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I did my part! How can I further minimize emerging adult learners’ burnout in an online learning environment?
Full text linkEmerging adults are a crucial group in our society, and research indicates that they rarely consider themselves adults because their cognitive, social, and emotional capacities are undergoing transitionary changes, affecting how they learn. Prior studies have not considered sufficiently the characteristics and needs of emerging adult learners in an online environment. This study aims to address this gap in the literature by examining the psychological needs and academic burnout of emerging adult online learners during the Covid-19 pandemic. Through self-determination theory (SDT) and Stimuli-Organism-Response (S-O-R) theory, the key arguments and constructs include the effects of structural and social bonds on emerging adult learners’ psychological needs, the effect of psychological needs on academic burnout, and the moderating roles of mindfulness. A valid sample of 294 collected through the survey was the basis of the analysis. PLS-SEM was used to analyse and test the hypotheses. Findings indicate that structural and social bonds affect psychological needs at varying strengths, which is generally consistent with prior findings but with different groups of learners. The moderating roles of mindfulness, however, were mixed. The model robustness further highlights the predictive analysis, which complements the exploratory perspective. This study contributes to the literature by identifying the predictors that fulfill the basic psychological needs of emerging adult learners and examining the effect of this fulfilment on the burnout during the online learning. In addition, this study implies how online trainers and educational institutions can build an optimal environment to reduce the burnout and then improve the learning effectiveness for emerging adult learners. Limitations, and agenda for future research were further discussed to conclude the study
Do Pandemics Trigger Death Thoughts?
Full text linkThe current article aims to investigate the effects of pandemics of varying severity on death-thought accessibility in two studies while controlling for health anxiety. Study 1 (n = 203) examined the effect of standard mortality salience (MS), severe pandemic, mild pandemic, and dental conditions on death-thought accessibility as assessed by the death word fragment task (DWFT). Study 1 did not find significant effects of MS and delay on deaththought accessibility, which could be attributable to the less-sensitive nature of the DWFT. Thus, Study 2 (n = 163) was conducted with more sensitive death-thought accessibility measures. Results from Study 2 found that response time toward death and positive words on the lexical-decision task was significantly faster than in standard MS and dental conditions. Both studies recruited predominantly Americans (Study 1) and Europeans (Study 2), which limits the generalizability of the results to other populations. Future studies can consider replicating the studies in other populations
Virtual reality at birth: a distractive tool for creating a positive birth experience
No full text[Extract] Virtual reality (VR) is a computer-generated environment used as an effective pain control option during various medical procedures and painful experiences. Positive outcomes have been reported from applying VR, as a non-pharmacological distraction technique, during labour and birth to reduce pain and anxiety and to improve overall birth satisfaction
Mismatch Between Global Importance of Peatlands and the Extent of Their Protection
Full text linkGlobal peatlands store more carbon than all the world's forests biomass on just 3% of the planet's land surface. Failure to address mounting threats to peatland ecosystems will jeopardize critical climate targets and exacerbate biodiversity loss. Our analysis reveals that 17% of peatlands are protected globally—substantially less than many other high-value ecosystems. Just 11% percent of boreal and 27% of temperate and tropical peatlands are protected, while Indigenous peoples' lands encompass at least another one-quarter of peatlands globally. Peatlands in protected areas and Indigenous peoples' lands generally face lower human pressure than outside those areas. Yet, almost half of temperate and tropical peatlands in protected areas still experience medium to high human pressure. Country submissions of Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement and National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans under the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework could help catalyze actions and secure funding for peatland conservation, including support for the Indigenous stewardship that is critical to protect many of the world's highest priority peatland areas
Radio relationships: Perceptions on listenership and well-being
Full text linkObjective: As Australia boasts large radio listening audiences with high engagement among older adults, we examined Australian radio personnel’s perceptions of their role in delivering radio and how it facilitates listener well-being.
Method: Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with 16 radio personnel affiliated with music- and talk-based community and public stations broadcasting in Melbourne, Victoria.
Results: Thematic analysis indicated two main themes: communication style (e.g., making listeners a part of the conversation, speaking to “one” person, and strong listening skills) and authenticity. Presenters focus on both creating and maintaining relationships as well as promoting community through their on-air actions and programming. This inherently fosters connection and facilitates listener well-being.
Conclusions: The findings have implications for considering how the radio can be used as a tool for enhancing quality of life and for how radio stations manage presenter training and programming changes to support listener connection
Existential distress in advanced cancer: A cohort study
Full text linkObjective:
Clinically significant existential distress may impair quality of life and communication about illness. We investigated the presence of existential distress in the form of demoralization, death anxiety, and dignity-related distress, and its co-occurrence with mental disorders in patients with advanced cancer.
Methods:
We conducted structured clinical interviews and administered self-report questionnaires to assess existential distress and mental disorders. We recruited patients with different Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) stage IV solid tumors from in- and outpatient oncology and palliative care settings.
Results:
A total of 671 patients completed assessments (55 % participation rate, 48 % female, primary tumor site: 28 % lung, 14 % prostate, 11 % breast). Clinically relevant levels of existential distress were present in 46.4 % (95 % CI, 41.7 % to 51.1 %), including demoralization, 12.5 % (95 % CI, 9.6 % to 15.9 %), death anxiety, 27.3 % (95 % CI, 23.2 % to 31.6 %), and dignity-related distress, 38.7 % (95 % CI, 34.2 % to 43.3 %). Frequent existential distress symptoms were sense of entrapment and fear of own and close others' suffering. Mental disorders occurred in 26.2 % (95 %CI 22.2 % to 30.4 %), including major depression, 8.6 % (95 %CI, 6.2 % to 11.5 %), anxiety disorders, 8.4 % (95 %CI 6.0 % to 11.3 %), and ICD-11-adjustment disorder, 10.5 % (95 %CI 7.9 % to 13.7 %). Existential distress and mental disorders co-occurred in 20.0 % (95 %CI 16.4 % to 24.0 %).
Conclusion:
Existential distress is a common, clinically significant problem in patients with advanced cancer. Its recognition in multiprofessional clinical settings can contribute to improve quality of life. Most patients with a mental disorder show comorbid existential distress requiring treatment of both
Development of a Peer-Teaching Mentoring program using SMART goals
Full text linkThis study reports on a project that adopted a social constructivist approach and SMART goals to develop a successful peer-teaching mentoring program to enhance year ten students' leadership growth and year six students' connectedness to their school and peers. Doran (1981, p. 16) developed the SMART goals approach as a guided process to develop a project's desired goal. The SMART goals, S-Specific, M-Measurable, A-Achievable, R-Relevant, and T-Timely, were used to develop the pedagogical artifacts for the peer-teaching mentoring program and facilitate sharing knowledge, skills, and experience. The study used the SMART goals to map the developing stages. It was divided into three stages: 1. developing the characteristics and pedagogical artifacts, 2. preparing the program with the school, and 3. developing surveys and interview questions for data collection and future program analysis. The paper argues that using the SMART goals can help articulate and develop pedagogical tools on peer-teaching mentoring models that address the essential stages and characteristics for facilitating the sharing of knowledge, skills, and experience
Linking innovative knowledge sharing and employees' innovative behaviour: the mediating role of thriving at work
Full text linkExisting research on knowledge management has verified the critical influence of knowledge sharing on employees’ innovative behaviours. However, the underlying mechanism of how knowledge sharing can foster innovation-related behaviours is still less clear. This study aims to explore how employees’ innovative knowledge sharing can impact their innovative behaviours, with a focus on the mediating role of thriving at work. Using an online survey, data were collected from 547 full-time employees working in mainland China. The results supported a mediation model, showing that workers’ innovative knowledge sharing positively affected their sense of thriving at work, which in turn was positively associated with their innovation behaviours. The practical implications of this study are also discussed
Barramundi (Lates calcarifer) from Iraq: a new record for the Arabian Gulf, with a highlight on it genetic origins and description of two skeletal deformities
Full text linkThe natural distribution of Lates calcarifer (barramundi or Asian sea bass), ranges from western India, around Sri Lanka to the Bay of Bengal, and through the whole of Southeast Asia to Papua New Guinea and northern Australia. It is not known to be native to the Arabian Gulf, although the species has recently been introduced for aquaculture production in Iran. In 2019, 12 adult barramundi were caught from freshwater in the Shatt al-Arab River, its estuary and marine waters bordering Iraq. This is the first wild-capture record of this species for Iraq’s inland waters and the northern Arabian Gulf. The specimens were morphologically described, while genetic structure analyses indicated that the specimens likely originated from Australian and Thailand genetic stocks and thus probably were aquaculture escapees from farmed populations. Among the L. calcarifer collected from the freshwater environment on the Shatt al-Arab River, one specimen exhibited saddleback syndrome, and another showed abnormality in the left operculum. The results are interesting and useful in reminding people to prevent aquaculture escapees. The aim of this study was to morphologically describe the specimens and undertake a genetic analysis to determine the likely provenance of the fish
The Use of Dynamometry for Lower Limb Strength Assessment in Female Team Sport Athletes: A Scoping Review
No full textAim: Lower limb injury rates have increased dramatically in line with the rise in female athletes participating in team sports where larger training demands are required for higher performing athletes, increasing exposure to injury. One modifiable and intrinsic risk factor associated with lower limb injuries is muscle strength, measured through single joint machine isokinetic dynamometry (MID) and handheld dynamometry (HHD). Purpose: The purpose of this review was to explore which protocols have been used for MID and HHD lower limb muscular strength assessments, highlighting the test–retest reliability, for the female team sport athlete population. Methods: A review of the literature was conducted using Medline, PubMed, Scopus, SPORTDiscus and Web of Science databases. Of the 26,032 articles identified, 107 were included for analysis. Results: Seated knee flexion/extension was the most common test performed with a similar protocol while hip and ankle joint muscle group tests were performed across two to four positions. Test–retest reliability was poor to excellent for hip and knee tests and only reported in four studies (intraclass correlation coefficients = 0.25–0.98). Conclusions: The same protocol was followed primarily for MID knee flexion/extension (73 studies). However, differences were observed for MID and HHD hip and ankle joint protocols resulting in variable data that could not support dynamometry protocol recommendations for this population. Research exploring the reliability and validity of protocols including measurement equipment may improve the worth of existing data and assessment protocols to support injury and performance strategies in the future