Transformational Human Resource Management

Human Resource Management plays an essential role for attaining organizational goals. Nowadays, practitioners, researchers, and academicians around the world are emphasizing to transform and reshape the practice of human resource. However, very few research works have been done in the area of Transformational Human Resource Management (T-HRM). Hence, the aim of this chapter is to propose an integrated framework of T-HRM and organizational efficiency. In light of that, this study has proposed potential factors of the T-HRM. Secondly, this study presented positive effect of the factors of T-HRM on organizational efficiency management. Concept of knowledge management has introduced as a potential mediator, and ICT and organizational alignment has presented as a potential moderator of this study. Finally, knowledge of this study will provide better insights on T-HRM for ensuring organizational efficiency.

Embitterment – Conception of a Potential Moderator to Dysfunctional and Aggressive Behaviour in Children and Adolescents

Embitterment is an emotion which is known to everybody in reaction to injustice, humiliation, and breach of trust. Children and adolescents have an understanding of justice/injustice and fairness, violations of injustice, humiliation, and breach of trust are also stressors at a young age. In this conceptual paper it is argued that embitterment is also seen in children and adolescents, and that parents, educators and therapists should recognize this emotion. This could possibly help to early identify children at risk for severe dysfunctional and aggressive behaviours, when preventive interventions are still possible. The article concludes with concepts on how to diagnose and treat children with embitterment.

Feeling matters: perceived social support moderates the relationship between personal relative deprivation and depressive symptoms

Background Little research describes the mechanisms underlying depressive symptoms and personal relative deprivation in Chinese populations. Methods In this study, the respondents were (N = 914) residents of Beijing (17–59 years old) and robust multiple linear regressions were used to assess the main relationship between relative deprivation and depressive symptoms and social support as a potential moderator for that relationship. Results Individuals who reported higher personal relative deprivation had greater depressive symptoms than those who reported lower personal relative deprivation. Perceived social support buffered the relationship between depressive symptoms and personal relative deprivation. Conclusions The findings of this current study demonstrate the importance of relative deprivation for psychological strain and income in explaining how socioeconomic indices correlate with depressive symptoms. They also demonstrate the need to acknowledge the interaction of perceived social support and personal relative deprivation for influencing depression.

Does Health Literacy Make a Difference? Comparing the Effect of Conventional Medicine Versus Homeopathic Prescribing on Treatment Credibility and Expectancy

ObjectiveWhile homeopathic remedies are often used to treat non-specific complaints such as headaches, empirical evidence suggests their treatment effect is due to the placebo effect. Low health literacy seems to be connected to higher use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). The aim of this study was to examine what people with occasional headaches expect from conventional medicine or homeopathic remedies and if health literacy interacts with this expectation.MethodsIn this experimental study, n = 582 participants with occasional headaches were randomized to read one of two vignettes, which described the prescription of either conventional medicine or a homeopathic remedy. Subsequently, the participants were asked to rate treatment credibility and expectancy with regard to their assigned vignette. Health literacy was assessed as a potential moderator.ResultsParticipants in the conventional medicine group rated treatment credibility and expectancy higher than in the homeopathic remedy group. Moderation analysis revealed that when being offered conventional medicine, participant reports of treatment credibility and expectancy decreased with lower health literacy, while these outcomes increased with lower health literacy for homeopathic remedies.DiscussionPeople with occasional headaches estimate the effectiveness of conventional medication properly. However, health care professionals should pay special attention to patients with low health literacy, as they might need more time and information to give their informed consent.

Main Concerns in Times of COVID-19 in Three Groups of People: Italians, Romanian Immigrants in Italy, and Romanians in Romania

This chapter is a description of results of a study conducted in Italy involving Italians (N = 491), Romanian immigrants (N = 275), and Romanians in Romania (N = 312) with aim to explore the principal sources of anxiety and uncertainty during COVID-19 pandemic, and the differences between the groups. In addition, the study analysed the role of resilience as a potential moderator between perception of sources of anxiety during COVID-19 and distress. A questionnaire was administered containing several scales. Results showed that Italians and immigrants have similar concerns and that the perception of resilience play significant role in determining emotional distress.

Feeling matters: Perceived Social Support Moderate the Relationship between Personal Relative Deprivation and Depressive Symptoms

Background Little research describes the mechanisms underlying depressive symptoms and personal relative deprivation in Chinese populations. Methods In this study, the respondents were (N = 938) residents of Beijing (17-59 years old) and robust multiple linear regressions were used to assess the main relationship between relative deprivation and depressive symptoms and social support as a potential moderator for that relationship. Results Individuals who reported higher personal relative deprivation had greater depressive symptoms than those who reported lower personal relative deprivation. Perceived social support buffered the relationship between depressive symptoms and personal relative deprivation. Conclusions The findings of this current study demonstrate the importance of relative deprivation for psychological strain and income in explaining how socioeconomic indices correlate with depressive symptoms. They also demonstrate the need to acknowledge the interaction of perceived social support and personal relative deprivation for influencing depression.

The Role of Attitudes, Affect, and Income in Predicting COVID-19 Behavioral Intentions

Handwashing is important in preventing infectious diseases like COVID-19. The current public health emergency has required rapid implementation of increased handwashing in the general public; however, rapidly changing health behavior, especially on this scale, is difficult. This study considers attitudes and affective responses to handwashing as possible factors predicting COVID-19 related changes to handwashing behavior, future intentions, and readiness to change during the early stages of the pandemic in the United States. Income was explored as a potential moderator to these relationships. To explore these issues, data from 344 community participants were analyzed. Results indicate that stronger affective responses toward handwashing relate to increases in handwashing since the outbreak of COVID-19, and both attitudes and affect uniquely predict handwashing intentions. Income significantly moderated the relationship between affect and readiness to change. Those with low income were more influenced by both affective responses and attitudes. These results suggest messages targeting both cognitions and affective responses are needed to increase the handwashing behavior during a global pandemic and these variables are critical in increasing readiness to change in low-income individuals.