Humanities and Social Sciences Letters

The influence of social cognitive factors on physical activity of Chinese university students: The moderating role of gender

Ahmad Zamri Khairani, Hanying Zhang — Mon, 28 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0500

This study constructed a prediction model of physical activity among Chinese college students based on the social cognitive theory to investigate the factors and mechanisms influencing physical activity among Chinese college students. Questionnaires were dispensed to a cohort of 2000 university students hailing from 10 academic institutions located in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China resulting in the retrieval of 1897 questionnaires deemed valid. The conceptual framework was subsequently modeled using the PLS-SEM methodology based on the sample data collected. Sports social support (β = 0.191***), outcome expectation (β = 0.306***) and self-efficacy (β = 0.459***) positively impact college students' physical activity through self-regulation (β = 0.346***). Male self-efficacy has a weaker influence on self-regulation. Male college students' self-regulation also has a weaker effect on physical activity. External disturbance (β = -0.192***) negatively affects physical activity while internal disturbance has a minor impact (β = -0.135***, f2=0.010) almost negligible. The research validated the impact of various social cognitive elements on the exercise habits of university students. It offers a solid empirical foundation for advancing physical activity engagement among college students in China. Furthermore, the findings can serve as a fundamental reference point for Chinese educational institutions to develop comprehensive sports policies tailored specifically for college students.

The power of women in the success of business family: A case study of Kosovo, Albania and North Macedonia

Rrezarta Gashi, Violeta Smajlaj — Thu, 07 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0600

The main objective of this research is to emphasize the significant role women hold in leading family businesses in transitional countries such as Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Albania. It aims to demonstrate how women’s leadership can positively influence business performance, economic advancement and social development in these regions where traditional gender norms are shifting. Additionally, this study explores how empowering women in leadership roles can foster innovation, strengthen resilience, and ensure long-term sustainability for family-owned businesses ultimately contributing to the broader economic progress of these transitioning economies. This research aims to analyze family support, cultural factors and the influence of education on the advancement of women in leadership positions with a particular focus on family businesses. In this empirical research, 490 women from the countries above were included and the sample was randomly selected due to a lack of formal data. The results of the analyses were presented through descriptive analysis, Pearson correlation, Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) and T-test. The results indicate that family support has already a significant impacted advancement. Similarly, cultural factors have a positive influence. These factors have changed and are no longer obstacles to women's advancement as in the past, although in some rural countries this is still seen as an obstacle. Another important factor is education where women prioritize before taking leadership positions and continue with various training even after taking positions to be fully prepared to achieve their business objectives.

The impact of financial literacy on saving behavior of the elderly people: The mediating role of digital financial literacy

Fri, 08 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0600

This study examines how financial literacy affects the saving habits of older people in Hanoi, Vietnam and the impact of digital financial literacy in mediating this relationship. The research is based on data collected from 250 participants aged 55 and above, surveyed in April 2024. The Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) method with SmartPLS 4 software estimates the relationship among variables. The study confirms a positive correlation between financial literacy and the saving behavior of elderly people. Additionally, digital financial literacy plays a positive mediating role in enhancing the effect of financial literacy on saving behavior by facilitating elderly people's utilization of digital tools for financial management and the pursuit of more effective saving strategies. However, traditional financial literacy maintains a more significant and direct impact on the saving behavior of this demographic group. These findings have practical implications for developing policies and interventions to enhance financial literacy and digital skills among the elderly, ensuring financial security and fostering saving behavior. The results underscore the importance of targeted educational initiatives that address both traditional financial literacy and digital financial competencies for elderly people, potentially leading to improved financial outcomes in this demographic group.

Examining the reliability and validity of self-efficacy beliefs, stress, perceived teachers' support and academic burnout scales using the PLS-SEM approach

Jingyuan Li, Yoon Fah Lay — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0600

Likert scales were used in this study to collect data on measures such as the student academic burnout scale, the student stress scale, the student self-efficacy beliefs scale and the student perceived teacher support scale. The purpose of this study is to examine the four-part scales' reliability and validity used in this research. The number of measurement indicators for the four scales was 11, 13, 12 and 10, respectively. Seventy-five college students from five colleges and universities participated in the research and the partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) approach was applied to analyze the data. Consequently, the internal consistency and reliability of the measures were assessed using Cronbach's alpha (CA) and composite reliability (CR) both of which exceeded the clinical thresholds of 0.6 and 0.7, respectively. The average variance extracted (AVE) was used to evaluate the scales' convergent validity and the reported values were all stated above 0.5. The scales' discriminant validity was also framed within the range of threshold values. As a result, the scales used in this study demonstrated good validity and reliability and can be useful in assessing relationships throughout a range of study situations.

Organisational justice and employees’ commitment of selected Nigerian banking sector

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0600

Nigerian banking institutions in the 21st century face significant workplace challenges, including employee commitment, managerial decision-making issues, perceptions of inequality, unfair treatment and a lack of stability and reliability due to competitive forces. This study investigates the effect of organisational justice variables on employee commitment in a specific sector. A descriptive research approach was used with 361 questionnaires distributed but only 332 returned resulting in a 91.97% return rate. This study used Statistical Packages for the Social Sciences (SPSS) for descriptive statistics and the Structural Equation Model (SEM-PLS) for inferential statistics to evaluate the generated hypothesis. This study reveals that employees' perception of distributive justice significantly influences their commitment; procedural justice affects their normative commitment and interactional justice influences their continuance commitment. It emphasises the importance of understanding the relationship between organisational justice and employee commitment to guide stakeholders in creating fair and positive work environments promoting employee well-being and enhancing organisational outcomes.

Think and act like owners in family firms: Does managerial level matter?

Dedy Rochimat, Agustinus Purna Irawan, Eko Suhartanto — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0600

Conventional thought believes that employees' concern for the firm has never been as great as that of its owners. Making non-owning employees think and act like owners leading to the best performance at work is an eternal challenge for many family firms. We investigate how employees’ sense of belonging attitude, subjective norms and perceived behavior control (PBC) affect their intention and behavior to provide the best performance at work. We also test whether the managerial level (supervisor and above vs. staff and operators) moderates these relationships. Using a moderated mediation model applied to a sample of 409 employees from Indonesian family firms, we find that employees’ sense of belonging, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control (PBC) are positively related to their intention to provide the best performance at work. However, the relationship pattern differs between the two employee groups, namely managerial and non-managerial employees. For managerial employees (supervisory and above), their PBC has no relationship to their intention or behavior. In contrast, their attitude and subjective norms have a positive relationship with their behavior through their intention. For non-managerial employees (staff and operators), the relationship between subjective norms and behavior is fully mediated by intention. In contrast, the relationship between attitude and behavior and between PBC and behavior is partially mediated by intention. We also find that the effect of attitude on intention is stronger for managerial employees but the effect of subjective norms and PBC is stronger for non-managerial employees.

Exploration green finance effect on Jordanian banks sustainable performance

Zyad Marashdeh, Mohammad Khataybeh — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0600

This paper investigates the effect of green finance on the sustainability of banks in Jordan. This paper is a quantitative used questionnaire to collect data from 25 banks operating in Jordan. Moreover, the data was collected between March and April 2024 in Amman. As a result, a total of 292 responses were received; they were selected using a random sampling technique, all of which were suitable for statistical analysis. 292 questionnaires were analyzed using SPSS-29 and Smart-PLS-4.1.0.3. The findings indicated that GF has a positive effect on Jordanian banks sustainable performance. In addition, environmental, social, and economic aspects have a significant and positive effect on Jordanian bank sustainable performance. However, this paper provides a result that will be useful to banks in understanding the factors that influence customers' decisions to use green finance as well as the challenges they may face. Future research could also provide a framework for other countries to use in designing their sustainable finance initiatives.

Appraisal of indigenous language risk communication intervention for COVID-19 in Lagos state

Evaristus Adesina, Abiodun Salawu — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0600

This study sought to identify the language use, pattern of themes, and context of utterances used in risk communication messages for COVID-19 in Lagos State, Nigeria. COVID-19 pandemic poses a threat to the sustainability of public well-being globally. Hence, risk communication is becoming a plausible tool in curbing the spread of the virus. Existing studies have largely focused on clinical analysis for Covid-19, to the neglect of indigenous language risk communication interventions. In addition, to determine whether perceived panic resulting from exposure to indigenous language information on COVID-19 cases interferes with respondents’ comprehension of risk communication messages in Lagos state. The study employed the mixed methods of content analysis and survey to examine three indigenous language jingles. Four hundred respondents were also randomly selected for this study. The study found that indigenous language risk messages focused majorly on preventive measures while paying minimal attention to important factors such as COVID-19 causes, symptoms, and curative measures. Furthermore, the study revealed that unwholesome risk perceptions led to 52.8% of respondents paying little attention to indigenous language risk managers. Thus, the study advocates for the adoption of the COVID-19 Risk Communication Phases Model developed during the study.