The study sheds light on the subtle interactions among financial development, foreign direct investment (FDI), and the quality of regulatory frameworks, with particular reference to their deep influence on renewable energy use and carbon emissions across 22 developed countries from 2002-2021. The results show an interesting tendency: Financial development and FDI will reduce reliance on renewable energy, whereas a significant increase in GDP per capita will increase reliance. Secondly, carbon emissions have a negative association with the adoption of renewable energy and financial development, though both reduce environmental quality; there is a positive relation between real gross domestic product (GDP) and energy depletion in terms of these toxic emissions. The significant role of regulatory quality as a moderator in this process is particularly striking. There is a direct correlation between financial stability and more robust regulation, resulting in reduced financial liquidity available for investing in renewable projects and restricting the free flow of clean FDI. Crucially, the paper argues that when combined with strong regulation, FDI is more likely to contribute to reductions in emissions, while FYGD, nevertheless regulated at a high level of quality, should raise emissions. Winding up, the result indicates that neither financial depth nor institutional quality, in isolation, is sufficient to deliver significant environmental improvement. Thus, it is urgent to adopt sound green finance policies and to formulate focused regulatory systems that integrate financial development and foreign direct investment with a broader sustainability agenda.
This paper describes the development and initial validation of the ambivalent prejudice towards gay men scale (APGS) - a multidimensional 19-item measure of hostile and benevolent prejudice towards gay men - in two British samples. In Study 1 (N = 801), exploratory factor analysis produced a four-factor (repellent, romanticised, paternalistic, and adversarial) scale, with men scoring higher in repellent and adversarial prejudice and women scoring higher on romanticised prejudice, supporting known-groups validity. The APGS further evidenced convergent and discriminant validity relative to hostile and benevolent prejudice measures and ideologies associated with prejudice, and good internal and test-retest reliability. Romanticised (benevolent) and adversarial (hostile) subscales were positively correlated, and used to create an individual differences index of ambivalent prejudice towards gay men associated with system justifying beliefs and insensitive to self-presentational concerns. In Study 2 (N = 300), confirmatory factor analysis showed that the four-factor model demonstrated superior fit compared to alternative one-factor (generalised ambivalence) and two-factor (hostility and benevolence) models after minor re-specifications to parameters. The four-factor model demonstrated full scalar invariance between men and women and between data collected in 2016 and 2023, suggesting superior psychometric properties compared to currently available alternatives. Implications and directions for prejudice, intergroup relations, and scale validation research are presented.
Poor employee mental health and well-being impose significant costs on employers, not only through lost productivity but also via broader organizational disruption. Drawing on the concept of the 'absence multiplier', we argue that the true economic burden of mental health-related absenteeism is often underestimated. This paper develops and tests a prevalence - cost framework in which firms' adoption of workplace well-being practices (WWPs) is modelled as a strategic investment decision influenced by both the prevalence of mental health-related absence and the marginal productivity costs it causes. Using longitudinal survey data from 5420 UK firms (2020-2024), we estimate random-effects Poisson models of WWP adoption across preventative, employee-centred, and treatment-focused categories. Results show that firms affected by mental health-related absenteeism adopt significantly more WWPs, and that higher productivity levels encourage the adoption of employee-centred and treatment-focused strategies. Firm size moderates both relationships, with larger firms exhibiting stronger responses than smaller ones. By framing WWPs within firms' cost - benefit decision-making, our study enhances the economics of workplace health by reinterpreting well-being investments as strategic responses to productivity risks, providing both theoretical and policy-relevant insights.
Evaluations in the field of police studies do not adequately address implementation fidelity, which impacts understanding of outcomes, how and why an intervention works in practice, what can be done to achieve improvements, and how to implement effective innovations in different contexts. Responding to calls for greater use of implementation science to improve innovations in policing, this article draws on the qualitative phase of a realist, quasi-experimental evaluation to examine implementation fidelity of police drug diversion (PDD) schemes in three police forces across England. The research principally involved interviews and focus groups with 221 people who were designers, deliverers, and recipients of PDD. Quantitative data on the recorded outcomes of those eligible for diversion was analysed to assess police use of PDD schemes. Findings on adherence indicate that PDD had lower than intended coverage owing to the exercise of discretion by frontline police officers. Moderators of fidelity are examined to further understanding of the realities of implementation processes, explain why officers were not diverting eligible offenders, and assess attempts by police managers to constrain discretion. The analysis demonstrates the complex interactions between moderators. It is structured around intervention complexity, facilitation strategies, and quality of delivery, but also covers participant responsiveness and capacity, organisational and cultural context, and time. The conclusion stresses the need for evaluations to consider implementation fidelity and makes recommendations for improving fidelity when implementing PDD schemes.
Tinnitus is defined as the perception of sound(s) without external stimulation. It causes distress and is associated with psychological conditions like anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbance. It affects a significant proportion of the population in India. However, there are no standard established tinnitus treatment programs. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is proven to effectively reduce tinnitus-related distress and improve quality of life. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (ICBT) adapted to Indian English for tinnitus management in the Indian population. The study used a pre-post intervention design and included 24 adults with chronic subjective tinnitus. They completed an 8-week ICBT program adapted from Beukes et al. (Internet Interv 6:6–15, 2016, Am J Audiol 29:97–109, 2020). Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) were used to assess tinnitus severity, anxiety, and depression pre- and post-intervention. TFI scores were significantly reduced post-intervention. HAM-A and HAM-D scores were also significantly reduced. The post-intervention scores had a large overall effect on tinnitus severity as well as anxiety and depression, with 62
