Religiosity and spirituality are central to the lives of Filipinos, yet limited research has examined their role in well-being. Although traditionally viewed as distinct constructs, religiosity and spirituality are deeply intertwined among Filipinos, with religious practice serving as a pathway for cultivating spiritual experience. Given the established role of spiritual experience in well-being, daily spiritual experience may represent a key mechanism through which religious practice translates into greater life satisfaction, yet research directly examining this mediating pathway remains limited. A further concern is that widely used spirituality measures, including the Daily Spiritual Experience Scale (DSES; Underwood and Teresi, Annals of Behavioral Medicine 24:22–33, 2002), have been criticized for containing items that overlap with mental and social health outcomes, raising tautological questions about observed associations. The present study addressed both concerns. A theistic 5-item version of the DSES was validated among Filipino Catholics and demonstrated superior psychometric fit over the full 13-item version. Using this validated measure, the study examined whether private religious practices predict life satisfaction and whether daily spiritual experience mediates this relationship in a sample of 1,189 Filipino Catholics (Mage = 18.86, SD = 4.67). Results showed that private religious practices positively predicted life satisfaction, with daily spiritual experience serving as a significant mediator. These findings suggest that private religious practices enhance life satisfaction by fostering an experiential sense of closeness to God that is distinct from general psychological well-being, while also providing a psychometrically robust measure of theistic spirituality for future research among the Filipino faithful.
Extended Reality (XR) technologies – encompassing virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality – are increasingly being integrated with gamification strategies to promote health among older adults. This systematic review aimed to synthesize current evidence on gamified XR applications, develop a conceptual model of gamification elements, and identify gaps and recommendations for future research. Most studies originated from Europe and were published between 2020 and 2024. The majority employed virtual reality (92.6
This study demonstrates DLP-printed mini-channel filters. Arrays with 0.5 and 1.0 mm apertures were made from plant-derived UV resin and characterized by geometry, wettability, FT-IR, SEM-EDS, three-point bending with FEA, and filtration tests. Cured resin showed contact angles of 72 degrees (flat), 86 degrees (0.5 mm), and 78 degrees (1.0 mm). Time-lapse imaging showed imbibition in 1.0 mm channels (similar to 0.26 s) but slower uptake in 0.5 mm channels (similar to 95 s), consistent with capillary and Washburn scaling. Flexural tests showed higher strength for 0.5 mm channels (12.41 MPa) but greater flexibility for 1.0 mm channels (10.33 MPa); failure modes matched FEA, which reproduced maximum stresses within 0.16% (0.5 mm) and 8.32% (1.0 mm). Filtration showed sawdust retention yet more clogging for 0.5 mm, higher throughput but lower capture for 1.0 mm, with performance converging at 5% sawdust. SEM revealed clogging-prone micro-bumps, while FT-IR confirmed polymerization and sawdust-related bands, showing resins enable efficient, reliable filtration.
College life can expose students to challenges that may pose risk to their mental health. This study examines the predictive role of social engagement and sense of place on campus on mental well-being of Filipino undergraduate students at risk for psychological distress. This quantitative, cross-sectional study collected data from 315 college-level students (Mage=19.58, nfemales=53.3%) with risk for psychological distress through an online survey. Multivariate analysis revealed that engagement with teachers, engagement with peers, and sense of place on campus significantly positively predicted mental well-being. Findings highlight the promotive role of positive social and emotional campus environment on young undergraduates' mental health.
Emergency Alert and Warning Systems (EAWSs) are essential components of sustainable disaster risk reduction, providing communities with timely information to prepare for and respond to impending hazards. In the Philippines, one of the world's most disaster-prone countries, earthquakes, typhoons, and other natural hazards occur frequently. However, national statistics from 2018 indicated that only 40% of Filipinos considered themselves well prepared for disasters, while 31% reported being slightly prepared or not prepared at all. This study investigates the perceived effectiveness of EAWSs in enhancing disaster awareness and preparedness among Filipino residents. Guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), the research develops an integrated framework to examine behavioral, technical, and perceptual factors influencing preparedness intentions. Data were collected from 200 respondents through a structured survey. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was employed to identify significant linear relationships among the constructs, while an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) analysis was subsequently applied to capture nonlinear patterns and rank the relative importance of key predictors. Unlike previous studies that rely solely on SEM or descriptive approaches, the combined SEM-ANN framework enables a more comprehensive understanding of both causal relationships and complex behavioral dynamics influencing disaster preparedness. The findings reveal that behavioral intention, system reliability, message clarity, and trust in EAWS substantially affect individuals' preparedness behavior and risk mitigation actions. These results underscore the importance of strengthening EAWS design and communication strategies to support long-term disaster resilience. The study provides practical insights for national agencies, local governments, and policymakers on refining emergency communication systems and developing sustainable, evidence-based disaster preparedness initiatives.
