Romanian Sample Research Articles

Too many friends, too little care: an exploration of the relational benefits and costs of friendship for academic self-efficacy, depression and anxiety in adolescence

ABSTRACT Our paper explores in a large Romanian sample (2168 adolescents) the relational costs and benefits of the number of friends at school. Using the MEDCURVE procedure to test the non-linear mediation effects, our results show that psychological safety, bullying and negative relations mediate the association between the number of friends and depression and anxiety, while social acceptance and bullying mediate the association between the number of friends and academic self-efficacy. In general, our results show that the relational benefits of friendship tend to diminish as the number of friends increase, in general over 9 friends (depending on the relational state) and parents, teachers and school counselors should help adolescents manage their number of friends in order to prevent the relational costs associated with engaging in too many (superficial) friendships.

Exploring the Institutional and Personal Determinants of Social Entrepreneurial Intentions: A Cross-Country Analysis

In this dynamic world with complex social, ecological, and economic problems, social entrepreneurship has emerged as a beacon of hope since the beginning of this century. The present study analyzes personal and country-level institutional antecedents of social entrepreneurial intentions (SEI) among business students of universities in Bangladesh, Malaysia, Romania and the USA. Our surveys resulted in a total of 788 valid responses (precisely 148 respondents from the USA, 242 from Romania, 213 from Malaysia, and 185 from Bangladesh). The research findings demonstrate that personal factors such as prior hardship in life and prior entrepreneurial experience are significant predictors of SEI, across the four country samples. From the institutional perspective, perceived social support has a positive influence on SEI in all the country samples except the USA, while entrepreneurial knowledge has a positive influence on SEI in the USA, Malaysia, and Bangladesh samples but not in the Romanian sample. However, the regulatory volatility does not affect SEI in any of the country samples except Bangladesh, where it has a positive impact.

Digital Health Literacy Predictors and COVID-19 Online Information-Seeking Behaviors Among University Students from Romania

In addition to the infectious disease, the COVID-19 pandemic was accompanied by an infodemic that worsened the outbreak. Increased digital health literacy (DHL) skills and information-seeking behaviors are crucial for accessing, understanding, and evaluating online health information, especially during a pandemic, where misinformation imposes immediate health consequences. This study explores the predictors of DHL among Romanian students and their information-seeking behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data was collected through a cross-sectional study design over 3 months (December 2020–February 2021) and a self-reported web-based questionnaire from 1,381 university students from Romania assessing DHL and information-seeking behaviors. We used descriptive statistics, Cronbach Alpha coefficients, and univariate and multivariate binary logistic regressions to explore DHL’s predictors in the Romanian sample. Results showed that overall, the study sample had high levels of DHL. However, almost half of the respondents reported having problems assessing whether the information searched related to coronavirus is reliable or not, and 95% shared someone else’s private information online. Age, subjective social status, gender, and chronic diseases were identified as predictors for DHL. Students’ DHL skills need to be strengthened using tailored educational programs and interventions emphasizing the quality, accuracy, and timely provision of online information on official public health platforms. Additional actions include fostering collaborations between educational institutions and public health authorities, alongside developing smartphone applications for real-time guidance on health topics. It is of the utmost importance to address the spread of the infodemic through different strategies, to combat misinformation among university students.

The prevalence of implant success versus failure in a Romanian sample population. A retrospective study

The prevalence of implant success versus failure in a Romanian sample population. A retrospective study

Impact of Prosthetic Material and Restoration Type on Peri-Implant Bone Resorption: A Retrospective Analysis in a Romanian Sample.

Background/Objectives: This research investigates the nuanced factors influencing peri-implant bone resorption in implant-supported fixed prostheses, with a focus on age, gender, implant location, time since prosthetic loading, and material characteristics. Methods: Records from a dental clinic in Oradea, Romania, between 1 January 2017 and 1 January 2023, were scrutinized and were selected by means of purposive sampling. All records were analyzed between 1 May 2023 and 15 June 2023. A total of 160 implants were included, and the prosthetic restorations were either metal-ceramic or zirconia. Implants from a single manufacturer were used, and a standardized loading protocol was followed. The study examined variables such as age, gender, implant location, prosthetic material, and time since prosthetic loading. Results: A total of 160 implants were included, with 78 applied to female patients (48.8%) and 82 to male patients (51.2%). The age range of the patients undergoing dental implant procedures was 30 to 79 years. Implants were distributed between the mandible (51.2%) and maxilla (48.8%), with 49.4% placed in the posterior dental arches and 50.6% in the anterior dental arches. The majority of patients received metal-ceramic prosthetic reconstructions (76.9%). Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in resorption patterns between zirconia and metal-ceramic restorations (p < 0.001), with zirconia restorations exhibiting higher resorption in the mesial-vertical and distal-vertical planes compared to metal-ceramic restorations. Age-related factors showed a significant association with distal-vertical resorption (p = 0.017), with patients aged 60-69 years exhibiting higher resorption values compared to those aged 40-49 years. Gender differences were observed in mesial-horizontal resorption (p = 0.036), with male patients displaying higher resorption values compared to female patients. Implant location and time elapsed since implant loading did not show significant associations with resorption patterns. Conclusions: The study provides insights into the multifactorial nature of peri-implant resorption. Age, gender, and material characteristics contribute to variations, informing personalized treatment approaches. The findings facilitate a comprehensive understanding for clinicians, enhancing treatment planning and post-operative care.

Assessment of Physicians' Willingness to Work with Patients Not Yet Diagnosed with COVID-19 in a Romanian Sample.

The risk to physicians who worked with patients without confirmed COVID-19 testing during the pandemic has been little studied. However, they were at high risk. In the summer of 2020, 1285 Romanian physicians participated in a single-center study. Participants (mean age = 48.21 years; 302 males and 982 females, all specialties) completed a series of single-item measures adapted from previous studies on work ethics and responsibility. This study used Mann-Whitney comparisons between physicians who reported that they knowingly had direct contact with COVID patients and those who did not regarding their willingness to work. Compared with their colleagues, physicians who reported not knowingly having direct contact with COVID patients reported less access to protective equipment, less overall willingness to respond when asked to work with infected patients, more likely to work out of fear of losing their jobs, and fear of legal repercussions. They received less training in the use of protective equipment. Physicians who worked with patients not yet diagnosed with COVID-19 were significantly less willing to work. The perception of invisible risk may explain the observed differences.

Validation study for the Academic Maladjustment Questionnaire on a Romanian sample.

The problem of academic dropout in the first year of studies represents an important issue for higher education, in that it accounts for an important indicator of quality but also for the negative consequences it produces on individual, institutional and social level. The main aim of the study is to validate and evaluate a robust measure of overall academic maladjustment. The participants were 809 first-year students from various Romanian universities. The results showed a reliable version of the instrument with a factorial structure that did not deviate significantly from the authors' initial model. The exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis revealed a unified score including six dimensions, procrastination, dishonesty - unethical behavior, test anxiety, machiavellian attitude, neuroticism, and somatization. Our results confirmed that besides academic achievement, personal factors are important indicators of adjustment, showing that personal resources management, emotional and behavioral strategies are components of adjustment. Our study revealed a medium and positive correlation between overall maladjustment and academic dropout intention, procrastination seemed to be the most relevant predictor of dropout intention. Academic adjustment acts as a safeguard against dropping out, and it is crucial to acknowledge that most students enter college with the intention of completing their studies.

The impact of theory of mind, stress and professional experience on empathy in Romanian community nurses—a cross-sectional study

BackgroundHigh empathy levels in health professionals represent an important factor in patient satisfaction and compliance, reducing patient anxiety and pain, enhancing diagnostic and clinical results and strengthening patient empowerment. Our purpose was to determine empathy level and to identify which of the socioeconomic status (SES) and psychological factors were able to predict highest empathy levels in a Romanian sample of community nurses.MethodsCommunity nurses were invited in January-February 2023 to provide an answer to an online survey, using an advertisement in a professional network. 1580 participants voluntarily agreed to take part in this study, with a response rate of 85.8%. The survey included the Toronto Empathy Questionnaire, the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test and socio-economic status items. A multivariate model for the prediction of belonging to the highest quartile of empathy as opposed to lowest quartile was constructed using SES and psychological variables as factors.ResultsThe mean (SD) empathy level was 49.1 (6.7), with 74.7% of participants over the threshold of high empathy level. In the multivariate analysis, predictors of belonging to the highest quartile of TEQ, as opposed to the lowest quartile were: low self-perceived stress level (OR = 2.098, 95%CI 1.362–3.231), higher experience as a community nurse (OR = 1.561, 95%CI 1.120–2.175) and higher levels of the theory of mind (OR = 1.158, 95%CI 1.118–1.199), when controlling for gender, age, relationship status, presence of children in families, education, and income.ConclusionsTraining programs targeting to increase emotional competences, reduce levels of stress and encourage personnel retention have the potential to increase the quality of community nursing in Romania.

"The war is here!" anxiety, trauma centrality, and the mediating role of daily stressors in Romanian and Ukrainian civilians.

The present study investigated the level of anxiety among Ukrainian and Romanian civilians brought about by the war that started in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, using a model for the impact of traumatic experiences. We aimed to test the mediating effect of daily stressors on the relationships between trauma centrality and anxiety. The research was conducted on a sample of 720 people (24.3% males and 75.7% females, Mage = 35.61, SD = 12.59). Participants were civilians who lived either in Ukraine or outside Ukraine but at a maximum distance of 100 km from the border when the conflict started. They filled out questionnaires that measure anxiety, trauma centrality-indicating how central an event is to an individual's identity and life story, and daily stressors-predisposing factor for negative mental health outcomes. The outcomes highlighted the direct relationship between trauma centrality and anxiety, but also the mediating effect of daily stressors on the aforementioned relationships (in the overall sample, Ukrainian sample, and Romanian sample). Our research also underlined that there are significant differences in anxiety levels between people who have children and those who do not (in the overall sample and the Ukrainian sample, but not among Romanian civilians). The present work contributes by enhancing knowledge about the relationships between trauma centrality, daily stressors, and anxiety within a war context, and the particularization of Carlson and Dalenberg's model (2000) in the context of the Russo-Ukrainian war. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

The incremental validity of personality over time in predicting job performance, voluntary turnover, and career success in high-stakes contexts- A longitudinal study

Although an impressive amount of research has investigated the relationship between personality and workplace criteria, very few studies have done so (a) in a high-stakes context or (b) over time. Based on a Romanian sample of 1009 (600 males and 409 females) employees applying for a new role as part of an organizational restructure, in this study we investigate the relationship between personality measured in a high-stake context and three important workplace criteria: job performance, voluntary turnover and career progression over a time span of 3–5 years. As part of the selection process, candidates completed the GAMA intelligence test, the NEO PI-R personality questionnaire, and went through a competency-based behavioral interview. Information about job performance was extracted from annual performance evaluations by direct managers. Voluntary turnover was retrieved from organizational records, after one year and after 3–5 years from the selection process. Career advancement was estimated by the number of promotions for each employee after 1, 3–5 years. The findings suggest that conscientiousness is the best predictor across the three criteria, with extraversion and agreeableness emerging as rather weak incremental predictors over general mental ability in some settings.

Reliability and validity of a translated MUSIC inventory in a small sample

The present study sought to investigate the MUSIC inventory reliability and structure validity. Previous research developed on various samples indicated that the instrument proved to be an instrument with good or excellent Cronbach’s Alpha values for each scale and despite some higher correlation between these scales, its structure validity was considered acceptable. Considering these good results, the MUSIC inventory, due to its length (only 26 items) and simple way to get answers can be a useful instrument in any quantitative research preoccupied to determine motivational aspects in an academic setting. Because of these previous findings, MUSIC inventory was considered an instrument that could be translated and tested on a Romanian sample. The hypothesis was that the students' perceptions measured using MUSIC inventory would prove the reliability and construct validity of the translated version. The sample of this study consisted of a voluntary group of 28 students who studied the Psychology of education in the first year of the psycho-a cross-sectional design. The search of results for this study was accomplished through various types of statistical analyses: reliability analysis (Cronbach’s Alpha), factor analysis and correlation analysis. Interpretation of results from this study suggested that the hypothesis of the study was only partially confirmed, reliability was proved by Cronbach Alpha coefficients are excellent (above 0.9 ) for Usefulness and Interest scales and good (between 0.7-0.9) for the remaining three scales, but, on the other hand, construct validity of the inventory was not confirmed by the results obtained in the present study.

Afraid but misinformed: Conspiracist beliefs cancel the positive influence of fear of COVID-19 on vaccination intentions - Findings from a Romanian sample.

Understanding the factors that make people more likely to refuse vaccination against COVID-19 is crucial in order to design public health messages efficient in increasing vaccination rates. As COVID-19 creates risks of seriously damaging health effects, fear of this disease is as a significant determinant of vaccination intentions, as indicated by past research. Nevertheless, this positive influence may be limited in people who do not consider vaccines as a solution to protect against COVID-19, especially those who hold conspiracist beliefs about the new coronavirus and, implicitly, about the newly developed vaccines. The present study examined in a cross-sectional design on a convenience sample (N = 564) the joint effect of fear of COVID-19 and conspiracist beliefs on vaccination intentions, advancing past research on their independent influences. Furthermore, we investigated and controlled the effects of perceived risk of catching COVID-19, trust in medical experts, attitude towards vaccination and socio-demographical characteristics (i.e., gender, age, and education), previously found to be associated to COVID-19 vaccination intentions. We also tested the effect of ambivalence towards vaccination, i.e., the degree to which people simultaneously hold positive and negative evaluations of this intervention, as the widespread misinformation on the new coronavirus and its vaccines may induce ambivalence on this latter issue in many people. The results showed that the positive effect of fear of COVID-19 on vaccination intentions emerged only in participants who tend not to endorse conspiracist ideas on the new coronavirus. Moreover, higher vaccine hesitancy was found in participants with higher ambivalence towards vaccination, in those who perceive the risk of being contaminated by the new coronavirus as low, and in those with more negative attitudes towards vaccines in general. Vaccine ambivalence also emerged as a mediator of the negative effects of conspiracist beliefs about COVID-19 on vaccination intentions. This pattern of findings suggests the public messages emphasizing the risks of COVID-19 should also combat misinformation in order to maximize vaccine uptake.

A Pilot Study on the Role of Computed Tomography in the Management of Patients with Coronary Artery Anomalies in Romania

Coronary artery anomalies may occur during embryogenesis and can lead to changes in the vascularization of the heart, possible ischemia, and an increased risk of sudden death. A retrospective study was conducted with the aim of assessing the prevalence of coronary anomalies in a Romanian sample of patients, investigated with computed tomography angiography for coronary artery disease. The objectives of the study were to identify the anomalies of the coronary arteries and to conduct an anatomical classification according to Angelini. The study also consisted of evaluations regarding coronary artery calcification in the sample of patients by the Agatston calcium score and assessments regarding the presence of cardiac symptoms and their association with coronary abnormalities. The results showed a prevalence of coronary anomalies of 8.7%, of which 3.8% were origin and course anomalies and 4.9% were coronary anomalies with intramuscular bridging of the left anterior descending artery. Recommendations for practice include the widespread use of coronary computed tomography angiography for the diagnosis of coronary artery anomalies and coronary artery disease in larger patient groups and encouraging this investigation across the country.

Quality of Life in People With Subjective Cognitive Decline.

Quality of life is extensively studied in older persons, but there are few studies that investigate it in people with subjective cognitive decline. Our aim was to evaluate the quality of life in a Romanian sample of individuals with subjective cognitive decline compared to controls while accounting for different possible moderators. To our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate the quality of life in a Romanian subjective cognitive decline sample. We conducted an observational study to evaluate differences in the quality of life between subjective cognitive decline and controls. Participants were evaluated for subjective cognitive decline according to Jessen et al. We collected sociodemographic and clinical characteristics and information about physical activity. Quality of life was evaluated using the Short Form-36 questionnaire. There were 101 participants included in the analysis with 66.33% (n = 67) in the subjective cognitive decline group. There were no differences between the social, demographic, and clinical characteristics of the individuals. The subjective cognitive decline group had a higher score on the negative emotion trait of Big Five. Individuals with subjective cognitive decline reported poorer physical functioning (P = .034), more role limitations due to physical health (P = .010) and emotional problems (P = .019), and less energy (P = .018) compared to the control group. Persons with subjective cognitive decline reported diminished quality of life compared to controls and differences were not explained by other sociodemographic and clinical characteristics evaluated. This area could prove to be an important target for nonpharmacological interventions in the subjective cognitive decline group.

The student version of the Burnout assessement tool (BAT): psychometric properties and evidence regarding measurement validity on a romanian sample.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12144-023-04232-w.

The Mediating Role of Anxiety between Parenting Styles and Academic Performance among Primary School Students in the Context of Sustainable Education

The importance of parenting styles for the necessary fulfilment of the developmental needs of children and eventually improving their quality of life is frequently treated in the literature. Despite there being many studies that examined the relationship of parenting styles and academic performance, there is a lack of measurement of the relationship in the Romanian sample. This study analyzed the relationship between parenting styles and academic performance, along with cognitive test anxiety as a mediating variable. In order to identify how assessment anxiety influences the relationship between parenting styles and academic performance, we conducted a study on a sample of 231 students from rural and urban backgrounds. A questionnaire-based survey (to measure anxiety and parenting style) and assessment tests were used. The undertaken study highlighted the existence of a negative correlation between the level of assessment anxiety and the level of academic performance of students. At the same time, we found that poor supervision on behalf of parents negatively correlates with students’ performances in Romanian Language and Literature and in Mathematics. On the other hand, the results of the mediation analysis show that assessment anxiety partially mediates only the negative relationship between poor supervision and school performance.

Walking in European cities: a gender perception perspective

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought many changes in daily mobility, such as a general increase in the use of active means. However, the shift towards a different mode of transport is always influenced by various aspects that can affect users in distinct ways. Gender is among those factors, and research on this aspect has started to spread in the last decade. In this context, this work investigates how gender could impact the perception of pedestrians in Europe. A survey was designed and spread in Winter 2020- Summer 2021, collecting more than 4000 responses in 10 European regions/countries analysed - France, Italy, Spain, Greece, Portugal, Baltic States, German, Scandinavia, Romania and the United Kingdom. General statistics on the mode chosen for the most frequent journey on a weekday show different trends, with a more significant number of female walkers than males. Gender equity while escorting dependents is found in more than half of the samples, especially in northern European countries. Further analyses are based on the respondents' replies to satisfaction statements regarding walking conditions. Comparing the results from the 10 samples, the satisfaction levels of pedestrians for most samples are lower for women, except for the Romanian sample, where men are less satisfied. Results indicate a difference in the perception of security between men and women in most samples. From the pedestrians' group, women feel more insecure and less satisfied with the provided infrastructure while walking on the streets than men; thus, the proposal of adequate ameliorations is essential to push people to choose this sustainable and equitable active mode for their daily mobility.

Analiza karakteristika radnog mesta koji dovode do visokog nivoa zadovoljstva zaposlenih u Rumuniji

Job satisfaction is one of the most analysed job attitudes which may have significant positive consequences on the individual-level and organizational-level performances, too. This is why companies have to analyse the antecedents of job satisfaction. Work design and work characteristics have compelling impact on employees' job satisfaction. The aim of this paper is to identify the work characteristics with the highest impact on job satisfaction across various occupations and positions in Romania. The empirical research had been carried out within the Global Work Design Project initiated by the Academy of Management HR Division, based on the work design questionnaire (WDQ) developed by Morgeson and Humphrey (2006). The Romanian sample consisted of 394 employees from 69 organizations. In our paper we identify the job features and characteristics which lead to high job satisfaction. The findings may have empirical implications on companies' HR strategies not only in Romania, but also in other countries from the Central and Eastern European region.

Cultural Adaptation of the Preschool Anxiety Scale in Romania

The current study investigated the psychometric proprieties of the Romanian form of the Preschool Anxiety Scale—Parent version (PAS). The sample consisted of 514 Romanian children (266 boys and 249 girls) aged 3 to 6 years. The mothers of these children completed the PAS and the Parenting Styles and Dimensions Questionnaire—Mother Form (PSDQ), and the children’s teachers completed the Behavior Assessment System for Children, Second Edition, Teacher Rating Scale (BASC-2 TRS). Results reveal that the PAS has satisfactory psychometric proprieties on the Romanian sample: it shows a good reliability and a good fit of the data with the underlying correlated five-factor structural model. The construct validity of the Romanian form of the PAS was supported by a significant relationship between the PAS total anxiety score and various BASC-2 (anxiety, withdrawal behavior, atypical behavior, learning problems, adaptability, social skills, learning skills, and leadership), and PSDQ (authoritarian, permissive, and authoritative parenting style) scales. Age had a significant effect on the generalized anxiety, physical injury fears and separation anxiety scales, and girls scored significantly higher than boys on the total anxiety score and the physical injury fears scale.

Cognitive reappraisal both buffers and mediates the negative effect of childhood emotional neglect on adult resilience: Findings from a Romanian sample

Cognitive reappraisal both buffers and mediates the negative effect of childhood emotional neglect on adult resilience: Findings from a Romanian sample