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This research evaluates the role of school administrative measures (including creating a greater school belonging and paying attention to student attendance) as independent variables and their resulting core competencies through the mediator of students' experience with school bullying. This study adopted a multi-level mediation model to empirically analyze data from middle school students and school administration in four Chinese provinces based on the 2015 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). Data were collected from a total of 9,060 students and 260 administrative staff. The results were: (i) Relational bullying was significantly and negatively correlated with the three core competencies, although no significant impact was found for either verbal or physical bullying; (ii) Schools which were successful in creating a more positive environment, including greater school belonging and greater attention to students' attendance, demonstrated lower levels of relational bullying; (iii) In terms of school-level variables, a greater sense of shared belonging had a direct effect on improving student performance on math and science competencies, while greater attention to students' attendance was associated with higher student scores on all three core competencies; (iv) Furthermore, school-level variables, including the sense of shared belonging and greater attention to students' attendance demonstrated a positive indirect effect on students' core competencies through the mediating effect of reduced relational bullying.

Utilizing a large-scale cross-sectional survey, the present study tested the advanced psychometric properties of Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) in specific populations (i.e., primary and middle schoolteachers, and their students). The present study also examined the association between perceived fear of COVID-19 and psychological distress among home-room teachers (i.e., teachers who teach all their students in one classroom all day) and their students. The results among participants (11,134 teachers and 4,335 students) indicated good internal reliability of FCV-19S and excellent factorial validity with a two-factor structure utilizing these specific populations. Furthermore, the multilevel analysis showed that home-room teachers' psychological distress, but not fear of COVID-19, was positively associated with their students. In sum, the FCV-19S is a useful tool to assess the fear of COVID-19 on potentially vulnerable populations (i.e., primary/middle schoolteachers and their students). Future studies are encouraged to use the present study's findings to investigate possible underlying mechanisms for developing effective coping strategies and interventions., Author(s): I-Hua Chen [sup.1] , Chao-Ying Chen [sup.2] , Ke-Yun Zhao [sup.3] , Jeffrey H. Gamble [sup.4] , Chung-Ying Lin [sup.5] [sup.6] [sup.7] , Mark D. Griffiths [sup.8] , Amir [...]

Peer victimization is a pervasive issue for educators globally, with well-documented negative psychological impacts. Despite ongoing anti-bullying efforts internationally, researchers have yet to evaluate changes in the relationships among peer victimization and associated factors from a global perspective. Therefore, this study adopts both an international and cross-cohort perspective in comparing the relationships among peer victimization and associated factors for adolescents from two Western Countries (the United States and the United Kingdom) and adolescents from three East Asian countries (China, Japan, and South Korea) using data obtained from the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) survey from 2015 and 2018. Based on a review of the literature, a conceptual framework (including peer victimization, school belonging, school truancy, and life satisfaction) was developed and evaluated through Latent Mean Analysis and Structural Equation Analysis. Measurement invariance was demonstrated for all factors in the proposed conceptual framework across country and cohort (2015 and 2018). Latent Mean Analysis found that peer victimization among Chinese and Japanese adolescents significantly declined from 2015 to 2018, while American and UK adolescents reported higher levels of peer victimization, with no significant changes found for South Korean adolescents. The proposed framework fit the data from all countries and all paths were significant in the hypothesized direction. In addition to the contribution of our updated model, including the role of peer victimization in life satisfaction, key findings regarding the model's structural parameters among countries and across cohorts, and the potential effectiveness of anti-school bullying measures in China, Japan and South Korea are discussed., Author(s): I-Hua Chen [sup.1] [sup.2] [sup.3] , Jeffrey Hugh Gamble [sup.4] , Chung-Ying Lin [sup.5] [sup.6] [sup.7] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.413066.6, 0000 0000 9868 296X, School of Education Science, Minnan [...]

Background: Weight stigma is pervasive, and it has a significant impact on the social, physical, and psychological health of an individual. Weight stigma is observed from several different sources. Therefore, the present study developed and validated a new instrument, the Weight Stigma Exposure Inventory (WeSEI), to assess different sources of observed weight stigma across interpersonal and non-interpersonal sources. Methods: The participants (n = 15,991) comprised Taiwanese young adults, Chinese adolescents, and Chinese young adults who completed paper-and-pencil and online surveys between September 2023 and December 2023. All participants provided demographic information, and completed the WeSEI, Weight Self-Stigma Questionnaire (WSSQ), and Perceived Weight Stigmatization Scale (PWSS). Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were used to examine the factor structure of the WeSEI. Results: EFA and CFA results confirmed a seven-factor structure (television sources, traditional media sources, social media sources, parent sources, stranger sources, significant other sources, and friends sources) across 35 items of the WeSEI. Moreover, the WeSEI was supported by measurement invariance across subgroups (i.e., subsamples, gender, and weight status). Moreover, there were positive correlations between all seven factors of the WeSEI and the WSSQ and PWSS. Conclusion: The WeSEI appears to assess observed weight stigma from different sources, and had good reliability, validity, and invariance across various subsamples. The WeSEI may be useful in clinical practice and research for assessing exposure to weight stigma from different sources. Plain English Summary: The present study adds to the empirical evidence regarding the contextual factors regarding weight stigma. The Weight Stigma Exposure Inventory (WeSEI) was developed to assess observed weight stigma from different sources, including interpersonal and non-interpersonal sources. Moreover, the WeSEI will be able to provide guidance to help reduce weight stigma across settings, as a useful tool for assessing its reduction. Moreover, future studies may use the WeSEI to better understand the relationships between weight stigma and other health outcomes or behaviors, such as eating disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid growth of internet usage has led to increased cyberbullying among adolescents, with varying rates reported across countries. This study aimed to investigate the impact of cyber moral literacy on cyberbullying among late adolescents, examining both the mediating role of moral disengagement and the moderating effect of guilt on the relationship between cyber moral literacy and cyberbullying. Data were collected from 7837 late adolescent students (aged 18–21 years) at four universities in Sichuan Province, China. Scales measuring cyber moral literacy, cyberbullying, moral disengagement, and guilt were employed. Structural Equation Modeling was used to test hypothesized relationships. Cyber moral literacy showed a strong negative association with cyberbullying. The relationship between cyber moral literacy and cyberbullying was partially mediated by moral disengagement. Additionally, guilt moderated the direct relationship between cyber moral literacy and cyberbullying, with this negative relationship being stronger among individuals with high guilt compared to those with low guilt. The study highlights the complex interplay of moral, cognitive, and emotional factors in adolescent online behavior. The findings suggest that enhancing cyber moral literacy could be particularly effective in reducing cyberbullying, especially among individuals who experience higher levels of guilt. Additionally, addressing moral disengagement mechanisms could help strengthen the preventive effect of cyber moral literacy on cyberbullying. These insights contribute to our understanding of creating a more harmonious online environment for late adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: A smartphone is a device with various functions, including wifi, application functions, mobile networks, ease of mobility, and the capability of using mobile data. Because of the aforementioned functions, people may use smartphones frequently. The Smartphone Application‐Based Addiction Scale (SABAS) is a six‐item questionnaire assessing smartphone addiction with promising psychometric properties. However, it is unclear if the SABAS possesses the strong psychometric properties across Asian regions. The present study aimed to examine the factor structure of the SABAS across nine Asian regions. Methods: Using datasets collected from Asian regions of Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Pakistan, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam, data from 10,397 participants (mean age = 22.40 years; 44.8% men) were used for analyses. All participants completed the SABAS using an online survey or paper‐and‐pencil mode. Results: Findings from confirmatory factor analysis, Rasch analysis, and network analysis all indicate a one‐factor structure for the SABAS. Moreover, the one‐factor structure of the SABAS was measurement invariant across age (21 years or less vs. above 21 years) and gender (men vs. women) in metric, scalar, and strict invariance. The one‐factor structure was invariant across regions in metric but not scalar or strict invariance. Conclusion: The present study findings showed that the SABAS possesses a one‐factor structure across nine Asian regions; however, noninvariant findings in scalar and strict levels indicate that people in the nine Asian regions may interpret the importance of each SABAS item differently. Age group and gender group comparisons are comparable because of the invariance evidence for the SABAS found in the present study. However, cautions should be made when comparing SABAS scores across Asian regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cetacean health may be potentially affected by anthropogenic sound. We have initiated investigations on the effect of low-frequency underwater sound on immunological gene transcript profiles of captive bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) using a probe-based quantitative gene expression assay. Six immunologic genes (IL-2Rα, -4, -10, -12, TNFα and IFNγ) were selected for analysis using two validated housekeeping genes (PGK1 and HPRT1) as reference genes. Twenty-four blood samples from six clinically healthy individuals and six blood samples from individuals after sound exposures were available. The gene transcript profile of sound-exposed dolphins was consistent with a stress-induced TH2 shift profile as compared to controls. This study may lead to better understanding of the effects of anthropogenic sound on immune responses of cetaceans.

The COVID-19 outbreak led to widespread school closures and the shift to remote teaching, potentially resulting in lasting negative impacts on teachers' psychological well-being due to increased workloads and a perceived lack of administrative support. Despite the significance of these challenges, few studies have delved into the long-term effects of perceived instructional leadership on teachers' psychological health. To bridge this research gap, we utilized longitudinal data from 927 primary and secondary school teachers surveyed in two phases: Time 1 in mid-November 2021 and Time 2 in early January 2022. Using hierarchical linear modeling (HLM), our findings revealed that perceptions of instructional leadership, especially the "perceived school neglect of teaching autonomy" at Time 1 were positively correlated with burnout levels at Time 2. Additionally, burnout at Time 2 was positively associated with psychological distress and acted as a mediator between the "perceived school neglect of teaching autonomy" and psychological distress. In light of these findings, we recommend that schools prioritize teachers' teaching autonomy and take proactive measures to mitigate burnout and psychological distress, aiming for the sustainable well-being of both teachers and students in the post-pandemic era. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantitative RT-PCR is often used as a research tool directed at gene transcription. Selection of optimal housekeeping genes (HKGs) as reference genes is critical to establishing sensitive and reproducible qRT-PCR-based assays. The current study was designed to identify the appropriate reference genes in blood leukocytes of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) for gene transcription research. Seventy-five blood samples collected from 7 bottlenose dolphins were used to analyze 15 candidate HKGs (ACTB, B2M, GAPDH, HPRT1, LDHB, PGK1, RPL4, RPL8, RPL18, RPS9, RPS18, TFRC, YWHAZ, LDHA, SDHA). HKG stability in qRT-PCR was determined using geNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper and comparative delta Ct algorithms. Utilization of RefFinder, which combined all 4 algorithms, suggested that PGK1, HPRT1 and RPL4 were the most stable HKGs in bottlenose dolphin blood. Gene transcription perturbations in blood can serve as an indication of health status in cetaceans as it occurs prior to alterations in hematology and chemistry. This study identified HKGs that could be used in gene transcript studies, which may contribute to further mRNA relative quantification research in the peripheral blood leukocytes in captive cetaceans.

As research on gaming disorder (GD) is growing globally, the need for a valid and reliable instrument to assess GD has become crucial. Therefore, the present cross-sectional study translated and evaluated the psychometric properties of Gaming Disorder Test (GDT) and Gaming Disorder Scale for Young Adults (GADIS-YA) into Malay language versions. The sample comprised 624 university students (females = 75.6%; mean age = 22.27 years) recruited via an online survey from May to August 2022, using a convenience sampling method. Participants completed both GDT and GADIS-YA scales and other relevant measures including Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS), Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short Form (IGDS9-SF), and time spent on social media and gaming. Results showed that both instruments reported satisfactory internal consistency, and confirmatory factor analysis supported the one-factor structure for GDT and two-factor structure for GADIS-YA. Both scales were strongly correlated with each other and with the IGDS9-SF, BSMAS, and time spent on social media and gaming, supporting concurrent validity. Measurement invariance of both scales was confirmed across gender and gaming time. These findings suggest that the Malay versions of GDT and GADIS-YA are reliable and valid measures of problematic gaming among Malaysian university students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]