Regulatory Focus Research Articles

The role of regulatory focus types in the improvement of perinatal oral health knowledge among dental residents.

This study aims to assess dental residents' perinatal oral health (POH) knowledge and Regulatory Focus Types' (RFT) impact on their knowledge before and after education. A total of 53 dental residents from upstate New York participated from 2019 to 2021. A validated questionnaire collected demographic data, resident's POH knowledge, RFT, and self-reported burnout levels. In the wave 1 cross-sectional setting, 22 residents participated; while in the wave 2 longitudinal setting, 31 residents completed the questionnaire at the baseline and an 1-hour POH lecture. Multiple linear regression assesses factors related to baseline and post-education POH knowledge and burnout, and logistic regression examined factors related to the RFT types (high-on-promotion and high-on-prevention). Overall, 43.40% of the dental residents were high-on-promotion focus, and 47.17% were high-on-prevention focus. Baseline POH knowledge was relatively low, with an average score of 2.57±1.05 out of the maximum score of 5. Residents with high promotion-focus had statistically significant lower scores on the baseline POH (p<0.05), while high prevention-focused residents demonstrated less improvement of POH following perinatal oral health education (p<0.05). Residents who were high on-promotion appeared to have a lower burnout rate (p<0.001). The study revealed that education effectively enhanced POH knowledge among participating dental residents. RFT significantly influenced knowledge improvement, with high promotion-focused residents showing more substantial gains. To encourage adherence to perinatal oral health policies and guidelines among dental practitioners, future educational approach should consider practitioners' RFT to improve knowledge adoption.

Research on the Matching Mechanism Between E-Commerce Channels and Advertising Appeals

An increasing number of enterprises are adopting a dual-channel business strategy that combines short video e-commerce with traditional e-commerce in their online activities. Previous research on advertising appeals has primarily focused on ad content, products, and consumers. However, the lack of attention given to shopping channels raises a question for the retail industry: How can enterprises create differentiated ads that cater to the needs of consumers in different channels? Across three studies, this research builds upon the regulatory focus theory to demonstrate that consumers on e-commerce platforms, as opposed to short video platforms, are more likely to adopt a prevention-focused mindset rather than a promotion-focused one and vice versa. This positive consumer response arises from the flow experience generated by the regulatory fit between e-commerce channels and advertising appeals. The findings of this research offer both theoretical and practical contributions to the realms of marketing and e-commerce.

Life orientation and career adaptability among young adults in Poland

This study aimed to investigate the correlation between career adaptability and developmental tasks among young adults concerning life orientation. Additionally, it sought to ascertain whether self-regulation functions as a mediator in the relationship between life orientation and career adaptability. The study included a total of 435 young adults aged between 18 and 34 years. The research employed the Polish versions of three questionnaires: the Social Participation Questionnaire, the Self-Regulation Scale, and the Career Adapt-Abilities Scale-5. The conducted research demonstrated that the assimilation and integrative social participation types predominated, and young adults were more likely to display a transitive life orientation than a moratorium orientation. The results also showed, as expected, a positive relationship between the promotional strategy and all components of the career adaptability. Mediation analysis revealed that the promotion regulatory focus acted as a mediator in the relationship between transitive life orientation and all five categories of career adaptability within the transitive orientation dependence model and, similarly to preventive regulatory focus, between moratorium orientation and the dimensions of concern and control. Preventive regulatory focus turned out to be a mediator between transitive orientation and career adaptability variables only in the case of three out of five variables—concern, control and curiosity.

A little gratitude goes a long way: how customer gratitude promotes employee customer-oriented organizational citizenship behavior

PurposeDrawing upon affective events theory and regulatory focus theory, the current study examines the relationship between customer gratitude and customer-oriented organizational citizenship behavior (customer-oriented OCB), and the mediating role of positive affect and the moderating role of trait promotion focus.Design/methodology/approachThree-wave time-lagged data from 674 nurses nested within 125 department supervisors was collected. Multilevel modeling and Monte Carlo simulation were performed using Mplus 7.1 software to test all hypotheses.FindingsCustomer gratitude was positively associated with nurses’ customer-oriented OCB, and the relationship was mediated by positive affect. Nurse trait promotion focus strengthened the positive relationship between patient gratitude and positive affect, such that the relationship was stronger for those with a higher level of trait promotion focus.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper extends research on the effects of customer gratitude by extending our understanding of customer gratitude as a positive workplace event that can potentially promote employees’ positive behaviors toward customers, especially those with a stronger promotion focus.Originality/valueThis study is one of the first to examine the relationship between customer gratitude and employee customer-oriented OCB and uncover potential mechanisms to understand how this relationship unfolds and to whom this relationship is stronger. These findings can inform practices for service organizations.

Binary work stressors and work procrastination: The mediating role of work attentiveness and emotional exhaustion and the moderating role of regulatory focus.

Binary work stressors and work procrastination: The mediating role of work attentiveness and emotional exhaustion and the moderating role of regulatory focus.

Interaction of Cognitive and Motivational Processes in Asymmetric Preferences for Gains and Losses

An experiment on repetitive decision-making was conducted to explore the interaction between cognitive and motivational processes in decision-making. The gain-loss framing of risky choice options was manipulated to investigate cognition, and participants’ chronic regulatory focus was measured to assess motivation. Risky choice demonstrated interactive effects between gain-loss framing and regulatory focus. Participants made less risky or riskier choices in the gain or loss condition, respectively. Furthermore, promotion or prevention-focused individuals chose the risky option more frequently in the gain or loss condition, respectively. The results for response times showed the main effects for the two factors, with no interaction. These results, along with supplementary post-hoc analyses, provide evidence that cognitive and motivational processes are simultaneously involved in risky decision-making.

Entrepreneurial Sustainability: The Impact Mechanism of Opportunity Co-Creation on Entrepreneurial Action in Underdeveloped Regions

The external environment faced by underdeveloped regions is becoming increasingly complex, and the importance of entrepreneurial activities is gradually becoming prominent. To stimulate entrepreneurial vitality in underdeveloped regions, entrepreneurial opportunities are of paramount importance. In the current research on opportunity co-creation and entrepreneurial action, there is often an oversight regarding the liability of newness and the unique characteristics of underdeveloped regions, which has resulted in a lack of specificity in interpreting the underlying mechanisms at play. In this study, based on the perspective of opportunity co-creation, a survey of 330 entrepreneurs is conducted in four underdeveloped regions in China, namely, Hunan, Guizhou, Sichuan, and Chongqing, in an attempt to clarify the mechanism of opportunity co-creation in entrepreneurial action. The results show that opportunity co-creation not only has a direct positive impact on entrepreneurial action but also exerts an indirect positive effect through the mediating effect of opportunity belief. Additionally, regulatory focus plays a positive moderating role. Our study reveals that entrepreneurs in underdeveloped regions should be strict with their investors and partners to improve their belief in the chances of entrepreneurial success so as to efficiently co-create opportunities. Meanwhile, governments in underdeveloped regions should pay attention to creating a favorable entrepreneurial environment, actively building facilities that are conducive to entrepreneurial activities, and creating more entrepreneurial and employment opportunities to help entrepreneurial activities be carried out smoothly.

How and when negative mentoring experiences influence craftsmanship spirit in new apprentices: The roles of occupational identity and regulatory focus.

Although research suggests that mentors largely shape apprentices' work attitudes and behaviors, questions remain as to how and when negative mentoring experiences can influence the formation of craftsmanship spirit among apprentices. This study, grounded in social exchange theory and regulatory focus theory, proposed and empirically examined the mediating role of occupational identity and the moderating role of regulatory focus (i.e., promotion focus and prevention focus) in the relationship between negative mentoring experiences and craftsmanship spirit. Using three-wave data among 345 apprentices and their immediate mentor in manufacturing companies in China, we employed SPSS PROCESS macro to examine the mediating role of occupational identity and the moderating role of regulatory focus. The main results demonstrated that occupational identity partially mediated the link between negative mentoring experiences and craftsmanship spirit. Moreover, regulatory focus moderates the relationship between negative mentoring experiences and occupational identity, such that the relationship is stronger among employees with a higher prevention focus, and weaker among employees with a higher promotion focus. Organizational managers need to be aware of the negative impact of masters' negative mentoring on apprentices' occupational identity and craftsmanship, especially for individuals with a high prevention focus, where this negative effect is more pronounced.

Understanding the Situational Antecedents of CEO Regulatory Focus

Understanding the Situational Antecedents of CEO Regulatory Focus

Positioning Strategies in B2B Marketing: The Regulatory Focus Orientation

ABSTRACT Purpose Relying on regulatory focus theory (RFT), this study examines the mechanisms that guide managers’ positioning-related decisions in business-to-business contexts. Specifically, this research answers two main questions: what motivates managers to recommend specific positioning strategies and what motivates related decisions regarding contextual and market conditions? Design/methodology/approach Two studies are undertaken in this research. Using the Delphi method, Study 1 adopted an online scenario-based experimental design related to the positioning decisions of three companies. A panel of expert informants assisted in the design process. Study 2 tested the stability of the results from Study 1 and then extended the analysis through the introduction of an additional dependent variable and market feedback. The results of the scenario-based online surveys are subjected to partial least squares structural equation analyses. Findings The findings are in line with regulatory focus theory and show that RFT can provide motivationally derived answers to questions regarding inter-manager differences in positioning decision-making under similar market and company conditions. The results further show that decisions made by marketing managers in B2B contexts are guided by a desire to achieve congruity (fit) between their regulatory focus and their positioning strategy. Moreover, there is a differential impact of the regulatory foci on the likelihood of changing a recommended strategy. Originality/value This paper investigates the moderating effects of involvement, valence framing, and market feedback. The study finds that the valence of the recommendation of a positioning strategy moderates the relationship between regulatory focus and the type of positioning strategy.

Understanding motivations for sexual communication from a regulatory focus perspective

Despite the overwhelming support for the importance of sexual communication to intimate relationships, there is limited information about what motivates someone to engage in or avoid sexual communication. Motivational frameworks have been applied to various aspects of intimate relationships, serving as strong predictors of different behavioural processes and playing a crucial role in facilitating behavioural change. As such, we aimed to elucidate the motivations for sexual communication and explore how they relate to other aspects of the process of sexual communication. A total of 373 participants were recruited from online crowdsourcing websites across two studies, and they completed online questionnaires using a mixed methods approach. In Study 1, open-ended responses regarding participants’ motivations for sexual communication were inductively coded and aligned with the Regulatory Focus Theory, which describes two distinct modes of goal pursuit depending on if the person is focused on growth and advancement (i.e., promotion-focused) or safety and security (prevention-focused). This coding structure was replicated in Study 2, and we expanded the results to examine the predictive ability of the coded motivations. We found that those higher in attachment avoidance were more likely to have prevention-focused motivations, and those with relationship-oriented promotion-focused motivations reported more depth of both sexual and nonsexual communication as well as more relationship and sexual satisfaction. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Tailoring Diet Messages Using Health Regulatory Focus to Improve Dietary Behavior Change Intentions in Persons at Risk for Diabetes

Tailoring Diet Messages Using Health Regulatory Focus to Improve Dietary Behavior Change Intentions in Persons at Risk for Diabetes

Fit Effect of Health Regulatory Focus on Exercise and Healthy Diet: Asymmetric Moderating Role of Scarcity Mindset.

Health is an intrinsic goal strongly related to individuals's well-being. Many individuals make efforts to achieve their health goals through different means. Based on the health regulatory focus theory, we proposed a health regulatory fit effect to understand individuals's health behaviors, and further examined the moderating role of scarcity mindset on these relationships. Using a two-wave longitudinal design, our research recruited a sample of 453 adult participants (350 Women, Age = 20.39 ± 2.30 Years) from China via an online survey platform. The results indicated that health individuals with health promotion-focus were more likely to exercise, whereas those with health prevention-focus were more inclined to prefer a healthy diet. Notably, such effect was moderated by scarcity mindset. Specifically, individuals with low promotion-focus were more susceptible to the impact of scarcity mindset, thus exhibiting less health-promoting behaviors. This research suggested a health regulatory fit effect for two health behaviors. Intriguingly, our findings reveal an asymmetric impact of the scarcity mindset on this fit effect. These results hold significant implications for developing health promotion strategies to mitigate the negative impact of scarcity mindset on healthy behaviors.

Promotion or prevention: regulatory foci as moderators in the job demands–resources model

BackgroundBuilding on the job demands–resources (JD–R) model and regulatory focus theory, this study examined how regulatory foci shaped the effects of different job demands and resources on both negative and positive workplace outcomes among medical staff.MethodsTwo independent studies (NStudy 1 = 267; NStudy 2 = 350) were designed for cross-validation. Participants completed a battery of measures evaluating job demands (workload, emotional demands, interpersonal stress), job resources (psychological safety, perceived organizational support, servant leadership), and well-being (job burnout, affective commitment, job satisfaction).ResultsMultiple linear regression analyses showed employees’ well-being was affected by job demands and resources through energetic and motivational processes, respectively. The deleterious effect of emotional demands on job burnout was pronounced in individuals with weak prevention focus (B = 0.392, standard error [SE] = 0.069, p < .001). Psychological safety (Study 1) and servant leadership (Study 2) had stronger positive associations with motivational outcomes among individuals with weak promotion focus than those with strong promotion focus (B = 0.394, SE = 0.069, p < .001; B = 0.679, SE = 0.121, p < .001; and B = 0.476, SE = 0.072, p < .001, respectively).ConclusionWe used two samples to examine and cross-validate the joint effects of job characteristics and personal traits on workplace well-being among Chinese medical staff. Although heterogenous, the results showed regulatory foci were especially important in determining the effects of job demands and resources on well-being when there was (autonomous) self-regulation in the workplace.

Transcriptome and Metabolome Analysis of BmFAMeT6 Overexpression in Bombyx mori.

Background/Objectives: The gene-encoding farnesyl diphosphate O-methyltransferase 6 (FAMeT 6) is a member of the farnesyl diphosphate O-methyltransferase family. Our previous studies have demonstrated its influence on juvenile hormone levels in third instar silkworm larvae. Methods: we utilized transcriptomic and metabolomic techniques to investigate the changes in third instar larvae at 0, 12, and 24 h following BmFAMeT6 overexpression. Results: (1) The differentially expressed homologous genes were enriched in detoxification-related pathways at all three time points. (2) Transcription factor analysis of DEGs indicated a predominant presence of ZF-C2H2. (3) The metabolite-related network suggested that BmFAMeT6 may influence the metabolism of silkworm larvae through the ABC transporters, purine metabolism, and tyrosine metabolism pathways. (4) The differential gene count, differential metabolite count, and types of metabolites at the three time points indicated a shift in the regulatory focus within the larvae as time progresses, with the inflection point of regulation occurring at the third instar larval stage, 12 h. Conclusion: In summary, our research indicates that the regulatory role of BmFAMeT6 occurs within the context of the domestic silkworm's own growth and development regulation.

The Relationship between Entrepreneurs ' Regulatory Focus and Organizational Resilience of New Ventures

The Relationship between Entrepreneurs ' Regulatory Focus and Organizational Resilience of New Ventures

The effects of knowledge hiding on new product creativity in informational faultlines

Purpose This paper aims to explore how informational faultlines impact new product creativity through specific mechanisms. The study focuses on analyzing how knowledge hiding mediates the relationship between informational faultlines and new product creativity, and how team promotion regulatory focus and team prevention regulatory focus moderate this process. Design/methodology/approach This research investigates the proposed hypotheses by examining sample data from 65 team leaders and 370 employees, delving into the relationship between informational faultlines and new product creativity and its underlying mechanisms. Findings Knowledge hiding negatively mediates the relationship between informational faultlines and new product creativity; team promotion regulatory focus negatively moderates the relationship between informational faultlines and knowledge hiding; team prevention regulatory focus positively moderates the relationship between informational faultlines and knowledge hiding; team promotion regulatory focus negatively moderates the mediating role of knowledge hiding in the link between informational faultlines and new product creativity. The higher the level of team promotion regulatory focus, the weaker the mediating role of knowledge hiding between informational faultlines and new product creativity, and vice versa; team prevention regulatory focus positively moderates the mediating effect of knowledge hiding in the relationship between informational faultlines and new product creativity. The higher the level of team prevention regulatory focus, the stronger the mediating effect of knowledge hiding on informational faultlines and new product creativity, and vice versa. Originality/value This paper constructs a novel moderated mediation model based on the need-threat model. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first to explore the relationship between informational faultlines and new product creativity from the perspective of knowledge retention, effectively filling the research gap on the role of knowledge hiding between informational faultlines and team innovative output and the moderate role of team motivational-based psychological characteristics, such as team regulatory focus, in the aforementioned mechanisms.

How to motivate employee green behavior in the Chinese context: a configurational study integrating the AMO framework with regulatory focus theory

How to motivate employee green behavior in the Chinese context: a configurational study integrating the AMO framework with regulatory focus theory

Portugali's creative folds

This commentary explores the structure of Portugali’s work, which aims to bridge two urban cultures through a process which we propose to call ‘creative folding.’ Five key creative folds are identified in the work of Portugali: the origami metaphor, implicate relations, synergetic inter-representation networks, urban regulatory focus, and urban coordination dynamics. At the core of these folds are between-domain transfers, with the Bohm-Haken-Kelso conjunction—an interdisciplinary framework combining ideas from physics, synergetics, and neurodynamics—playing a pivotal role. The commentary also examines several challenges related to creative folding, such as managing cognitive load, developing engaging methods to unify diverse urban theories, and involving people from various backgrounds in collective creative folding. These challenges highlight the need for open dialogues to foster innovation and collaboration in developing unified urban theories.

Assessing the effects of sustainable supply chain management practices on operational performance: the role of business regulatory compliance and corporate sustainability culture

PurposeThis study examines the mediating and moderating effects of business regulatory compliance (BRC) on the association between sustainable supply chain management practices (SSCMP) and operational performance (PERFOP), and how corporate sustainability culture (CSC) serves as a boundary condition to BRC.Design/methodology/approachThis research draws data from 245 firms operating in multiple industries in Ghana. Ordinary Least Square (OLS) was employed to test the direct effects, while Hayes Process Macros was employed to test the indirect and conditional effects among the study variables using a structural equation modelling approach.FindingsThe results showed that SSCMP has a direct positive effect on PERFOP. The study further revealed that BRC mediates the relationship between SSCMP and PERFOP. This study found that BRC negatively moderates the association between SSCMP and PERFOP, suggesting that high levels of BRC generate unintended adverse effect on the SSCMP- PERFOP link. However, the results revealed that CSC serves as a boundary condition to BRC.Originality/valueTo the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that emphasizes how the resource-based view and regulatory focus theory interact to explain how different degrees of CSC and BRC impact SSCMP performance outcomes. This study advances research in the sustainability literature, in response to calls for further research in this domain. This study draws decision-makers attention on the need to make sustainability practices an integral part of corporate culture in order to set a business tone that stimulates easy compliance to sustainability requirements.