Relationships between coach's leadership, group cohesion, affective states, sport satisfaction and goal attainment in competitive settings

We examined whether a perceived coach's leadership predicted group cohesion and whether group cohesion predicted intensity and direction of positive affect and negative affect experienced during competition, sport satisfaction and goal attainment following the completion of a sports competition. A sample of 296 competitive athletes (M age = 21.61; standard deviation = 6.32) participated in the study and completed a series of self-report questionnaires assessing the aforementioned constructs. A partial least square path modelling approach was used to examine the relationships between the study variables. Results of the structural partial least square path modelling model revealed that: (a) democratic coach behaviour negatively predicted Group Integration Task, (b) authoritarian coach positively predicted Individual Attractions to the Group-Social, and (c) reward positively predicted Group Integration Task. Moreover, partial least square path modelling results also revealed that (a) Individual Attraction to the Group-Task positively predicted the direction of negative affect during competition, (b) authoritarian coach marginally positively predicted Group Social Integration during competition, and (c) Group Social Integration marginally negatively predicted the direction of Negative Affects during competition. Thus, contradicting previous studies, results did not provide evidence of the empowering effect of democratic coach leadership on Group Integration Task. Finally, results provided evidence for the significant relationships between group cohesion and athletes’ competitive outcomes such as affective states experienced during competition.

Farmer Perceptions of Agricultural Risks; Which Risk Attributes Matter Most for Men and Women

Analysis of farmer risk perceptions is usually limited to production risks, with risk perception as a function of likelihood and severity. Such an approach is limited in the context of the many risks and other important risk attributes. Our analysis of the risk perceptions of farmers extends beyond production risks, severity of the risks, and their likelihoods. We first characterize agricultural risks and identify their main sources and consequences. We then analyze risk perceptions as a hierarchical construct using partial least squares path modelling. We determine the most important risks and risk attributes in the perceptions of farmers, and test for differences in the perceptions between men and women. Results show that severity and ability to prevent a risk are most important in forming risk perceptions. Second, probabilities (ability to prevent) tend to matter more to men (women) for some risks; lastly, low crop yields and fluctuating input prices have greater total effects on the overall risk perception. Our results provide an impetus for risk analysis in agriculture to consider risk attributes that cause affective reactions such as severity and perceived ability to prevent the risks, the need for input price stabilization, and redress of the rampart yield gaps in small-scale agriculture.

PENGARUH KEPUASAN WISATAWAN TERHADAP WILLINGNESS TO PAY TAMAN WISATA ALAM KAWAH IJEN

Taman Wisata Alam Kawah Ijen (92 ha) merupakan bagian dari kawasan Cagar Alam Kawah Ijen (2.468 ha) tempat berbagai biota langka dilindungi. UNESCO menetapkan Kawah Ijen sebagai salah satu Cagar Biosfer dari 120 negara di dunia (2016). Segala keunikan yang dimiliki TWAKI menyebabkan kunjungan wisatawan ke destinasi ini cenderung meningkat signifikan, dan pada akhirnya daya dukung lingkungan terlampaui empat tahun terakhir. Oleh karenanya dibutuhkan pengelolaan destinasi yang tepat, namun dibutuhkan dana yang tidak sedikit. Willingness to pay (WTP) wisatawan diharapkan sebagai sumber pendanaan lain diluar pemerintah, dan patokan dalam mengukur WTP adalah memberikan kepuasan maksimal kepada wisatawan. Penelitian ini bertujuan menganalisis tingkat kepuasan wisatawan dan pengaruhnya terhadap WTP, serta tingkatan WTP. Penelitian ini dirancang menggunakan metode kuantitatif dengan alat Partial Least Square Path Modelling (PLS-PM). Metode tersebut dipilih untuk mengetahui ukuran korelasional dan kausal antar variabel serta menguji signifikansi dari hipotesis. Hasil penelitian menunjukan aspek atraksi, amenitas, aksesibilitas eksternal, aksesibilitas internal, sumber daya manusia, dan citra destinasi merefleksikan kepuasan wisatawan; kepuasan wisatawan berdasarkan aspek atraksi wisata, sumber daya manusia, dan citra destinasi berpengaruh positif dan signifikan terhadap WTP. Sementara kepuasan wisatawan berdasarkan aspek amenitas; aksesibilitas eksternal; dan aksesibilitas internal tidak berpengaruh terhadap WTP. Nilai rataan WTP wisatawan mancanegara US$ 28 dan Rp.25.000 wisatawan nusantara, sehingga masing-masing nilai ekonomi ekowisata dan perkiraan pendapatan dari penjualan tiket berdasarkan nilai WTP adalah US$ 864.528 atau sekitar 12 milyar dan Rp.3.776.800.000.

Psychedelics alter metaphysical beliefs

Can the use of psychedelic drugs induce lasting changes in metaphysical beliefs? While it is popularly believed that they can, this question has never been formally tested. Here we exploited a large sample derived from prospective online surveying to determine whether and how beliefs concerning the nature of reality, consciousness, and free-will, change after psychedelic use. Results revealed significant shifts away from ‘physicalist’ or ‘materialist’ views, and towards panpsychism and fatalism, post use. With the exception of fatalism, these changes endured for at least 6 months, and were positively correlated with the extent of past psychedelic-use and improved mental-health outcomes. Path modelling suggested that the belief-shifts were moderated by impressionability at baseline and mediated by perceived emotional synchrony with others during the psychedelic experience. The observed belief-shifts post-psychedelic-use were consolidated by data from an independent controlled clinical trial. Together, these findings imply that psychedelic-use may causally influence metaphysical beliefs—shifting them away from ‘hard materialism’. We discuss whether these apparent effects are contextually independent.

Do epigenetic clocks provide explanations for sex differences in lifespan? A cross-sectional twin study

Background The sex gap in life expectancy has been narrowing in Finland over the past four to five decades; however, on average, women still live longer than men. Epigenetic clocks are markers for biological aging that predict lifespan. In this study, we examined the mediating role of lifestyle factors on the association between sex and biological aging in younger and older adults. Methods Our sample consists of younger and older twins (21‒42-y, n = 1477; 50‒76-y, n = 763) including 151 complete younger opposite-sex twin pairs (21‒30-y). Blood-based DNA methylation (DNAm) was used to compute epigenetic age acceleration by four epigenetic clocks as a measure of biological aging. Path modelling was used to study whether the association between sex and biological aging is mediated through lifestyle-related factors, i.e. education, body mass index, smoking, alcohol use, and physical activity. Results In comparison to women, men were biologically older and, in general, they had unhealthier life habits. The effect of sex on biological aging was partly mediated by body mass index and, in older twins, by smoking. Sex was directly associated with biological aging and the association was stronger in older twins. Conclusions Previously reported sex differences in lifespan are also evident in biological aging. Declining smoking prevalence among men is a plausible explanation for the narrowing of the difference in life expectancy between the sexes. Data generated by the epigenetic clocks may help in estimating the effects of lifestyle and environmental factors on aging and in predicting aging in future generations.

Predictive Path Modelling of Indicators of Secondary School Instructors’ Affective, Continuance and Normative Job Commitment

There is a growing body of literature investigating the impact of retraining and motivation on employee work efficiency. However, little seems to be understood about the effects of employee placement on the commitment of teachers to their jobs. To the best of the researcher's awareness, the partial and composite impact of staff placement, retraining, and motivation on the three aspects of job commitment (affective, continuance and normative) among secondary educators have scarcely been examined. This research was intended to fill this vacuum by using a predictive path modelling approach to analyse the association between these endogenous and exogenous variables. A random sample of 500 secondary school principals was surveyed using two forms of questionnaires. Collected data were analysed and formulated hypotheses tested using Path and multiple linear regression analyses, with the aid of Amos and SPSS packages. Findings indicated that staff placement and motivation were highly predictive of instructors' commitment (at the affective and continuance dimension), but not at the normative dimension; Employee dedication in the three dimensions was not predicted by personnel retraining, but it did result in employee attrition; workers retraining only increased teachers' work commitment when it was augmented with placement and motivation. The combined effect of staff placement, retraining, and motivation was statistically significant in two dimensions of teachers’ job commitment (affective and continuance), but not on the normative dimension. Based on these findings, policy and theoretical ramifications for effective instructional management, assessment, classroom practice, and future study are discussed. Received: 30 March 2021 / Accepted: 27 July 2021 / Published: 5 November 2021

Determining Factors for the Creation of Innovation-based Ventures

This research aims to create a model that provides a more complete view of the behavior of entrepreneurs, to investigate the influence of Social Capital, Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy and Per-son-Entrepreneurship Fit in the transition of nascent entrepreneurs towards the venture creation. For the development of this research, a sample of 500 entrepreneurs located in Colombia who are in the process of creating a company was taken. The research methodology is hypothetical-deductive with a cross-sectional multiple causal correlation design with explanatory scope and is divided into three stages: First, an exploratory analysis of the data relating to the study variables is carried out. Second, a Principal Component Analysis is carried out. Finally, the third stage is the modelling using the Partial Least Squares - Path Modelling methodology. Among the most relevant findings, it is found that Social Capital is significant in explaining Person-Entrepreneurship Fit. In turn, Social Capital and Person-Entrepreneurship Fit are significant in explaining Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy. Finally, the construct of Venture Creation is only significantly explained by Per-son-Entrepreneurship Fit. Consequently, it can be concluded that the influence of social and psychological variables within the business cycle are significant, and models and strategies must consider these elements in order to design tools that support the optimal development of start-ups within the business cycle, so that they consolidate as stable ventures.

Age and Social Background as Predictors of Dropout in Second Chance Education in Germany

Second chance education (SCE) has been established to offer adults the opportunity to catch up on higher qualifications, for instance the eligibility to study. SCE often suffers from high dropout rates, but little is known about the reasons. This article investigates whether dropout rates depend on family background and age, and if so, why. Data from 3278 students at an institution of SCE in Germany who entered this institution between 2000 and 2016 are analysed using logistic path modelling. The results show that the higher dropout probability of socially disadvantaged students can be traced back completely to poorer academic performance in SCE, partly associated with an unfavourable previous school career. Older students are – irrespective of their family background and despite a better academic performance – more likely to drop out than younger students. If SCE aims to reduce these dropout risks, strategies should vary for different groups of students.

Airbnb Hospitality: Exploring Users and Non-Users’ Perceptions and Intentions

Although the use of Airbnb services is growing, research relating to its value, risk, satisfaction, and repurchase intentions involving the millennial generation is scarce. This study investigates actual experience of social, utilitarian and hedonic values, risks, satisfaction, and repurchase intentions of Airbnb millennial consumers. It further assesses perceptions of similar values, risks, and what it would take to generate satisfaction and repurchase intention amid Airbnb non-consumers. PLS Path Modelling is used to test the hypothesised relationships and compare Airbnb consumers and non-consumers. A conceptual model proposing five hypotheses is tested using a dataset of 206 responses representing consumers and non-consumers from New Zealand. The results of the two groups are compared to assess differences in the relationships specified in the proposed conceptual model. The findings have theoretical, managerial, and social implications as it expands the literature by comparing consumers/non-consumers relating to sharing economy and identifies factors that lead to satisfaction and repurchase intentions linked to the millennials, hence generating managerial implications. The findings also suggest social, utilitarian, and hedonic values that have implications for the millennial generation.