions in supporting small business recovery. Utilizing a mix of quantitative research methods, including statistical analysis and a comprehensive literature review, the research focuses on the specific impacts of the pandemic on small business operations and finances. Key findings indicate that small businesses have suffered significant disruptions, primarily in supply chain management and customer engagement. The study evaluates various government initiatives, such as financial aid packages and regulatory relaxations, highlighting their role in mitigating the pandemic's adverse effects. Furthermore, it proposes a set of recommendations for both government and small businesses, emphasizing the need for tailored financial support, enhanced digital transformation strategies, and flexible operational adjustments. The research concludes that a collaborative approach between government and small businesses is essential for ensuring sustainable growth and recovery in the post-pandemic era. This study contributes to the existing body of knowledge by providing actionable insights and practical strategies for policymakers and business owners, aiming to bolster the resilience and long-term prosperity of small businesses, which are integral to the global economy.

Piccadilly full of people and other foul things : On heroism and perversion in the post-pandemic era.

Piccadilly full of people and other foul things : On heroism and perversion in the post-pandemic era.

Exploring novel approaches to digital self-regulated learning: a study on the use of mobile applications among Polish and Turkish EFL pre-service teachers

AbstractThis study explores the digital self-regulatory practices of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) pre-service teachers via mobile applications in the post-pandemic era. The research is motivated by the need to address the absence of literature on the self-regulatory learning behaviours of EFL pre-service teachers in the aftermath of the pandemic-induced shift to online learning. The study participants were Polish and Turkish EFL students aged between 19 and 23, enrolled at state universities in Poland and Turkey. A validated online survey tool was developed and utilised for data collection based on the piloting phase of the study. The survey employed a combination of multiple-choice and 5-point Likert scale questions to examine participants’ interaction with different types of self-regulated applications after the pandemic. The findings revealed that Duolingo was the most widely used application. This underscored the importance of listening as the most frequently used language skill. The study also revealed a shift in learning patterns among participants following the pandemic as evidenced by the technologies available. Overall, the main findings of this study may serve as significant impetus for further research on pandemic-related changes in digital self-regulated learning practices among EFL learners globally. The results of the study might find broad implications for example for development of a new generation of MOOCs responding various needs of learners as well as incorporating elements of self-regulation into the traditional EFL class to increase its efficiency.

Are we working from home or office? Insights from Australia

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the factors influencing office occupancy and the broader implications for workplace dynamics in Australia in the post-pandemic era. Design/methodology/approach The authors draw on industry insights, research data and expert opinions on remote work and office attendance to explain post-pandemic trends. Findings The paper finds that average office occupancy reached 71% of pre-pandemic levels in Q3 2023, indicating a significant rebound from earlier downturns. This can be explained by factors such as improved vaccination rates, clearer return-to-office policies by large corporations and a greater understanding of the virus. Originality/value This paper offers valuable insights on the implications of physical, hybrid and remote work highlighting the growing recognition of the importance of physical workspace in fostering collaboration, innovation and organisational culture. It also brings together evidence of the impact of flexible options that may support greater social and environmental sustainability.

Digital finance: a developing country perspective with special focus on gender and regional disparity

PurposeEven if digital financial services have a positive impact on financial inclusion, it creates a digital as well as gender divide within and across countries, creating regional disparity even within developing nations. Though pandemic has initiated digitalization of various services, there has been scanty research on whether digital transfer of income can improve digital financial inclusion in post-pandemic era, especially in developing countries. The purpose of the current study is to explain the regional disparity within developing countries from three regions East Asia Pacific, South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, using latest World Findex data, 2021.Design/methodology/approachThe author takes an instrumental variable approach to run bivariate probit model to find the factors that motivate the users to make digital payments.FindingsThe study observes that electronic transfer of wages, government transfers and remittances can motivate individuals to make use of digital mode of transactions and mobile. The practice of formal saving and borrowings are the prerequisites. However, this mechanism holds good for East Asia Pacific and not for South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, which are poor in information and communication technology infrastructure. Women are lagging behind men, but digital transfer of wages motivate them to make digital transaction.Practical implicationsDigitalization of all government services and provision of affordable mobile network and internet services are necessary for regions like South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. In East Asia Pacific region, data protection, data governance and better regulatory framework are required. Higher female labor force participation with digital transfer of wages and empowerment with smartphones are key to reducing the Gender gap.Originality/valueThe current study corrects for the possible endogeneity issue, which the extant literature has not paid attention to, and provides region-specific and gender-specific policy recommendations for an improved digital inclusion.

Impact of psychic distance stimuli on international tourist flows: A cross-country analysis

Research on psychic distance in tourism studies has mainly focused on perceived psychic distance, while little attention has been paid to psychic distance stimuli. Applying the Cultural-Administrative-Geographic-Economic (CAGE) distance framework, this study employs a gravity model framework to investigate the relationship between psychic distance stimuli and international tourist flows and the moderating role of Internet popularity in such a relationship based on information asymmetry theory. Further, this study investigates the effects of psychic distance stimuli along the cultural, administrative, geographic, and economic dimensions. The empirical analysis is based on a panel dataset of bilateral tourist flows between 56 countries from 2006 to 2019. The results indicate that psychic distance stimuli negatively impact international tourist flows, but the negative effect decreases with increasing Internet penetration rate in countries of origin. The four distance dimensions exert negative effects on bilateral tourist flows. This study also provides implications for alleviating the impact of psychic distance stimuli between countries derived by COVID-19 on international tourism in the post-pandemic era.

Evolving Altruistic Attitudes towards Vaccination Post COVID-19 Pandemic: A Comparative Analysis across Age Groups

Altruism plays an essential role in promoting vaccine uptake, an issue that came to the fore during the COVID-19 pandemic through discussions of herd immunity and altruistic motivations. In response, the primary objective of this cross-sectional survey was to explore how altruistic attitudes have evolved in the post-pandemic era and to assess their effectiveness in motivating vaccination behavior in different age groups. The study aimed to elucidate changes in altruistic motivations for vaccination and their implications for public health strategies. Using a representative sample of the adult population of South Tyrol, Italy, including 1388 participants, altruism was assessed in 2023 with the scales of the Elderly Care Research Center (ECRC) and the International Personality Item Pool (IPIP) subscale of the version 5F30F-R1. Its association with demographic variables, vaccination attitudes and personal beliefs in two age groups (18–69 years, 70+ years) was analyzed. The results reveal distinct predictors of altruism across these scales and age groups, suggesting a shift in altruistic attitudes towards vaccination when comparing data from a similar survey conducted in 2021 with the 2023 results. Consequently, the use of altruism scales for different age groups is warranted. This study highlights the need for further research in this field. It concludes that while promoting altruistic behavior to increase vaccine uptake appears to be effective primarily among the younger population, emphasizing personal safety is more appropriate for encouraging vaccination among older individuals.

Sedentary time transitions and associations with quality of life in cancer survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background Patterns in sedentary time (SED) and its impact on quality of life (QoL) in cancer survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic remains unknown. The purpose of this study was to 1) compare total and domain-specific SED before and during the pandemic; and 2) examine its association with QoL in a global sample of cancer survivors. Methods In an online survey, cancer survivors retrospectively self-reported domain-specific SED (e.g. transportation, television) before and during the pandemic via the Domain-Specific Sitting Time Questionnaire. QoL was assessed via the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (FACT)-General and FACT-Fatigue. Paired t-tests compared daily SED before and during the pandemic. Analysis of covariance compared QoL among: those who remained high (>8 h/day), remained low (<8 h/day), increased (<8 h/day to >8 h/day), or decreased (>8 h/day to <8 h/day) daily SED. Results Among cancer survivors (N = 477, Mage=48.5 ± 15.4), 60.8% reported that their SED remained high, 19.7% remained low, 7.5% increased SED, and 11.9% decreased SED. Computer and television screen time significantly increased (p’s<.001), while SED during transportation significantly decreased (p<.001). Sub-group analyses revealed that those who reduced SED who were normal or underweight (p=.042) or were meeting physical activity guidelines (p=.031) had significantly less fatigue than those who increased or remained high in SED, respectively. Those who remained high in SED with <3 comorbidities (p’s =.005) had significantly better social well-being than those who increased SED. Conclusions As we transition to a post-pandemic era, behavioral strategies for cancer survivors should focus on reducing screen time to improve QoL and fatigue.

Determinants and trends of executive coaching effectiveness in post-pandemic era: A critical systematic literature review analysis

Determinants and trends of executive coaching effectiveness in post-pandemic era: A critical systematic literature review analysis

Exploring critical determinants influencing businesses’ continuous usage of mobile payment in post-pandemic era: Based on the UTAUT2 perspective

Consumers across demographics have diverse digital lifestyles and rely heavily on e-commerce to purchase necessities including food and beverages. The COVID-19 pandemic has habituated consumers to making mobile payments at an accelerated pace. Despite rising consumer demand for mobile payments, comparable trends in the supply side for businesses remains crucial for the future sustainability of mobile payments. However, businesses must remain willing to accept mobile payments and engage in continued marketing to promote mobile payment. Few studies thus far have applied multi-criteria decision-making analyses to evaluate the critical determinants of intention and motivation to use mobile payment; quantitative analysis methods, such as factor, regression, and variance analyses, are more commonly applied. This study examined the critical evaluation constructs and criteria that affect retailers and service providers in outlying islands using the Extended Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT2) as our theoretical basis. It then established a multi-criteria decision-making framework for understanding the factors influencing businesses' mobile payment use. This study uses the multi-criteria evaluation of the Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) and DEMATEL-based Analytic Network Process (DANP) to create network relation maps of the constructs and criteria for the willingness of outlying island retailers and service providers to continue accepting mobile payments. Penghu County is located on the outlying islands of Taiwan and has witnessed a substantial shift in transaction practices among its small and medium-sized enterprises following the outbreak of the pandemic. It experienced a marked decrease in tourist influx during the COVID-19 pandemic, significantly impacting local businesses. This study aimed to better understand the opinions and motivations of businesses in Penghu County regarding mobile payment services. Insights from this perspective should help improve local businesses’ adaptability and usage habits. The findings offer significant strategies for the government to provide specific training programs and subsidies or incentives for businesses adopting mobile payment technologies, ultimately expanding mobile payment services across small businesses that target tourists.