Foundational literacy is central to participation and subsequent learning, yet the instructional routes through which beginning readers encounter print are not equally accessible to all learners. In Tanzania, renewed attention to systematic phonics and early-grade reading has increased the relevance of decodable texts: texts designed to give learners opportunities to apply previously taught grapheme–phoneme correspondences. Their instructional value, however, cannot be assessed only in terms of the linguistic structure of the text. Classroom activities, teacher directions, response requirements, assessment procedures, and available formats can either widen or restrict access. This scoping review maps literature and policy- and curriculum-related evidence concerning decodable or phonics-oriented early reading in Tanzanian primary education and examines the extent to which the evidence engages with accessibility, learner variability, and Universal Design for Learning (UDL). The review follows PRISMA-ScR and considers literature published between 2014 and 2026. The synthesis indicates a plausible pedagogical alignment between controlled text and the development of decoding, while also revealing a major gap in directly tested evidence on inclusive adaptations of decodable materials in Tanzania. Across the mapped literature, accessibility is more often treated as an implementation concern than as a design principle embedded in reading materials from the outset. The review therefore advances the concept of inclusive decodable-text pedagogy, in which systematic phonics is retained while unnecessary sensory, motor, speech, and communication barriers are reduced through multiple means of representation, action and expression, and engagement. Implications are developed for curriculum design, teacher education, classroom practice, formative assessment, and future research. The central conclusion is that decodability and accessibility should be treated as complementary properties: a text may be linguistically decodable yet still be instructionally inaccessible if participation depends on a single route that is unrelated to the intended literacy skill.
This study examined the relationship between AI companionship- operationalized as attachment anxiety and avoidance toward AI- and psychological well-being among 50 Gen Z adults (aged 18-29) in India. Using the Experiences in Human-AI Relationships Scale (EHARS) and the WHO-5 Well-Being Index, the study found no significant associations between attachment to AI and well-being. These findings, though limited by sample size and design constraints, contribute to the growing literature on human-AI relationships in non-Western contexts.
The stress facing the educational leadership as school principals are required to deal with administrative management, supervision of staff, academic performance and institutional development. There are specific issues that may affect female principals in addition to the other factors listed above: Interpersonal demands, competing professional demands, and work–life balance. Problem-Focused Coping Strategies (PFCS) may be a way to cope with stress by identifying the sources of stress, planning and problem solving, prioritizing and making positive decisions. The present study investigated the correlation between PFCS and Stress Management (SM) of female school principals. The method of quantitative research was employed and data was gathered from 74 principals (females). Analysis of the correlation showed a weak negative correlation between PFCS and SM (r = -.117). The regression model accounted for about 1.4% of the variability in SM (R2 = .014). The overall regression model was not significant (F (1,72) = 1.005, p = .319). The regression coefficient for PFCS was also negative and not significantly different from 0 (B = -.254, β = -.117, p = .319). The results of this study suggest that there was no statistically significant predictive relationship found between the female principals who participated in the study and PFCS and SM. The results do not show that problem-focused coping is not effective, however; it does imply that it may be insufficient to account for variations in stress management in this sample. The results indicate that there is a need to explore further individual and organizational factors, such as workload, institutional support, leadership experience, resources, and work–life balance. More research is needed using larger samples, measuring instruments that have been established and validated, and using longitudinal or intervention designs to investigate the role of problem-focused coping in stress management. Other professional development programs that could be beneficial for educational authorities include those related to problem solving, time management, delegation, and conflict resolution. The research brings insights from the sphere of stress amongst female educational leaders to the discussion and provides some insights for future research directions.
This study investigated the implementation of a gamified English for Specific Purposes (ESP) speaking instructional framework using spinning wheel media among nursing students. A qualitative case study approach was conducted involving 25 nursing students at STIKES Bina Usada Bali. Data were gathered over five instructional sessions through classroom observations, semi-structured interviews, and document analysis, followed by thematic analysis. The analysis revealed five themes: students’ engagement, speaking anxiety, speaking confidence, the relevance of nursing-based communication tasks, and classroom participation. The findings suggested that students perceived the randomized speaking prompts as engaging and considered nursing-related scenarios relevant to their prospective professional communication needs. Some participants further described feeling more comfortable and confident through repeated opportunities to practice speaking. Drawing on the classroom implementation, the study identified six related instructional components: context-based nursing tasks, randomized prompts, individual speaking performance, peer interaction, constructive feedback, and repeated practice. This study offers practical insights into the integration of gamification in ESP speaking instruction for nursing students. Nevertheless, the findings represent students’ experiences and perceptions; they do not demonstrate a causal improvement in speaking proficiency or establish the formal validity of the framework. Future research should investigate the framework in diverse educational contexts and explore its association with objectively assessed speaking outcomes.
This study examined the use of digitized game-based learning activities to support Grade 7 students’ interest and mathematics achievement at Demetrio L. Alviola National High School, Bindoy, Negros Oriental, during school year 2025–2026. A quantitative quasi-experimental pretest–posttest design with a survey component involved 120 learners, consisting of 60 in the control group and 60 in the experimental group. The control group received conventional mathematics instruction, while the experimental group participated in a four-week digitized game-based approach. A 48-item competency test, an adapted 20-item mathematics-interest questionnaire, and a learning-style inventory informed data collection. Frequency, percentage, mean percentage scores, descriptive statistics, Wilcoxon tests, and Mann–Whitney U tests were used for analysis. The experimental group’s overall mathematics mean percentage score increased from 70.11% to 79.13%, compared with 68.20% to 74.55% in the control group. The experimental group’s composite interest rating rose from 3.33 (moderate) to 3.86 (high), with significant pre–post differences reported across all four interest dimensions. However, the between-group difference in learning gains was significant only for the bar-models-and-equations competency (p = .021); the other three competencies showed no significant between-group differences. The reported interest–competence association was nonsignificant (p = .875). The findings support digitized game-based activities as a supplementary strategy for improving students’ mathematics interest, while indicating more limited evidence of advantages in achievement across all targeted competencies.
Background: Prolonged screen exposure, after-hours connectivity, and sedentary work are linked to poor sleep and occupational burnout among Indian working professionals. Ayurvedic Dinacharya regulates waking, Vyayama, Bhojana Vidhi, and Nidra Vidhi; however, digital-era disruption of these domains among working adults remains unstudied. This study aimed to assess digital lifestyle behaviours mapped to Dinacharya principles as behavioural markers of Pragyaparadha, in relation to sleep quality and occupational burnout among working adults, and to identify behaviours independently associated with poor sleep and higher burnout. Methods: A cross-sectional analytical survey (STROBE-reported) was conducted at the All-India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), New Delhi, during (January 2026 to July 2026), among 400 working adults aged 25-40 years with ≥1 year of occupational experience. A structured proforma captured sociodemographic details and Dinacharya-mapped digital behaviours across five domains (morning routine, bedtime device use, after-hours connectivity, screen breaks/sedentary time, mealtime practices). Sleep quality and burnout were assessed using the PSQI and Copenhagen burnout inventory. Results: Of 400 participants, 56.8% had poor sleep quality, 61% personal burnout, and 55.8% work-related burnout. Bedtime device use and inadequate screen breaks/sedentary behaviour independently predicted poor sleep (aOR 1.76 and 1.98). After-hours connectivity, sedentary behaviour, and mealtime digital engagement predicted personal burnout; bedtime device use, sedentary behaviour, mealtime digital engagement, and digital overload predicted work-related burnout (all p<0.05). Conclusions: Digital lifestyle behaviours reflect patterns of Pragyaparadha in daily digital conduct. Interpreted through Dinacharya and Nidra, the findings support a culturally grounded, preventive Digital Dinacharya framework for digital-era occupational health.
This study aimed to examine the role of self-efficacy and pressure of coach expectations in predicting the performance of adolescent athletes. This study used a cross-sectional survey design involving 142 athletes aged 16–19 years from regional and national sports clubs. Data analysis included Pearson correlation test, independent-samples t-test, and multiple linear regression. The results showed that self-efficacy was positively and significantly associated with athlete performance, while coach expectation pressure was negatively and significantly related to athlete performance. In addition, there were differences in performance by gender, with male athletes reporting higher performance scores than female athletes. When gender was included as a control variable in the regression model, self-efficacy and coach expectations pressure remained significant predictors of athlete performance. Overall, these findings suggest that internal psychological factors and pressures from the sports environment play a role in explaining variations in adolescent athlete performance. This study emphasizes the importance of strengthening self-efficacy and the application of realistic and supportive expectations of coaches in the process of coaching athletes. Further longitudinal research is needed to examine this relationship in more depth.
Firms often treat spending on employee training, development and well-being as a discretionary expense rather than an investment. The aim of this article is to examine whether human capital investment improves firm financial performance through employee well-being, and whether this effect depends on the firm's financial constraints. The study integrates human capital theory, the Job Demands–Resources (JD-R) model and the corporate finance literature on financing constraints. A moderated-mediation model is proposed in which employee well-being mediates the link between human capital investment and financial performance, while financial constraints weaken the link between investment and well-being. The model is tested on matched employer–employee data from 50–60 project-based organisations in the construction, IT, consulting and engineering sectors of Tashkent. Multilevel moderated-mediation analysis is applied. The scientific novelty lies in treating human capital investment as a financially constrained corporate investment and testing this integrated model in the under-researched context of Central Asia. The results help managers and policymakers understand the financial rationale for investing in employees under different financing conditions.
Psychological distress during young adulthood may be influenced by early emotional experiences and current interpersonal relationships. The current study investigates the relationship between childhood emotional neglect, peer support and psychological distress in young adults. A quantitative research design was used with 200 participants aged 18-25 years selected through purposive sampling from educational institutions of Lahore. Childhood emotional neglect, peer support and psychological distress were measured with the Childhood Emotional Neglect Questionnaire (CENQ), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived social support (MSPSS), and Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10), respectively. Data were analyzed using Pearson- product moment correlation, hierarchical regression, PROCESS moderation analysis and one way ANOVA. Childhood emotional neglect was significantly and positively associated with psychological distress while peer support was not significantly and directly associated with psychological distress. Hierarchical regression indicates that psychological distress was significantly predicted by childhood emotional neglect, while peer support was not a significant direct predictor. The regression model explained 12.5% of variance in psychological distress. Moderation analysis showed significant interaction effects of friends’ support (P= .017) and family support (P= .032), indicating that these sources of support moderated the relationship between childhood emotional neglect and psychological distress. There were significant socio-economic differences for childhood emotional and peer support, but not for psychological distress. The findings highlight the importance of considering childhood emotional experiences and interpersonal resources when understanding psychological distress among young adults.
This study examines adult romantic attachment among university students, focusing on attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance. A quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional design was used, involving 50 students aged 18 to 28 years. Data were collected through an online questionnaire using the 12-item Experiences in Close Relationships?Short Form (ECR-S). The results showed moderate attachment anxiety (M = 3.78, SD = 1.03) and low-to-moderate attachment avoidance (M = 3.16, SD = 0.90). A weak positive correlation was observed between the two dimensions (r = .16, p = .264), but the relationship was not statistically significant. Exploratory analysis identified a statistically significant difference in attachment avoidance across years of study, while the observed gender difference in attachment anxiety was not statistically significant. These demographic findings require cautious interpretation because of the small subgroup sizes. Overall, participants reported greater concern about rejection than discomfort with emotional closeness. The findings support examining attachment anxiety and avoidance as distinct dimensions of romantic attachment. However, the small convenience sample, reliance on self-reported responses, and cross-sectional design limit the generalisability of the results. Further research involving larger and more diverse student populations is recommended to examine attachment patterns and their relationship with demographic and interpersonal factors.
Music has been investigated as a potential influence on exercise performance, perceived exertion, recovery, and sleep. However, studies vary in their interventions, populations, exercise contexts, and measured outcomes. This scoping review aimed to map experimental evidence on music interventions in resistance, isometric and handgrip, aerobic exercise, acute recovery, and sleep, and to identify evidence gaps. PubMed/MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched for studies published between 1980 and October 2026. Eligible studies involved human participants, compared a music intervention with a control or alternative condition, and reported exercise performance, perceived exertion, psychological responses, physiological recovery, or sleep outcomes. Screening was conducted using Rayyan. Findings were synthesised descriptively across four domains. Thirty studies involving 1,183 participants were included. Studies were published between 1981 and 2021 and examined resistance exercise (n=11), isometric and handgrip exercise (n=8), aerobic exercise and acute recovery (n=7) and sleep (n=4). The evidence maps a broad range of music interventions and outcomes, with variable findings across exercise and sleep contexts. Research gaps include limited participant diversity and insufficient investigation of sleep and recovery in athletic populations. Further studies are needed to clarify how music characteristics, individual preferences, and task demands relate to outcomes.
This study explored attachment-related responses and self-reported relationship experiences among adults. A quantitative, cross-sectional survey was conducted using an online questionnaire; the supplied response file contained 57 records. The questionnaire included demographic questions, 12 attachment-related statements, six relationship-experience statements, and an optional open-ended question about healthy relationships. Descriptive statistics were calculated. For exploratory analysis, four items concerning fear of rejection and reassurance were averaged into an anxiety-related index, and four items concerning emotional disclosure, closeness, and independence were averaged into an avoidance-related index. These researcher-created indices are not validated psychological scales. Spearman rank correlations were used to examine associations with relationship-experience ratings. The six-item relationship-experience composite had a mean of 3.65 on a 1-5 scale. The anxiety-related index was positively associated with the composite (ρ = .315, p = .017), as was the avoidance-related index (ρ = .430, p = .001), contrary to the initially anticipated negative direction. Since the items were not validated, no reverse-scoring was applied, and the sample was a convenience sample with uneven demographic representation, these findings must be interpreted cautiously. They do not establish causation or justify classifying individuals by attachment style.
Experiences of bullying can have significant psychological consequences, including an increased risk of social anxiety. This study aimed to examine changes in social anxiety following Virtual Reality Social Exposure (VRSE) among bullying victims. A one-group pretest–posttest design without a control group was employed with 12 participants. The intervention consisted of three gradual exposure sessions in virtual environments representing social situations. Social anxiety was measured before and after the intervention, and the data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test. The results indicated a statistically significant decrease in social anxiety scores following the intervention (p = 0.002), with a reported effect size of 0.974. These findings suggest that VRSE may be a promising approach for reducing social anxiety among bullying victims. However, the absence of a control group and the small sample size limit conclusions regarding its effectiveness and safety. Further studies with larger samples, control groups, and systematic safety assessments are needed.
ABSTRACT The cognitive dynamics of madrasah students demand profound pedagogical sensitivity to ensure that knowledge transfer proceeds inclusively and aligns with individual needs. This study maps and elaborates the learning style tendencies of eighty-six grade nine pupils at MTs Negeri 5 Bantul through the theoretical lens of Honey and Mumford. Employing a quantitative approach with a descriptive survey design, data were gathered via a short-version dichotomous questionnaire encompassing four core psychological dimensions. Descriptive statistical procedures were utilized to compute means, standard deviations, percentage proportions, and classifications. Empirical findings confirm that the reflective typology occupies the highest rank with a mean score of 8.26 and a dominance share of 28%, followed sequentially by the pragmatic (7.80; 27%), theoretical (7.52; 26%), and activist variants (5.47; 19%). Categorization mapping situates the first three styles within high qualifications and the latter at a moderate level. These numerical insights underscore the urgency for educators to engineer adaptive instructional strategies, such as optimizing observational sessions and critical discussions within the classroom. ABSTRAK Dinamika kognitif peserta didik madrasah menuntut kepekaan pedagogis yang mendalam agar proses transfer pengetahuan dapat berjalan secara inklusif dan selaras dengan kebutuhan personal mereka. Penelitian ini digerakkan untuk memetakan serta menguraikan kecenderungan orientasi belajar delapan puluh enam subjek didik kelas IX di MTs Negeri 5 Bantul melalui kerangka teoretis Honey and Mumford. Menggunakan pendekatan kuantitatif berdesain survei deskriptif, seluruh informasi dikumpulkan lewat instrumen angket dikotomis versi pendek yang mencakup empat dimensi psikologis utama. Prosedur analisis data bertumpu pada kalkulasi statistik deskriptif guna mengekstrak nilai rata-rata, simpangan baku, proporsi persentase, serta kategorisasi kelas. Temuan empiris mengonfirmasi bahwa tipologi reflektif menempati urutan teratas dengan perolehan rerata 8,26 dan porsi dominasi 28%, yang disusul secara berturut-turut oleh varian pragmatis (7,80; 27%), teoretis (7,52; 26%), serta aktivis (5,47; 19%). Pengelompokan kategori menempatkan tiga tipe awal pada kualifikasi tinggi dan tipe terakhir pada tingkat sedang. Konstelasi data ini menyaratkan urgensi bagi para pendidik untuk merancang strategi pembelajaran yang adaptif, seperti mengoptimalkan sesi observasi dan diskusi kritis di ruang kelas.
Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic created social disruptions, leading to high levels of mental health problems for adolescents. Interpersonal stressors, such as lack of familial support, peer victimization, and discrimination, may have further exacerbated teen mental health issues. Yet, the psychological impact of interpersonal stressors and their interactive effects with high levels of loneliness remains unknown. In this pre-registered study , conducted in November and December 2020 (approximately eight months into the COVID-19 pandemic), we used a diverse sample of adolescents from across 43 U.S. states with elevated depressive symptoms (n = 2,452, ages 13–16) to examine how familial support, peer victimization, and discrimination are concurrently associated with mental health outcomes. Results indicated that perceived discrimination was the strongest standardized correlate across continuous internalizing outcomes (depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and hopelessness), whereas lack of familial support was the primary correlate of suicidal ideation; if youth reported a lack of familial support, they were over three times as likely to report suicidal ideation. Loneliness significantly moderated the cross-sectional links between lack of familial support and depressive symptoms, as well as perceived discrimination and hopelessness. Simple slope probing demonstrated a distress ceiling effect: interpersonal stressors were most strongly associated with elevated distress among youth reporting low baseline loneliness, whereas youth experiencing high loneliness exhibited consistently elevated distress regardless of stressor exposure. These findings underscore interpersonal stressors and loneliness as high-priority targets for youth prevention and intervention programs, particularly during periods of widespread social disruption.
Background: Psychological stress is a common issue among faculty members due to increasing academic, administrative, and professional responsibilities. Prolonged stress negatively affect mental well-being, job satisfaction, and work performance. Therefore, assessing the level of psychological stress among faculty members is essential for identifying the need for stress-management strategies. This study aimed to evaluate the level of psychological stress among faculty members of colleges and universities. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 101 faculty members from colleges and universities. Participants were recruited using a convenience sampling technique. Data were collected through structured online questionnaire consisting of demographic information and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Descriptive statistics, including frequencies and percentages, were used for data analysis. Results: A total of 101 faculty members participated in the study. The majority of participants were above 30 years of age (46%), female (64%), worked 40-50 hours per week (41%), and possessed a master's degree (68%). Assessment of stress levels using the perceived stress scale revealed 91% of participants experienced moderate stress, 6% experienced low stress, and 3% experienced high stress. Most respondents reported experiencing stress-related feelings such as being upset unexpectedly, inability to control important things in life, nervousness, and difficulty coping "sometimes," indicating a moderate level of perceived psychological stress. Conclusions: The findings indicate that psychological stress is prevalent among faculty members of colleges and universities, with moderate stress being the most commonly reported level. These results highlight need for effective stress-management interventions and workplace wellness programs to promote psychological well-being among faculty members.
The present study investigated the mediating effect of spiritual wellbeing on the relationship between mindfulness and emotion dysregulation among young adults. The sample N=200 were selected for the present research. A cross-sectional correlational research design was used for the present study. Through the convenience sampling technique, data were gathered by using the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) by Baer et al. (2006), the Spiritual Well-Being Scale (SWBS) by Paloutzian and Ellison (1982) Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) by Gratz and Roemer (2004). According to the results, spiritual well-being is positively correlated with mindfulness and its dimensions (observing, describing, acting with awareness, non-judging, non-reactivity). Emotional dysregulation is negatively linked to mindfulness. Mediation analysis showed a significant prediction by mindfulness of spiritual well-being and emotional dysregulation. It was also found that spiritual well-being predicts emotional dysregulation. In addition, spiritual well-being was found to be a mediating factor through which emotional dysregulation and mindfulness are linked. According to the study, interventions aimed at enhancing emotional resilience and well-being in people will be of interest for the mental health section.
The purpose of this study is to examine how parentification and perceived stress impact adolescents' psychological and behavioural adjustment. This study explored the associations between parentification, perceived stress, and disruptive behaviour, and the predictive and mediating effects of these variables. The method of the research was descriptive cross sectional, purposive sampling was used for gathering samples, the number of samples obtained was 250.The methods used were descriptive cross sectional design, purposive sampling was used for sampling. The Parentification Inventory, Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) and Disruptive Behaviour Scale were used to collect the data. The SPSS Version 26 was used for descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, regression analysis and Hayes’ PROCESS Macro (Model 4). Results showed that parentification was not a significant predictor of perceived stress and disruptive behaviour. Perceived stress, however, was a strong predictor of disruptive behaviour. Indirect effect of parentification on disruptive behaviour via perceived stress was also non-significant. Impression of stress seems to be a key factor related to disruptive behaviour among adolescents, while the impact of parentification could differ based on contextual and cultural factors. The results emphasize the need for stress reduction and psychological health promotion initiatives for youth in Pakistan.
