Significant Path Coefficients Research Articles

PENGARUH GAYA KEPEMIMPINAN, EMPATI DAN MOTIVASI TERHADAP BUDAYA ORGANISASI KEPALA SEKOLAH

this study aims to find out whether there is an influence between leadership styles, empathy and motivation on the organizational culture of the principal. Lack of acceptance of new and good values that can change bad behavior patterns for the better, through the influence of organizational culture, leadership style, empathy and motivation. To carry out organizational culture properly will cause high empathy and work motivation. Simultaneously that a leadership style, empathy, high work motivation will be able to improve the work culture of the principal in the organization. To test the hypothetical research, the researcher chose to use quantitative research methods. The processed data was obtained from the results of the questionnaire distributed at SMPN I Panji with a total of 58 correspondents. The types of data required in this study include primary data and secondary data. The data collection technique in this study is to use the Field Research method. Research instruments in the form of questionnaires filled out through the Google Form. The validity test of correlation data includes a normality test and a linearity test. The normality test was performed with the SPSS Version 20 for windows application with the formula One-Sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov Test. The results of the study obtained there is a positive direct influence of leadership style on empathy with a significant path coefficient value of p₂₁ = 0.603. The positive direct influence of leadership style on increasing organizational motivation is indicated by the value of its pathway coefficient which is P₃₁ = 0.852

Understanding the importance of motivational intensity in English as a foreign language context: A structural equation modeling analysis.

Motivational intensity is the effort learners make in language learning. It is an essential component and a direct measurement of L2 motivation. Few studies have distinguished motivational intensity from motivation and explored its role in learning English as a foreign language (EFL). This study examined 208 university students from Hong Kong to investigate the factors that affect motivational intensity and explored the relationship between motivational intensity and learning motivation using structural equation modeling (SEM). The students' motivational intensity was affected by personal factors (daily English-learning time and stage of English learning), family factors (monthly household income and parental attitudes), and school factors (English learning engagement and satisfaction). The differences in personal factors, school factors and monthly household income of family factors among different motivational intensity groups were significant whereas the difference in parental attitudes (family factors) between the high- and the low-motivational intensity groups was insignificant. As for the relationship between motivational intensity and motivation, motivational intensity indirectly affected students' intrinsic interest through their attitudes toward native English speakers (β = 0.16, p = 0.041 < 0.05). The significant path coefficient from the learning situation to attitudes toward native speakers was negative (p < 0.05), indicating that attitudes toward native speakers decline even when the learning situation improves. This study enriched the theoretical study of motivation theory and provided teaching suggestions for improving EFL learning.

Perceived organisational support and university students’ career exploration: the mediation role of career adaptability

ABSTRACT This study examined the extent to which perceived organisational support (POS) predicts career exploration via the mediation effect of career adaptability. Grounded in career construction theory, the study employed an online survey with 611 Chinese undergraduate students. The survey employed POS, career adaptability and career-related exploration scales. Multi-group comparisons explored gender, discipline and place of origin (rural or urban). Although gender and major were moderating variables, there was no significant difference among rural and urban subgroups. There was a direct relationship between POS and career-related exploration via the mediation effect of career adaptability. Male students had higher and statistically significant path coefficients when it came to the relationship between POS and career-related exploration. The effects of POS on career adaptability and career-related exploration differed according to discipline. Humanities and social sciences (HASS) students reported significantly less organisational support than those in science and engineering. POS had negligible influence on career-related exploration among HASS students. The results suggest that assessing students’ POS is an important preliminary step within career development learning. Recommendations include early assessment and discussion of students’ POS and incorporating the concern, control, curiosity and confidence dimensions of career adaptability into career-related interventions.

지각된 호텔 증강현실 아트투어 특성이 고객의 공연경험 및 인게이지먼트에 미치는 영향

The current hotel industry provides a different marketing direction and services compared to before COVID 19. As kiosks, pre-reservations, self-service or AI robot room services become more common, the use of diversified high-technology has become an essential factor in the hospitality industry. This study proposes an effective and continuous use of AR (augmented reality) that leads to increased customer engagement. Starting with an empirical review of revitalizing the domestic art experience and developing facilities, the purpose of the study is based on the value of Art Hotel. A total of 200 Korean respondents who had experienced hotels, regardless of age and gender, participated in an online survey. Using AMOS, the result showed the characteristics of the 2nd order's theatrical experience with significant path coefficients in four areas (perceptual area, cognitive area, communication area, and emotional area). In addition, by using SPSS, it was found that vividness and interactivity had a significant effect on the theatrical experience, and the theatrical experience had a significant effect on customer engagement. These results showed that the vividness and interaction of AR characteristics influenced the characteristics of the theatrical experience in a way that improved customer engagement levels and had a proportional correlation. As a practical implication, the results show that hotels need to be able to use augmented reality experiences as part of their ongoing services and as a tool for experiential marketing.

Walking and cycling for health: A multi-group analysis of path models between genders.

Walking and cycling are beneficial for urban adults' health. Transport and recreation are modifiable domains of major physical activity resources. The purposes of this study were to explore associations among psychological and environmental factors, walking and cycling behaviours and quality of life by developing a path model and comparing gender differences. A cross-sectional study. Participants were community-dwelling healthy urban adults aged 20-65 years. Data were collected between September 2019 and June 2020 by self-reported questionnaires, including health beliefs, the neighbourhood environment, walking and cycling behaviours and the World Health Organization Quality-of-Life Scale. An ANCOVA, chi-squared tests, partial least squares-path model and a multi-group analysis were performed for statistical analyses. In total, 1294 valid responses were received, which included 41.27% men and 58.73% women. Men had lower walking behaviours and better self-efficacy than women. The developed path model indicated an acceptable model fit. Significant path coefficients were found among psychological and environmental factors, walking and cycling behaviours and quality of life. The path model between men and women found no significant differences in any path coefficients. Significant path coefficients of environmental factors with cycling behaviour and of walking behaviour with quality of life were found in men but not in women. Improving individuals' health beliefs, self-efficacy and perceived walkability and cyclability is a beneficial strategy for promoting physical activity. Walking and cycling behaviours are recommended to improve the quality of life of urban adult populations. What problem did the study address? A large proportion of urban adult populations still have insufficient physical activity globally. It is essential that implications from an overall perspective of psychological and environmental factors and their interactions be integrated to develop efficient strategies for promoting physical activityand quality of life. What were the main findings? The developed path model with an acceptable model fit found that psychological and environmental factors were important in explaining urban adults' walking and cycling behaviours and quality of life. Differences were not found between men's and women's path models. Where and on whom will the research have impact? Improving urban adults' psychological and environmental factors might be an efficient strategy for promoting sufficient physical activity. Men's low engagement in walking behaviours should garner increased attention. Providing equal opportunities for both genders to engage in walking and cycling behaviours are recommended for health promotion in urban regions.

Impact of Intellectual Capital on International Trade: Knowledge Management and Business Processes as Intermediaries

The global international trade market is changeable and highly competitive. In order to discover the market competitiveness of trading companies, we develop a second-order research model to explore the impact of intellectual capital on a company’s performance through the intermediaries of knowledge management and business processes. The main purpose of this study is to discover the roles that knowledge management and business process capabilities play when companies introduce intellectual capital. We used a five-part questionnaire to conduct our research. Structural equation modeling techniques were used to analyze the research model, and we used PLS-SEM for data analysis. The analysis results show that the direct impact of intellectual capital on company performance is not significant (path coefficient is 0.08), and if a company only implements knowledge management it will have no significant effect on performance (path coefficient is 0.06). However, these two factors do have a significant impact on company performance through business process capability. Therefore, the results show that knowledge management and business processes mediate intellectual capital to affect a company’s performance and lead to the better identification of the successful elements of competitive export trade strategies in dynamic business environments. Moreover, the results also show that the factor loading of information capital (weight=0.63) in intellectual capital is much higher than the other aspects of intellectual capital. That is, companies must prioritize information capital when investing in intellectual capital.

FLOWER: An Approach for Enhancing E-Learning Experience Amid COVID-19.

The worldwide COVID-19 pandemic has forced higher institutions to shift towards electronic (e) learning. Despite a plethora of research on the responses of higher education institutions to COVID-19 and their shift towards e-learning, research often focuses on the opportunities and/or challenges of e-learning amid COVID-19. Notwithstanding this, limited research has addressed how e-learning experiences can be enhanced among medical students, who often need conventional leaning, especially for practical courses. This research addresses a gap in the knowledge and examined medical students’ perceptions of e-learning using the Blackboard platform, and the elements or predicators that affect their e-learning experience amid COVID-19 in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. An online survey was transmitted to medical students in three main public universities. Based on the findings, a FLOWER model was proposed for improving e-learning experience using Blackboard among medical students. This model includes six dimensions: feedback, leverage to remain motivated, open resources and information, working together, evaluation, and reflection and knowledge. These dimensions are interrelated, and enable the creation of a positive e-learning experience. The results showed that four of the six dimensions have high positive and significant path coefficients: open sources and information; leverage to remain motivated; working together; and reflection and knowledge construction. Two of the six dimensions have low positive, but significant, path coefficients (feedback and evaluation), which require further consideration by policymakers and educators. The results have several theoretical and practical implications, which are elaborated upon.

Links between oral health-related quality of life in US adults and type 2 diabetes: structural equation modeling analysis.

To analyze the effects of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), need for dental care, personal health practices and use of services on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in US adults. The sample included 2,945 participants (aged ≥ 20) selected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003-2004 stratified probability sample that represented 124,525,899 individuals in the weighted sample. Two-stage structural equation modelling (SEM) assessed interrelationships between T2DM regressions on factors associated with OHRQoL in a simplified three-factor Andersen Behavioral Model (ABM). SEM supported the hypotheses that T2DM directly predicted need (perceived need, evaluated need, general health condition) with a significant path coefficient of 0.49 (β=0.49, p⟨0.05). Need had direct (77%) and indirect (23%) effects on OHRQoL (βdirect=0.30, βindirect=0.09, p⟨ 0.001). Need predicted personal health practices including use of services (reason for dental visit, frequency of dental visits, smoking status) (β=0.46, p⟨0.001). Need, in turn, predicted OHRQoL (β=0.19, p⟨0.001). In the model, 23.8%, 59.7%, and 18.1% of the variance was explained by need, personal health practices including use of services, and OHRQoL, respectively. The results confirmed T2DM predicted need, which in sequence had direct and indirect effects on OHRQoL.

Pathways by Which Food Insecurity Is Associated With Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk.

BackgroundFood insecurity (FI) has been associated with an increased atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk; however, the pathways by which FI leads to worse cardiovascular health are unknown. We tested the hypothesis that FI is associated with ASCVD risk through nutritional/anthropometric (eg, worse diet quality and increased weight), psychological/mental health (eg, increased depressive symptoms and risk of substance abuse), and access to care pathways.Methods and ResultsWe conducted a cross‐sectional study of adults (aged 40–79 years) using the 2007 to 2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Our primary exposure was household FI, and our outcome was 10‐year ASCVD risk categorized as low (<5%), borderline (≥5% –<7.5%), intermediate (≥7.5%–<20%), and high risk (≥20%). We used structural equation modeling to evaluate the pathways and multiple mediation analysis to determine direct and indirect effects. Of the 12 429 participants, 2231 (18.0%) reported living in a food‐insecure household; 5326 (42.9%) had a low ASCVD risk score, 1402 (11.3%) borderline, 3606 (29.0%) intermediate, and 2095 (16.9%) had a high‐risk score. In structural models, we found significant path coefficients between FI and the nutrition/anthropometric (β, 0.130; SE, 0.027; P<0.001), psychological/mental health (β, 0.612; SE, 0.043; P<0.001), and access to care (β, 0.110; SE, 0.036; P=0.002) pathways. We did not find a significant direct effect of FI on ASCVD risk, and the nutrition, psychological, and access to care pathways accounted for 31.6%, 43.9%, and 15.8% of the association, respectively.ConclusionsWe found that the association between FI and ASCVD risk category was mediated through the nutrition/anthropometric, psychological/mental health, and access to care pathways. Interventions that address all 3 pathways may be needed to mitigate the negative impact of FI on cardiovascular disease.

Healthcare Providers' Intention to Use Technology to Attend to Clients in Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, Ghana.

Background Patient records' relevance is associated with a variety of needs and objectives. Substantiating the health of patients perpetually and allowing professionals in the medical field to assess both signs and symptoms that fall in a relatively wider temporal point of view and contributions that lead to enhanced diagnoses and treatment are all quintessential of patient records. The advancement of information technology systems has led to the anticipation that development will be put into digitization and electronic means of storing patient records in order to grease their handling. Cape Coast Teaching Hospital (CCTH) is piloting implementation of patient's electronic health record system. The introduction of the electronic health record system known as Lightwave Hospital Information Management System (LHIMS) was to provide a permanent solution to patients' continuity of care. User's acceptance of new information technology is seen to be one of the most challenging issues in information system. This study assesses healthcare providers' (HP') behavioural intention to use LHIMS to attend to clients in Cape Coast Teaching Hospital and other factors influencing it. Methods A nonexperimental cross-sectional study was used to obtain information from 84 HP recruited from the various departments and units in CCTH who use LHIMS to attend to clients. The sample size of 90, representing 8% of HP in CCTH, was randomly selected from the various departments and units. However, 84 (indicating 93.3% response rate) of the selected HP were available during the period of the research. Results Perceived ease of use (PEOU) of LHIMS had the strongest direct effect on perceived usefulness (PU), with a highly significant path coefficient of 0.75. PU had the greatest impact on attitude about HP' behavioural intention to use (BIU) LHIMS to attend to patients' healthcare delivery in CCTH (0.91). This relationship was highly significant at p < 0.001. PEOU did not have a significant direct effect on attitude about LHIMS use, as hypothesized in the original technology acceptance model. However, attitude towards use had a strong significant effect on HP' BIU of LHIMS, with a strong statistically significant path coefficient of 0.98 at p < 0.001. Conclusions We conclude that attitude towards use have a significant influence on HP' behavioural intention to use LHIMS to attend to clients in Cape Coast Teaching Hospital.

A Predictive Model of Spiritual Well-being Based on Belief in a Just World Mediated by the Positive and Negative Affects in University Students

Background: Spiritual well-being is crucial in human health and reduces anxiety and depression. Therefore, identifying its underlying variables can improve individuals’ health. Objectives: This study aimed to predict a model of spiritual well-being based on belief in a just world mediated by positive and negative effects in university students of Tehran. Methods: This was a descriptive correlation study performed through path analysis. The statistical population consisted of students studying at different universities of Tehran during 2020 - 2021. The research sample comprised 301 university students (199 female and 102 male). The participants completed the Spiritual Well-Being Scale, Belief in a Just World Scale, and Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). The model was evaluated using path analysis in AMOS 24.0. Results: The results showed that the path coefficient between positive affect and spiritual well-being was positive and significant, and the path coefficient between negative affect and spiritual well-being was negative and significant (P &lt; 0.001). The total path coefficient between the belief in a just world (BJW) and spiritual well-being was positive and significant, and the path coefficient between the belief in an unjust world (BUW) and spiritual well-being was negative and significant (P &lt; 0.001). Furthermore, there was a significant positive indirect path coefficient between BJW and spiritual well-being (P &lt; 0.001). Accordingly, the positive and negative affects played positive mediating roles between BJW and spiritual well-being. Conclusions: Based on the findings of the present study, it can be concluded that BJW, positive effects, and strengthening them can enhance the level of spiritual well-being and reduce the students’ negative effect, anxiety, and depression levels.

Influence of nitrogen forms, pH, and water levels on cadmium speciation and characteristics of cadmium uptake by rapeseed.

Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) is an ideal crop for remediation in cadmium (Cd)-contaminated soil in farmland. The main objective of this study was focused on the combined effects of four nitrogen forms (urea, ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, ammonium nitrate fertilizer), four pH levels (5, 6, 7, 8), and three water levels (low water, middle water, high water) on Cd speciation and characteristics of Cd uptake by rapeseed. A pot experiment was conducted at the Xindu Experimental Park in Sichuan Province, China. Experimental results indicated that the interaction effects of pH and nitrogen forms, three factors on Cd speciation (except organic-bound Cd and exchangeable Cd), were significant and the interaction effects of pH and nitrogen forms on Cd uptake by rapeseed also was significant only under the condition of planting rapeseed. The higher the water level was or the lower the pH value was, the better the repair effect rapeseed to Cd was. High water significantly increased the stem Cd content by 11.89% and 29.55% through significantly increasing the content of exchangeable Cd by 23.40% and 52.63%, respectively, compared with middle water and low water as planting rapeseed, and pH 5 significantly increased the stem Cd content, total Cd enrichment coefficients, bio-availability coefficient, and Cd removal rate by 24.45~40.33%, 49.45~76.62%, 60.00~166.67%, and 16.67~26.00%, respectively, through significantly increasing the content of exchangeable Cd by 37.78~113.79%, compared with pH 7 and pH 8 as the significant decreasing of carbonate-bound Cd, bound to Fe-Mn oxide, and content of organic-bound Cd and residual Cd. Ammonium nitrate also significantly increased total Cd enrichment coefficients, bio-availability coefficient, and Cd removal rate by 45.63~138.10%, 21.05~109.09%, and 40.00~77.50%, respectively, compared with other three nitrogen forms as good growth and Cd resistance of rapeseed. Path analysis structural equation modeling revealed that content of exchangeable Cd and residual Cd had significant and direct path coefficients with variances in stem Cd content of rapeseed. Combined with the safety of edible oil, the best management practices for optimal remediation efficiency of rapeseed to Cd-contaminated soil were ammonium nitrate fertilizer, pH = 5, and high water.

Transforming Impossible into Possible (TIP) for SUD recovery: A promising practice innovation to combat the opioid crisis

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study is to examine the psychological self-sufficiency (PSS) process among low-income individuals participating in the Transforming Impossible into Possible (TIP) program and explore the implications of TIP as a SUD recovery intervention. A sample of 622 individuals from 9 local job training programs in a large Midwestern city was used to examine the group differences in substance abuse barrier and employment hope as they relates to economic self-sufficiency (ESS). Individuals in the TIP program (n = 315) had statistically significant path coefficients between substance abuse barriers, employment hope and ESS while the non-TIP counterpart (n = 307) showed a significant path only between employment hope and ESS. Also, the time difference score in substance abuse barrier and ESS was greater for the TIP group compared to the non-TIP comparison group. Results provide implications for social work practice among persons with SUDs. While the traditional employment programs focused only on the interview and job skills, TIP allowed participants to discover their resources to address the inner obstacles that have been holding them back. TIP could serve as a promising model to treat SUDs and support the recovery process.

The influence of poverty attribution on attitudes toward suicide and suicidal thought: A cross-national comparison between South Korean, Japanese, and American populations

BackgroundPrevious studies report that income inequality is an important risk factor for depression and suicide, and an increasing income gap appears inevitable. However, little study to date has investigated associations between the attribution of poverty and suicide. Though we previously reported associations between socio-cultural factors, including income, and suicide, we tried to explore more focused associations between income, attribution of poverty (individualistic, societal), permissive attitude toward suicide, and suicidal thought using a structural equation model. MethodsA total of 2213 participants from each of three nations (South Korea, Japan, and the United States) completed an online survey. Participants without a history of psychological disorders or suicide attempts completed scales measuring attributions of poverty, attitudes toward suicide, and severity of suicidal thoughts. ResultsWe established a structural equation model, which exhibited a good fit for all nations, and compared significant path coefficients by country. South Korea had the highest severity of suicidal thought and societal attribution of poverty, followed by Japan and America. In all nations, a permissive attitude was positively related to the severity of suicidal thought and individualistic attribution of poverty was positively related to a permissive attitude toward suicide. Societal attribution of poverty was positively associated with a permissive attitude in Japan and the United States. Income was negatively associated with the severity of suicide in South Korea and the United States. ConclusionThrough an established structural equation model, we found the influence of poverty on suicide and identify the common and distinctive factors associated with suicide in each country.

Intergenerational Transmission of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Australian Vietnam Veterans' Daughters and Sons: The Effect of Family Emotional Climate While Growing Up.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in military veterans increases the risk of PTSD in their offspring, a concept known as "intergenerational transmission;" however, the mechanism by which this transmission may occur is, as yet, undetermined. The present study included a nonclinical sample of 197 Australian Army veterans of the Vietnam War who were interviewed 17 years before in-person interviews of their adult daughters (n = 163) and sons (n = 120) were conducted. Veterans' PTSD symptoms were assessed using the Mississippi Scale for Combat-Related PTSD. Approximately 17 years later, offspring PTSD symptoms were assessed using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-IV. In addition, offspring described the family emotional climate during their youth; responses were coded using the Family Affective Attitude Rating Scale (FAARS) to produce scale scores of veterans' negative, positive, and family relationship styles. A path analysis was conducted via structural equation modeling to test for significant path coefficients between veteran PTSD, family emotional climate, and offspring PTSD symptoms. For daughters, significant path coefficients were observed between veteran PTSD scores and FAARS scores, path coefficient = -.268; FAARS scores and offspring CAPS severity scores, path coefficient = -.223; and veteran PTSD scores and daughters' CAPS severity scores, path coefficient = .186. No satisfactory model could be found for sons. The results suggest that a positive emotional climate while growing up may be a significant protective factor against the development of PTSD in veterans' daughters, but other factors remain significant in veteran-to-offspring intergenerational transmission.

Early Life Stress and Chronobiological Rhythms Desynchronization: Possible Impact on Mood Symptoms and Suicidal Ideation in Bipolar Disorder.

The study aimed at investigating the potential impact of early stressful events on the clinical manifestations of bipolar disorder (BD). A sample of 162 adult individuals with BD was assessed using the Structural Clinical Interview for DSM-5, the Beck Depression Inventory-II, the Young Mania Rating Scale, the Early Trauma Inventory Self Report-Short Form, the Biological Rhythms Interview of Assessment in Neuropsychiatry, the Insomnia Severity Index, and the Scale for Suicide Ideation. A significant path coefficient indicated a direct effect of early life stressors on biological rhythms (coeff. = 0.26; p < 0.001) and of biological rhythms on depressive symptoms (coeff. = 0.5; p < 0.001), suicidal risk (coeff. = 0.3; p < 0.001), and insomnia (coeff. = 0.34; p < 0.001). Data suggested that the desynchronization of chronobiological rhythms might be one mediator of the association between early life stress and the severity of mood symptoms/suicidal ideation in BD. Addressing circadian rhythm alterations in subjects exposed to early stressors would help in preventing consequences of those stressors on BD.

Combined effect of biochar and nitrogen fertilizer reduction on rapeseed productivity and nitrogen use efficiency

ABSTRACT Biochar has the potential to effectively improve yield and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of upland crops in different soil types. However, it is unclear for rapeseed in purple soil under N reduction. A 2 years field experiment was conducted in southwest China, to evaluate the combined effects of nitrogen (180, 144 and 108 kg ha−1, named N100, N80 and N60, respectively) and biochar (0, 10, 20 and 40 t ha−1, named B0, B10, B20 and B40, respectively) on rapeseed growth, NUE and yield. Compared with B0, B10 significantly improved growth, NUE and yield, while nitrogen reduction had an opposite effect. The better management practices were N80B10 and N100B10, which increased NUE by 10.0% and 10.2%, and grain yield by 16.1% and 21.8%, respectively, compared with N100B0. Path analysis revealed that effective pods and root surface area, root volume had significant and direct path coefficients with variances in seed yield and NUE, respectively. Besides, positive residual effectiveness of biochar was preserved for at least 2 years. This study indicated that B10 could replace 20% nitrogen to promote rapeseed root development and yield formation, thus achieving both high yield and high NUE for at least 2 years in upland purple soil.

Applying the Technology Acceptance Model to Assess the Intention to Use an Aftermarket eCall Based on 112 Device for Passenger Vehicles to Ensure Sustainable Rescue Operations on European Roads

Sustainable, improved rescue operations contribute to both the safety of traffic participants and the quality of transportation services. From this perspective, we considered the need to determine to what extent the target audience, consisting of owners and/or users of road vehicles, is prepared to purchase and use an eCall In-Vehicle System (eCall IVS) for passenger vehicles, using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) as a research framework. To confirm the hypotheses of our research, we resorted to structural equation modelling (SEM), based on the analysis of variance (PLS—partial least squares), and we were able to validate all the causal relationships of the conceptual model, with significant path coefficients at a chosen significance threshold of p &lt; 0.01. Analyzing the obtained results achieved in the field of eCall IVS, one can state that the integration of these approaches with the TAM research framework gives a much more complete picture of a driver’s acceptance of using an aftermarket eCall IVS, which can also serve as a starting point in aftermarket vehicle implementation and future studies.

Passive suicidal ideation in older adults from 12 European countries

Abstract Background Highest rates of suicide in older adults are a major public health hazard in many industrialized societies. The current study aims to provide an overview of demographic, psycho-social, and health-related risks for suicidal ideation among European older adults. Methods Study builds on secondary data analysis using data drawn from the Survey of Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) wave 7.0. A total sample of 33,719 older adults, aged 65+, were analyzed. Risk factors included socio-demographic variables, psychological distress, and health conditions. Descriptive statistics and ANOVA were used to provide information about prevalence and demographic correlates of passive suicidal ideation. Standardized significant path coefficients were examined between predicting variables and suicidal ideation. Results Suicide ideation was at its highest level among older adults from France, Poland, Spain, Germany, Italy, and Belgium. Highest rates of suicidal ideation were found among widowed, but also married couples, aged between 65 and 70, and older adults living in rural area. Results also reinforced that elderly's suicidal ideation was universally associated with poor health, limited access to activities, a lack of social contact, and worse subjective well-being. The path from depression to suicidal ideation was significant with a larger magnitude. Conclusions Passive suicidal ideation is a critical mental health index. In order to diminish the likelihood of suicide thoughts and acts in older adults, national policy should integrate psychological services in elderly care to help older adults better cope with depressive symptoms and long-term health problems. Local government should foster local support groups for elderly and promote suicide prevention-intervention program for those elderly seeking help.

Analysis of occupant behaviour in the use of air-conditioners in public buildings in developing countries: evidence from Ghana

PurposeThe use of air-conditioners (ACs) is on the increase in the developing world, with exacerbating compounding effect on carbon footprints. With this development, there is the expectation that developing countries would begin to appreciate and understand occupant behaviours in the use of ACs towards combating climate change, especially as building energy consumption is heavily influenced by the behaviour of its occupants. This study aims to identify occupant behaviours that leads to efficient use of ACs in public buildings so that these can be factored into developing guidelines for improving energy efficiency in buildings.Design/methodology/approachDrawing on the theory of planned behaviour (TPB), survey questionnaire was used to collect data in office buildings in Kumasi, Ghana. Partial least squares–structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) analysis was employed for the analysis.FindingsSwitching on fan(s) as alternative to ACs has a path coefficient of 0.527, suggesting that it will have the most positive impact on energy consumption as far as AC use is concerned. The second occupant behaviour with a positive impact on energy consumption for AC use is opening windows for natural ventilation accounting for 0.351 significant path coefficient. Wearing of light or heavy clothing as a means of conserving energy achieved 0.174 impact coefficient while occupant behaviour of switching off ACs when leaving the room came last in the ranking, with an impact coefficient of 0.146. TBP is validated in this model, given that all the four occupant behaviours had their perceived behavioural control (PBC) having less impact on the behaviour compared to the behavioural attitude (BA) and the subjective norm (SN).Research limitations/implicationsThis research focused on public buildings used as offices, and the findings may not be applicable to private company buildings and also residential properties. Given that Ghana and, for that matter, many developing countries rely heavily on thermal plant for electricity generation, the climate change implications of the findings are discussed.Practical implicationsIt is recommended that behaviours of occupants should be considered and factored in building energy predictions to bridge the energy performance gap. Subsequently, project managers, designers and energy consultants are encouraged to provide fans and openable windows in offices, even if there is going to be an air-conditioning provisions.Originality/valueOriginality emanates from the paper being at the forefront of helping to understand occupants' behaviour in the use ACs and associated climate change implications in a developing country context. One of the new variables introduced, switching on fans as an alternative to ACs, achieved the highest path coefficient and has important implication for occupant behaviour in the use of ACs in the literature.