Search

This study seeks to explore the impact of specific set of HRM practice on organizational performance in a Middle Eastern emerging market. It aims to examine the mediating role of social exchange within the healthcare sector in Jordan, which is presently reeling under pressure from refugee crisis from Syria and neighbouring countries. Both, HR and hospital managers were targeted in all private and public hospitals through two separate questionnaires. We find, as predicted, that recruitment, training, and internal promoting from-within have a positive and significant effect on performance. However, contrary to expectation, we found performance appraisal and rewards and benefits not linked with performance. Notably, whilst researchers argue that a better theoretical understanding of the mechanisms describing the relationship between HRM and performance should be developed, the results indicate that social exchange can play an essential role in explaining the HRM-performance indirect relationship—a result that partly unlocks the elements of so-called ‘black box’ in HR research. The theoretical and applied implications of these findings are explored.

The literature addressing the potential for nature and natural environments to reduce stress and improve health outcomes has a relative paucity of work regarding interactions with animals, particularly those that are not domestic pets. The present observational study sought to understand whether a brief encounter with non‐domestic animals might reduce stress and improve well‐being of participants, and whether participants' nature relatedness, and their appraisals of the interaction might influence these changes. Participants (N = 86, mean age = 20.8 years, 81.8% women) took part in a brief wildlife encounter at a UK safari park, walking for approximately 11 min around an enclosure with free‐roaming lemurs. Heart rate, cortisol and measures of mood were taken before and after the encounter to understand whether this activity could reduce biological levels of stress and improve psychological well‐being. There was no decrease in participants’ heart rate after their encounter but there was a statistically significant decrease in salivary cortisol. Measures of mood significantly improved immediately after the encounter. Reductions in cortisol were associated with dimensions of an individual's nature relatedness, as well as aspects of the animal encounter (number of lemurs and lemur proximity). The findings contribute to parallel literature on nature–health relationships, with the addition of factors seemingly driving the interaction (individuals' nature relatedness, and the number and proximity of the animals) providing important contributory information. The present study provides new information on how encounters with nature, particularly those involving animals, may be beneficial for health and well‐being. Critically, this study was carried out in a setting where potential impact of visitors on animals is negligible, thereby demonstrating the potential for creating environments where both human and animal well‐being are maximised. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.

This study seeks to explore the impact of board characteristics of England’s National Health Services (NHS) on their financial and non-financial performance. Based on publicly available annual reports, we found that profitability and effectiveness of public hospitals are influenced by their board structure. Findings showed that board stability (with minimal directors’ turnover), clinical representation on the board, percentage of board meetings attendance, number of Non-executive directors on the board, and CEO length of service are notably positive performance indicators.

Aortic arterial stiffness is a strong independent predictor of cardiovascular disease (CVD); however, its dependence on mean arterial pressure (MAP) limits its clinical utility. The aortic-femoral arterial stiffness gradient (af-SG), a novel marker of CVD risk, may be a promising alternative, but its dependence on MAP is not known. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between MAP and the af-SG in healthy older adults and those with established disease, including hypertension and diabetes.We evaluated the dependency of the af-SG on MAP in healthy older adults (n = 694, aged 74 ± 5 years), and adults with hypertension (n = 2040, aged 76 ± 5 years), and diabetes (n = 1405, aged 75 ± 5 years) as part of the community-based Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study. Carotid-femoral pulse-wave velocity (cfPWV), femoral-ankle PWV (faPWV) and blood pressure were measured using standardized protocols. The af-SG was calculated as faPWV divided by cfPWV. Multivariable regression analysis was performed to test the independent association of MAP with af-SG, with adjustments for known confounders, including age, sex, BMI, blood glucose and heart rate.There was no significant relationship between the af-SG and MAP in healthy (β = 0.002, P = 0.301), hypertension (β = -0.001, P = 0.298) or diabetes (β = -0.001, P = 0.063) population groups, with MAP explaining less than 0.1, less than 0.1 and 0.2% of the variance in the af-SG, respectively.These findings suggest that the af-SG may be regarded as a MAP independent index of arterial health and CVD risk in older adults.

Accurate 3D body scanning has multiple uses: commercial (e.g. clothing sizing); fitness (e.g. assessing body change) and medical (e.g. assessing obesity). The latter is particularly important given the significant impact of obesity on hospitalization and mortality for patients with COVID‐19 infections 1, 2; and as it offers more appropriate assessment of obesity than body mass index (BMI)3. Commercial body scanners are specialized and expensive pieces of equipment, and hence have limited potential to offer mass population body scanning to assist in medical research and provide clear indications of obesity extent to inform individual’s health-risk mitigation decisions. Commercial 3D body scanner data can be problematic due to body capture and landmark identification 4, 5, 6. Han and Nam also report between 0.33mm and 37.7mm overestimation in the crotch, arm pit, neck (front, side and back) and shoulder regions. Gill et al.7 explore waist placement (small of the back +2cm is most accurate to a manual waist) as do Gill and Parker8 who also look at hip measurement differences - finding a +0.5cm to -2cm difference due to posture. Standing position also leads to an underestimation of breast volume by 7-10%. Such measurement issues also make accurate obesity assessment though commercial body scanners problematic. The Body Volume Index (BVI) app and online server system has been created using body volume technology developed by a UK company, Select Research Ltd, which incorporates the [TC]2 3D measurement software; the same software used to create a 3D model, extract and compile body measurements. The [TC]2 3D measurement system is the same software used on the full-body 3D body scanner. The on-line body volume system seeks to offer more accurate, inexpensive and abundant 3D body scanning – enabling mass use within the wider population through easily deployable smart phone use, making use of camera functionality. Should the BVI app and online server system offer such outcomes, it has significant potential to propel obesity assessment and other body measurement applications within a wider population and on a wider geographical basis, due to the prevalence of smartphones.

peer-reviewed 2 Unemployment has been associated with poorer health, but few studies have examined the biological mechanisms that confer these health decrements. Further, no studies to date have examined differences across employment groups to consider whether employment (in whatever means) is preferential in terms of health. The present study utilised secondary data from Understanding Society: The Household Longitudinal Survey during the aftermath of the recent global recession. Two markers of peripheral inflammation: C-reactive protein (CRP) and fibrinogen were assessed across employment groups (unemployed; permanent, temporary, and self-employed), controlling for individual, socio-demographic and health variables to give greater context to our understanding of how employment status influences health. After controlling for relevant confounds, unemployment was associated with higher levels of fibrinogen but not CRP. Subsequent analyses of employment subgroup revealed the temporary employed have similar levels of fibrinogen to the unemployed, and may therefore be at a similar health disadvantage. The findings confirm that unemployment is associated with increases in one marker of peripheral inflammation, but that this health protection is not conferred to those in precarious employment.

Pfeifer, CE, Sacko, RS, Ortaglia, A, Monsma, EV, Beattie, PF, Goins, J, and Stodden, DF. Fit to play? Health-related fitness levels of youth athletes: A pilot study. J Strength Cond Res 36(1): 245-251, 2022-A recent National Strength and Conditioning Association position statement suggests that many youth are not prepared for the physical demands of sport. The purpose of this study was to compare health-related fitness (HRF) of youth athletes with normative findings from the general population. We recruited 136 athletes (63 male and 73 female athletes) aged 11-19 (16.01 ± 1.35) years and collected HRF (body composition, cardiorespiratory endurance, musculoskeletal strength and endurance). Results were categorized based on FITNESSGRAM® standards and compared with Canadian youth general population normative data. Most male athletes were classified as "needs improvement" for cardiorespiratory and muscular endurance, and body mass index (BMI). Conversely, most female athletes were at or above the "healthy fitness zone" for all measures. Male athletes at both age groups (11-14, 15-19; p0.001) and female athletes aged 11-14 (p0.05) demonstrated lower cardiorespiratory endurance compared with Canadian general population. Female athletes (both age groups) demonstrated greater muscular strength, and male athletes (age, 15-19 years) demonstrated lower BMI than the Canadian general population. The results are concerning as male athletes demonstrated poorer HRF compared with the general population. Although most female athletes were within healthy ranges, a portion of them were still at risk. Considering the demands sport places on the body, evaluating HRF is paramount for performance and injury prevention but more importantly for overall health. Youth sport and strength coaches should evaluate and aim to enhance HRF, as participation in sport does not guarantee adequate HRF. Promoting long-term athletic development and life-long health should be a priority in youth.

Neuroimaging methods have recently been used to investigate plasticity-induced changes in brain structure. However, little is known about the dynamic interactions between different brain regions after extensive coordinated motor learning such as drumming. In this article, we have compared the resting-state functional connectivity (rs-FC) in 15 novice healthy participants before and after a course of drumming (30-min drumming sessions, 3 days a week for 8 weeks) and 16 age-matched novice comparison participants. To identify brain regions showing significant FC differences before and after drumming, without a priori regions of interest, a multivariate pattern analysis was performed. Drum training was associated with an increased FC between the posterior part of bilateral superior temporal gyri (pSTG) and the rest of the brain (i.e., all other voxels). These regions were then used to perform seed-to-voxel analysis. The pSTG presented an increased FC with the premotor and motor regions, the right parietal lobe and a decreased FC with the cerebellum. Perspectives and the potential for rehabilitation treatments with exercise-based intervention to overcome impairments due to brain diseases are also discussed.

Body image concerns of female dancers have gained a\ud considerable amount of attention due to issues associated with the need to meet the industry’s demand of a particular physique and appearance to impress audiences. This study was therefore designed to challenge perceptions of body image whilst wearing dancing in a bariatric weighted suit. n = 15 Undergraduate BSc (Hons) Degree Sport and Dance and Performing Arts students (x ± s; age = 20.5 ± 0.8 years) were recruited. Participants danced in a specifically designed 3 minute routine and completed an adapted pre-validated Body Esteem Scale (BES) questionnaire before and after wearing a bariatric weighted suit. Results indicated that before dancing in the bariatric weighted suit none of the dancers were “satisfied” with their body appearance. When participants were asked whether the media had an effect on their opinion of their body image 46.7% stated that the media did have an effect to have a particular body image. 66% of the participants wanted to change their stomach before dancing in the bariatric weighted suit which decreased to 40% after dancing in the bariatric weighted suit. In conclusion, findings revealed that using the bariatric weighted suit had a positive effect on the female\ud dancer’s perception on their body image. Results found that wearing the bariatric weighted suit made them appreciate that their body was not as bad as they first perceived and that they felt more confident and comfortable with their body after the study. Suggestions for future research with the bariatric weighted suit could be used with young females who are at risk of becoming obese and what could happen to their physical movement, health and appearance if they fail to act, furthermore, with non-dancers or males to challenge their perceptions