Sustainability

Research

21 pages, 874 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Investigating e-Retailers’ Intentions to Adopt Cryptocurrency Considering the Mediation of Technostress and Technology Involvement

by Runhan Wu, Kamran Ishfaq, Siraj Hussain, Fahad Asmi, Ahmad Nabeel Siddiquei and Muhammad Azfar Anwar

Sustainability 2022, 14(2), 641; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14020641 - 7 Jan 2022

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 7101

Abstract

Cryptocurrencies have transgressed ever-changing economic trends in the global economy, owing to their conveyance, security, trust, and the ability to make transactions without the aid of formal institutions and governing bodies. However, the adoption of cryptocurrency remains low among stakeholders, including e-retailers. Thus, [...] Read more.

Cryptocurrencies have transgressed ever-changing economic trends in the global economy, owing to their conveyance, security, trust, and the ability to make transactions without the aid of formal institutions and governing bodies. However, the adoption of cryptocurrency remains low among stakeholders, including e-retailers. Thus, the current work explores the intentions of e-retailers in the Asia and Pacific region to adopt cryptocurrencies. This study considers the TAM-based SOR, with a combination of non-cognitive attributes (compatibility and convenience) proposed as stimuli for e-retailers to adopt the examined cryptocurrencies. The findings indicate that the proposed non-cognitive attributes are critical in determining e-retailers’ technostress (emotional state). Moreover, it was found that technostress among e-retailers profoundly impacts their intentions to adopt cryptocurrency in business settings. Meanwhile, regulatory support communication can be used to help regulatory bodies and governing institutions control the future economy worldwide. The proposed study offers significant theoretical and practical contributions through its investigation of e-retailers’ intentions to adopt cryptocurrency for the first time in the particular context of technostress and regulatory support. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wellbeing in Education, Career, and Work: Current Contributions from Emotional Intelligence and other Non-Cognitive Constructs to the Psychology of Sustainability)

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17 pages, 1936 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Subjective and Objective Insecurity in Spanish Cities

by Ana María Huesca González, Rolando-Oscar Grimaldo-Santamaría and María del Pilar Quicios García

Sustainability 2021, 13(23), 13309; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132313309 - 1 Dec 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2656

Abstract

This article related crime rates to social risk factors and to the feeling of insecurity in Spain. The first finding of this study, financed by National I + D Plan CSO2016-77549-P, AEI-FEDER, was the direct relation between crime rates and some sociodemographic factors [...] Read more.

This article related crime rates to social risk factors and to the feeling of insecurity in Spain. The first finding of this study, financed by National I + D Plan CSO2016-77549-P, AEI-FEDER, was the direct relation between crime rates and some sociodemographic factors such as population, unemployment, urban land area, and hotel occupancy, based on the question of which social risk factors correlate to crime rates. The second finding was that social factors drive citizens’ feelings of insecurity, according to whether feelings of insecurity are linked to crime rates or perceived risk factors. The research was based on a quantitative methodology, using two data sources: reworked official statistics treated by HJ-Biplot analysis; a 2019 CATI survey with N = 3904, sample error between 5.2% and 3.7% according to territory, 95% confidence level. The main conceptual conclusion of the study was the link between well-being and security. The main methodological contribution was the application of HJ-Biplot analysis to the social sciences. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wellbeing in Education, Career, and Work: Current Contributions from Emotional Intelligence and other Non-Cognitive Constructs to the Psychology of Sustainability)

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24 pages, 1345 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Career Success in University Graduates: Evidence from an Ecuadorian Study in Los Ríos Province

by Roberto Pico-Saltos, Lady Bravo-Montero, Néstor Montalván-Burbano, Javier Garzás and Andrés Redchuk

Sustainability 2021, 13(16), 9337; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13169337 - 20 Aug 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4935

Abstract

Career success and its evaluation in university graduates generate growing interest in the academy when evaluating the university according to its mission and social mandate. Therefore, monitoring university graduates is essential in measuring career success in the State Technical University of Quevedo (UTEQ, [...] Read more.

Career success and its evaluation in university graduates generate growing interest in the academy when evaluating the university according to its mission and social mandate. Therefore, monitoring university graduates is essential in measuring career success in the State Technical University of Quevedo (UTEQ, acronym in Spanish). In this sense, this article aims to identify the predictive career success factors through survey application, development of two mathematical functions, and Weka’s classification learning algorithms application for objective career success levels determination in UTEQ university graduates. Researchers established a methodology that considers: (i) sample and data analysis, (ii) career success variables, (iii) variables selection, (iv) mathematical functions construction, and (v) classification models. The methodology shows the integration of the objective and subjective factors by approximating linear functions, which experts validated. Therefore, career success can classify university graduates into three levels: (1) not successful, (2) moderately successful, and (3) successful. Results showed that from 548 university graduates sample, 307 are men and 241 women. In addition, Pearson correlation coefficient between Objective Career Success (OCS) and Subjective Career Success (SCS) was 0.297, reason why construction models were separately using Weka’s classification learning algorithms, which allow OCS and SCS levels classification. Between these algorithms are the following: Logistic Model Tree (LMT), J48 pruned tree, Random Forest Tree (RF), and Random Tree (RT). LMT algorithm is the best suited to the predictive objective career success factors, because it presented 76.09% of instances correctly classified, which means 417 of the 548 UTEQ university graduates correctly classified according to OCS levels. In SCS model, RF algorithm shows the best results, with 94.59% of instances correctly classified (518 university graduates). Finally, 67.1% of UTEQ university graduates are considered successful, showing compliance with the university’s mission. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wellbeing in Education, Career, and Work: Current Contributions from Emotional Intelligence and other Non-Cognitive Constructs to the Psychology of Sustainability)

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13 pages, 1210 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Understanding Traditional Healing Practices and the Categories of Practices from Fijian iTaukei’s Perspectives

by Dan Frederick Orcherton, Maria Orcherton and Matthew Kensen

Sustainability 2021, 13(16), 9003; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13169003 - 12 Aug 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 5520

Abstract

This study takes an in-depth look at how traditional healing practices (THPs) are perceived by the iTaukei people living in villages and periurban areas in Fiji Islands. The research used both qualitative and quantitative knowledge/data gathered from six villages in Viti Levu, Fiji [...] Read more.

This study takes an in-depth look at how traditional healing practices (THPs) are perceived by the iTaukei people living in villages and periurban areas in Fiji Islands. The research used both qualitative and quantitative knowledge/data gathered from six villages in Viti Levu, Fiji Islands, to determine, first, the perception(s) of THPs among the iTaukei; second, what THPs successfully survive and are still important to the iTaukei way of life; and third, what factors influence the iTaukei’s health-seeking behavior or choices between Western and traditional medical systems in their villages. Results confirm that the knowledge healers used to hold to cure common illnesses is now more dispersed and shared with community members; healers/elders’ roles in iTaukei villages are important for cultural–spiritual–social causes of illnesses, and for more complex cases, there are specialized iTaukei healers. Recommendations in the form of categories of practices are offered for practitioners to work more effectively and affectively with the iTaukei. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wellbeing in Education, Career, and Work: Current Contributions from Emotional Intelligence and other Non-Cognitive Constructs to the Psychology of Sustainability)

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10 pages, 273 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Emotional Competencies in Primary Education as an Essential Factor for Learning and Well-Being

by Èlia López-Cassà, Felicidad Barreiro Fernández, Salvador Oriola Requena and Josep Gustems Carnicer

Sustainability 2021, 13(15), 8591; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13158591 - 1 Aug 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3696

Abstract

Numerous contributions corroborate the need to include emotional education and the development of emotional competencies at school to improve students’ school learning and well-being. The present study aims to learn more about the development of emotional competencies in primary school students, taking into [...] Read more.

Numerous contributions corroborate the need to include emotional education and the development of emotional competencies at school to improve students’ school learning and well-being. The present study aims to learn more about the development of emotional competencies in primary school students, taking into account gender differences across different cycles and analyzing the potential link with students’ overall academic performance. Participants were 2389 primary school students (51.2% boys and 48.8% girls), aged from 6 to 12, from 21 public and semi-private schools in Spain. The study is a non-experimental quantitative study, using an ex-post-facto descriptive method. The Emotional Development Questionnaire (CDE 9-13), the Emotional Competencies Observation Scale, and the overall grade point average were applied to the sample. The results show significant differences in favor of girls in the development of most emotional competencies in all three educational cycles. Differences were also observed in academic performance by gender in the primary school cycle, with girls achieving higher grades. At the same time, positive correlations were found between academic performance and emotional competencies. The results confirm the importance of including emotional education in primary education. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wellbeing in Education, Career, and Work: Current Contributions from Emotional Intelligence and other Non-Cognitive Constructs to the Psychology of Sustainability)

11 pages, 303 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Teachers’ Burnout during COVID-19 Pandemic in Spain: Trait Emotional Intelligence and Socioemotional Competencies

by Laura Sánchez-Pujalte, Diego Navarro Mateu, Edgardo Etchezahar and Talía Gómez Yepes

Sustainability 2021, 13(13), 7259; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13137259 - 29 Jun 2021

Cited by 45 | Viewed by 8432

Abstract

The aim of this research is to recognize the burnout levels in a group of high school teachers that exercised their profession during the COVID-19 pandemic, looking forward to examining the correlation between burnout levels, trait emotional intelligence and socioemotional competencies (Autonomy, Regulation, [...] Read more.

The aim of this research is to recognize the burnout levels in a group of high school teachers that exercised their profession during the COVID-19 pandemic, looking forward to examining the correlation between burnout levels, trait emotional intelligence and socioemotional competencies (Autonomy, Regulation, Prosocial Behaviour and Empathy). The study counted with a sample of 430 high school teachers from multiple regions of Spain. The participants’ age was between 25 and 60, and the gender distribution was 53.72% for men and 46.28% for women. We used the Spanish version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), the Trait Meta-Mood Scale (TMMS-24) and the Socioemotional Competences Scale (SCS). The main results indicated that teachers showed high levels of burnout dimensions, with women being the most affected, reaching higher levels in comparison to men. It was also observed that the older and more experienced professionals showed lower levels of burnout. Finally, statistically significant negative relations were found between emotional intelligence and burnout levels, as well as their association with the teacher’s socioemotional competencies. The analysis argues the possible consequences of stress during the pandemic and, correspondingly, the need for promoting protective approaches that embrace emotional intelligence and socioemotional competencies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wellbeing in Education, Career, and Work: Current Contributions from Emotional Intelligence and other Non-Cognitive Constructs to the Psychology of Sustainability)

20 pages, 1089 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Relationship between Self-Confidence, Self-Efficacy, Grit, Usefulness, and Ease of Use of eLearning Platforms in Corporate Training during the COVID-19 Pandemic

by Adriana Malureanu, Georgeta Panisoara and Iulia Lazar

Sustainability 2021, 13(12), 6633; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13126633 - 10 Jun 2021

Cited by 54 | Viewed by 17395

Abstract

This exploratory study contributes to the understanding of self-confidence as a predictor of self-efficacy, ease of use, and usefulness of eLearning platforms in corporate training. The present research explored the relationship among the employees’ beliefs regarding self-confidence, grit, ease of use, self-efficacy, and [...] Read more.

This exploratory study contributes to the understanding of self-confidence as a predictor of self-efficacy, ease of use, and usefulness of eLearning platforms in corporate training. The present research explored the relationship among the employees’ beliefs regarding self-confidence, grit, ease of use, self-efficacy, and usefulness of eLearning platforms in their workplace during the COVID-19 pandemic. In total, 307 responses from Romanian employees who used eLearning platforms in corporate training (females = 60.3%, males = 39.7%, age range of less than 24 years (12.1%) to over 55 years (6.2%)) were exploited for research. Data were analyzed through a path analysis model. Results indicate that grit (i.e., consistency of interest), self-efficacy, and perceived ease of use of eLearning platforms were considerably directly influenced by the self-confidence variable. Usefulness was directly influenced by the ease of use and was indirectly influenced by self-confidence. Mediation analysis indicated that full mediation occurs only through the ease of use of eLearning platforms variable in the relationship between self-confidence and usefulness. A unit increase in self-confidence will increase the expected value of grit by 0.54 units (t = 8.39, p < 0.001), will indirectly increase the expected value of usefulness through ease of use by 0.15 units (t = 2.39, p = 0.017), and will increase the expected value of self-efficacy by 0.53 units (t = 6.26, p < 0.001). In addition, perceived ease of use of eLearning platforms in corporate training fully mediated the relationship of usefulness regressed on self-confidence (β = 0.20, t = 2.51, p = 0.012). These novel results reveal the contributions of self-confidence, consistency of interest as a grit dimension, and ease of use of eLearning platforms in predicting lifelong learning solutions, which improve business outcomes. The related investigation and consequences were further considered. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wellbeing in Education, Career, and Work: Current Contributions from Emotional Intelligence and other Non-Cognitive Constructs to the Psychology of Sustainability)

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24 pages, 6102 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research Trends in Career Success: A Bibliometric Review

by Roberto Pico-Saltos, Paúl Carrión-Mero, Néstor Montalván-Burbano, Javier Garzás and Andrés Redchuk

Sustainability 2021, 13(9), 4625; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13094625 - 21 Apr 2021

Cited by 32 | Viewed by 8500

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of academic research on professional success, using the bibliometric analysis to understand the evolution of this field between the years 1990 and 2020. The information was obtained from the publications indexed in the [...] Read more.

The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of academic research on professional success, using the bibliometric analysis to understand the evolution of this field between the years 1990 and 2020. The information was obtained from the publications indexed in the Scopus database, under a rigorous bibliometric process that comprises five parts: (i) criteria search of the field, (ii) selection of database and documents, (iii) inclusion and selection criteria, (iv) software and data selection, and (v) analysis and results. The results show professional success as a scientific discipline in full exponential growth, which allows us to consider the main contributions of authors, institutions, and international contributions, as well as to consider the main themes that have shaped the intellectual structure of the subject through their visualization using bibliometric maps of co-citation and co-occurrence, which combined showed eight main lines of research. The results obtained allowed us to identify patterns of convergence and divergence in various topics, which allows obtaining current and diverse information on the state of the research field’s art. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wellbeing in Education, Career, and Work: Current Contributions from Emotional Intelligence and other Non-Cognitive Constructs to the Psychology of Sustainability)

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18 pages, 308 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Styles of Coping with Stress as a Factor Influencing Professional Burnout among Professional Officers of the Polish Army in the Context of Their Age

by Grażyna Bartkowiak, Agnieszka Krugiełka, Paulina Kostrzewa-Demczuk, Ryszard Dachowski and Katarzyna Gałek

Sustainability 2021, 13(7), 3953; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13073953 - 2 Apr 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2789

Abstract

The subject of this article is the issue of coping with stress in the context of the level of professional burnout among professional soldiers at the officer rank and the identification of the relationship between occupational burnout and the preferences of the style [...] Read more.

The subject of this article is the issue of coping with stress in the context of the level of professional burnout among professional soldiers at the officer rank and the identification of the relationship between occupational burnout and the preferences of the style of coping with stress and the age of the respondents. The study aims to answer the following questions: how does occupational burnout (its individual dimensions according to the concept underlying the construction of a research tool) depend on the style of coping with stress, and whether and how the level of occupational burnout changes depending on the age of soldiers? The study consists of two parts: a theoretical one, in which the issues are presented in relation to the literature on the subject, and an empirical section, presenting the results of research in which 200 soldiers of the Polish Army with the officer rank participated. The research was carried out using questionnaires that met the requirements of psychometric correctness (Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations—CISS and Link Burnout Questionnaire—LBQ). As a result of the research, it turned out that the level of occupational burnout depends on the choice of the style of coping with stress (a higher level of burnout is favored by the preference for an emotional coping strategy), while the style of coping with stress and the level of occupational burnout among professional soldiers with the rank of officer changes with age. The presented research, mainly due to the specifics of the research group, was not undertaken and described in the literature on the subject. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wellbeing in Education, Career, and Work: Current Contributions from Emotional Intelligence and other Non-Cognitive Constructs to the Psychology of Sustainability)

22 pages, 2043 KiB

Open AccessArticle

by Svajone Bekesiene, Audrone Petrauskaite and Rolanda Kazlauskaite Markeliene

Sustainability 2021, 13(3), 1536; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13031536 - 1 Feb 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 6415

Abstract

The aim of the study is to investigate the impact of nepotism as a form of corruption on the effectiveness of organizations, determining the relationship between the manager and employees, employee relations, and taking it into account as a potential threat to secure [...] Read more.

The aim of the study is to investigate the impact of nepotism as a form of corruption on the effectiveness of organizations, determining the relationship between the manager and employees, employee relations, and taking it into account as a potential threat to secure and sustainable development of the organization and society. The data collected from private and public organizations were used to test research hypotheses. The AMOS version 26 program and structural equation modeling (SEM) were applied to check the models with median effects. The results of the test allowed to identify the negative aspects of nepotism in the relationship between the manager’s behavior and organizational performance. Nepotism causes internal conflicts and an atmosphere of mistrust in both public and private organizations, which leads to poor company performance and quality of services provided, and the potential loss of professionals. The results of the research show that the problem of nepotism is still relevant in Lithuanian society. The research results allow envisaging both systematic and ideological measures to prevent corruption in Lithuania. Models for the prevention of this form of corruption can be constructed on the basis of this research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wellbeing in Education, Career, and Work: Current Contributions from Emotional Intelligence and other Non-Cognitive Constructs to the Psychology of Sustainability)

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15 pages, 686 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Empirical Study on Students’ Academic Wellbeing and Sustainable Development in Live Webcast Classes

by Huani Liu, Minjuan Wang, Hengling Wan, Yifan Lyu and Haorong Zhu

Sustainability 2021, 13(2), 501; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13020501 - 7 Jan 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3125

Abstract

In recent years, live webcast classes have been increasingly used in China as an approach to alleviating educational poverty through equal access to high-quality education. Many schools in impoverished areas have managed to increase their proportions of students entering college by introducing the [...] Read more.

In recent years, live webcast classes have been increasingly used in China as an approach to alleviating educational poverty through equal access to high-quality education. Many schools in impoverished areas have managed to increase their proportions of students entering college by introducing the new model. While celebrating improved learning outcomes of a small percentage of students, educators should also be concerned about the overall academic wellbeing and sustainable development of less successful students. In the present study, academic wellbeing was conceptualized as a multidimensional construct covering seven dimensions, namely Empathy, Support, Responsiveness, Reliability, Tangibility, Self-efficacy and Buoyancy. Data were collected from 136 twelfth-grade students who had studied in live webcast classes. The results show that the overall academic wellbeing in live webcast classes was consistent among students of different academic performance levels, but the specific dimensions of academic wellbeing that they think mostly need improvement varied among different student groups. The findings of this study suggest that learner wellbeing and sustainability can be enhanced by closer collaboration between live webcast instructors and local teachers in instructional materials design, exercise and test questions’ compilation, as well as students’ self-study facilitation. The degree to which a local teacher should be involved in classroom teaching depends on the students’ academic level and learning needs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wellbeing in Education, Career, and Work: Current Contributions from Emotional Intelligence and other Non-Cognitive Constructs to the Psychology of Sustainability)

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15 pages, 1352 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Empirical Comparison of Graduate Entrepreneurs and Graduate Employees Based on Graduate Entrepreneurship Education and Career Development

by Chih-Hung Yuan, Dajiang Wang, Chuanyu Mao and Feixia Wu

Sustainability 2020, 12(24), 10563; https://doi.org/10.3390/su122410563 - 17 Dec 2020

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 4498

Abstract

Entrepreneurship is a double-edged sword. Entrepreneurs may either reap great rewards or suffer great damages from crises in the near future. Therefore, it is crucial to offer entrepreneurship education to students. This would help them broaden their horizons in graduate employment. This study [...] Read more.

Entrepreneurship is a double-edged sword. Entrepreneurs may either reap great rewards or suffer great damages from crises in the near future. Therefore, it is crucial to offer entrepreneurship education to students. This would help them broaden their horizons in graduate employment. This study compares graduate entrepreneurs and graduate employees in China, focusing on their career development. The results of the study show that graduate entrepreneurs have higher career satisfaction than graduate employees. In addition, graduate entrepreneurs have greater work commitments than graduate employees, although they also have higher job stress. We also found that most graduates in either group could earn a living easily. A certain number of the two parties spent more than what they earned mainly to provide financial support to their families. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wellbeing in Education, Career, and Work: Current Contributions from Emotional Intelligence and other Non-Cognitive Constructs to the Psychology of Sustainability)

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13 pages, 319 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Does Emotional Intelligence Have an Impact on Linguistic Competences? A Primary Education Study

by Georgina Perpiñà Martí, Francesc Sidera Caballero and Elisabet Serrat Sellabona

Sustainability 2020, 12(24), 10474; https://doi.org/10.3390/su122410474 - 15 Dec 2020

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3247

Abstract

The relationship between emotional intelligence (EI) and academic achievement has received a lot of attention in the school environment. The objective of this study is to identify which EI components are more related to linguistic competences in primary education. One hundred eighty students [...] Read more.

The relationship between emotional intelligence (EI) and academic achievement has received a lot of attention in the school environment. The objective of this study is to identify which EI components are more related to linguistic competences in primary education. One hundred eighty students between 8 and 11 years of age participated in the study. We administered the BarOn EI Inventory, the intellectual skills test (EFAI) to determine the intellectual abilities, and a test of basic linguistic competences. The results showed that the EI factors of adaptability and interpersonal had the strongest impact on linguistic competences. Specifically, adaptability was the EI component more related to reading comprehension, explaining 13.2% of the reading score’s variance, while adaptability and stress management were the best predictors of writing skills, accounting for 15.4% of the variance of the writing score. These results point to the need to consider emotional competences to help students reach academic success and personal well-being. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wellbeing in Education, Career, and Work: Current Contributions from Emotional Intelligence and other Non-Cognitive Constructs to the Psychology of Sustainability)

21 pages, 2927 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Towards Sustainable Human Resources: How Generational Differences Impact Subjective Wellbeing in the Military?

by Rasa Smaliukiene and Svajone Bekesiene

Sustainability 2020, 12(23), 10016; https://doi.org/10.3390/su122310016 - 30 Nov 2020

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 5389

Abstract

The article analyzes the generational (age cohorts) effect on subjective wellbeing at work. The main aim is to reveal generational differences that lead to subjective wellbeing at work and possible discrepancies between the generations. The article contributes to the literature by creating and [...] Read more.

The article analyzes the generational (age cohorts) effect on subjective wellbeing at work. The main aim is to reveal generational differences that lead to subjective wellbeing at work and possible discrepancies between the generations. The article contributes to the literature by creating and testing a theoretical model of subjective wellbeing at work as a composition of several dimensions that vary among generations, including physical experience, cognitive job performance, and appraisal, as well as social relationships and socio-emotional enablement at work. Using the military as an organization where daily routine creates similar conditions for different generations, we surveyed 890 army professionals representing three different generations: Gen Y, Gen X, and Gen Z. A structural equation modelling (SEM) technique is used to test the research model. The results support the hypothesis that generation has a strong moderating impact on the components of subjective wellbeing at work. Social relationship, as a socio-emotional experience, is the most important component of wellbeing at work for Gen Z, while socio-emotional enablement plays a central role in subjective wellbeing at work for Gen X and Gen Y. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wellbeing in Education, Career, and Work: Current Contributions from Emotional Intelligence and other Non-Cognitive Constructs to the Psychology of Sustainability)

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13 pages, 592 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Emotion Regulation and Employability: The Mediational Role of Ambition and a Protean Career among Unemployed People

by Chiara Panari, Michela Tonelli and Greta Mazzetti

Sustainability 2020, 12(22), 9347; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12229347 - 11 Nov 2020

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4135

Abstract

Literature on job searching suggests that emotion regulation has an impact on employability, but this relationship is far from being explained; furthermore, most of the studies have been conducted among students or workers. The aim of the current study was to investigate the [...] Read more.

Literature on job searching suggests that emotion regulation has an impact on employability, but this relationship is far from being explained; furthermore, most of the studies have been conducted among students or workers. The aim of the current study was to investigate the relationship between emotion regulation and employability among unemployed people, analyzing the role of ambition and protean career orientation as possible factors in such a relationship. Participants were 228 unemployed subjects who had requested individual counselling for job searching; data were collected by means of a self-report questionnaire. Results confirmed that emotion regulation is related to employability, both through a direct relationship and through an indirect effect of ambition and protean career orientation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wellbeing in Education, Career, and Work: Current Contributions from Emotional Intelligence and other Non-Cognitive Constructs to the Psychology of Sustainability)

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10 pages, 263 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Innovative and Research Professional Identity of Future Early Years and Primary School Teachers and Their Relationship with Psychological Well-Being

by Gloria Pérez de Albéniz-Garrote and María Begoña Medina Gómez

Sustainability 2020, 12(20), 8593; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12208593 - 16 Oct 2020

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2062

Abstract

Teacher’s professional identity (TPI) is an essential and decisive element in the way future EY and primary teachers approach their labour. This study aims to analyse how and when student teachers build TPI and to study its relationship with personal well-being. The sample [...] Read more.

Teacher’s professional identity (TPI) is an essential and decisive element in the way future EY and primary teachers approach their labour. This study aims to analyse how and when student teachers build TPI and to study its relationship with personal well-being. The sample was made up of 135 students of the Faculty of Education of the University of Burgos (Spain), aged 18–44. A questionnaire elaborated ad hoc and an individual psychological well-being scale were both implemented. The results suggest that training activities, initially scheduled by the university courses, are those which most contribute to the building of a TPI; that there seem to be no differences in relation to gender and year of study in the factors which contribute to its development, regardless of whether it is rather innovative or research-oriented and that there is a relationship between types of TPI, as well as between these and the satisfaction with academic choice, and psychological well-being. Future teachers should build a solid TPI which enables them to successfully adapt to complex educational settings and encourages them to innovate. It is necessary to gradually make room for reflection from the beginning of the university training, as this could improve the future professional performance and the students’ psychological well-being. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wellbeing in Education, Career, and Work: Current Contributions from Emotional Intelligence and other Non-Cognitive Constructs to the Psychology of Sustainability)

17 pages, 706 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Investigating Sequence Patterns of Collaborative Problem-Solving Behavior in Online Collaborative Discussion Activity

by Yafeng Zheng, Haogang Bao, Jun Shen and Xuesong Zhai

Sustainability 2020, 12(20), 8522; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12208522 - 15 Oct 2020

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2956

Abstract

Collaborative problem solving (CPS) is an influential human behavior affecting working performance and well-being. Previous studies examined CPS behavior from the perspective of either social or cognitive dimensions, which leave a research gap from the interactive perspective. In addition, the traditional sequence analysis [...] Read more.

Collaborative problem solving (CPS) is an influential human behavior affecting working performance and well-being. Previous studies examined CPS behavior from the perspective of either social or cognitive dimensions, which leave a research gap from the interactive perspective. In addition, the traditional sequence analysis method failed to combine time sequences and sub-problem sequences together while analyzing behavioral patterns in CPS. This study proposes a developed schema for the multidimensional analysis of CPS. A combination sequential analysis approach that comprises time sequences and sub-problem sequences is also employed to explore CPS patterns. A total of 191 students were recruited and randomly grouped into 38 teams (four to six students per team) in the online collaborative discussion activity. Their discussion transcripts were coded while they conducted CPS, followed by the assessment of high- and low- performance groups according to the developed schema and sequential analysis. With the help of the new analysis method, the findings indicate that a deep exploratory discussion is generated from conflicting viewpoints, which promotes improved problem-solving outcomes and perceptions. In addition, evidence-based rationalization can motivate collaborative behavior effectively. The results demonstrated the potential power of automatic sequential analysis with multidimensional behavior and its ability to provide quantitative descriptions of group interactions in the investigated threaded discussions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wellbeing in Education, Career, and Work: Current Contributions from Emotional Intelligence and other Non-Cognitive Constructs to the Psychology of Sustainability)

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12 pages, 695 KiB

Open AccessArticle

How Can Organizational Justice Contribute to Job Satisfaction? A Chained Mediation Model

by Alessio Gori, Eleonora Topino, Letizia Palazzeschi and Annamaria Di Fabio

Sustainability 2020, 12(19), 7902; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12197902 - 24 Sep 2020

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 4669

Abstract

The maintenance of workers’ job satisfaction plays a central role among strategies supporting human capital, as it seems to be an important protective variable determining employees’ well-being and individual and organizational performances. Thus, the aim of the present research was to analyze the [...] Read more.

The maintenance of workers’ job satisfaction plays a central role among strategies supporting human capital, as it seems to be an important protective variable determining employees’ well-being and individual and organizational performances. Thus, the aim of the present research was to analyze the contribution of different dispositional and organizational variables that could affect individual job satisfaction, particularly focusing on the direct and indirect effects of acceptance of change with the mediation of organizational justice and its subdimensions. A total of 179 Italian workers (41% men, 59% women; mean age = 47 years old; SD = 10.87) completed the Acceptance of Change Scale, Job Satisfaction Scale and Organizational Justice Scale. Results showed a significant influence of acceptance of change on job satisfaction, also highlighting a partial mediation effect of organizational justice. Furthermore, when the latter was explored in depth by considering its subdimensions (procedural, distributive, informational, interpersonal justice) as mediators, a significant chained total-mediation model emerged. Such findings can provide useful indications for research and intervention to favor workers’ job satisfaction in several job contexts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wellbeing in Education, Career, and Work: Current Contributions from Emotional Intelligence and other Non-Cognitive Constructs to the Psychology of Sustainability)

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15 pages, 497 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Promoting Students’ Well-Being by Developing Their Readiness for the Artificial Intelligence Age

by Yun Dai, Ching-Sing Chai, Pei-Yi Lin, Morris Siu-Yung Jong, Yanmei Guo and Jianjun Qin

Sustainability 2020, 12(16), 6597; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12166597 - 14 Aug 2020

Cited by 101 | Viewed by 17922

Abstract

This study developed and validated an instrument to measure students’ readiness to learn about artificial intelligence (AI). The designed survey questionnaire was administrated in a school district in Beijing after an AI course was developed and implemented. The collected data and analytical results [...] Read more.

This study developed and validated an instrument to measure students’ readiness to learn about artificial intelligence (AI). The designed survey questionnaire was administrated in a school district in Beijing after an AI course was developed and implemented. The collected data and analytical results provided insights regarding the self-reported perceptions of primary students’ AI readiness and enabled the identification of factors that may influence this parameter. The results indicated that AI literacy was not predictive of AI readiness. The influences of AI literacy were mediated by the students’ confidence and perception of AI relevance. The students’ AI readiness was not influenced by a reduction in their anxiety regarding AI and an enhancement in their AI literacy. Male students reported a higher confidence, relevance, and readiness for AI than female students did. The sentiments reflected by the open-ended responses of the students indicated that the students were generally excited to learn about AI and viewed AI as a powerful and useful technology. The student sentiments confirmed the quantitative findings. The validated survey can help teachers better understand and monitor students’ learning, as well as reflect on the design of the AI curriculum and the associated teaching effectiveness. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wellbeing in Education, Career, and Work: Current Contributions from Emotional Intelligence and other Non-Cognitive Constructs to the Psychology of Sustainability)

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5 pages, 209 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Satisfaction with Life Scale Among Italian Workers: Reliability, Factor Structure and Validity through a Big Sample Study

by Annamaria Di Fabio and Alessio Gori

Sustainability 2020, 12(14), 5860; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12145860 - 21 Jul 2020

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 3839

Abstract

The study aims to assess the psychometric characteristics of the Satisfaction with Life Scale among 1074 participants from the working context. Analyzing Reliability, Factor Structure and concurrent validity, results indicated good values; besides results revealed a robust structure with one factor. On the [...] Read more.

The study aims to assess the psychometric characteristics of the Satisfaction with Life Scale among 1074 participants from the working context. Analyzing Reliability, Factor Structure and concurrent validity, results indicated good values; besides results revealed a robust structure with one factor. On the basis of these results, the SWLS is a valid instrument in relation to evaluate some cognitive aspects of life satisfaction also in the Italian work context. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wellbeing in Education, Career, and Work: Current Contributions from Emotional Intelligence and other Non-Cognitive Constructs to the Psychology of Sustainability)

10 pages, 275 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Towards Identifying the Soft Skills Needed in Curricula: Finnish and Italian Students’ Self-Evaluations Indicate Differences between Groups

by Valeria Caggiano, Kai Schleutker, Loredana Petrone and Jerónimo González-Bernal

Sustainability 2020, 12(10), 4031; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12104031 - 14 May 2020

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 4867

Abstract

Background: The identification of soft skills by Higher Education (HE) students is important for curriculum design, as is to evaluate if the students’ soft skills are adapted to the needs of the socioeconomic environment. This paper presents a study conducted to determine to [...] Read more.

Background: The identification of soft skills by Higher Education (HE) students is important for curriculum design, as is to evaluate if the students’ soft skills are adapted to the needs of the socioeconomic environment. This paper presents a study conducted to determine to what extent Finnish and Italian students’ perceptions of their own soft skills differ. Methods: The cohort of the study consisted of 80 Finnish and 80 Italian HE students. Results: The results reveal that, regardless of cultural aspects, both groups share specific soft skills whilst showing significant differences in others. The observed differences in the profiles of the two countries are explained on the basis of the cultural and curricula design frameworks that are well established in Finland and Italy. Conclusions: The implications of the findings for HE teachers and researchers are presented, which may bear relevance in guiding the implementation of curriculum design in Finland, Italy and beyond. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wellbeing in Education, Career, and Work: Current Contributions from Emotional Intelligence and other Non-Cognitive Constructs to the Psychology of Sustainability)

11 pages, 663 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Validation of the Resilience Scale for Adolescents in High School in a Spanish Population

by María del Carmen Pérez-Fuentes, María del Mar Molero Jurado, Ana Belén Barragán Martín, Isabel Mercader Rubio and José Jesús Gázquez Linares

Sustainability 2020, 12(7), 2943; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12072943 - 7 Apr 2020

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3237

Abstract

Resilience is a personal competence that facilitates coping with adversity and forms part of an individual’s psychosocial adjustment. Therefore, this construct has an important role in adolescent development. Youths with high levels of resilience usually show less risk of behavioral disorders, low academic [...] Read more.

Resilience is a personal competence that facilitates coping with adversity and forms part of an individual’s psychosocial adjustment. Therefore, this construct has an important role in adolescent development. Youths with high levels of resilience usually show less risk of behavioral disorders, low academic performance or interpersonal conflicts. The objective of this study was to validate the Resilience Scale for Adolescents (READ) in a Spanish population, and test whether this questionnaire is valid for different cultures and societies. The sample comprised 317 high school students aged 13 to 18 years old with an average age of 14.93, in the province of Almería (Spain). The Resilience Scale for Adolescents was administered for this. Based on exploratory factor analysis and the various previous studies undertaken on validation of this instrument, four models were proposed, of which the original READ model showed the best fit. Validation of this scale showed good internal consistency and high reliability on five factors: Family Cohesion, Personal Competence, Social Competence, Social Resources and Orientation toward Goals. It is considered a valid instrument for evaluating the various factors of resilience and can help determine the education factors contributing to the process of positive adaptation in adolescence. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wellbeing in Education, Career, and Work: Current Contributions from Emotional Intelligence and other Non-Cognitive Constructs to the Psychology of Sustainability)

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22 pages, 555 KiB

Open AccessArticle

I Am a Leader, I Am a Mother, I Can Do This! The Moderated Mediation of Psychological Capital, Work–Family Conflict, and Having Children on Well-Being of Women Leaders

by Laritza Machín-Rincón, Eva Cifre, Pilar Domínguez-Castillo and Mónica Segovia-Pérez

Sustainability 2020, 12(5), 2100; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12052100 - 9 Mar 2020

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 6113

Abstract

Gender equality is one of the Sustainable Development Goals. Management is one of the jobs that more clearly needs a gender perspective. Women leaders have found a way around the labyrinth to get to the top, which might have developed their personal resources [...] Read more.

Gender equality is one of the Sustainable Development Goals. Management is one of the jobs that more clearly needs a gender perspective. Women leaders have found a way around the labyrinth to get to the top, which might have developed their personal resources such as psychological capital. Women leaders experience an inter-role conflict when work and family demands are mutually incompatible, affecting negatively their well-being. This study aims to analyze the mediation role that work–family and family–work conflict plays between psychological capital and well-being (engagement and burnout) when moderated by the number of children. In total, 202 Spanish women leaders participated in the study. Results of the mediated moderation model using Model 14 of the macro PROCESS for SPSS software show that psychological capital buffers the negative effects that experiencing work–family conflict has on well-being when having children. The well-being of women leaders is not affected when dealing with family interfering work conflict and having children. As such, women leaders who have children rely on their psychological capital to successfully manage the family demands affecting their work and to reduce the negative effect of work–family conflict on their well-being. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed from the psychology of a sustainability perspective. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wellbeing in Education, Career, and Work: Current Contributions from Emotional Intelligence and other Non-Cognitive Constructs to the Psychology of Sustainability)

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