University of Wales Trinity Saint David

In the Finnish low-stress and highly equitable education system, girls’ math performance is significantly superior to that of boys. This advantage cannot be explained by common psychological mediating variables such as support from math teachers, growth mindset, or mathematics anxiety—although these factors are usually regarded as key mechanisms in prior research contexts. Using data from Finnish 15-year-old students participating in PISA 2022 (N = 10,239; 4995 girls and 5244 boys), this study employed path analysis within a structural equation modeling framework based on the Control-Value Theory and the Growth Mindset Theory. The results indicated that mathematics anxiety remained the strongest predictor of mathematics performance (β = − 0.281, p < .05), and a significant chain mediation pathway was identified from gender to achievement (gender → teacher support → growth mindset → mathematics anxiety → achievement). However, these psychological paths all point to the relative advantage of boys, but failed to explain the actual lead of girls’ mathematics achievement. The analysis showed that mathematics teacher support did not mediate the association between socioeconomic status and achievement, and the predictive effect of growth mindset was relatively small in this sample. This study contributes to understanding gender and socioeconomic differences in mathematics achievement within the Finnish educational context by examining the mediating roles of mathematics teacher support, growth mindset, and mathematics anxiety.

Over-the-counter prefabricated offloading relief insoles with removable modular cells for customisation have not been extensively studied in literature, and no studies have examined designs specifically intended for calluses and corns. This study examined the immediate effects of such insole prototype on the users. Foot pressure distribution was measured by in-shoe F-Scan system during normal walking cycles under four conditions: walking with normal footwear (C1), with prototype insoles inside the footwear (C2), with a cavity under the second metatarsal-phalangeal joint on the left or right side of the prototype insole (C3), and with cavities on both sides on the prototype insoles (C4). Subjective data were also collected in terms of insole fitting, comfort rating and balance feeling. Overall, the prototype insoles designed to offload focal pressure via removing modular cells showed significant immediate effects (all P ≤ 0.002). Averaged across both sides, average peak pressure (PP) of C2, C3 and C4 reduced from C1 by 19

This study investigated how gender, teacher support, family support, and mathematics anxiety jointly shape mathematics achievement among 6068 Vietnamese students using data from PISA 2022. Structural equation modeling revealed three key findings. First, teacher support played a dual role-it was directly associated with lower achievement, likely reflecting controlling instructional styles, yet it was indirectly linked to higher performance via its association with lower mathematics anxiety. Second, family support showed no significant direct association with achievement, but a significant indirect association was observed through its negative relationship with mathematics anxiety. Third, boys reported slightly higher teacher support and lower mathematics anxiety, alongside a modest advantage in mathematics achievement. These findings indicate that social support in the Vietnamese context, with its hierarchical classroom dynamics, can function both as pressure and protection. Theoretically, the study extends the Control-Value and Social Support theories by revealing dual mechanisms of support that align with the Vietnamese cultural context. Practically, it recommends promoting autonomy-supportive teaching and balanced family involvement to alleviate anxiety and reduce gender disparities in STEM learning.

This study integrates entrepreneurial resilience, entrepreneurial orientation, and signaling theories to investigate the impact of green hotels’ sustainable practices (GHSPs) on customers' perceptions and behaviors from managers’ and customers’ perspectives. The proposed multi-perspective model was tested using three studies: Study 1 investigates the relationship between sustainable entrepreneurial orientation (SEO) and GHSPs from managers' perspective and how sustainable entrepreneurial resilience (SER) shape this relationship as a conditional boundary; Study 2 examines the impact of green hotels’ overall image (GHOI) on customers' behaviors, from customers' perspective, considering the conditional effect of customers’ cognitive image (CCI); Study 3 integrates both managers’ and customers’ perspectives to understand how GHSPs affect GHOI. Multi-source and time-lagged data was collected from 167 senior managers and 332 customers. The results confirm most of the hypothesized relationships, particularly showing that when entrepreneurial resilience is high, sustainable orientation translates more strongly into sustainable practices.

Human resource management plays a vital role in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) by creating a just and non-discriminatory climate in the organisation. It aligns HR policies with ethical, environmental, and community-focused goals. The DEI policies enhance employee morale, culture, and long-term social responsibility bridging the gap between corporate and societal impact. DEI are omnipresent in today’s popular rhetoric, as there is a concern for growing inequalities in society (Ferraro et al., 2023). The present chapter showcases the intersection of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and DEI, types of diversity, and highlights their mutual benefits and interdependence. It also talks about challenges and issues facing organisations in the face of social, technological disruptions, and biases, which are sometimes invisible. The chapter highlights some of the best practices adopted by top organisations to implement DEI from policies to practices.