Distance Learning During the First Lockdown: Impact on the Family and Its Effect on Students' Engagement

This contribute investigates how Emergency Remote Education (ERE) impacted families during the spring 2020 Covid-19 lockdown, and in particular, the extent to which the impact of ERE on families, measured in terms of space and equipment sharing, moderates the effect of student and family characteristics on students' engagement. The study derived from the administration of an online survey to 19,527 families with children attending schools, from nursery to upper secondary grade. The total number of student records collected amounted to 31,805, since parents had to provide data for each school-age child in the family. The survey contains 58 questions, divided into three sections, with the first two sections designed to get a reading at family level and the third section to gather data for each school-age child in the family. After verifying the validity of the engagement construct through confirmatory factor analysis, two structural equation models were used to analyze the students' engagement. The main findings reveal how the impact of the ERE on the families has had a significant role in predicting students' level of engagement observed by parents with respect to different predictor variables. Finally, we argue that it is necessary to follow a holistic approach to observe the challenges imposed by the switch of the process of deferring teaching from presence to distance, imposed by the pandemic emergency on families. In fact, a holistic approach can promote student engagement and prevent the onset of cognitive-behavioral and affective problems linked to disengagement in ERE.

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Parental Socialization Styles: The Contribution of Paternal and Maternal Affect/Communication and Strictness to Family Socialization Style

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16122204 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (12) ◽

pp. 2204 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Inge Axpe ◽

Arantzazu Rodríguez-Fernández ◽

Eider Goñi ◽

Iratxe Antonio-Agirre

Keyword(s):

Parenting Style ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Structural Equation Models ◽

Parental Socialization ◽

Family Socialization ◽

The Family ◽

Maternal Affect ◽

Family Style ◽

The Impact ◽

Specific Contribution

The aim of this study is two-fold: (a) to determine the general degree of family affect/communication and strictness by examining the combination of the two classical dimensions of mother parenting style: affect/communication and strictness, and (b) to analyze the impact of both parents’ affect and strictness on the family style, thereby exploring the specific contribution made by each parent’s style and dimension. Participants were 1190 Spanish students, 47.1% boys and 52.3% girls (M = 14.68; SD = 1.76). The Affect Scale (EA-H) and the Rules and Demandingness Scale (ENE-H) (both by Fuentes, Motrico, and Bersabé, 1999) were used. Structural equation models (SEMs) were extracted using the EQS program. The results reveal that it is not the father’s and the mother’s parenting style combined, but rather the combination of maternal and paternal affect/communication, and maternal and paternal strictness which generates one perception of family affect and another of family strictness. The results also indicated that the weight of both dimensions varies in accordance with the parent’s gender, with maternal dimensions playing a more important role in family socialization style.

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Green or social? An analysis of environmental and social sustainability advertising and its impact on brand personality, credibility and attitude

Journal of Brand Management ◽

10.1057/s41262-021-00236-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Frauke Sander ◽

Ulrich Föhl ◽

Nadine Walter ◽

Vera Demmer

Keyword(s):

Environmental Sustainability ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Online Survey ◽

Structural Equation Models ◽

Brand Personality ◽

Social Sustainability ◽

Future Research ◽

Environmental Aspects ◽

Explicit Integration ◽

The Impact

AbstractThe aim of this paper is to examine the impact of sustainability advertising on brand personality, credibility, attitude toward the ad and brand attitude; special attention was given to whether or not environmental and social sustainability advertising have different effects. The results of an online survey revealed that environmental sustainability advertising has a stronger influence than social sustainability advertising. Thus, the findings suggest that a focus on environmental aspects delivers the more impactful advertising content when promoting a brand’s sustainability. This result is consistent with the existing studies on the sub-dimensions of sustainability; although only researched in different contexts, earlier findings also showed that environmental sustainability has a higher impact. Furthermore, an explicit integration of environmental aspects into the measurement of brand personalities offers a new and interesting field of future research. The study is based on data collected from 166 respondents. The impact of sustainability advertising is investigated by an experimental manipulation of the advertising condition. To test the hypotheses, structural equation models are applied, as well as one-way analyses of variance.

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Mental distress and its associations with behavioral outcomes during the COVID-19: A national survey of Chinese adults (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.25308 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Lu Ma ◽

Liwang Gao ◽

Joseph Tak-Fai Lau ◽

Rahman Atif ◽

Blair T. Johnson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Body Weight ◽

Educational Attainment ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Online Survey ◽

Mental Distress ◽

Structural Equation Models ◽

Behavioral Outcomes ◽

National Sample ◽

Negative Consequences

BACKGROUND This study primarily aimed to evaluate the associations between mental distress and COVID-19-related changes in behavioral outcomes, and potential modifiers (age, gender, and educational attainment) of such associations. OBJECTIVE The COVID -19 pandemic has led to elevated levels of mental distress attributed to prolonged lockdowns, business closures, and social isolation. Its impact on behavioral outcomes is however less known. This study is designed to primarily evaluate the associations between mental distress and COVID-19-related changes in drinking, smoking, physical activity and body weight, and potential modifiers of such associations including age, gender, and educational attainment. METHODS An online survey using anonymous network sampling was conducted in China during April-May, 2020 using a 74-item questionnaire distributed through social media. A national sample of 10,545 adults in 31 provinces provided data on socio-demographic characteristics, COVID-19-related mental distress, and changes in behavioral outcomes. Structural equation models were used for data analyses. RESULTS About 13% of adults reported experiencing at least one symptom of mental distress. After adjusting for age, education, gender, ethnicity, marital status, residence, and number of chronic conditions, greater mental distress was associated with increased smoking and alcohol consumption (among current smokers and drinkers) and with both increased and decreased physical activity. Underweight adults were more likely to lose body weight (≥1 kg) whereas overweight adults were more likely to gain weight by the same amount. The association between mental distress and change in physical activity was stronger in adults aged 40 and above and those with high education. Mental distress was significantly associated with an increase in smoking in males but not females. CONCLUSIONS Mental distress was associated with increased smoking in males but not females. These findings inform the design of tailored public health interventions aimed to mitigate long-term negative consequences of mental distress on outcomes.

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How is the COVID-19 lockdown impacting the mental health of parents of school-age children in the UK? A cross-sectional online survey

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-043397 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (5) ◽

pp. e043397

Author(s):

Austen El-Osta ◽

Aos Alaa ◽

Iman Webber ◽

Eva Riboli Sasco ◽

Emmanouil Bagkeris ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Social Isolation ◽

Online Survey ◽

Female Gender ◽

School Age Children ◽

School Age ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Uk ◽

The Impact

ObjectiveInvestigate the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on feelings of loneliness and social isolation in parents of school-age children.DesignCross-sectional online survey of parents of primary and secondary school-age children.SettingCommunity setting.Participants1214 parents of school-age children in the UK.MethodsAn online survey explored the impact of lockdown on the mental health of parents with school-age children, and in particular about feelings of social isolation and loneliness. Associations between the UCLA Three-Item Loneliness Scale (UCLATILS), the Direct Measure of Loneliness (DMOL) and the characteristics of the study participants were assessed using ordinal logistic regression models.Main outcome measuresSelf-reported measures of social isolation and loneliness using UCLATILS and DMOL.ResultsHalf of respondents felt they lacked companionship, 45% had feelings of being left out, 58% felt isolated and 46% felt lonely during the first 100 days of lockdown. The factors that were associated with higher levels of loneliness on UCLATILS were female gender, parenting a child with special needs, lack of a dedicated space for distance learning, disruption of sleep patterns and low levels of physical activity during the lockdown. Factors associated with a higher DMOL were female gender, single parenting, parenting a child with special needs, unemployment, low physical activity, lack of a dedicated study space and disruption of sleep patterns during the lockdown.ConclusionsThe COVID-19 lockdown has increased feelings of social isolation and loneliness among parents of school-age children. The sustained adoption of two modifiable health-seeking lifestyle behaviours (increased levels of physical activity and the maintenance of good sleep hygiene practices) wmay help reduce feelings of social isolation and loneliness during lockdown.

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Assessing the Impact of Multi-Morbidity and Related Constructs on Patient Reported Safety in Primary Care: Generalized Structural Equation Modelling of Observational Data

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm10081782 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (8) ◽

pp. 1782

Author(s):

Ignacio Ricci-Cabello ◽

Aina María Yañez-Juan ◽

Maria A. Fiol-deRoque ◽

Alfonso Leiva ◽

Joan Llobera Canaves ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Primary Care ◽

Patient Safety ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Structural Equation Models ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Morbidity Burden ◽

Patient Reported ◽

Patient Complexity ◽

Complex Relationships ◽

The Impact

We aimed to examine the complex relationships between patient safety processes and outcomes and multimorbidity using a comprehensive set of constructs: multimorbidity, polypharmacy, discordant comorbidity (diseases not sharing either pathogenesis nor management), morbidity burden and patient complexity. We used cross-sectional data from 4782 patients in 69 primary care centres in Spain. We constructed generalized structural equation models to examine the associations between multimorbidity constructs and patient-reported patient safety (PREOS-PC questionnaire). These associations were modelled through direct and indirect (mediated by increased interactions with healthcare) pathways. For women, a consistent association between higher levels of the multimorbidity constructs and lower levels of patient safety was observed via either pathway. The findings for men replicated these observations for polypharmacy, morbidity burden and patient complexity via indirect pathways. However, direct pathways showed unexpected associations between higher levels of multimorbidity and better safety. The consistent association between multimorbidity constructs and worse patient safety among women makes it advisable to target this group for the development of interventions, with particular attention to the role of comorbidity discordance. Further research, particularly qualitative research, is needed for clarifying the complex associations among men.

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Considering the Impact of Early Trauma on Coping and Pathology to Predict Posttraumatic Growth Among 9-1-1 Telecommunicators

Journal of Interpersonal Violence ◽

10.1177/0886260517716942 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 35 (21-22) ◽

pp. 4709-4731 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Melissa J. London ◽

Mary C. Mercer ◽

Michelle M. Lilly

Keyword(s):

Posttraumatic Growth ◽

Childhood Trauma ◽

Indirect Effect ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Structural Equation Models ◽

Trauma Exposure ◽

First Responders ◽

Lifetime Trauma ◽

Early Trauma ◽

The Impact

Recent research has demonstrated that first responders may report posttraumatic growth (PTG), positive psychological changes that arise in the aftermath of a trauma. Less is known regarding the perception of PTG among 9-1-1 telecommunicators, a group of first responders exposed to a high degree of lifetime trauma, including duty-related trauma as well as early and non-duty-related trauma. Moreover, the impact of childhood trauma on the processes involved in the perception of growth is less clear. While some distress is needed to facilitate processes that lead to the perception of PTG, it has been suggested that positive associations between PTG and pathology reflect avoidant coping or represent an illusory component of PTG. Structural equation models were used to examine early trauma exposure, coping, and pathology in predicting PTG among 9-1-1 telecommunicators ( N = 788). In separate models using active and avoidant forms of coping, childhood trauma exposure had an indirect effect on PTG through coping. In a model considering both forms of coping, childhood trauma had an indirect effect on PTG through psychopathology, but not through coping. The results show that early trauma exposure leads to the perception of growth through pathways indicative of both adaptive and maladaptive coping processes.

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The Project TALENT Twin and Sibling Study

Twin Research and Human Genetics ◽

10.1017/thg.2012.71 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

pp. 437-448 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Carol A. Prescott ◽

Deanna Lyter Achorn ◽

Ashley Kaiser ◽

Lindsey Mitchell ◽

John J. McArdle ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Research ◽

Original Data ◽

Family Characteristics ◽

Shared Environment ◽

Occupational Outcomes ◽

School Based ◽

The Family ◽

Specific Factors ◽

The Impact

Project TALENT is a US national longitudinal study of about 377,000 individuals born in 1942–1946, first assessed in 1960. Students in about 1,200 schools participated in a 2-day battery covering aptitudes, abilities, interests, and individual and family characteristics (Flanagan, 1962; www.projectTALENT.org). Follow-up assessments 1, 5, and 11 years later assessed educational and occupational outcomes. The sample includes approximately 92,000 siblings from 40,000 families, including 2,500 twin pairs and 1,200 other siblings of twins. Until recently, almost no behavior genetic research has been conducted with the sample. In the original data collection information was not collected with the intent to link family members. Recently, we developed algorithms using names, addresses, birthdates, and information about family structure to link siblings and identify twins. We are testing several methods to determine zygosity, including use of yearbook photographs. In this paper, we summarize the design and measures in Project TALENT, describe the Twin and Sibling sample, and present our twin-sib-classmate model. In most twin and family designs, the ‘shared environment’ includes factors specific to the family combined with between-family differences associated with macro-level variables such as socioeconomic status. The school-based sampling design used in Project TALENT provides a unique opportunity to partition the shared environment into variation shared by siblings, specific to twins, and associated with school- and community-level factors. The availability of many measured characteristics on the family, schools, and neighborhoods enhances the ability to study the impact of specific factors on behavioral variation.

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Maternal Distress/Coping and Children's Adaptive Behaviors During the COVID-19 Lockdown: Mediation Through Children's Emotional Experience

Frontiers in Public Health ◽

10.3389/fpubh.2020.587833 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Serena Petrocchi ◽

Annalisa Levante ◽

Federica Bianco ◽

Ilaria Castelli ◽

Flavia Lecciso

Keyword(s):

Structural Equation ◽

Positive Emotions ◽

Online Survey ◽

Emotional Experience ◽

Psychological Impact ◽

Mediation Effect ◽

Distance Measures ◽

Maternal Distress ◽

Equation Modeling ◽

The Impact

The present study focused on the psychological impact that the lockdown due to coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) had on families in Italy. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Italian government imposed a strict lockdown for all citizens. People were forced to stay at home, and the length of the lockdown was uncertain. Previous studies analyzed the impact of social distance measures on individuals' mental health, whereas few studies have examined the interplay between the adults' functioning, as parents, during this period and the association with the child's adjustment. The present study tested if maternal distress/coping predicts children's behaviors during the COVID-19 lockdown, hypothesizing a mediation effect via children's emotional experience. Participants were 144 mothers (Mage = 39.3, 25–52, SD = 5.6) with children aged 5–10 years (Mage = 7.54, SD = 1.6, 82 boys); mothers answered to an online survey. Results indicated that mothers with higher exposure to COVID-19 showed higher levels of distress and higher display of coping attitudes, even if in the structural equation modeling model, the COVID-19 exposure was not a predictor of mothers' distress. Compared with mothers with good coping skills, mothers with higher stress levels were more likely to attribute negative emotions to their children at the expense of their positive emotions. Moreover, children's emotions acted as mediators between maternal distress/coping and children's adaptive/maladaptive behaviors. In conclusion, it is important to support parents during pandemic emergence, by providing them with adequate information to manage the relationship with their children, to reduce their level of distress and to enhance their coping abilities.

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Effects of herbivory and its timing on reproductive success of a tropical deciduous tree

Annals of Botany ◽

10.1093/aob/mcaa117 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 126 (5) ◽

pp. 957-969

Author(s):

Enya N Quiroz-Pacheco ◽

Francisco Mora ◽

Karina Boege ◽

César A Domínguez ◽

Ek del-Val

Keyword(s):

Reproductive Success ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Structural Equation Models ◽

Pollen Grains ◽

Leaf Damage ◽

Deciduous Tree ◽

Herbivore Damage ◽

Male And Female ◽

Foliar Damage ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background and Aims The implications of herbivory for plant reproduction have been widely studied; however, the relationship of defoliation and reproductive success is not linear, as there are many interacting factors that may influence reproductive responses to herbivore damage. In this study we aimed to disentangle how the timing of foliar damage impacts both male and female components of fitness, and to assess when it has greater impacts on plant reproductive success. Methods We measured herbivore damage and its effects on floral production, male and female floral attributes as well as fruit yield in three different phenological phases of Casearia nitida (Salicaceae) over the course of two consecutive years. Then we tested two models of multiple causal links among herbivory and reproductive success using piecewise structural equation models. Key Results The effects of leaf damage differed between reproductive seasons and between male and female components of fitness. Moreover, the impact of herbivory extended beyond the year when it was exerted. The previous season’s cumulated foliar damage had the largest impact on reproductive characters, in particular a negative effect on the numbers of inflorescences, flowers and pollen grains, indirectly affecting the numbers of infructescences and fruits, and a positive one on the amount of foliar damage during flowering. Conclusions For perennial and proleptic species, the dynamics of resource acquisition and allocation patterns for reproduction promote and extend the effects of herbivore damage to longer periods than a single reproductive event and growing season, through the interactions among different components of female and male fitness.

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Sustainable Banking and Bank Performance

Jurnal Ilmiah Akuntansi dan Bisnis ◽

10.24843/jiab.2021.v16.i01.p12 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

pp. 169

Author(s):

Lilik Handajani ◽

Akram Akram ◽

Ahmad Rifai

Keyword(s):

Structural Equation ◽

Structural Equation Models ◽

Stock Exchange ◽

Bank Performance ◽

Business Practices ◽

Stakeholder Groups ◽

Nonfinancial Performance ◽

Banking Business ◽

Sustainability Reports ◽

The Impact

This research aims to examine the impact of sustainable banking practices and bank characteristics on bank performance. Structural equation models were used to analyze 11 banks listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange that published sustainability reports consistently during the periods of 2015–2018. Results indicate that while the internalization of sustainability issues in banking business practices does not have a significant impact on bank performance, the characteristics of a bank, which are reflected by institutional and foreign ownership and bank age, have a significant effect on bank financial and nonfinancial performance. The implications of sustainable banking practices are indicated to gain legitimacy from regulators for the existence of financial entities and meet stakeholder expectations, which in practice require trade-off of interests among stakeholder groups. Keywords: sustainable banking, bank performance, bank characteristic

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