Recent studies on the effects of mandatory online teaching, resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, have widely reported low levels of satisfaction, unwillingness to continue online teaching, and ...negative impacts on the psychological well-being of teachers. Emerging research has highlighted the potential role of psychological need thwarting (PNT), in terms of autonomy, competence, and relatedness thwarting, resulting from online teaching. The aim of this study was to evaluate the immediate and delayed (longitudinal) effects of PNT of online teaching on teachers’ well-being (including distress and burnout), intention to continue online teaching, and job satisfaction. Moreover, data collected from both cross-sectional and longitudinal surveys allowed for a systematic validation of an important instrument in the field of teacher psychology, the Psychological Need Thwarting Scale of Online Teaching (PNTSOT), in terms of longitudinal reliability and validity. The data reveal the usefulness of the construct of PNT in terms predicting and explaining teachers’ willingness to continue using online teaching as well as the degree of burnout after a period of 2 months, such that PNT is positively associated with burnout and negatively associated with willingness to continue online teaching. As such, the PNTSOT is recommended for future research evaluating the long-term psychological, affective, and intentional outcomes stemming from teachers’ PNT. Moreover, based on our findings that the impact from PNT of online teaching is persistent and long-term, we suggest that school leaders provide flexible and sustained professional development, model respectful and adaptive leadership, and create opportunities for mastery for the development of community of practice that can mitigate the thwarting of teachers’ autonomy, competence, and relatedness during times of uncertainty. Additionally, in terms of the psychometric properties of the PNTSOT instrument, our empirical findings demonstrate internal reliability, test–retest reliability, measurement invariance, and criterion validity (concurrent and predictive) based on cross-sectional and longitudinal data.
The importance of an integrated health promotion program has been proposed in recent years. However, the traditional program with lectures might decrease the effectiveness of learning. A game-based ...learning program provides a supportive social environment and further increases the quality of life and positive emotions. The present study evaluates the effectiveness of the proposed game-based health promotion program, KABAN!, to enhance health literacy, positive emotions, and quality of life for older adults. The proposed intervention included physical exercises, nutritional knowledge, social interaction, cognitive training, and oral health care skills. All activities were designed based on the gamification principles and experiential learning theory. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected from participants and instructors. A total of 221 older adults were randomly recruited (age: mean = 71.1, SD = 7.1) as participants. To gather feedback on program implementation, 22 experienced instructors were selected based on the criteria of leading five or more sessions. Health literacy, quality of life, and emotional states before and after participation were collected. The instructors were invited to provide constructive feedback through open-ended survey questions. Analyses revealed that health literacy levels, positive emotions, and quality of life significantly increased after participation, while negative emotions remained identical. Further investigation of qualitative data via the constant comparison method showed positive feedback on instructors' perceived changes in participants. This study showed that participation in health promotion programs like KABAN! significantly enhanced older adults' health literacy, quality of life, and positive emotions.
d-Serine is an amino acid and can work as an agonist at the glycine sites of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR). Interestingly, both types of glutamatergic modulators, NMDAR enhancers and ...blockers, can improve depression through common targets, namely alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionaic acid receptors (AMPARs) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). To elucidate the cellular signaling pathway underlying this counterintuitive observation, we activated NMDARs in rats by using d-serine. Saline, ketamine (NMDAR antagonist), and desipramine (tricyclic antidepressant) were used as controls. The antidepressant-like effects of all agents were evaluated using the forced swim test. The activation of the AMPAR–mTOR signaling pathway, release of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and alteration of AMPAR and NMDAR trafficking in the hippocampus of rats were examined. A single high dose of d-serine exerted an antidepressant-like effect that was mediated by rapid AMPAR-induced mTOR signaling pathway and increased BDNF proteins, identical to that of ketamine. Furthermore, in addition to the increased protein kinase A phosphorylation of the AMPAR subunit GluR1 (an indicator of AMPAR insertion in neurons), treatment with individual optimal doses of d-serine and ketamine also increased adaptin β2–NMDAR association (an indicator of the intracellular endocytic machinery and subsequent internalization of NMDARs). Desipramine did not influence these processes. Our study is the first to demonstrate an association between d-serine and ketamine; following adaptative regulation of AMPAR and NMDAR may lead to common changes of them. These findings provide novel targets for safer antidepressant agents with mechanisms similar to those of ketamine.
Worldwide, the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) has become the most widely used measure of life satisfaction. Recently, an authorized Vietnamese-language version has been introduced. Using a ...convenience sample comprising community volunteers from Ho Chi Minh City (N = 1073), confirmatory support was found for the cross-national constancy of the one-dimensional structure underlying the SWLS. Corrected item-total polyserial correlations and Omega coefficient were satisfactory. Using multi-group confirmatory factor analysis, configural, metric, and scalar invariance of the SWLS factorial structure were tested by gender, age, marital status, income, and educational level. Strong evidence of scalar invariance was found for gender and education, on which relevant subgroups did not differ in terms of latent means. Partial scalar invariance was found for marital status (item 4 and 5) and income (item 4). Being involved in an intimate relationship or having a higher income were associated with higher latent means. Scalar invariance in relation to age was very poor. Accordingly, caution must be exerted when comparing age groups. A high SWLS score was predictive of good self-rated health. Implications of the findings are briefly discussed.
The popularity of interactive whiteboards (IWBs) has grown and, in many countries, are nearly ubiquitous. Nevertheless, a lack of training, among other factors, has led to teachers misusing, or even ...abandoning this technology. While IWBs should improve learning outcomes, few studies have evaluated the impact of long-term IWB-based instruction. The purpose of this study is to track changes in the mathematical performance through formative assessment (FA) for primary school students participating in an IWB Formative Assessment (FA) system, characterized by elements including feedback, social learning through discussions, agentive learning through personalized options, and game-based learning featuring among-group competition and within-group collaboration. A convenience sample of 178 s-grade students from the same grade (four classes) participated in the study, which lasted one school year. Hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) was utilized to analyze data from the IWB system, revealing the following: (1) a significant correlation between students’ involvement in formative IWB activities and mathematics achievement (t = 6.52; p = 0.00); (2) no effect of gender on initial mathematics performance; (3) a significant role of student motivational goals on initial mathematics performance, with higher mastery-avoidance associated with better initial assessments (t = 2.02, p = 0.04) and higher performance-avoidance associated with lower initial assessments (t = −2.60, p = 0.03); (4) interaction between gender and linear change, with girls outperforming boys (t = −2.57, p = 0.01) in FA performance over time (although boys made advances on summative assessments); and (5) a negative interaction of mastery-avoidance with linear change, where higher levels of mastery-avoidance were associated with a greater decline in FA performance over time (t = −2.57, p = 0.01). In short, the research findings suggest that if teachers use IWB-based FA over a relatively long time, they must pay special attention to boys and those who hold high mastery-avoidance goals.
•Formative assessment using IWBs utilized networking, interaction, and community.•Formative assessment using IWB predicted subsequent math achievement test results.•Mastery and performance avoidance orientation impact formative and summative results.•Observed gender differences in achievement and learning trajectories favored girls.•Long-term IWB-based assessments must consider gender and goal orientation factors.
The benefits of physical activity are well-known to prevent multiple long-term health conditions. Physical appearance and weight-related stigma may influence individuals' decision to engage in ...physical activity and sport. Therefore, the present study examined the psychometric properties of a newly developed instrument, the Tendency to Avoid Physical Activity and Sport Scale (TAPAS), using modern test theory. A total of 2319 university students were recruited from mainland China and they completed the TAPAS. Rasch analysis was used to examine the TAPAS' rating scaling functioning, test unidimensionality, item hierarchy, ceiling and floor effects, and differential item functioning (DIF). Moreover, the concurrent validity of the TAPAS was examined using the Weight Self-Stigma Questionnaire (WSSQ), Weight Bias Internalization Scale (WBIS), and body mass index (BMI). Unidimensionality was confirmed except for one item. Items corresponding to attitude toward physical activity were more easily adopted compared to items corresponding to actual behavioral aspects. No ceiling and floor effects were found. No DIF existed in the TAPAS items. The TAPAS was strongly correlated with both the WSSQ and WBIS, but not BMI. The study showed that overall, the TAPAS has robust psychometric properties. However, future research needs to address the misfit item and explore the feasibility of applying the TAPAS to other populations including wider ethnic groups, age ranges, and life stages.
The problem of adolescent online gaming addiction is related to individual-level characteristics and the influence of the family environment. The present study explores the potential role of ...adolescents' time management tendency in mediating the relationship between parenting style and adolescent internet gaming disorder (IGD). Responses from a total of 357 Chinese high school students were collected for a Pathological Video-Game Use Questionnaire, Simplified Parenting Styles Scale, and Time Management Tendency Scale. Overall, participants reported moderate use of online games (Mean = 1.41; SD = 0.41), lower than the median value of 2 on a three-point scale. In terms of the mediating role of adolescents' time management tendency, full meditation was observed for the relationship between the parenting style factor of "parents' emotional warmth" for both mothers and fathers and internet gaming disorder. The results highlight the benefits of emotional warmth in supporting self-efficacy, self-control, and autonomy through the promotion of time management, which is an important protective factor for IGD and can serve as a mediating personality variable. Although non-significant in the complete model, over-protection and rejection by parents should also be cautiously considered as potential risk factors related to addiction.
Self-stigma is a common experience for people with substance use disorders (SUDs). Understanding factors associated with self-stigma may aid in intervention development. This study investigated the ...reciprocal relationship between three types of problematic use of the internet PUI; i.e. problematic use of social media (PUSM), problematic smartphone use (PSPU), and problematic gaming (PG) and self-stigma among people with SUDs. This longitudinal study involved five waves of a survey given to individuals with SUDs in Taiwan. A total of 319 participants (85% male), with a mean age of 42.2 years (SD = 8.9), were recruited. The Smartphone Application-Based Addiction Scale, Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale, Internet Gaming Disorder-Short Form, and Self-Stigma Scale-Short Form were used. No significant associations between PUI and self-stigma were found in early waves (i.e., Waves 1 and 2). The earliest significant finding was identified between Wave 2 PSPU (smartphone) and Wave 3 self-stigma. Additionally, Wave 3 PSPU (smartphone) and PG (gaming) were associated with Wave 4 self-stigma, and Wave 4 PSPU (smartphone), PG (gaming), and PUSM (social media) were associated with Wave 5 self-stigma. Therefore, all three types of PUI (internet) may elevate self-stigma at different time points for individuals with SUDs. However, the reciprocal effects between self-stigma and PUI (internet) only occurred in PUSM (social media) at a later stage (i.e., from Wave 4 to Wave 5). In conclusion, people with SUDs who have PUI (internet) are at increased likelihood of developing more self-stigma, which may then increase subsequent PUSM (social media), forming a vicious cycle.
•People with substance use disorders (SUDs) have high levels of self-stigma.•Problematic use of the internet (PUI) leads to self-stigma in people with SUDs.•Self-stigma leads to problematic social media use among people with SUDs.
In this paper, a new hybrid stator fabrication with 2-D steel sheets lamination and 3-D end cap structure for high-speed motor application is provided. With the additional overhead end cap design, ...the new motor not only features lower iron losses in high frequency and reduces copper losses like traditional soft magnetic composite (SMC) motor but also achieves higher permeability and lower production cost at the same time. In this paper, the motor characteristics, i.e., back electromotive force and efficiency between the traditional lamination, SMC, and the new hybrid design are investigated by 3-D FEA simulation. Moreover, a prototype is fabricated by 3-D printing for the verification of the analytical and simulation results.
PDF
