Cognitive Appraisal, Workplace Social Courage, and PsyCap

This study responds to calls for empirical investigation of courage as well as the discovery of positive psychological capital (PsyCap) antecedents. Courage and PsyCap are considered positive constructs associated with beneficial workplace outcomes. As an example, Workplace Social Courage (WSC) predicts organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). PsyCap is robustly correlated with performance outcomes, well-being, and sustainability. For its societal appeal, courage is not yet robustly validated. Further, interventions have demonstrated resultant increases in PsyCap, yet little is known of its antecedent variables. Also, to be discovered, are what variables mediate WSC. These gaps in research present opportunity for additional empirical investigation of WSC and PsyCap as acts of framing and priming (cognitive appraisal) for formation, regulation, and maintenance of potent WSC and PsyCap. Mainstay motivation theories of Expectancy-, Goal-, Future Time Perspective-, and Self Determination-Theory are examined and intertwined with PsyCap variables reiterating the valid call for study of WSC and PsyCap antecedents, while emphasizing the need to unify motivation theories for composite research efforts which increase the prevalence of WSC and PsyCap in the individual and therefore the workplace. Pragmatic methodology able to serve diverse industries and cultures is required to surpass anecdotal quasi-impactful shortcomings. Results showed that Behavioral WSC and PsyCap are acts of positive cognitive appraisals and predictive of PsyCap, which partially mediated between WSC and Behavioral WSC

The Sexual Health of Bisexual Men: Examining the Roles of Bisexual Minority Stress and Substance Use

According to public health research, bisexual men are at elevated risk for contracting STIs and HIV relative to other sexual minority groups (e.g., gay men, lesbian women) as well as heterosexual people; yet, no studies to date have examined contextual factors that may contribute to this sexual health trend. Using a minority stress theory framework, the present study tested the direct and indirect associations of anti-bisexual discrimination with risky sexual behaviors in a sample of 508 self-identified bisexual men (age range = 18 - 76), with internalized biphobia, bisexual identity concealment, and substance use mediating this relation. Bisexual identity centrality’s direct relations with internalized biphobia, bisexual identity concealment, and risky sexual behavior were also tested. A path analysis was used to analyze the data. Results indicated that anti-bisexual discrimination yielded significant direct positive associations with internalized biphobia, bisexual identity concealment, and risky sexual behavior. Internalized biphobia, but not bisexual identity concealment, yielded a significant direct association with substance use, which yielded a significant direct positive link with risky sexual behavior. Bisexual identity centrality yielded significant direct negative associations with both internalized biphobia and bisexual identity concealment, but it yielded a nonsignificant association with risky sexual behavior. Internalized biphobia also yielded a total indirect link with risky sexual behavior through the mediating role of substance use. Implications of these findings for clinical practice and future research with bisexual men are discussed

Youth in Danger and Students at Risk of Dropping Out

Bullying is any unwanted aggressive behavior(s) by another youth or group of youth that involves an observed or perceived power imbalance and is repeated multiple times or is highly likely to be repeated. Bullying may inflict harm or distress on the targeted youth including physical, psychological, social, or educational harm. Bullying can lead to fear of school, absenteeism, and stunted academic progress, which in turn are precursors to dropping out of school. Effects of Bullying on Students Long lasting effects School Dropout. Lack of Concentration Reduced Motivation Less Class Participation Less Attendance Lower Academic Achievement Student Dropouts The increase in dropout rates in higher education is a phenomenon that has generated a lot of interest because of the need to deal with its economic, personal, and social consequences, and because of its prevalence, estimated around 30% in America. There is a similar interest in violent behavior in university classrooms, which has also been seen to have increased in recent years. Given that, and the fact that Book has shown personal variables to be more influential in dropout from higher education, the aim of this study is to explore whether those students who are the victims of bullying (both traditional and cyberbullying) are closer to dropping out from their degree courses. The results showed that students who were victims of bullying were more likely to consider dropping out than students who were not victims of bullying. In addition, variables related to social integration (support from friends and teachers) exhibited a moderating effect. These findings raise the urgent need to include intervention strategies in relation to bullying in university plans to prevent dropout. Higher education as we know it has now and forever dramatically changed. Leaders must take a fresh look at how their institutions design, implement, and measure practices in strategic enrollment management and expand the model, as never before. Higher Education on the Brink: Reimagining Strategic Enrollment Management in Colleges and Universities combines strategies for enrollment enhancement with significant support for development of alternative revenue streams for overall sustainability and growth. It introduces a new model for launching highly engaged strategic planning processes for colleges and universities. With current, real-world examples, the book details how colleges can be guided by integrated strategic planning processes to recalibrate efforts that yield key results. The major difference in this work is an exacting focus on organizational culture and each facet that defines it. As colleges and universities place new focus on strategically re-imagining higher education and their role in it, Higher Education on the Brink will serve as a guide for determining what difficult questions need to be asked and how to answer those questions in a manner that will position the college for the future with support from the college community, generating increased opportunities for student and operational success

An Integrated Framework for Self-disclosure on Social Networking Sites

Social networking sites usage has shown a meteoric rise over the past decade. Social networking sites survive and thrive based on the information that users disclose. The willingness of users to disclose their information lies at the core and is the driving force of the economies of these sites. This study proposed and tested an integrated theoretical framework for self-disclosure on social networking sites. Drawing from three different theoretical perspectives viz. self-congruency theory, privacy calculus theory, and extension of unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT2), a research model was formulated. The model was tested using survey data of 380 university students. Facebook was used as a prototype for this research. This study examined the effects of the variables emanating from the three different theoretical perspectives mentioned above on the attitudinal, intentional, and behavioral aspects of self-disclosure on social networking sites. Further, the effects of self-congruency and perceived control on trust in social networking sites and its members were evaluated. The contributions to theory and practical implications of the findings are discussed

Risk Taking Behaviors In Emerging Adults And Peer, Sibling & Parental Relationships

Research shows emerging adults are more likely than younger and older cohorts to engage in such risky behaviors. However, research on the outcomes of emerging adults and their relations with peers, parents, and siblings is less conclusive. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between emerging adults\u27 perceptions of peers\u27, siblings\u27, and parents\u27 risk-taking behaviors, and risk behavior after controlling for participants\u27 sensation seeking tendencies. This study explored the moderating role of emerging adults\u27 relationships with peers, siblings, and parents in the relation between these models\u27 risk taking behaviors and emerging adults\u27 risk taking behaviors, The mediating role of positive and negative expectancies for risky behaviors on the relationships between perceived peer involvement in risky behaviors and frequency of involvement in risky behaviors was also examined. Data were collected from a sample of 240 participants who were attending a suburban community college in the Midwestern section of the country. Results indicated that emerging adults\u27 risky behaviors were associated with risky behaviors of those related to them. Close peer relations moderated relations between involvement in risky drug behaviors and risky alcohol use and self-reported involvement in risk taking behaviors. Close relations with siblings (closest) appear to be role models for emerging adults who tended to engage in risky behaviors if their close siblings were participating in these behaviors. Conversely, when emerging adults have close relations with their general siblings, they tended to model their siblings\u27 risky drug behavior. Close parental relations did not moderate relations between self-reported involvement in risky sex, drug, and alcohol behaviors and parent involvement in these behaviors. Emerging adults who had close parent relations were less likely to be involved in risky drug and alcohol behaviors. These findings did not extend to sexual behaviors. Results also indicated partial and full mediations for positive outcome expectancies and the relation between perceived parent, peer, and sibling involvement in risky behaviors and emerging adults\u27 frequency of involvement in risky behaviors. None of the mediation analyses that used negative outcome expectancies provided results that were statistically significant. Implications of these findings and suggestions for future research are included

Stigma, Mental Health, and Dyadic Coping for Sexual Minority Persons in the United States

There is increasing evidence that sexual minority individuals experience high levels of stigma associated with their sexuality, and this stigma is detrimental to the health of sexual and gender minority persons. However, the majority of this research has involved indivudals in urban settings. The overall aim of this work is to examine these knowledge gaps for these dyads and rural individuals, understudied subpopulations about whom there has been a paucity of research. This dissertation included three separate but highly related studies, each with its own specific aim. The first study examined the association between self-reported sexuality-based stigma and self-reported depression among a nationally representative online sample of 771 rural sexual minority persons. Using multiple and binary regression modeling, significant associations were demonstrated between three types of stigma (internalized, enacted, and anticipated) and clinically significant depression for this population. The second study used a multilevel modeling technique known as actor partner interdependence modeling (APIM) to examine aspects of dyadic functioning that contribute to the maintenance of health behaviors that prevent new HIV infection. Among a sample of 270 partnerships, hypothesized associations between stigma and adverse outcomes were not demonstrated. However, relationship satisfaction was significantly associated with three communal coping outcome scales (planning and decision-making, communication, and joint effort) as antecedents to the maintenance of health-enhancing behaviors. The third study also involved male couples, but utilized qualitative thematic analysis to explore how individuals in 30 same-sex male partnerships describe their experiences of coping with sexuality-based stigma, as well as the meaning they ascribe to those experiences. This was accomplished by analyzing transcribed interviews of male couples discussing stigmatizing events during their relationships and coping strategies used to manage those events. Results from this study indicated same-sex male couples utilize a number of both adapative and maladaptive coping mechanisms, though adaptive strategies were more commonly reported. Couples placed particular emphasis on the importance of social support, as well as specific stigma management strategies such as avoidance, concealment, anticipating stigma, and purposefully living as openly gay men. Results indicated the need to tailor existing theory to address this population. Despite recent gains made in human rights and social justice for sexual minority persons, what has already been done is not enough. LGBT persons still endure an unfair distribution of decreased benefits and increased burdens in both healthcare and research. This dissertation work aims to establish equity for this disadvantaged population by increasing their representation in research. These results address gaps in knowledge and inform recommendations for future research, interventions, laws, policies, and clinical practice to address these health disparities and protect the health of this vulnerable population. Future research and interventions that are evidence-based, theoretically driven, and formed with the help of the community they serve will have the greatest capacity for improving the health of LGBT persons, both for individuals and for couples. National policy changes must be made to prohibit stigma and discrimination in all domains that might impact social determinants of health, including housing, employment, and healthcare to create comprehensive protections. With changes made informed by this research, the social benefit of this work lies in potential disparity reduction, establishing equity for this disadvantaged population.PHDNursingUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/144198/1/marsjess_1.pd

Inclusive business models? How SMEs are developing inclusive value chains and combating social exclusion in bottom-of-the-pyramid markets

Research suggests that private firms can contribute to addressing poverty by prioritising the inclusion of bottom-of-the-pyramid (BoP) communities in global financing, commerce and consumption value chains. However existing evidence have focused on large multinationals. An understanding of how small firms incorporate the inclusion of BoP communities in their value chain is critical remains under-researched. Drawing on the literature integrating entrepreneurship, inclusion and business model this article develops a qualitative study of how three agribusiness in Sierra Leone, Cameroon and Kenya. The findings highlight opportunities and challenges facing entrepreneurs in pursuing inclusive business opportunities African economies

Gender Difference and Employees\u27 Cybersecurity Behaviors

Security breaches are prevalent in organizations and many of the breaches are attributed to human errors. As a result, the organizations need to increase their employees\u27 security awareness and their capabilities to engage in safe cybersecurity behaviors. Many different psychological and social factors affect employees\u27 cybersecurity behaviors. An important research question to explore is to what extent gender plays a role in mediating the factors that affect cybersecurity beliefs and behaviors of employees. In this vein, we conducted a cross-sectional survey study among employees of diverse organizations. We used structural equation modelling to assess the effect of gender as a moderator variable in the relations between psychosocial factors and self-reported cybersecurity behaviors. Our results show that gender has some effect in security self-efficacy (r=-0.435,