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1 – 10 of over 87000Shuai Han, Tongtong Sun, Yanming Sun and Xi Gao
The COVID-19 outbreak has been effectively controlled in China, but the resulting public psychological crisis is a latent, persistent and torturous disaster. This crisis affects…
Abstract
Purpose
The COVID-19 outbreak has been effectively controlled in China, but the resulting public psychological crisis is a latent, persistent and torturous disaster. This crisis affects not only the individual’s health but also social stability. This study aims to reveal the structure and situation of public psychological crisis during the remission period of the COVID-19 epidemic.
Design/methodology/approach
A questionnaire survey of the psychological crisis was conducted from February to May 2021. Data was collected from 1,056 respondents from different provinces in China.
Findings
The findings reveal the dangerous risks of public psychological crises. The specific results are as follows: first, a hierarchical state structure of psychological crisis is constructed and characterized as a significant gradient decline, namely, anxious state>panic state>depressive state>hostile state. Second, 43.939% of respondents reported an anxious state, 46.780% reported a panic state, 40.909% reported a depressive state, 28.883% reported a hostile state and 22.254% of the respondents had four psychological crisis states. Third, those with 56–65 years of age, equal or below high school and PhD, with monthly family incomes of ¥50,000–¥100,000 and living in the county and city areas have relatively high levels of psychological crisis.
Originality/value
This study enriches the research on the evolution of the psychological crisis in terms of structure and periods. This study also provides substantial evidence for hierarchical intervention and differentiated intervention of psychological crisis.
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Wei Wei Cheryl Leo, Cindy Yunhsin Chou and Tom Chen
Consumers’ self-interests and personal goals in attaining collective goals are rarely considered in firm-hosted virtual communities (FHVCs). Based on working consumers paradigm…
Abstract
Purpose
Consumers’ self-interests and personal goals in attaining collective goals are rarely considered in firm-hosted virtual communities (FHVCs). Based on working consumers paradigm and agency theory, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the joint impact of consumers’ psychological states of empowerment, engagement and entitlement on value cocreation behaviors in FHVCs.
Design/methodology/approach
US consumer panel data were used to test the proposed model on customers (n=338) participating in a FHVC.
Findings
The results show significant effects of the psychological states of empowerment, engagement and entitlement on value cocreation. Of these three states, psychological empowerment had the strongest effect. The predictive strength of entitlement for value cocreation is weaker for individuals with high knowledge of the community (KC). Practitioner interviews conducted with FHVC managers establish the states and set forth an emerging research agenda.
Research limitations/implications
This study extends the cocreation literature to establish the holistic importance of psychological states as key antecedents of value cocreation for working consumers. It acknowledges agency motives and establishes KC as a moderating condition.
Practical implications
The explication of consumers’ psychological states has implications for the benchmarking and design of consumer portfolios.
Originality/value
This study advances the literature on cocreation by collectively examining three psychological states of consumers through the lens of working consumers paradigm and agency theory. It also establishes KC as an important boundary resource condition.
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Debra L Nelson and Bret L Simmons
This chapter proposes a more holistic approach to understanding work stress by incorporating eustress, the positive response to stressors. We begin by casting the study of…
Abstract
This chapter proposes a more holistic approach to understanding work stress by incorporating eustress, the positive response to stressors. We begin by casting the study of eustress as part of a contemporary movement in both psychology and organizational behavior that accentuates the positive aspects of human adaptation and functioning. We discuss the development of the concept of eustress, and provide extensive evidence, both psychological and physiological, for the purpose of developing an explicit construct definition. An exploratory study of hospital nurses is presented as an initial test of our holistic model of stress. We conclude by asserting that there must exist a complement to coping with distress such that rather than preventing or resolving the negative side of stress, individuals savor the positive side of stress.
Carole Serhan and Haritini Tsangari
In today's challenging markets, organizations need to explore new ways to maximize employees' effectiveness and job satisfaction. Within this context, employed fresh graduates are…
Abstract
Purpose
In today's challenging markets, organizations need to explore new ways to maximize employees' effectiveness and job satisfaction. Within this context, employed fresh graduates are a special group, which requires attention. Recognizing its needs in job design is one of the keys. The aim of the study is to determine the mediating role of experienced psychological states in the relationship between job dimensions and personal/work outcomes (motivation, satisfaction, effectiveness and commitment).
Design/methodology/approach
The new “modified job characteristics model” (MJCM) was implemented, where the focus was on testing if experienced psychological states play a mediating role. An index for summarizing core job dimensions (modified motivating potential score (MMPS)) was also developed in the study. For the empirical testing of the new modeling framework, a sample of 630 employed fresh graduates in Lebanon was selected. Various statistical analyses were performed, including partial correlation and multiple regression analysis.
Findings
Results showed that for those core job dimensions that significantly affected fresh graduates' personal/work outcomes, the relation was not direct causal, but was mediated by “experienced meaningfulness of the work”, “experienced responsibility for outcomes of the work”, “knowledge of results”, “self-confidence” and “prestige inside outside”. Further, MMPS was verified as a valid score reflecting the “motivating potential” of a job.
Practical implications
The findings demonstrate the importance of effectively designing and redesigning jobs: employers should focus on the core job dimensions and adopt an adjusted strategy to enhance fresh graduates' affective and behavioral responses.
Originality/value
The current study innovatively examines fresh graduates' psychological states and their role as a mediator in the relation between job dimensions and job satisfaction or commitment. A new modeling framework is used and an index for summarizing job dimensions is developed.
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Fan Wu, Guoquan Chen and Shuting Xiang
Existing research regarding the value of school education focuses primarily on the effects of educational level on core task performance after graduation. However, it is worth…
Abstract
Purpose
Existing research regarding the value of school education focuses primarily on the effects of educational level on core task performance after graduation. However, it is worth noting that knowledge, skills and abilities are not the only individual gains from school education. For part-time Master of Business Administration (MBA) students, the impact of MBA education on their real-time work during their two-year or so study journey has not been reported. This study aims to provide theoretical reasoning and empirical insights to clarify the impact of psychological safety at school on psychological capital (PsyCap) at work for part-time MBA students and examines the moderating role of constructive controversy at school in this relationship.
Design/methodology/approach
A survey of 286 part-time MBA students was conducted in a university located in Beijing to address the theoretical issue.
Findings
Students’ psychological safety at school is positively related to PsyCap at work. Constructive controversy at school acts as a positive moderator in the relationship between psychological safety at school and PsyCap at work.
Originality/value
This study establishes a link between the school and the workplace. It explores the relationship between an individual’s psychological states at school and at work and contributes to the literature on human resources and management education. Furthermore, the findings prove that students not only gain knowledge, skills and abilities from education but also positive psychological states, such as psychological safety.
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Abdul Saman and Hillman Wirawan
Soft skills are essential not only for students but also for employees in any workplace. Some factors influence the development of soft skills in high schools. This study…
Abstract
Purpose
Soft skills are essential not only for students but also for employees in any workplace. Some factors influence the development of soft skills in high schools. This study investigates the effect of psychological capital (PsyCap) on soft skills through the role of psychological well-being at different students’ grade levels.
Design/methodology/approach
Three scales (i.e. the Psychological Capital Questionnaire, the Scale of Psychological Well-being and the soft skills assessment) were used on 707 high school students from seven senior high schools. The data were analysed using a moderated-mediation regression technique to reveal the conditional indirect effect of PsyCap on soft skills.
Findings
The results suggested that students' grade levels moderated the indirect effect of PsyCap on soft skills via psychological well-being. Students in higher grades showed a stronger impact of PsyCap on soft skills via psychological well-being.
Research limitations/implications
The psychological states of students should be regarded as one of the most critical aspects of education and career advancement. Schools should assist students in developing their soft skills. Students, regardless of grade level, would begin to occupy their PsyCap, ensure their psychological well-being and finally, engage in soft skills development activities.
Originality/value
This current study has shifted from simply assessing soft skills to investigating some avenues for developing soft skills in various contexts and areas. If the theoretical model is well established, teachers and educators can effectively improve soft skills intervention by understanding the antecedents of soft skills.
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Vijay Kuriakose, Sumant Kumar Bishwas and Nimmi P. Mohandas
Anchoring on the Conservation of Resource Theory (Hobfoll, 1989), the study aims to examine the relationship between student bullying, helplessness and student well-being…
Abstract
Purpose
Anchoring on the Conservation of Resource Theory (Hobfoll, 1989), the study aims to examine the relationship between student bullying, helplessness and student well-being. Further, the study also examines the mediating role of helplessness and the conditional role of students' psychological capital in the model.
Design/methodology/approach
Drawing responses from 397 students in the business management program in various B Schools in India, the hypothesized relationships were tested using IBM SPSS version 23 and AMOS 23, and moderation was checked with Hayes Process Macros.
Findings
The results revealed that bullying among students poses a severe threat to their well-being. Further, the study found that bullying increases feelings of helplessness, and such feelings impair well-being. The study also found a significant moderating effect of psychological capital in the relationship between feelings of helplessness and student well-being.
Research limitations/implications
The study findings provide students and educational administrators valuable insights into how student bullying deteriorates their well-being and how it can be tackled effectively using their psychological capital.
Originality/value
The study made a unique attempt to understand the effect of student bullying on their well-being. The study also provides valuable understanding about the roles of helplessness and psychological capital in the model, which will enrich the theory and practice alike.
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Vijay Kuriakose, Dhanya T S and Frank Hycinth
This study anchoring on the theory of conservation of resources examines the relationship between family incivility, negative rumination and service delivery. This study also…
Abstract
Purpose
This study anchoring on the theory of conservation of resources examines the relationship between family incivility, negative rumination and service delivery. This study also analyses the mediating role of negative rumination in the relationship between family incivility and service delivery. This study also examines psychological capital and perceived organisational support (POS) as boundary conditions influencing the relationships postulated in the study.
Design/methodology/approach
To test the relationships among the variables, responses were drawn from 419 frontline hotel employees at two-time points and the hypothesised relationships were tested using structural equation modelling.
Findings
The structural equation modelling analysis proved that family incivility is negatively related to service delivery. It was also found that family incivility is positively associated with negative rumination and an inverse relationship between negative rumination and service delivery. This study also found support for the mediating role of negative rumination and the moderating roles of psychological capital and perceived organisational support.
Practical implications
This study findings extend the theory and provide guidelines for managers to mitigate the adverse effect of family incivility on employees and their service delivery. Employees and managers can use psychological capital and POS as strategies to prevent the spill-over effect of family incivility on service delivery.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no prior studies have examined the effect of family incivility on service delivery. By establishing the mediating mechanism and boundary conditions, this study adds value to the theory and practice.
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Purpose – To present Hayek's model of the sensory order, especially in relation to communication, classification and subjective knowledge, arguing for the necessity of a more…
Abstract
Purpose – To present Hayek's model of the sensory order, especially in relation to communication, classification and subjective knowledge, arguing for the necessity of a more articulated theory of the “inter-personal” dimension of the mind. We proposed then to integrate Hayek's model of the mind with the concept of “folk psychology” or “theory of mind” elaborated by modern philosophy.
Methodological approach – This chapter is philosophical but draws on the empirical.
Findings – Hayek proposed a model of the mind and the social order that explains how dispersed and fragmented knowledge can spread in a society of individuals [Hayek, F. A. (1945). The use of knowledge in society. The American Economic Review, 35(4), 519–530]. His social and psychological theories have been dedicated to the study of the spontaneous emergence of orders: institutional and mental orders are tightened together in his epistemology. However, we found that Hayek developed only in nuce the social dimension of the mind: behaviors are determined by mental events and his philosophical psychology is then “mentalistic,” that is focused on the understanding of individual inner psychological states, their relation with external stimuli and behaviors, without explaining how individuals interpret other people's mental states.
Research limitations/implications – Hayek seems not to explicitly consider the interaction between personal psychological events and other people's mental events, missing then a fundamental activity played by the mental order, that is the capacity to understand, interpret, and attribute other people's mental states, in a word to mentalize.
Originality/value of the paper – To read Hayek's philosophical psychology under a new light, which focus on the importance of the interpersonal dimension of mental processes.
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PA scholars argue that two gaps are present in the stress literature: (1) “stress” is too simply treated as deleterious and (2) insufficient efforts are made to capture public…
Abstract
Purpose
PA scholars argue that two gaps are present in the stress literature: (1) “stress” is too simply treated as deleterious and (2) insufficient efforts are made to capture public servants' stress appraisal, i.e. the degree to which stressors are appraised as hindering or challenging. Overcoming Gap 1, this study aims to study stress as a continuum; from distress to eustress. Overcoming Gap 2, stress appraisal is studied through testing the interaction of PsyCap with the two most common clusters of public servants' job stressors: emotional and psychological stressors.
Design/methodology/approach
Hypotheses are tested through structural equation modeling. A sample is used in this study of 1,853 Dutch public servants.
Findings
The results show that emotional and psychological stressors are high, but public servants often appraise them as challenging or as “part of the job”, with consequently no increased distress or decreased eustress. Moreover, psychological capital helps public servants to appraise some of the negative effects of emotional, but not psychological, stressors as less deleterious.
Originality/value
By approaching stress as a continuum, the authors bring in a more complete picture of public servants' stress in PA literature. Moreover, this research shows that the ambiguous results in the existing stress literature about the consequences of emotional and psychological stressors on distress/eustress can partially be explained by sector differences as well as personality differences (i.e. PsyCap). Finally, this study criticizes the one-sided attention to PsyCap as purely positive. PsyCap is not only unhelpful in coping with psychological stressors, it also drains the challenging properties of psychological stressors for dedication.
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