The positive effects of combined breathing techniques and cold exposure on perceived stress : a randomised trial

A pranayama-inspired breathing technique, cold exposure, and their combined application were assessed for their potential to reduce perceived stress in adults and compared to a control group. An experiment involving four groups was conducted, yielding separate cells for breathing technique-only and cold exposure-only, as well as a combined treatment and a control group. Eighty-six individuals participated in the study. Perceived stress is measured employing the 10-item version of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) and the 20-item version of the Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSQ). The instruments exhibit a substantial correlation (r = 0.842, p < 0.001). The combined group exhibited a medium to large positive effect on perceived stress compared to the control group. The breathing technique and cold exposure on their own were not found to yield substantial effects, indicating synergies between both exercises. Combinations of breathing techniques and cold exposure may be employed to decrease individuals’ perceived stress

How to Construct an Ideal Collaboration Tool for Coworking Spaces: An SP-CBC Application

Coworking spaces both require and foster communication and collaboration among members and providers’ staff as well as between members and providers. A variety of tools, denominated Workstream Collaboration software, seeks to fulfill this purpose. We show how a single-product choicebased conjoint (SP-CBC) approach can be used to develop an ideal Workstream Collaboration tool. 300 coworking spaces in Germany were used for data collection. The application shows the viability of the proposed approach and highlights the importance of an applications’ dissemination, modern security standards, and a plurality of collaborative instruments. We find network effects to be a tool’s critical feature. Communication functionality, surprisingly, seems to play only a subordinate role

Above and beyond meat : the role of consumers' dietary behavior for the purchase of plant-based food substitutes

Shrinking meat intake levels and simultaneously increasing consumption of plant-based products among consumers suggest that consumers' dietary behavior implies the purchase of plant-based food substitutes. We contribute to the literature by investigating the most important determinants of consumers' dietary behavior and attitude towards plant-based food substitutes and whether consumers' dietary behavior is of relevance for the attitude towards plant-based food substitutes. Data of 1,363 consumers was used for structural equation modeling as well as necessary condition analysis. Consumers' dietary behavior is found to play only a minor role in attitude formation towards plant-based food substitutes. Dietary behavior is primarily influenced by animal welfare concerns. We did not find environmental concerns, consumers' perceived effectiveness, and health consciousness to influence dietary behavior. However, as consumers associate a high standard of animal welfare with healthiness and food safety, following a plant-based diet due to animal welfare concerns might be an altruistic pretext for health consciousness as an egoistic motive

Acceptance of matchmaking tools in coworking spaces : an extended perspective

An extended technology acceptance model for matchmaking tools in coworking spaces is presented and tested among 92 German coworkers. Advancing previous research, hedonic and community-related aspects are integrated into a framework based on the extended unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT2). Coworkers emphasize a matchmaking tool's productivity aspects, which are positively moderated by their sense of community. Hedonic motivation (HM) and personal innovativeness contribute to usage intention, while effort expectancy is not a driver. The influence of HM is negatively moderated by sense of community, suggesting that a favorable social atmosphere that is explorable in person acts as a partial substitute for the enjoyment of tool usage. Surprisingly, satisfaction with face-to-face activities does not affect their perception of a matchmaking tool

Cultural differences in processing online customer reviews: holistic versus analytic thinkers

While the majority of studies exploring online customer reviews in the light of intercultural comparisons draw on the theoretical framework of Hofstede’s cultural dimensions, which faced justifiable criticism, we make use of Socio-Cognitive Systems Theory to illustrate how consumers from different cultures are cognitively processing information. By employing this alternative theory, it is shown that the (heretofore established) Elaboration Likelihood Model for examining online customer reviews does not serve as an applicable framework in intercultural contexts. Reviewing extant literature, we uncover incidents questioning the generalizability of previous studies on review credibility conducted among East Asians. Building upon a research model established at a national level, we interviewed Western (German; n=552) and East Asian (Chinese; n=585) consumers to analyze the intercultural appropriateness of the model. The results empirically validate the assumptions of the Socio-Cognitive Systems Theory, and thus, finds Chinese to perceive review credibility holistically, whereas Germans tend to categorize its antecedents for evaluating them separately.D11;D1