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Purpose: This study aims to analyze the relationship between mindfulness and study engagement focusing on the mediating mechanism between the relationships proposed. Based on the conservation of resources (COR) theory, the authors examine whether psychological capital (PsyCap) and intrinsic motivation mediate the relationship between mindfulness traits and study engagement. Design/methodology/approach: Path analysis was conducted to test the hypothesized relationships among a sample of 428 international students studying in Chinese universities in Shanghai. Findings: The results support the hypothesized relationships and imply that mindfulness is an essential antecedent of study engagement and more mindful students are more engaged in studying. Besides, the relationship between self-rated mindfulness and study engagement is mediated by PsyCap and intrinsic motivation. Research limitations/implications: For universities, these findings help develop unique educational strategies to resolve issues related to study involvement. The study has several theoretical and practical implications. Originality/value: The current study explored the relationship between mindfulness and study engagement in international students studying in Chinese universities -- an understudied context in higher education. The authors find that mindfulness has positive effects on study engagement through PsyCap and intrinsic motivation.

Contemporary business models need to re-imagine the production and distribution of goods and services embedding social, economic, and environmental goals concurrently. To this end, reverse logistics in streamlining a circular economy (take, make, use, reuse, repair, and recycle) catapulted to the top of the discussion for collecting and distributing products. Yet, little is empirically known about the role of reverse logistics in the circular economy. This study attempts to fill this knowledge gap in theory and practice through a multiple case study approach including 40 semi-structured interviews with reverse logistics specialists from the four largest retailing firms in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Findings reveal multiple ways by which reverse logistics contributes to a circular economy: for instance, reverse logistics enables firms to develop a circular product design; the combination of reverse flow with the forward flow consolidates the high volume of products, thus mitigating waste; use of innovative tools (robots, autonomous bikes) in reverse logistics increases the used products' return rate and thereby enhancing recycling; technological advances (e.g. big data and IoT) in reverse logistics help trace the product thus reducing waste. The paper offers several valuable insights for practitioners to build a circular economy via reverse logistics (waste reduction, responsible consumption, and sustainable logistics). Our study also contributes to multiple United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 11, SDG 12, and SDG 13). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This study positions perceived organizational culture's (OC) as an important internal contextual factor that influences employee reactions to change. Drawing on the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and organization theory research, we analyze the mechanisms through which employee perceptions of OC generate its effect on employee responses to organizational change. Data from a field study of 171 employees in Kurdistan Region of Iraq's public school teachers showed that employee perceptions of developmental culture were positively and directly related to their change-supportive intentions (CSIs) and, as suggested by the TPB, its effects are simultaneously mediated by change-related attitude (CRA), subjective norm and perceived behavioral control. However, our findings demonstrated that hierarchical culture was only indirectly related to employee CSIs; this relationship was mediated only by CRA and subjective norm. This study is important because it broadens the remit of OC's role as change agent and provides valuable insight into how OC influences employee responses to change efforts in public organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]