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Factors Affecting the Relationship between Workplace Loneliness and Productivity of Employees in Pakistan
Get PDFThis study aimed to explore the channels through which Workplace Loneliness (WPL) affects employees’ productivity. A theoretical framework was proposed, suggesting WPL increases the Need to Belong (NtB) and Affective Commitment to Organization (ACO), in turn affecting the employees’ productivity. We adopted a survey design to collect primary data through a closed-ended questionnaire. The targeted population consisted of individuals working in various organizations in Pakistan. Data was analysed using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). As per the findings, the relationship of WPL seems to have a positive effect on Work Productivity (WP) of employees. WPL also seems to positively affect NtB, which in turn positively affects productivity, hence a significant positive mediation of NtB between WPL and WP. The effect of WPL on ACO seems to be insignificant; however, AC seem to have a positive effect on WP. Both moderation effects seem to remain inconclusive. The novel scholarly contribution of this study includes the practical implications of its results to consider loneliness an organizational problem that needs to be tackled to help employees and improve work productivity
Assessing the English Language Needs of Ophthalmologists: A Study for Developing ESP Curriculum for Medical Practice and Research
Get PDFFocusing on the trend and needs of practitioners in the academic setting is crucial. The emerging and developed field of ophthalmology in the globalised era demands efficient English language skills and competency. This study tailored the needs of ophthalmology to assess and design a specialised English for Specific Purpose curriculum that facilitates their profession and collaboration. Employing the qualitative approach following the method of phenomenology, the researchers diagnosed the gaps in using English as their second language. The gathered interviews have further demonstrated the challenges, complexities, and barriers that ophthalmologists face in their professional setting. Further, the qualitative result depicted the advanced clinical English needs which can be assessed, investigated, and explained the dynamicity of the language area. However, detailed analyses assessed the communication gap and provided an effective curriculum to address the practitioners\u27 needs and enable them to excel in their professional context. Therefore, this research would be effective for educationist practitioners to employ the current language trend in the field of medical sciences
Exploring the Impact of Imposter Phenomenon on Academic Achievement: The Moderating Role of Self-Efficacy
Get PDFA common occurrence among high-achieving students is the impostor phenomenon, which can adversely affect learning achievement, mental health, and overall wellness. This study quantitatively examines the connection between the feeling of Imposter Phenomenon and academic success, focusing on potential moderating factors like self-efficacy. A sample of students, aged 16 to 30, with no psychological disorders, participated in the study. Validated items, including the feeling of unworthy of success, Academic Performance, and General Self-belief were employed to ensure data reliability and validity. Purposive convenience sampling was used for participant selection. Outcomes show an adverse connection between Imposter Phenomenon and academic performance, emphasising the damaging impact of self-doubt on educational outcomes. However, self-efficacy did not serve as a moderating factor in this relationship. These findings suggest that while self-efficacy is critical, addressing subjective feelings of inadequacy is crucial for fostering academic success and overall mental wellness. This research underlines the significance of interventions targeting the Imposter Phenomenon to enhance student performance and overall resilience
A Qualitative Study on Teachers’ Reflective Practices in Private Schools of Karachi, Pakistan
Get PDFThis qualitative study explores teachers’ perspectives on reflective practices in education and how these practices inform their teaching strategies. The sample size is 8 teachers from two private schools in Karachi, Pakistan (4 from each school). Through a semi-structured interview guide with 8 elementary school teachers, the research explores their experiences with reflection, both formal and informal, and the challenges they face during reflective processes. A semi-structured interview guide comprising open-ended questions was employed to get teachers’ perspectives, along with an observation guide. The analysis identified several themes, including teachers’ perception of reflection as a significant tool for enhancing their teaching practices, fostering collaboration amongst peers, differentiated instruction, and enhanced students\u27 learning outcomes, promoting personal and professional ongoing professional development. Teachers, when involved in reflection, become competent reflective practitioners. However, challenges such as time constraints, lack of structured reflection opportunities, and insufficient leadership support were noted as challenges that hinder regular reflective practices. The findings indicate that while teachers value reflection, more supportive environments are required to encourage reflective practices. This study emphasises the importance of reflection in teacher development and provides insights into how schools can create environments that support reflective practices to foster professional growth and improve teaching quality
Global Citizenship Education: A Case Study of Teachers’ Practices and Challenges in an Underprivileged Primary School in Karachi
Get PDFGlobal Citizenship Education (GCE) prepares students for an interconnected world by promoting peace, respect, and sustainability, empowering them to contribute to a more inclusive society. This qualitative case study explores the challenges of integration of GCE in an underprivileged primary school of Karachi, Pakistan, focusing on the national curriculum, textbooks, teachers’ perceptions and pedagogy. Data were collected through curriculum and textbook analysis, teacher interviews, and classroom observations. Findings revealed that although the curriculum and textbooks cover core elements of GCE such as diversity, interconnectedness, and human rights, core elements of GCE, but they do not explicitly address GCE as a distinct concept. Furthermore, the lack of GCE awareness among teachers highlights deficiencies in their knowledge and training. Moreover, Socio-economic factors pose significant challenges to integrating GCE. The study underscores the need to integrate GCE into curricula, textbooks, and teacher training, emphasising the importance of national efforts to effectively implement GCE in schools to foster students’ cosmopolitan and global citizenship competencies
Association Between Vitamin D3 Deficiency and Postpartum Outcomes in Pregnant Women: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta Analysis
Get PDFWomen may experience postpartum depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders after giving birth. Vitamin D3 can be formed in the human body through skin exposure to sunlight (UV radiation) or from dietary resources. This study aims to evaluate the correlation between postpartum depression and vitamin D3 deficiency in pregnant women using "preferred reporting. Item for systemic review and meta-analysis (PRISMA) framework as a guide, this study incorporated insight from 9 scholarly papers to illuminate the impact of vitamin D3 on pregnant women that is related to postpartum, which can lead to psychological issues like anxiety and depression. In conclusion, a pregnant woman experiencing low levels of vitamin D3 thought that the first and second trimesters of her pregnancy might have an impact on her psychological behavior after giving birth because she did not eat a diet high in vitamin D3 and was not exposed to sunlight. In addition, this study revealed that pregnant women have severely low vitamin D3 levels. Therefore, every pregnant woman should be monitored and followed up with her vitamin D3 serum levels throughout the period of gestation and take vitamin D3 supplements when it is found at a low level and should also visit a psychiatrist when one of these symptoms appears
Histological Changes of Liver Tissue Triggered by Antibiotic Drug Azithromycin and the Ameliorative Effects of Garlic in Male Albino Rats
Get PDFThe garlic plant can be used as a spice in cooking or as a treatment for several common disorders. Garlic\u27s four primary constituents are allicin, alliin, diallyl sulfide (DAS), and S-allyl cysteine (SAC). Anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, antidiabetic, and antioxidant qualities are among its biological attributes. By using histological analysis of liver tissue, the work aimed to determine the harmful effects of the antibiotic Azithromycin, as well as the protective function of garlic. In the animal house of the Faculty of Science, University of Kufa, 24 mature male albino rats (Rattus norvegicus) weighing between 180 and 270 grams on average were employed in this study. The rats were between 2.5 and 3 months old. According to the study, two weeks after oral administration of 500 mg/kg of azithromycin and 240 mg/kg of garlic to animals, histological changes in liver tissue were estimated. Compared to the control group, which acquired distilled water and garlic, several negative effects on liver tissue were observed in the groups that received azithromycin and azithromycin + garlic. Furthermore, compared to the group that was given azithromycin alone, the results displayed a minor alteration in liver tissue in the group that received azithromycin plus garlic
Analysing Factors Driving Pakistan’s Commercial Banking Credit Risk: An Empirical Investigation
Get PDFCredit risk, commonly measured by non-performing loans (NPLs), is a key indicator of commercial banks\u27 financial stability. This empirical study scrutinises selected factors influencing credit risk, measured through NPLs in Pakistani commercial banks. Examining a balanced panel of 18 banks spanning 15 years (2006-2020), totalling 270 observations, the study employs the feasible generalized least square (FGLS) method to address panel data issues. Multiple linear regression analysis with random and fixed effects, facilitated by STATA 17, reveals that, except for the unemployment rate, all identified factors significantly impact NPLs. Particularly noteworthy are inflation and management efficiency, identified as novel contributors to NPL variability. The study advocates for autonomous and responsible regulatory policies to adeptly control credit risk, emphasizing the necessity for commercial banks to adopt robust screening and control methods in lending. It further recommends a proactive role for the Pakistani government in fostering a conducive environment through attractive interest rates and inflation control, anticipating these measures to play a pivotal role in facilitating lending, mitigating credit risk, and indirectly enhancing the country\u27s economic growth
Impact of Audit Quality on Financial Performance of Islamic and Conventional Banks: Evidence from the MENA Region
Get PDFThis study examines the impact of audit quality, bank-specific factors, and political turmoil on financial performance, as measured by Return on Assets, using a fixed-effects model. The analysis is conducted on a full sample of banks and further categorised into Islamic and conventional banks. The results indicate that audit quality has a significant positive effect on Return on Assets (ROA) across all models, reinforcing the role of high-quality audits in enhancing financial performance. Bank size, leverage, liquidity, profitability before taxes, and capital adequacy ratio also exhibit strong positive relationships with ROA, emphasizing their importance in driving profitability. Political turmoil, however, presents a mixed impact, while it negatively affects the full sample, it has a significant positive effect on Islamic banks, suggesting their resilience in politically unstable environments. The fixed effects model is validated using the Hausman test, confirming its suitability for this analysis. These findings offer valuable insights for policymakers, regulators, and banking institutions in assessing financial stability and performance under varying economic conditions
Career Change: The Role of Society and Personal Choice
Get PDFThis study focused on the analysis of career change and the question whether it occurred based on personal choice or the society’s impacts. The study is based on qualitative method of research using phenomenological approach to explore reasons for career change, obstacles the participants experience, and effects of career transition on life satisfaction, job satisfaction, and subjective well-being. Consequently, it features an analysis of social factors including parental and peer pressure. Through the analysis of career-related theories, as well as psychological and sociologically oriented findings, this work outlines the interplay relations between the self-fulfilment of the subject’s aspirations and socio-cultural regulation. This paper shows the following: The results highlight that, although self-motives including growth, purpose, and work-life balance are the primary initiators, socially related forces influence the career choice mechanisms. This study extends knowledge on career change as a non-linear, multifaceted phenomenon providing useful information for anybody planning a career change, as well as for organizations that assist their employees in the process of transition. Semi-structure interview was taken with 20 career changers who has changed their career. The findings of this study indicated that the career choice of people was influenced by the factor of personal choice as well as society’s pressure. Interviewees indicated that what factors influenced their decisions and what impact it has on their lives