Psychological Characteristics Research Articles

빗속의 사람 그림 검사(PITR) 반응에 대한 대학생의 우울, 불안, 부정정서에 관한 연구

Objectives This study aims to identify the responses shown in the picture test and negative psychological aspects such as depression, anxiety, and negative emotions by using both the subjective responses shown in the People-in-the-Rain Picture Test(PITR), a projective test, and a multiple-choice self-report test. Methods The target was college students attending K University in Region P. 146 copies were distributed and 125 copies were collected. Of these, the data from 108 people, excluding 17 who responded insincerely, was analyzed. The collected data were subjected to frequency analysis, reliability analysis, descriptive statistics, and correlation analysis using the SPSS statics 26.0 program. An independent sample t-test was conducted to confirm gender differences in variables, and a simple regression analysis was conducted to determine the effect of the PITR re-sponse on depression, anxiety, and negative emotions. An independent samples t-test was conducted to confirm the differences in responses to the PITR according to the upper and lower levels of the average emotional score. Results First, as a result of checking the correlation between variables, the ‘stress’ response did not have a stat-istically significant relationship with depression, anxiety, and negative emotions in the PITR response, and the ‘coping resources’ response did not have a statistically significant relationship with depression, it was found to be negatively correlated with anxiety and negative emotions, and the ‘coping ability’ response was also found to be negatively correlated with depression, anxiety, and negative emotions. Second, differences in variables according to gender were confirmed in the ‘coping resources’ response and the ‘coping ability’ response among the PITR responses. Third, PITR response was found to affect depression, anxiety, and negative emotions. Fourth, as a re-sult of checking whether there was a difference in the response to the PITR depending on the average score of depression, anxiety, and negative emotions, it was found that there was no difference in the response to the PITR according to depression, the differences in responses to the PITR according to anxiety and negative emotions were verified to have statistically significant differences in both ‘coping ability’ responses. Conclusions Through the results of this study, it was confirmed that negative psychological aspects such as de-pression, anxiety, and negative emotions can vary depending on how one copes with the stress rather than the stress itself, and that the response to the PITR differs depending on gender in terms of coping with stress. It was confirmed that there was a difference. In addition, we were able to understand that depression, anxiety, and neg-ative emotions are different psychological characteristics, and it was confirmed that coping abilities vary accordingly. The significance of this study is that it provided evidence for early detection, appropriate treatment, and prevention education for college students with mental health difficulties.

Consumers' variety-seeking behaviors under time pressure: Based on regulatory focus and excitement levels.

Variety-seeking behavior has received substantial attention in marketing literature. Although various explanations of the causes of variety-seeking explore the influence of consumers' internal psychological characteristics on behavioral decisions, few studies have been conducted on external factors. With the fast pace of modern life and the increasing trend of online shopping, consumers often face time constraints when making purchasing decisions. This study examines the impact of time pressure as a significant external environmental factor on consumers' variety-seeking behavior. A conceptual framework is developed based on construal level theory to uncover the influencing mechanism of time pressure on variety-seeking behavior while also considering the effects of the consumer's personality and emotional state. We conducted two experiments to investigate the moderating effect of regulatory focus from the personality perspective and excitement level from the emotional state perspective. Study 1 found that time pressure significantly affects variety-seeking behavior. Additionally, consumers with prevention regulatory focus tend to exhibit more variety-seeking behavior when not under time pressure. Study 2 supports the main effect and shows that the level of excitement affects the impact of time pressure on variety-seeking behavior. Therefore, this study contributes to the literature on consumer behavior and purchasing decisions by presenting a robust theoretical framework that provides practical insights and implications for enterprise managers.

PSYCHOLOGY OF DEVIANT FORMS OF ECONOMIC PERSONAL BEHAVIOR IN CYBERSPACE

The goal of the research achieved by the author is the analysis of psychological features of deviant forms of economic behavior of an individual in cyberspace. Methodology. To implement the problematic completeness of the research and obtain scientifically based and reliable results and general conclusions, a complex of theoretical methods was used: synthesis, logic and structure of the presentation, analysis and generalization, tools of scientific source studies. Linguistic methodology and the method of cognition were used to study the problematic issues of this work in the unity of their visual and factual perception, social content, legal and terminological form of representation. The systemic-structural approach made it possible to conceptually form, implement the theoretical foundations and model the complexity of the research discourse. Results. It is shown that human crime and delinquency are related to both external factors (interaction with other types of crime, age, gender, material values, influence of peers) and internal factors that mediate criminal tendencies. It was concluded that the specifics of deviant forms of individual economic behavior in cyberspace have not yet been sufficiently studied, and attention is focused on more common types of cyber deviance. Instead, the actual problems are the peculiarities of the formation of economic cyber deviance; the detection of a tendency to this type of behavior; planning correctional and educational psychological work with deviants and victims of economic cybercrimes. An important problem is the difficulty of conducting research taking into account the key feature of cyberspace - anonymity.

Intentions of healthcare seeking and self-isolation for MPOX among men who have sex with men in China: a national cross-sectional study

Linking identified MPOX cases to care is essential for MPOX control. This study aims to investigate the intentions of healthcare seeking and self-isolation for MPOX among men who have sex with men (MSM) in China. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in early August 2023 in China. Respondents were recruited by community-based organizations (CBOs), collecting information on demographics, health status, behavioral and psychological characteristics. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the predictors of intentions to seek healthcare and self-isolate for MPOX within the MSM population. A total of 7725 participants were recruited, with a median age of 30 years. 92.21% of the participants would seek healthcare for MPOX-like symptoms, but only 52.50% intended to self-isolate if diagnosed. Intentions to seek healthcare were lower among those with MPOX-like symptoms in the past 3 months (standardized prevalence ratio (SPRs) = 0.82, 95% CI: 0.74-0.89) and the willingness to self-isolate was reduced among those diagnosed with MPOX in the past 3 months (SPRs = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.48-0.87). Participants free of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and those aware of their HIV status were more likely to seek healthcare and self-isolate than those with STIs or unaware of their HIV status. Regular followers of MPOX information and those perceiving a low risk of infection were more inclined to take preventive measures. These findings highlight the need for targeted MPOX prevention strategies for high-risk groups and the importance of addressing barriers in infectious disease prevention response.

Trends in Intention to Take the Second Booster COVID-19 Vaccination and Associated Factors in China: Serial Cross-Sectional Surveys

Background: The escalating complexity of the COVID-19 epidemic underscores the need for heightened attention to booster vaccinations. This study aims to examine the changing trend in the public’s intention to receive the second COVID-19 booster vaccination over time and the associated factors following the COVID-19 policy optimization in China. Method: Eight cross-sectional surveys utilizing SMS questionnaire links were conducted in Guangzhou, China, from December 2022 to April 2023. The Mann–Kendall test was employed to analyze the trend in intentions to receive the second booster vaccination across the survey time. Adjusted and multivariate logistic analyses were used to analyze the factors associated with vaccination intention. Parallel analyses were performed for two subgroups with different COVID-19 infection statuses. Results: A total of 9860 respondents were surveyed in the eight rounds, of which 8048 completed the first booster vaccination and were included in the analysis. The overall COVID-19 infection rate was 60.0% (4832/8048), while the overall vaccination intention was 72.2% (5810/8048) among respondents. The vaccination intention exhibited a significant declining trend over time, decreasing from 81.5% in December 2022 to 52.2% in April 2023. An adjusted logistic regression analysis revealed that anxiety and depression were negatively associated with an intention to receive the second booster vaccination, while COVID-19-related preventive behaviors and a high engagement in COVID-19-related information were positively associated with an intention to receive the second booster vaccination. A subgroup analysis revealed that the association between psychological and behavioral characteristics and vaccination intention remained relatively stable among individuals with different histories of COVID-19 infections. Conclusion: There was a significant decline in the intention to receive the second booster vaccination following the optimization of the COVID policy in China. Our findings emphasize the urgency of the second booster vaccination and provide a foundation for the development of tailored interventions to enhance and sustain vaccination intention among the public.

Psychological resilience and emotional self-regulation of higher vocational college students

Vocational college students are facing the contradiction of coordinated physical and mental development, as well as the pressure of learning development and social expectations. Many high school students have poor emotions, and the difficulty in regulating emotions is closely related to their mental health. This article uses the Connor Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) to measure individuals’ positive psychological qualities in adapting to adversity, in order to study the psychological resilience and emotional self-regulation strategies of vocational college students. This study investigated the psychological resilience (PR) and emotional self-regulation (ESR) styles of high school students using different scales. In addition, correlation and regression studies were conducted on stress perception, PR, positive emotions, and mental health. The results indicate that vocational college students have a moderate level of public relations, and they are more inclined to use cognitive reevaluation as ESR. The PR of HVC students is positively and negatively correlated with positive and negative emotions, respectively. The PR of HVC students is positively correlated with cognitive reappraisal and negatively correlated with expression inhibition. There is no significant relationship between stress and its factors and expression inhibition.

Analysis of the Psychological Characteristics of the Audience in Contemporary Chinese Theater Space

Since the beginning of 2023, the number of theatre performances in China has increased year by year, and a new round of " theatre defense war " is about to be opened. Whether the operators can keep up with the favorable policies, take advantage of the wind, grasp the new market competition situation, and make timely market response has become a key factor. This paper focuses on the current audience viewing psychology dimension for data sampling and analysis, in order to put forward constructive suggestions. The purpose of this project research is based on the current situation investigation and data analysis, so that the theater can better optimize management in the future. By analyzing the audience 's views and opinions on the theater, it helps the theater to make more realistic changes.

Modern Information Technologies in the Professional Education of Future Primary School Teachers

The article examines the problem of using information technologies in the educational and professional training of future primary school teachers. The authors found that the integration of digital resources into the educational process can effectively solve didactic tasks. It provides opportunities for virtual travel and improves the accessibility and efficiency of education. The application of information technologies contributes to enhancing the educational process. They prepare future teachers to function within the information society and promote the development of critical thinking and creativity among students. The new approach puts the teacher at the center of the educational process. This approach takes into account the professional competencies and personal interests of educators to promote the improvement of methodological, organizational, and technological support for personalized learning. The paper investigated the possibilities of using information technologies in the educational process to train future primary school teachers. The methodology included a systematic approach and general theoretical scientific methods. They include analysis, synthesis, and systematization of the research material on the role of digital technologies in the training of future primary school teachers. The research methodology employed two indicators to assess the psychological and emotional qualities of students, namely: assessment of communication skills; analysis of cultural and value orientations. The research results showed a high level of discomfort related to the current educational system. Nearly half of the respondents experience psychological and emotional stress due to the existing teaching format. In addition, as a result of the program implementation, it was found that the configuration model of student-centered learning applied to distance learning had a significant impact on students. The statistical analysis of the chi-square indices of overall conformity (χ2 = 0.36....1) indicates a high conformity of the data set. 

Map of individual special needs of students in need of long-term treatment as a tool for building the educational route of a hospital school student: identifying psychological and pedagogical characteristics

Introduction. The realization of the right to education of children with chronic somatic diseases and in need of long-term treatment is possible by ensuring the personalization and individualization of the educational route. Information about psychological, pedagogical, social and medical characteristics of a pupil helps to develop and implement it. Purpose of the study: scientific substantiation, design and testing of the Map of individual special needs of hospital school students with data on educational, psychological and pedagogical characteristics of children and adolescents studying in hospital school in 2021-2022. Materials and methods. The participants were students of the flagship site of the project of hospital schools of Russia "UchimZnaem" in Moscow in the number of 396 people aged from 4 to 18 years. Methods: source analysis, design, psychological and pedagogical experiment, expert evaluation, statistical processing of results. Results. A map of individual special needs of children in need of long-term treatment was developed and implemented, which became an effective tool for implementing an individual educational route for hospital school students. It was revealed that the majority of respondents (96%), despite the possible risks of deterioration of their psychophysiological condition due to severe and prolonged treatment, are able to study in general education programs and do not have pronounced cognitive deficits, have high learning motivation, the indicators of development of higher mental functions correspond to age norms. But there were also revealed difficulties in 57% of schoolchildren related to communicative and emotional-volitional spheres. Conclusions. The proposed Map of individual special needs can be used as a tool for personalization and individualization of education of children in difficult life situations, revealing the key characteristics of schoolchildren. Also the obtained data can be used by psychologists, teachers, tutors when organizing training in medical hospitals and at home for children and adolescents with chronic somatic diseases, as they demonstrate possible risks in the development and psychological well-being of this category of students.

The relationship between time perspective, subjective well-being and personal resource capacity in late age

Introduction. Realisation of resources, access to education, and preservation of well-being of elderly people are topical issues for research and social practice since effective structuring of educational environment and methods of social support need empirically confirmed data on psychological characteristics and resources of a person in elderly age. The study of the relationship of time perspective with well-being personal resource capacity makes it possible to assess the implications of the educational environment’s influence on these characteristics. The aim of the article is to identify the nature of the conjunction of a person’s time perspective with factors of subjective well-being and components of personal resource capacity. Materials and methods. The empirical study involved 528 respondents (387 women, 152 men) aged from 45 to 75, with the average age of the participants being 58 years. A set of eleven psychodiagnostic techniques was implemented, united into three blocks: diagnostic techniques for time perspective, subjective well-being, lifeconscious and regulatory components of personal resource capacity. The methods of descriptive statistics and correlation analysis were used for data processing. Results. The peculiarities of conjugation of time perspective with the explored components of personal resource capacity were empirically established: subjective well-being (59 correlations with coefficients – 0.230 < r < 0.496), regulatory aspect (42 correlations with coefficients – 0.325 < r < 0.450), and life-conscious aspect (43 correlations with coefficients – 0.573 < r < 0.415). “Favourable” and “unfavourable” types of time orientation in the late age were defined. Their positive and negative influence on subjective well-being indicators, as well as on life-conscious and regulatory components of personal resource capacity, was specified. Conclusion. The obtained results made it possible to define the methods of managing time perspective by maintaining and developing its “favourable” types – orientation at the future, positive past, and hedonistic present, and reducing the negative influence of “unfavourable” types – orientation at the negative past and fatalistic present.

Social network and related factors in older people with sensory impairment in the community: Using principal component analysis

AimOlder people with sensory impairment are more likely to have smaller and weaker social network due to their reduced ability, which lowers their quality of life. However, there is little research on the social network in older people with sensory impairment, especially the related factors. The aim of the study was to explore the related factors of social network and to provide evidence for the improvement of social network to promote successful aging in older people with sensory impairment. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among 374 participants for hearing and vision assessment and questionnaire survey in a community, Beijing. Data were collected and analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA) and multiple logistic regression using IBM SPSS 25.0 software. ResultsPCA showed that there were six risk factors whose eigenvalues >1 were extracted, with a total variance of 56.555%. Multiple logistic regression analysis of principal component indicated that five factors including physical health factor, social interaction factor, psychological status factor, lifestyle factor, and family condition factor, were statistically significant (p < 0.05). ConclusionsThe social network of older people with sensory impairment is relatively poor. Physical health factor, social interaction factor, psychological status factor, lifestyle factor, and family condition factor may be related factors. Medical staff should pay attention to physical, psychological and social characteristics of older people, especially with sensory impairment, to carry out necessary measures to improve social network and avoid social isolation.

ПРОБЛЕМА ПОДОЛАННЯ МОВНОГО БАР’ЄРУ В ПРОЦЕСІ ВИВЧЕННЯ ІНОЗЕМНИХ МОВ У ЗАКЛАДАХ ВИЩОЇ ОСВІТИ

The article is devoted to the analysis of the problem of overcoming the language barrier in the process of learning foreign languages in higher education institutions. The object of consideration is the complex aspects of this phenomenon, the complexity of learning a foreign language, the lack of practical application of the acquired skills, the lack of attention to the cultural context during its study, etc. In view of this, there is a need for a systematic approach to overcoming the language barrier, taking into account not only linguistic aspects but also the psychological characteristics of students. The next aspect concerns the lack of practical application of language skills acquired during study. The study points to the relevance of introducing interactive methods of teaching a foreign language aimed at practical use of the language in different situations, which will provide students with the opportunity to improve their language skills in practice. It is noted that the lack of opportunities for practical use of a foreign language outside the classroom complicates the process of forming the foreign language competence of future specialists, makes it impossible to successfully consolidate communication skills in real life situations. This leads to a loss of interest in learning and limits the practical use of language skills. It is concluded that learning foreign languages should include understanding and adaptation of higher education students to cultural realities, which will contribute to a deeper understanding and more effective learning of languages. Particular emphasis is placed on the importance of using innovative pedagogical approaches, including technologies and methods of intercultural communication. The use of modern technologies, such as mobile applications, virtual reality, etc., can greatly facilitate the process of learning foreign languages and help overcome the language barrier, and it is also important to create a favorable learning environment where students have the opportunity to practice the language in different situations, use innovative teaching methods and focus on developing not only grammatical skills but also cultural context. The importance of immersive practice in overcoming the language barrier in foreign language learning is emphasized.

Within-subject reliability of brain networks during advanced meditation: An intensively sampled 7 Tesla MRI case study.

Advanced meditation such as jhana meditation can produce various altered states of consciousness (jhanas) and cultivate rewarding psychological qualities including joy, peace, compassion, and attentional stability. Mapping the neurobiological substrates of jhana meditation can inform the development and application of advanced meditation to enhance well-being. Only two prior studies have attempted to investigate the neural correlates of jhana meditation, and the rarity of adept practitioners has largely restricted the size and extent of these studies. Therefore, examining the consistency and reliability of observed brain responses associated with jhana meditation can be valuable. In this study, we aimed to characterize functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) reliability within a single subject over repeated runs in canonical brain networks during jhana meditation performed by an adept practitioner over 5 days (27 fMRI runs) inside an ultra-high field 7 Tesla MRI scanner. We found that thalamus and several cortical networks, that is, the somatomotor, limbic, default-mode, control, and temporo-parietal, demonstrated good within-subject reliability across all jhanas. Additionally, we found that several other relevant brain networks (e.g., attention, salience) showed noticeable increases in reliability when fMRI measurements were adjusted for variability in self-reported phenomenology related to jhana meditation. Overall, we present a preliminary template of reliable brain areas likely underpinning core neurocognitive elements of jhana meditation, and highlight the utility of neurophenomenological experimental designs for better characterizing neuronal variability associated with advanced meditative states.

한국 경호원의 휴먼팩터 유발 요인에 관한 분석

This study was conducted to derive the factors behind potential human errors among Korean bodyguards and devise response strategies accordingly. For Research Project 1 (identification of human errors according to the cognitive and psychological characteristics of security guards), two interviews were conducted with 10 experts, and for Research Project 2 (identification of factors causing human errors according to behavioral and psychological characteristics of security guards), VTA technique and Multiple case analysis was conducted using the M-SHEL model. Research task 3 (deriving human factor factors of Korean bodyguards and suggesting coping strategies) was conducted using complex research methods and grounded theory approaches. As a result of the study, the human factors of security guards based on their cognitive psychological characteristics and risk normalization tendency were lack of security personnel (lack of professional spirit, lack of motivation), complacent attitude (underestimation of risk), and control failure (lack of situational awareness, VIP protocol). (First of all), etc., and the human factors of security guards based on cognitive and psychological characteristics behavior and behavioral psychological characteristics are formal and familiar work performance (lack of motivation), complacent attitude (underestimation of risk), lack of safety awareness and situational awareness (lack of motivation), etc. Familiarity with work, VIP protocol priority), etc. Through these results, it was concluded that the human factor of security guards can be reduced by strengthening the security guard's professional spirit, increasing motivation, strengthening safety awareness and situational awareness, and education and training to improve risk awareness and control ability.

Factors related to the low-risk perception of driving after cannabis use

IntroductionModifying risk perceptions related to driving after cannabis use (DACU) could deter individuals from enacting this behavior, as low-risk perception is associated with DACU engagement. This study identified sociodemographic characteristics, substance use, other driving behaviors, peer norms, and psychological characteristics that are associated with lower risk perception regarding DACU. MethodsCanadian drivers aged 17–35 who have used cannabis in the past year (n = 1,467) completed an online questionnaire. A multivariate linear regression model allowed for identifying variables associated with the low-risk perception of DACU (i.e. believing it to be safe as one's driving ability is not impaired by cannabis or by being high). ResultsLower risk perception of DACU was associated with identifying as male, weekly to daily cannabis use, engagement in DACU, general risky driving behaviors, being a passenger of a driver who engages in DACU, number of friends who engage in DACU, and peer approval of DACU. Having driven under the influence of alcohol, living in urban areas, having received traffic tickets in the past three years, and declaring past-week irritability and cognitive problems were associated with holding a higher risk perception related to DACU. DiscussionRoad education and prevention programs should target attitudes and perceptions regarding risks shaped by sociocultural norms and past risky driving experiences. They need to reach out more specifically to drivers with the identified characteristics associated with the low-risk perception of DACU. These interventions can potentially help reduce the rate of individuals who engage in this behavior.

The future in the structure of the subjective image of a student professional life

Introduction. Modern concepts of education are based on the principles of anticipation, determination of the present by the future (advanced education, Life Long Learning). The same pattern applies to the personality of both the subject of life in general and professional life in particular. Aim. Based on the theoretical and methodological analysis, identification and empirical research of the psychological characteristics of the future, the present research aims to consider the future as a personal construct in the structure of the subjective image of professional life. Methodology and research methods. The key methodological approaches are the subjective approach and the theoretical and methodological foundations for using the synergetic approach to study the psyche, mental phenomena and processes. The study employs survey methods; the methods of mathematical and statistical data processing: comparative analysis and factor analysis were carried out using the IBM SPSS Statistics v.20 program. Results. Based on theoretical ideas about time modes, time perspective, psychological characteristics of organisation and perception of time, as well as the results of an analysis of the works of foreign and Russian authors, a structural-functional model of the subjective image of professional life is proposed, including four blocks: a block of retrospection, a block of regulation of actual activity, a prognostic block, and a transspective block. Scientific novelty. The use of a subjective and synergetic approach to modelling the image of the professional future is justified. A structural-functional model of the image of the professional future is proposed, including invariants that represent a formal and meaningful representation of the temporal modes of the past, present and future and a mechanism for comparing the current state with the desired (“needed future”). Practical significance. The presented structural-functional model of the subjective image of professional life can serve as the basis for the development of a subject-oriented approach to professional guidance and support of professional development at the stage of choosing a profession and professional training with practical means of constructing a professional future.

Tourism Destination Selection Attributes, Tourist Satisfaction and Behavioral Intentions of Multicultural Families in South Korea: Focusing on Self-Efficacy

Purpose: Empirically analyze the tourism destination selection attributes, tourist satisfaction and behavioral intentions of multicultural families by country of origin. Confirm the mediating effect of self-efficacy on the relationship between tourism destination selection attributes, tourist satisfaction and behavioral intentions. Design/methodology/approach: Survey among adult multicultural family members in the Gwangju and Jeonnam regions of South Korea. The main analysis methods were confirmatory factor Structural Equation Modeling analysis. Findings: Behaviors and preferences differed depending on the country of origin of the respondents, and were influenced by tourism destination selection attributes. To promote cultural exchange and understanding, the local community should support activities that foster cultural exchanges and understanding between multicultural families and residents, along with education programs to promote the independence and social participation of multicultural families. Research limitations/implications: The study focused only on multicultural family members from three countries, limiting its generalizability to all multicultural populations. Future research on the position of vulnerable populations in tourism, and the economic effects of their tourism is recommended. Originality/value: By focusing on the experiences of multicultural family members, this research fills a gap on tourism for multicultural families living in Korea, placing an emphasis on self-efficacy, which has been overlooked in previous studies. Also, by comparing and analyzing the relationships between self-efficacy and the tourism behavioral intentions and satisfaction of families originating from China, Vietnam, and the Philippines, this research demonstrates how the psychological characteristics of multicultural families influence diverse tourism experiences.

Directors with supply chain experience as heterogeneous network pipes: how does it affect M&amp;A efficiency

PurposeThe link between interlocking directors and mergers and acquisitions (M&amp;A) efficiency has been analyzed in an information asymmetry environment. Despite an abundance of evidence highlighting that interlocking directors do contribute to M&amp;A efficiency in an acquirer-target binary relationship, the target is embedded in a complex network of supplier-customer relationships, which implies that the acquirer needs to consider the value of suppliers, distributors and retailers in the target’s supply chain in improving M&amp;A efficiency. Through the lenses of acquirer-target multivariate relationships, this paper aims to examine how directors with supply chain experience (DSCs) act as heterogeneous network pipes to affect M&amp;A efficiency.Design/methodology/approachUsing a sample of 311 A-share listed firms on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges in China during 2011–2020, this paper investigates the relationship between DSCs and M&amp;A efficiency by using ordinary least squares (OLS) regression.FindingsThrough empirical research, we verify a negative relationship between DSCs and M&amp;A duration and an inverted U-shaped relationship between both DSCs and M&amp;A performance, revealing the complexity of the relationship between experience and efficiency. Furthermore, drawing on upper echelon theory, the information value of DSCs will be greatly reduced when executives have overconfident psychological characteristics, which are mainly shown to negatively moderate the relationship between DSCs and M&amp;A performance. We also conduct multiple robustness tests and supplemental analyses to illustrate the robustness and boundaries of our findings. Finally, DSCs are likely more important in environments among growth and mature firms as well as high-growth industries.Originality/valueWe break through the assumption that interlocking directors contribute to M&amp;A efficiency in an acquirer-target binary relationship and examine the impact of DSCs on M&amp;A efficiency based on micro-empirical evidence from the value of target-related upstream or downstream industries, which extends the connotation of interlocking directors and enriches the study related to factors influencing M&amp;A efficiency.

Responsible leadership in the public sector: A sector-specific interpretation

Purpose: Responsible leadership has gained significant attention in contemporary management scholarship. Despite significant advances made in the burgeoning corpus of knowledge, a paucity of studies focusses on developing economies with a dearth of studies underscoring specifically the public sector.Design/methodology/approach: A qualitative research methodology was implemented and operationalised by means of a policy analysis. Ascribed to leadership activities within the public sector being linked to policy directives, a policy document analysis was deemed an appropriate approach. Content analysis was utilised as a data analytical method which consists of a systematic evaluation of the content of written or verbal communication for the purpose of identifying themes.Findings/results: Findings are captured in a conceptual framework, which infers that leadership in the context of the public sector is consistent with the tenets of responsible leadership. Themes that emerged from the analysis include leadership antecedents, leadership roles, motivational drivers, and responsibility towards internal and external stakeholders. Leadership antecedents include psychological characteristics, aptitude and conative orientation. Normative, relational and operational roles were evidently stimulated by normative and intrapsychic motivation.Practical implications: The contribution relates to how responsible leadership in terms of theoretical tenets and practical applicability might support policy makers and public sector leaders to improve the implementation of the National Development Plan (NDP) as a societal meta-framework for sustainable development in a multi-stakeholder context.Originality/value: A dearth of research focuses on responsible leadership in the context of a developmental state especially theorising within the public sector indicative of the originality of the research.

The Psychological Characteristics of People with High and Low Levels of Professional Well-Being

The article presents a comparative analysis of the psychological characteristics of people having high and low levels of professional well-being. There were significant differences for all studied indicators between groups with high and low professional well-being. The widest differences between the two groups were found for average values of professional commitment, job satisfaction, autonomous motivation, in-demand profession, and professional psychological well-being; the smallest differences were determined for average values of life satisfaction, climate in a team and controlled motivation. Significant differences depending on a level of professional well-being were revealed and professional well-being correlations with the studied indicators in groups with its high and low levels were analyzed. A high level of professional well-being correlated strongly with many indicators of professional work: professional commitment, in demand in profession, psychological capital, professional self-attitude, meaningfulness of life, job satisfaction, professional psychological well-being, autonomous motivation and climate in a team. A low level of professional well-being correlated with the examined indicators with medium to weak strength. This confirms the integral nature of the phenomenon of professional well-being. The regression models for factors of high and low levels of professional well-being were similar. In both groups, the most important factors of professional well-being were: professional commitment, in demand in profession, climate in a team, subjective social well-being and meaningfulness of life. The differences were revealed only for the signs of coefficients applied to subjective social well-being and meaningfulness of life.