Psychological Balance Research Articles

EMPLOYEE MOTIVATION AND PERFORMANCE ACROSS SMALL AND MEDIUM SCALE ENTERPRISES IN NIGERIA

Objective: The small and medium scale enterprises remain vital to many countries, contributing to job creation and economic growth. The study aims to determine how the motivational strategies affect performance of employees in SMEs sector in Nigeria. Method: We employ structural equation modelling (SEM) to depict the direct relationship between job satisfaction and employee’s salary, on one hand as well as between job satisfaction and job security on the other. Result and Discussion: The outcome finds that job security has a positive but insignificant relationship with job satisfaction and that job security has a positive and significant relationship with job satisfaction in the Nigerian SMEs sector. Implications: The implication of the finding is that although job security may not be central to the likely psychological well-being of the sector’s employees, employees’ pay motivates them to be satisfied with their job in the SMEs sector. Originality/Value: The value of the article lies in its focus on providing insight into factors that such as pay of employee and job security can motivate a psychological balance for job satisfaction. Recommendations: We recommend that the SMEs improve their current human resource policies relating to staff incentive schemes and employee performance as it will help to increase employee’s performance.

Occupational Stress, Psychological Distress, and Psychoactive Substance Use: A Clinical Case Study

Occupational stress has become a major global issue, affecting workers' mental health and well-being. Increasing pressures in the professional environment have led to a significant rise in psychological distress among many individuals. To cope with this growing pressure, individuals resort to coping strategies and defense mechanisms, including the use of psychoactive substances. Objective: This study aims to highlight the complex interactions between occupational stress, psychological distress, and the use of psychoactive substances, with a focus on the underlying psychological processes of this comorbidity in a clinical case. Method: A clinical study was conducted on a Moroccan worker who presented both chronic occupational stress and cannabis dependence, with a thorough psychodynamic analysis. Results: The psychodynamic analysis of clinical cases revealed that personal factors, such as low self-esteem, lack of self-confidence, poor self-management, alexithymia, introversion, and narcissistic gaps, can be precipitating factors for stress. They can also lead to psychoactive substance use, which is used as a defensive and adjustment mechanism to restore psychological balance. Conclusion: Occupational stress weakens an individual's psychological resources, leading them to seek psychoactive substances as a means of defense, anesthesia, and avoidance of psychological suffering, in a form of self-medication.

The influence of healthy eating index on cognitive function in older adults: chain mediation by psychological balance and depressive symptoms

BackgroundThis study aims to investigate the relationships between the Chinese Healthy Eating Index (CHEI), psychological balance, depressive symptoms, and cognitive function in the rural older population. Additionally, it examines the impact of CHEI on cognitive function and the potential chain mediating roles of psychological balance and depressive symptoms.MethodsThe study utilized data from 2,552 rural older adults aged 65 and above, drawn from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Study (CLHLS). The CHEI was self-reported, with scores ranging from 0 to 50, representing adherence to healthy eating habits. Psychological balance was assessed using status and personality-emotion characteristics recorded in the database, with scores ranging from 6 to 30. Cognitive function was measured using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), with scores ranging from 0 to 30; higher scores indicated better cognitive function. Depressive symptoms were evaluated using the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD-10), with scores ranging from 0 to 30, where higher scores reflected more severe depressive symptoms.ResultsThe median CHEI score was 40.0 (IQR: 34.0–45.0), reflecting moderate adherence to healthy dietary practices. The median Psychological Balance score was 19.0 (IQR: 17.0–21.0), and the median Depressive Symptoms score was 13.0 (IQR: 10.0–15.0), indicating mild depressive symptoms among participants. Additionally, the median Cognitive Function score was 28.0 (IQR: 27.0–29.0), suggesting relatively stable cognitive abilities within the sample. Correlational analysis revealed the following: (1) Depressive symptoms were negatively correlated with both cognitive function (rs = -0.100, p < 0.001) and CHEI (rs = -0.206, p < 0.001), as well as with psychological balance (rs = -0.142, p < 0.001). (2) CHEI was positively correlated with both cognitive function (rs = 0.144, p < 0.001) and psychological balance (rs = 0.131, p < 0.001). (3) Cognitive function was also positively correlated with psychological balance (rs = 0.096, p < 0.001). Mediation analysis demonstrated that both psychological balance and depressive symptoms partially mediated the relationship between CHEI and cognitive function, forming a chain-mediating effect.ConclusionThe Chinese Healthy Eating Index was found to have a direct positive impact on cognitive function in rural older adults. Furthermore, it exerted an indirect effect through the independent and chain-mediating roles of psychological balance and depressive symptoms. These findings suggest that dietary adherence can influence cognitive health not only directly but also by improving psychological well-being and reducing depressive symptoms.

Service Robots in the Workplace: Fostering Sustainable Collaboration by Alleviating Perceived Burdensomeness

This study investigates the impact of job demands and perceived burdensomeness on employees’ willingness to collaborate with service robots (SRs) in the workplace, with a focus on the moderating effects of organizational support, self-esteem, and self-development. Conducted among 200 employees in South Korea, the results show that higher job demands significantly increase perceived burdensomeness, which negatively affects employees’ willingness to collaborate with SRs. Organizational support moderates the negative impact of job demands, reducing their detrimental effects, although it was less effective in buffering the reduction in social interaction. Self-esteem and self-development positively moderated the relationship between burdensomeness and collaboration. This study contributes to the understanding of sustainable workforce management by highlighting the importance of fostering personal and organizational resources to ensure that SR integration enhances both operational efficiency and employee well-being. The findings align with broader sustainability goals by promoting human–robot collaboration that optimizes resource use, enhances workforce adaptability, and maintains social and psychological balance in the workplace.

Mindfulness and mental health: the importance of a clinical intervention to prevent the effects of a traumatic event. A pilot study.

Numerous research studies show that mindfulness can mitigate the negative impact of trauma on mental health by reducing symptoms of anxiety, mediating the relationship between trauma exposure and mental health, and treating symptoms resulting from traumatic events. During the COVID-19 pandemic, which was considered a traumatic event, the wellbeing of adults and children was severely compromised. Although children seem less vulnerable to the physical effects of the virus, this does not seem to be true for the psychological effects. Indeed, a prolonged period of loss of family activities and routines can have a negative impact on the mental health of children and adolescents. To investigate how mindfulness can help preschool children cope with the effects of COVID-19, a study was conducted on 46 children aged 4-5 years. The programme, based on the work of Jon Kabat-Zinn and adapted to the age of the participants, consisted of eight weekly 45-min sessions. Qualitative and quantitative results showed positive feedback, indicating that mindfulness helps children make sense of their experiences and achieve functional post-traumatic growth. This approach is seen as a challenge to guide children toward the restoration of psychological wellbeing, which is essential for good psychological balance.

The contribution of social networks using the example of type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes has an impact not only on physical health, but also on social life, family life and psychological balance. Social networks play a decisive role, alongside associations, in helping patients to adopt the "other pace of life" implied by the disease. Beyond health, the skills needed to enable patients to achieve personal fulfillment are beyond the scope of healthcare professionals. Peer communities are an invaluable contribution to building this life with diabetes.

Postpartum Depression and Its Impact of the Mother Child Relationship

Introduction: Depression is one of the main complications of the postpartum period [1]. Yet it is often insufficiently prevented, diagnosed and treated. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of postpartum depression and its impact on the mother-baby relationship, and to identify associated risk factors. Materials and Methods: Descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study, over a three-month period from January 1 to March 31, 2022, of postpartum women using a hetero-questionnaire (socio-demographic data); Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) and Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire (PBQ). Results: We enrolled 227 patients. The mean age of our patients was 28.8 ± 5.76 years.53.7% of our patients were primiparous, and 83.3% wanted their current pregnancy. 13.7% had given birth prematurely. The prevalence of postpartum depression was 21.1% and correlated with celibacy, low educational level, lack of desire for pregnancy and poor marital relationship. Post-partum depression is said to have an impact on family dynamics, mainly on the mother-baby relationship, and later on the child's psychological balance and development, as assessed by the PBQ. The PBQ came back disturbed in our study. Conclusion: Therapeutic, preventive and even curative measures should be proposed for postpartum women, from educational measures for women and their close circle, psychotherapeutic means to well timed and appropriate drug prescription before complications set in.

Особливості прояву адиктивної поведінки вірян Церкви Адвентистів сьомого дня в умовах війни в Україні

The study is dedicated to analyzing addictive behavior among members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the context of war in Ukraine. The paper establishes a connection between religious identity and survival strategies in conflict conditions, and also examines the role of church practices in overcoming addictions. Specifically, it explores how religious beliefs can prevent or, conversely, contribute to the development of addictions, what forms of addictive behavior are typical for this religious group during war, and how psychosocial support from the church community can influence the overcoming of stress and anxiety. The research findings show that Adventists have certain advantages in managing addictive behavior during war, but they are also susceptible to the influence of stress and traumatic events. In conclusion, the paper proposes practical measures aimed at protecting believers of this denomination from addictions, particularly through maintaining a healthy lifestyle and active support from spiritual leadership and the community. Special attention is paid to the strategies Adventists use to overcome stress and maintain psychological balance. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the mechanisms through which war affects the manifestation of addictive behavior and is important for developing strategies of mental support for Christian believers in conditions of prolonged conflict. Key words: addictive behavior, believers, Seventh-day Adventist Church, war, Ukraine.

THE INFLUENCE OF SECOND LANGUAGE WRITING ANXIETY ON L2 POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS’ DISSERTATION WRITING: A MULTIPLE-CASE STUDY

Second language (L2) postgraduate students are susceptible to experience second language writing anxiety (SLWA) in dissertation writing as they tend to find the writing process arduous. SLWA relates to the recurring negative and anxious feeling when students write which could influence their cognition, behaviour, and physical condition. This reflects the interrelationship between individual’s affect and cognitive process and the negative correlation between SLWA and writing performance reported in past studies. However, more evidence is needed to establish SLWA as an independent construct that could directly affect writing performance. Therefore, this study aimed to explore how SLWA influences L2 postgraduate students’ dissertation writing to have a clearer insight into the phenomenon. This investigation utilised a multiple-case study approach involving four local postgraduate students. Data was obtained through in-depth interviews, audio journals, and personal document analysis. The thematic analysis revealed the following themes: SLWA i) influences emotional states; ii) triggers emotion regulation; and iii) initiates and sustains a debilitative or facilitative psychological loop that influences students’ progress in dissertation writing. Thus, the study posits SLWA as a construct that can directly debilitate writing performance and L2 dissertation writing as having affective costs that makes emotion regulation an important mechanism to restore student’s psychological balance. To overcome SLWA’s influences on dissertation writing, it is recommended that supervisors and language teachers discourage perception of writing inability, recognize writing improvement, identify writing competence, suggest specific solutions to resolve writing issues, and avoid manipulating anxiety to provoke writing performance.

Pentingnya Pengucapan yang Jelas dari Orang Tua: Untuk Mengoptimalkan Fungsi Lobus Temporal pada Anak

The brain is the primary organ responsible for maintaining human physical and psychological balance from developmental stages in the womb, through infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and old age. The brain guides humans to exhibit positive and negative behaviors. It functions positively in a positive environment and negatively in a negative one. A newborn's brain weighs 370 grams, and by the age of three, it reaches 70% of the adult brain weight, approximately 1.2 to 1.4 kilograms (3 pounds). This brain development phase is known as the "Golden Age." Parents or significant others raising children must understand that during early childhood, the brain develops rapidly. Neurons will function robustly and swiftly if provided with appropriate stimuli. This means that children will quickly understand, imitate, and memorize what they hear, see, and observe. Anyone raising a child, including educators and babysitters, must understand that the brain is a vital organ that needs protection from hard and sharp objects and must be safeguarded against severe impacts and deep injuries to prevent damage to brain growth and development. This study serves as a preliminary reference for understanding the brain's parts, demonstrating that the brain has various sections, each with its functions, as revealed by scientific research from neurologists.

“Haqqun-nas” və onun ictimai təsirləri

In addition to individual duties, each person is responsible for fulfilling public duties. The main reason for this is that human beings are social beings. Therefore, everyone’s actions and attitudes have positive and negative effects not only on themselves but also on society. In this regard, the rights of mankind are a significant issue in the daily life of every society. Islam, especially the Quranic verses, attaches great importance to the question of the rights of mankind. Haqq al-Nas means protecting people’s property, not harming their lives, and respecting people’s honor and dignity. The aim of this research is to explore the impact of conforming to the rights of mankind on society. According to the findings, issues such as public safety, moral development, social compassion, and psychological balance, which society always needs, are the most significant effects of abiding by the rights of mankind. A society with these characteristics is considered healthy and ideal. This paper is based on religious texts and follows the descriptive-analytical method in content analysis. It may also be considered interdisciplinary research as it deals with issues related to ethics, law, sociology, and Quranic studies.

Exploring the Consumption Behavior of College Students under the Prevalence of Excessive Consumption Phenomenon Based on the Theory of Delayed Satisfaction

Delayed gratification is a manifestation of self-control. This type of psychological phenomenon is widely present in various groups, and it is closely related to the consumption behavior of college students. In the era of rapid development of Internet finance, college students, as the mainstream consumer group, inevitably choose to consume in advance to meet their immediate needs. Due to the fact that college students are in a stage of confusion about their future career and life, delayed gratification psychology and present bias may lead to many irrational consumption phenomena. In order to pursue psychological balance, college students may prefer to choose random financial products and services on the internet for lending and consumption without thinking rationally based on their own situation. Based on this, this article attempts to explore the consumption choices of contemporary college students and the relationship between delayed gratification and college students through questionnaire surveys. Based on the results of the investigation and analysis, this article proposes several specific situations and possible causes of the relationship between college students' consumption psychology and delayed gratification.

ОСОБЛИВОСТІ ВЗАЄМОЗВ’ЯЗКУ ЕМОЦІЙНОГО ВИГОРАННЯ ТА ПЕРЕЖИВАННЯ ЗАЗДРОСТІ У ПРАЦІВНИКІВ ЗАКЛАДІВ ВИЩОЇ ОСВІТИ

The article presents the results of a theoretical analysis and an empirical study of the peculiarities of the relationship between emotional burnout and the phenomenon of envy among education workers. Psychophysical, emotional, intellectual, behavioral, socio-psychological symptoms of emotional burnout are distinguished. Its development is related both to external factors of the environment and the organization of activities, and to personal characteristics. Envy is a complex psychological phenomenon that is a mechanism of destructive behavior. Having a number of positive functions, envy is mostly interpreted as a negative feeling in society. Envy is determined by the lack of internal worldview and psychological balance, harmony. It occurs in dependent, insecure individuals with problematic self-esteem and a history of psychological trauma. The purpose of the study is to determine the characteristics of the relationship between emotional burnout and the phenomenon of envy among employees of higher education institutions. Scientific novelty. It was found that subjects with the “Envy-hostile” type have less pronounced symptoms of emotional burnout. They expect a more positive attitude from others, are self-confident, have self-acceptance and self-sympathy, and less self-blame. Subjects with the “Envy-distrust” type are characterized by a certain degree of hostility to their own “I”, self-rejection, emphasis on their own shortcomings, inadequate self-esteem and readiness for self-blame, reduced self-interest, expectation of a positive attitude towards them from those around them, and a decrease in self-control. Psychological characteristics of people with different types of envy are one of the factors that influence the development of emotional burnout among employees of higher education institutions, since the attitude towards oneself and the world determines the mental and emotional state of the individual. Conclusions. The results obtained in the study confirmed the proposed hypothesis, namely the assumption that employees of higher education institutions diagnosed with a high level of envy-mistrust are more prone to the development of emotional burnout than employees with pronounced envy-hostility. Key words: emotional burnout, envy, employees of educational institutions.

Effective leadership practice among senior leaders working from home and in the hybrid workplace across COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted and reshaped effective leadership practices by introducing working-from-home protocols (WFH) and the hybrid workplace model. The current study sought to identify and understand leadership practices adopted in WFH and the transition to the hybrid model, the effectiveness of these practices, and the implications of these on future effective leadership practices in knowledge-based organizations. The current study employed an inductive thematic analysis on semi-structured interviews with thirteen senior leaders in marketing agencies and departments, grounded in causal leadership epistemology. Five themes were identified: (1) remote leadership capabilities required, (2) a soft skills leadership renaissance, (3) introspection is a coping strategy, (4), leaders' temporal quandary, and (5) hybrid leadership uncertainty. The study findings indicated the leaders who successfully coped and continued to be effective exhibited a more adaptive and resilient mindset, evolving their leadership practices and skills to suit the needs of remote (WFH) leadership. They embraced softer leadership skills and developed more humanistic leadership behaviors. They developed an introspection practice to maintain their mental and psychological balance and they mastered time management in an always-on world. This study offers leaders, managers, and employers practical insights into ongoing effective leadership practice with remote (WFH) empowered workforces and hybrid workplace normalization.

The Anxiety Burden in Patients with Chronic Intestinal Failure on Long-Term Parenteral Nutrition and in Their Caregivers.

Background and aims: Home parenteral nutrition (HPN) is a life-saving treatment for patients affected by chronic intestinal failure (CIF). Both this clinical condition and its therapy require radical lifestyle modifications, affecting life quality and psychological balance in patients as well as family members. Patient psychological burden has rarely been taken into consideration, not to mention that of caregivers. This study aims to evaluate the levels of anxiety in CIF patients on HPN, and their caregivers, consequently determining their impact on the psychological and physical aspects. Methods: After a brief introductory interview, adult patients on HPN for CIF and their caregivers were asked to fill in the HAMA-A questionnaire. Results: Fifty patients and their respective caregivers were enrolled. Mean HAMA-A scores were similar in patients and caregivers and testified the presence of a mild to severe impact of CIF and HPN in both groups, with a significantly higher impact on female patients and caregivers. After adjusting age, education level, duration of CIF and HPN dependence, and degree of kinship, no differences were revealed in the scores. Conclusions: The study confirms that CIF patients on HPN and their caregivers have a significant anxiety burden independently from the duration of the disease, therefore needing appropriate support.

Stress symptoms occur in patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment independently of the level of physical activity.

The cancer patient is undergoing a set of procedures that affect the physical and psychological balance, which can generate stressful situations in the organism. In turn, physical activity helps to treat stress, promoting well-being and reducing anxiety. Our study aimed to verify the influence of physical activity practice on stress symptoms in patients undergoing oncological chemotherapy treatment. For this, we used Lipp's Inventory of Stress Symptoms (ISSL) and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) in 56 patients with cancer. Our data show that 45.4% of the participants exhibited stress scores, of which, 21.8% were at near to exhaustion, and 23.6% at exhaustion. We observed that 30% of them are considered sufficiently active, 25% insufficiently active, 45% sedentary. No association was observed between physical activity and stress. These findings indicate that stress symptoms occur in patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment regardless of the level of physical activity.

The Mediating Role of Psychological Balance on the Effects of Dietary Behavior on Cognitive Impairment in Chinese Elderly.

Cognitive impairment, a significant problem in older adults, may be associated with diet. This study aims to examine the association between the dietary diversity score (DDS), dietary pattern (DP), and cognitive impairment in elderly Chinese. This research further explored the role of psychological balance (PB) as a mediator in the relationship between diet and cognitive impairment. A total of 14,318 older adults from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Study (CLHLS) in 2018 were included. Latent class analysis (LCA) was used to identify patterns in seven food varieties. Binary logistic regression models were used to determine factors associated with the DDS, DP, and cognitive impairment. The multiple mediation effect model was evaluated using model 6 in the PROCESS version 3.5 program. Among the participants, 4294 (29.99%) developed cognitive impairment. Compared to people in food variety group two or lower, people with a high dietary diversity score (DDS) had lower odds of cognitive impairment. Compared to DP1, DP2 (OR = 1.24, 95%CI = 1.09 to 1.40) was associated with a higher risk of cognitive impairment, and DP4 (OR = 0.79, 95%CI = 0.69 to 0.89) was associated with a lower risk of cognitive impairment. PB mediated the relationship between DDS, DP, and cognitive impairment, with a mediating effect of 27.24% and 41.00%. A DP that is rich in fruits, vegetables, red meat, fish, eggs, beans, nuts, and milk was related to a lower risk of cognitive impairment. PB has an indirect impact on cognitive impairment. Our findings underscore the importance of promoting a diverse diet, which may contribute to a lower risk of cognitive impairment in older adults. The PB of the elderly should also be taken into consideration.

Педагогический консерватизм преподавателей вуза

The relevance of the research is due to the need to implement the principle of cooperation and interaction of the subjects of the educational process, and to use the creative approach in the situation of modernizing higher education. The purpose of the research is to identify indicators, criteria, and development factors of university teachers’ pedagogical conservatism. The study hypothesizes that the state of pedagogical conservatism among teachers of higher educational institutions: 1) may be correlated with the level of integral satisfaction with professional activity; 2) indicates the presence of factors contributing to its development. The study participants: the teaching staff of 9 Russian universities (N = 1754, aged from 25 to 65, including 25% of men, 75% of women). The research methods (tools): methodology "Assessment of pedagogical conservatism of teachers of a higher educational institution" (I. B. Avakyan) was used in order to study indicators and criteria of pedagogical conservatism, as well as to identify its development factors, integral job satisfaction test (by A. V. Batarshev) was used to assess the integral indicators of satisfaction of university teachers with their pedagogical activity. Results. The study has revealed the development factors of university teachers’ pedagogical conservatism. These factors comprise psychological unpreparedness for innovative activity, including a set of variables that are presented in the study, and emotional burnout. A positive correlation has been found between a group of indicators of pedagogical conservatism and components of integral satisfaction with pedagogical work (habitual ways of performing the activity and general satisfaction with work). The study has also revealed the inverse (negative) correlation between the other group of pedagogical conservatism indicators and satisfaction with pedagogical activity (low motivation for success and overall job satisfaction). The main conclusions. On the one hand, indicators of pedagogical conservatism contribute to the increase in the level of satisfaction with pedagogical activity, which ensures the preservation of pedagogical experience in conditions of internal psychological balance. On the other hand, they contribute to dissatisfaction with their own activities and to the state of professional stagnation. The obtained results can be used as the basis for systematic psychological and pedagogical support of the university teachers’ professional activities in accordance with educational stan dards.

Determinants of engagement outcomes of N-power agripreneurship graduates’ social investment programme in Abia State, Nigeria

This study analyzed the determinants of engagement outcomes of N-power agripreneurship graduates’ social investment programme in Abia State, Nigeria. Simple random sampling was used in the selection of 80 graduate beneficiaries that participated in N-power programme. Data were collected with a structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive (frequency counts, percentages and mean scores) and inferential (multiple regression analysis) statistics. Results show that the participants had high engagement (X̄ = 2.30) and outcomes (X̄ = 3.30) from N-power agripreneurship programme trainings. Psychological development (B = 3.81***), mastery of skills (β = −3.99***), positive identity (β = 2.63**), civic participation (β = −2.68**) and understanding needs/wants (β = 2.73**) influenced engagement outcomes derived by beneficiaries of N-power agripreneurship programme trainings. The study therefore recommended the provision and creation of an enabling environment for graduates to ensure psychological balance, skill acquisition and need assistance through provision of infrastructures for effective civic engagement in the programme.

The Psychological Construction of Early Childhood Art Education

The psychological construction of early childhood art education refers to the process of promoting children's mental health, emotional development, and personality shaping through art education activities. Art Education provides a platform for early childhood to express themselves, achieve self-realization, unleash their wisdom, develop own aesthetic standards, learn cooperate and communication skills, achieve psychological balance and establish understanding and respect. This study highlights the strategic shift in the approach to art education in China, with a focus on interdisciplinary education and the integration of art into extracurricular activities. With the issue on knowledge is often imparted in a one-way manner and children is encouraged to passively imitate, does not align with the developmental needs of young children or the goals of comprehensive education, this paper researches the dynamic process that involves teachers, students, and sometimes parents and community members in a cycle of planning, acting, observing, and reflecting to improve educational practices, and outlines the Mission and Vision on Development goals and the level of emphasis placed on families and kindergartens, Professional advantages of promoting mental hygiene through art education and Matching of key points, principles, and strategies.