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The Eastern Mediterranean countries exhibit diversity in religion, culture, politics, and economy, amid rapid and dynamic regional developments shaped by global polarization and the international security landscape, rendering future prognostications challenging. This chapter delves into the realms of oil and natural gas production, the influx of multinational corporations, water boundaries, and renewable energy vis-à-vis fossil fuels in the Eastern Mediterranean, elucidating the realities of cooperation and competition within the region. Analysis of cooperation and competition dynamics is imperative for comprehending the tensions among states. Enhanced cooperation between states may lead to mutual benefits, such as increased oil and gas prices favoring their partnership, while any escalation in competition can swiftly be perceived as a threat, exacerbating tensions. The desirability of such cooperation or competition in the international political economy remains subject to ongoing debate.

The purpose of this paper is to explore whether and how principles from variation theory can contribute to the planning of teaching and learning beyond learning study.

We study whether and how principles from variation theory contributed to a group of teachers’ planning of teaching and learning about decimal numbers in Grades 4 to 7 working in Subject Didactic Groups – a collaborative arrangement suited to daily teaching. A theoretical thematic analysis approach was used when analyzing eight audio-recorded meetings and written documents.

The study shows that variation theory principles contributed to the teachers’ planning of teaching and learning. Two themes were identified: the theory contributed to the teachers being able to (1) specify what their students needed to learn and (2) design tasks that they anticipated would afford the opportunity to learn what was identified as being necessary to learn.

The paper demonstrates how variation theory can contribute to teachers’ planning of teaching and learning when used in a collaborative arrangement other than learning study. This leads into a discussion about variation theory being used separately from learning study and the benefits and limitations this other collaborative arrangement can have for gaining knowledge of what is to be learned and taught.

The current inquiry advances the public relations field and practice in several ways. First, this research addresses a clear gap in research on subjective well-being, specifically among PR professionals across career stages and generations. Second, the findings reveal important generational similarities and differences in how PR practitioners talk about well-being. This provides an empirical basis for developing tailored, multi-generational approaches to supporting well-being in PR workplaces. Lastly, this research provides practical implications for PR professionals to understand generational perspectives and to implement flexible policies to improve well-being.

The current study explored subjective well-being (SWB) across generations of public relations professionals. Using a qualitative approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 PR practitioners at various career levels – entry, mid-level and senior.

Analysis revealed several similarities but a key disparity among cohorts. Senior-level professionals specifically reported struggling with work–life balance and the perceived ability to be autonomous, while entry-level professionals expressed commitment to setting boundaries on their time. These findings highlight a need for the PR industry to establish flexible workplace standards that enable employees at different career stages to collaborate and support one another’s well-being.

Our findings will appeal to your readers who seek to cultivate employee subjective well-being and understand generational issues via qualitative methods. By conducting a qualitative study in an understudied area, PR industry leaders and managers can support employee well-being across generations and career stages.

Our study is the first to examine generational dispositions as it relates to SWB across the public relations industry.

This study aims to examine the unique lived experiences of international graduate students in light of COVID-19 and the recent sociopolitical climate in the USA (e.g. Black Lives Matter movement, protests against anti-Asian hate crimes and gun violence).

The authors used an exploratory qualitative design embedded within a constructivist/interpretivist paradigm. A total of 31 international health service psychology graduate students completed an online survey, 17 of whom participated in a 60-min one-on-one semi-structured interview.

Participants reported facing a range of difficulties (e.g. travel ban/inability to spend time with family, visa-related concerns, racism, decreased support) during the global pandemic and the recent sociopolitical climate in the USA. A total of 48 themes were identified and organized into six domains: COVID-19-related stress and worry, experiences of racism/discrimination, coping mechanisms, support received, recommendations for programs and higher learning institutions and advice for other international graduate students.

The recent sociopolitical climate in the US exacerbated some of the preexisting inequities for international graduate students due to their international student status and the global pandemic. Although few in number, students also spoke about some positive changes as a result of these major historical and political events. Implications for graduate education, clinical practice and policymaking are discussed.

This study provides insight into the nature of peer-mentoring opportunities for teacher candidates, including common challenges and benefits that can be used to inform best practices for implementing peer-mentoring programs by higher education institutions.

Qualitative interviews were conducted to glean insights from program coordinators and researchers regarding programs at higher education institutions in Canada, Australia, and Vietnam.

Common challenges and benefits of peer mentoring for teacher candidate mentors and mentees are identified. The importance of embedding reflective practice in programs is discussed, highlighting strategies for improving reflection and engagement.

This exploratory study has limitations. Due to the small sample size, thematic saturation may not have been reached. There is a lack of prior research on the topic of peer mentoring in an undergraduate, pre-service education context. These factors indicate room for further exploration on this topic. This study reveals areas for further research. Research on best practices for the implementation of peer mentoring experiences for teacher candidates should be continued with larger sample sizes, and mixed methodologies. Differences in best practices in online and in-person peer mentoring programs for teacher candidates could be investigated. The value of mentoring as a reflective tool for professional growth should be further explored. The adequacy of structured and reflective peer mentoring as an adjunct or substitute for traditional mentoring by staff advisors may be of interest to provide more professional growth opportunities to teacher candidates at earlier stages and lower costs for institutions.

To overcome common challenges associated with low engagement from mentees, both the mentor and mentee positions should be framed as active roles in a partnership essential for professional growth. Ideally, facilitators should designate time within the curriculum, such as course or lab time, in which mentors and mentees can meet. To increase mutual engagement, preservice education programs should make both roles mandatory, or offer each role as a credit course with academic incentives for assignments that demonstrate quality self-reflection and engagement.

Rather than viewing themselves as passive recipients of mentoring services, mentees can take ownership through engaging in valued mentee responsibilities, such as identifying needs, and communicating proactively. How mentee and mentor roles are perceived, and enacted, may be influenced by whether programs are presented as supports by mentors for mentees, or reciprocal professional partnerships required for mutual growth.

The research offers insights into how peer-mentoring programs for teacher candidates can be structured to address pitfalls, enhance professional development, and support undergraduate teacher-learners. Practical recommendations for program coordinators and institutions are offered.

This study aims to explore the phenomenon of “Quiet Quitting” from the perspective of employers in the Dominican Republic, particularly in the context of changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

From a qualitative approach, based on methods of Grounded Theory, in-depth interviews were conducted with managers from various sectors. The data were analysed using open, axial and selective coding techniques to identify emerging themes.

The study identifies four main scenarios contributing to quiet quitting: Social Disconnection, Stress and Anxiety, Re-evaluation of Priorities and Changes in Job Expectations. These factors indicate a significant shift in the employee–employer relationship post-pandemic.

The exploratory nature of this study limits its generalizability.

Organizations can mitigate quiet quitting by implementing flexible work policies, promoting work-life balance and enhancing communication between supervisors and employees.

Addressing quiet quitting can lead to improved employee well-being, higher productivity and a more positive work environment.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this research is the first to examine quiet quitting in the Dominican Republic from the employers’ perspective, providing unique insights into this understudied phenomenon in the region.

Este estudio explora el fenómeno de la “Renuncia Silenciosa” desde la perspectiva de los empleadores en la República Dominicana, particularmente en el contexto de los cambios provocados por la pandemia de COVID-19.

Desde un enfoque cualitativo, basado en métodos de la Teoría Fundamentada, se realizaron entrevistas en profundidad con gerentes de varios sectores. Los datos se analizaron utilizando técnicas de codificación abierta, axial y selectiva para identificar temas emergentes.

El estudio identifica cuatro escenarios principales que contribuyen a la renuncia silenciosa: Desconexión Social, Estrés y Ansiedad, Reevaluación de Prioridades y Cambios en las Expectativas Laborales. Estos factores indican un cambio significativo en la relación empleado-empleador postpandemia.

Las organizaciones pueden mitigar la renuncia silenciosa implementando políticas de trabajo flexible, promoviendo el equilibrio entre vida laboral y personal, y mejorando la comunicación entre supervisores y empleados.

Abordar la renuncia silenciosa puede llevar a un mayor bienestar de los empleados, mayor productividad y un entorno laboral más positivo.

Esta investigación es la primera en examinar la renuncia silenciosa en la República Dominicana desde la perspectiva de los empleadores, proporcionando perspectivas únicas sobre este fenómeno poco estudiado en la región.

Este estudo explora o fenômeno da “Abandono Silencioso” a partir da perspectiva dos empregadores na República Dominicana, particularmente no contexto das mudanças provocadas pela pandemia de COVID-19.

A partir de uma abordagem qualitativa, baseada nos métodos da Teoria Fundamentada, foram realizadas entrevistas aprofundadas com gerentes de vários setores. Os dados foram analisados usando técnicas de codificação aberta, axial e seletiva para identificar temas emergentes.

O estudo identifica quatro cenários principais que contribuem para a demissão silenciosa: Desconexão Social, Estresse e Ansiedade, Reavaliação de Prioridades e Mudanças nas Expectativas de Trabalho. Esses fatores indicam uma mudança significativa na relação empregado-empregador após a pandemia.

As organizações podem mitigar a demissão silenciosa implementando políticas de trabalho flexíveis, promovendo o equilíbrio entre vida pessoal e profissional e melhorando a comunicação entre supervisores e funcionários.

Abordar a demissão silenciosa pode levar a um maior bem-estar dos funcionários, maior produtividade e um ambiente de trabalho mais positivo.

Esta pesquisa é a primeira a examinar a demissão silenciosa na República Dominicana a partir da perspectiva dos empregadores, fornecendo insights únicos sobre esse fenômeno pouco estudado na região.

This paper investigates how two characteristics of language, abstractness vs concreteness and narrativity, influence user engagement in communication exercises on innovation targeted to the general audience. The proposed conceptual model suggests that innovation fits well with more abstract language because of the association of innovation with imagination and distal construal. Moreover, communication of innovation may benefit from greater adherence to the narrativity arc, that is, early staging, increasing plot progression and climax optimal point. These effects are moderated by content variety and emotional tone, respectively.

Based on a Latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) application on a sample of 3225 TED Talks transcripts, the authors identify 287 TED Talks on innovation, and then applied econometric analyses to test the hypotheses on the effects of abstractness vs concreteness and narrativity on engagement, and on the moderation effects of content variety and emotional tone.

The authors found that abstractness (vs concreteness) and narrativity have positive effects on engagement. These two effects are stronger with higher content variety and more positive emotional tone, respectively.

This paper extends the literature on communication of innovation, linguistics and text analysis by evaluating the roles of abstractness vs concreteness and narrativity in shaping appreciation of innovation.

This paper reports conceptual and empirical analyses on innovation dissemination through a popular medium – TED Talks – and applies modern text analysis algorithms to test hypotheses on the effects of two pivotal dimensions of language on user engagement.

This study examines the functions of informal communication in organizations. Informal communication can be characterized as any interaction within an organization in which two or more individuals assume personal roles rather than their professional roles and in which employees do not intend to solve work-related problems. Despite its central role in organizations, a comprehensive understanding of the specific functions of informal communication within workplace dynamics is lacking.

We reviewed existing literature to identify the functions of informal communication and then surveyed employees (N = 1,380). We asked them to indicate their agreement with statements measuring the functions of informal communication that we derived from the literature.

Using exploratory factor analysis, we identified four core functions: stress management and recreation, nurturing private relationships, fostering a sense of belonging and connectedness and facilitating information exchange and coordination. We then examined how these core functions related to job-related and sociodemographic characteristics. Our findings underscore the importance of informal communication in organizations, particularly in facilitating the development and maintenance of social relationships as well as information exchange and coordination, both of which play critical roles in organizational success.

This study is among the first to systematize the functions of informal communication in organizations and to empirically extract core functions that can be used for further research. It is also highly relevant to practitioners of organizational management and organizational communication.

Every organization must deal with new challenges such as automation, digitization, or structural transformation, which requires a highly resilient and engaged workforce to stay competitive. Strong leadership in a firm and specific abilities of the leader are necessary to manage uncertainties and to be able to react to certain changes. Various studies regarding organizations and resilience focus on large enterprises, while studies on small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are lacking. SMEs account for 99.6% of all companies in Austria and are largely run by entrepreneurial owners and their families. Based on transformational theory, the theory of resilience as well as positive psychology, we investigate five SME owners and their personal resilience in an exploratory study. The owners were selected by purposive sampling with the aim to develop a framework with recommended actions for the personal resilience of SME leaders.

Sub-Saharan forced migration in recent decades has reached alarming levels, significantly increasing the risk to develop mental health vulnerabilities due to traumatic events and postmigration stressors. Research gaps persist within this population, necessitating culturally sensitive studies within a socioecological framework. This pilot exploratory mixed-method study aims to investigate the quality of life and subjective well-being among African displaced individuals in Niger.

In total, 119 African displaced adults (M = 26; SD = ±7.8) were administered WHOQOL-BREF to assess the quality of life (objective well-being) and Perma profiler and SWLS to assess subjective well-being, and 20 (M = 30.8; SD = ±7.4) of the previously assessed participants were in-depth interviewed to record their life stories, and transcripts were analyzed throughout thematic content analysis.

Quantitative results showed that all domains of quality of life, subjective well-being and life satisfaction scored below the African normative population levels. Particularly, environment, positive emotions and accomplishments in life were consistently below the normative mean score. The most affected dimension was life satisfaction. Qualitative findings revealed three main themes: potentially stressful or traumatic events that occurred to migrants and refugees, well-being as a continuum and the multiple meanings of forced migration, explaining the multiple burdens and resources that displaced people, affecting their subjective and objective well-being.

This study contributes to addressing mental health gaps among sub-Saharan forced migrants through a unique combination of quantitative and qualitative analysis, offering insights into their experiences within the context of forced migration and resettlement.