Social Sciences

Abstract: The intensification of the ecosocial crisis has revealed the structural limitations of economic paradigms based on growth. In this context, degrowth emerges as a transformative framework that proposes the deliberate reduction of production and consumption, prioritizing well-being, equity, and ecological sustainability. However, the role of education in the transition toward post-growth societies remains insufficiently developed. This article analyzes how formal educational systems reproduce growth-oriented subjectivities through human capital frameworks and neoliberal governance. Based on a critical review of the literature and a conceptual analysis, both the structural limitations of the dominant educational model and the emergence of alternative pedagogies grounded in sufficiency, care, and the commons are identified. This article proposes a reorientation of educational aims, contents and practices favouring ecosocial literacy and collective agency, with implications for educational policy and systemic transformation.

Abstract: This study investigated the relationships between ambivalent sexism, social roles, and body compassion in Albanian and Italian women. The participants were 251 Albanian and 280 Italian women who completed validated measures assessing hostile and benevolent sexism, social roles transcendence and link to social roles, and three subdimensions of body compassion (defusion, common humanity, and acceptance). Path analyses indicated excellent model fit across samples. In Albanian women, hostile sexism negatively predicted social roles transcendence and positively predicted a link to social roles, both of which were associated with lower body compassion. Benevolent sexism was positively associated with social roles transcendence, which in turn was related to higher body compassion. In contrast, Italian women showed a different pattern: benevolent sexism positively predicted a link to social roles, while social roles transcendence and link to social roles were both negatively related to defusion. Age positively predicted defusion and acceptance, highlighting a possible protective effect. Explained variance was higher in the Italian sample, particularly for the link to social roles. Overall, findings suggest that sexist attitudes and adherence to stereotyped social roles influence women’s body compassion differently across cultural contexts, revealing ambivalent and sometimes contradictory associations. The study highlights the need for culturally sensitive approaches in promoting positive body image.

Abstract: Mega-events like the Olympic Games present both opportunities and challenges for sustainable urban development. This study addresses a critical knowledge gap: how can temporary Olympic Villages transition into permanent, inclusive urban communities that deliver lasting social, economic, and environmental benefits. Drawing on grounded theory and cross-case analysis of six Olympic events, we establish a three-tier P-R-L model (Physical-Relational-Legacy) that explains sustainable community structure evolution. The Physical layer operationalizes resilient space design through adaptive infrastructure; the Relational layer institutionalizes equitable governance through stakeholder integration; the Legacy layer consolidates inclusive urban dividends beyond traditional metrics. Our findings demonstrate how these dimensions reinforce mutually to support sustainable community transitions, offering a replicable framework for mega-event planning aligned with SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions). The research contributes actionable guidance for policymakers, urban planners, and event organizers seeking to maximize positive sustainability outcomes.

Abstract: Reflection is widely recognized as a pathway to deeper learning in higher education, yet many students struggle to engage in reflective tasks meaningfully. This study examined how student engagement and reflective performance developed across a seven-session structured reflective learning sequence in an undergraduate course. A longitudinal quantitative design was employed, including 59 students for participation data and 38 students for performance analysis. The instructional design incorporated teacher-led scaffolding, including exemplars, feedback, and structured prompts, with optional AI-supported assistance in later sessions. Results showed that engagement patterns were non-linear. Submission rates increased following the introduction of exemplars and feedback, declined when higher-order reflection was first introduced, and stabilized in later sessions, with the lowest participation observed in the final integrative task. Reflective performance also differed across stages. Step 1 (descriptive reflection) scores improved progressively, whereas Step 2 (analytical reflection) scores remained consistently high among students who completed substantive responses. The gap between attempted and completed Step 2 responses decreased over time. These findings suggest that reflective learning develops gradually and is sensitive to instructional conditions. The study highlights reflection as a staged developmental process and underscores the role of structured support in facilitating student engagement and performance.

Abstract: Mission diminishment and creep which is the gradual dilution of a faith-based organisation’s founding spiritual or theological purpose poses a defining challenge for faith-based organisations of many traditions navigating secular environments, leadership transitions, and the competing demands of contemporary governance. This paper reviews scholarship from theology, organisational studies, personnel psychology, and the sociology of religion, to examine the mechanisms through which faith-based identity erodes and to identify the structural factors that protect against it. Central to the analysis is the phenomenon of values camouflage, a term this paper introduces, where leaders adopt the language of faith for employability or cultural fit without necessarily embodying the spiritual, ethical, or pastoral commitments necessary to sustain organisational mission. The experience of Mary Aitkenhead Ministries (MAM) a Catholic mission-based organisation operating across health, education, and welfare in the tradition of the Religious Sisters of Charity is used to illustrate how founding charism, when institutionally sustained through Catholic Social Teaching, careful stewardship, and community engagement, can function as ways to navigate secular pressures rather than a liability to be concealed. Finally, the paper identifies four interconnected domains of protective action: engagement with modernity, recruitment integrity, the preservation of founding charism, and ongoing organisational formation. It also offers six evidence-based recommendations for boards, leaders, and chaplains across faith traditions committed to maintaining theological distinctiveness without sacrificing organisational effectiveness. Limitations and future research opportunities are also discussed.

Abstract: Soccer performance depends on multiple interacting factors, including physical, technical, tactical, and psychological components. Among the psychological factors associated with optimal performance are athletes’ emotional states, their regulation, and executive functions. These processes support attention to relevant external stimuli and enable players to plan, adapt, and regulate their behavior during gameplay. Although executive functions and emotional states have been widely studied in sport settings, research examining the relationship between these variables in athletes is limited, particularly in female soccer players. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between emotional states, emotional regulation, and performance on cognitive tasks in female players from the Mexican soccer league. Twenty-eight players participated in two individual assessment sessions in which anxiety and depression levels, emotional regulation, and executive functions—planning, inhibitory control, working memory, and cognitive flexibility—were evaluated using psychological and neuropsychological tests. Results indicated a relationship between aspects of decision-making and players’ emotional regulation abilities, as well as between depression levels and onset latency in a working memory task. These findings support the existence of an association between emotional processes and cognitive functioning in female soccer players.

Abstract: Objectives: The Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) generally operates as unidimensional but demonstrates invariance issues. This study aimed to examine the construct validity and stability of various SWLS across age and gender groups. Methods: Employing a convenience sample of community-dwelling European adults (N = 7531, median age = 26 (22-28) years, 51.1% females), this instrumental study investigated the structure and stability of SWLS through exploratory/confirmatory factor analysis (EFA/CFA) and multigroup CFA in SPSS and JASP. Results: EFA in 30% of the sample (n = 2246, KMO (0.86), Bartlett’s test of sphericity χ² (10) = 4561.84, p = 0.001) revealed a single factor with an eigenvalue of 3.12, which explained 62.35% of the variance. The unidimensional and two bidimensional structures (present/past life satisfaction; achievement/acceptance) expressed excellent fit (χ² (4-5) = 92.60-106.14, ps = 0.001; all CFIs = 0.994, ; TLI = 0.985-0.987, ; RMSEA = 0.052-0.056, ; SRMR = 0.013-0.014). Bifactor and second-order structures based on both two factor-structures did not converge. The three structures were invariant at the configural metric, scalar, and strict levels across age (<26, ≥26 years) while only the unidimensional SWLS was invariant at all levels across genders. Achievement/acceptance SWLS converged only in males while present/past life satisfaction converged only in females—the fit of both models was excellent, and the fit of the latter slightly improved when the errors of items 2 and 4 correlated. Conclusions: The findings support the use of the SWLS as a single-factor instrument for comparative purposes. SWLS components (cognitive or experiential) are interpreted uniformly among different age groups while gender-specific convergence patterns suggest meaningful gender-related nuances in its dimensional expression—males and females differently conceptualize SWLS components. Research should explore theoretical mechanisms underlying differential structuring of life satisfaction and examine whether these gender-specific dimensional patterns replicate across cultures and longitudinal designs.

Abstract: Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) is driving a fundamental paradigm shift in architectural design, transitioning from deterministic drafting to algorithmic curation. While the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) sector rapidly adopts these tools, academic curricula face a critical "Techno-Instructional Void." This gap risks inducing a "Zero Order Thinking State" (ZOTS)—a cognitive passivity rooted in Cognitive Load Theory, where students uncritically accept unbuildable machine hallu-cinations. Developed through comprehensive preliminary consultations with academ-ic colleagues and longitudinal studio observations, this study introduces the "Twin Houses" methodology and the "Technical Sealing" protocol. By enforcing "Cognitive Friction," the framework compels students to validate probabilistic GenAI outputs against deterministic physical laws (e.g., Blondel's Formula 2R + T = 63 cm) and safety norms. Crucially, Building Information Modeling (BIM) acts as an automated Proof-Assistant, utilizing visual programming APIs (Revit Dynamo, Allplan Python-Parts) and IFC 4.3 data schemas for rigorous Rule-Based Checking (RBC). To confirm cross-border transferability and optimize the time-costs of curriculum integration via an asynchronous AI-TPACK module, the framework is currently undergoing verifica-tion interviews with a bilateral expert panel (n=8) from Germany and Türkiye. Ulti-mately, this framework provides a structured pedagogical approach, equipping in-structors to guide students in transforming machine hallucinations into legally builda-ble, tectonic realities. Sample videos showcasing student works are available in the Supplementary Materials.

Abstract: Waerebo Village, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in Indonesia, represents a profound harmony between the Manggarai people, nature, and spirituality, yet the technical functional role of its traditional zoning remains under-researched. This study examines the Waerebo landscape model by integrating horizontal and vertical spatial patterns through literature reviews, field observations, interviews, and GIS-based analyses, including Digital Elevation Models (DEM) and multi-temporal NDVI from 2015 to 2025. Find-ings indicate that Waerebo’s landscape is organized into three concentric zone—core, uti-lization, and sacred zones—mirroring a tripartite spiritual framework of God, ancestors, and nature spirits. Geospatial data reveals a sophisticated indigenous landscape engineering system where the settlement is strategically positioned on a stable 16° terrace, while sacred forests are maintained on extreme 85° slopes to protect watersheds and mitigate landslides. Multi-temporal NDVI analysis confirms an increase in forest density from 0.47 in 2015 to 0.52 in 2025, validating the effectiveness of customary laws in maintaining ecological integrity despite tourism pressures. The study concludes that Waerebo's cosmic spiral model achieves a vital balance between culture, socio-economic survival, and environmental conservation, offering a functional blueprint for resilient cultural heritage management in challenging topographies.

Abstract: Introduction: Precision oncology has revolutionized cancer care in high-income countries, but its implementation in Latin American low-resource settings faces profound bioethical dilemmas. This study analyzes these challenges through the lens of social justice and equity. Methods: An integrative review was conducted following the Whittemore and Knafl framework. A systematic search was performed across PubMed, Scopus, SciELO, and LILACS (2015–2025). Thematic synthesis was applied to integrate empirical data with normative bioethical theories. Results: Four major analytical themes were identified: 1) The Innovation Paradox and Financial Toxicity, where prohibitive pricing (exceeding $100,000 USD/year) violates distributive justice and leads to a biological penalty in survival; 2) Infrastructure Deficits and Epistemic Injustice, highlighted by a 9.4% access rate to Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) and the risks of applying Eurocentric genomic data to admixed LA populations; 3) Research Vulnerability, where clinical trials serve as survival strategies, compromising autonomy and informed consent; and 4) The Judicialization Dilemma, where individual court orders for high-cost drugs threaten systemic sustainability and equity. Conclusions: To prevent a genomic apartheid, Latin America must transition toward genomic sovereignty and frugal precision oncology. Bioethical frameworks in the region must prioritize protection ethics and social justice to ensure that scientific innovation does not exacerbate existing health inequities.

Abstract: Traditional food systems are increasingly threatened by industrialised agri-food production, which relies on standardised processes, economies of scale, and lower production costs. This transformation risks undermining not only the economic viability of artisanal producers but also the cultural heritage, local knowledge, pastoral practices, and territorial identities embedded in traditional foods. This study investigates whether consumers’ willingness to pay a premium for traditionally produced foods can help safeguard rural cultural heritage in a competitive PDO market. Focusing on an Italian cheese, the Fiore Sardo PDO, the research combines a Bertrand duopoly framework with the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) to examine the relationships among market competition, consumer beliefs, and support for traditional production systems. Data from 1,640 Italian consumers were analysed using structural equation modelling. The results show that attitudes towards cultural preservation, social recognition of traditional production, and perceived support for rural shepherd communities significantly influence consumers’ willingness to purchase and pay higher prices for traditionally produced cheese. Consumers associate artisanal production not only with superior sensory quality and authenticity but also with the protection of cultural identity, traditional pastoral knowledge, and rural landscapes.

Abstract: Transport infrastructure is commonly viewed as a key driver of development, alt-hough its actual contribution remains debated and appears to be dependent on geo-graphical and economic context. This study investigates the impact of transport infra-structure on regional economic growth in Romania, with a particular focus on spatial spillover effects Using panel data for Romanian regions over the period 2000–2024, the analysis applies spatial econometric techniques to capture both direct and indirect ef-fects of transport infrastructure and economic factors. A structured model selection procedure, based on Lagrange Multiplier tests and robust diagnostics, supports the use of the Spatial Autoregressive Model (SAR) as the preferred specification. The results reveal significant spatial dependence in regional economic performance, indicating that growth processes extend across regional boundaries. Nonetheless, the findings show that transport infrastructure does not exert a statistically significant direct effect on economic growth once spatial and structural factors are controlled. Instead, labor and private gross capital formation emerge as the primary drivers, generating both strong local impacts and substantial spillover effects. These results suggest that transport infrastructure acts mainly as an enabling factor rather than a standalone driver of growth, making the concept of “political mythification” of transport infra-structure effectiveness relevant in the Romanian context.

Abstract: Background/Objectives: The present study aimed to examine the relationship between Dark Triad personality traits (narcissism, psychopathy, and machiavellianism) and conspiratorial thinking. Additionally, it sought to investigate whether perceived social support acts as a mediator in this relationship, potentially serving as a protective factor against the adoption of conspiracy beliefs. Methods: The sample consisted of 620 participants (N = 620), including 523 women and 97 men, aged 18 to 69 (M = 35.74; SD = 11.36). Data were collected through an online survey using the Generic Conspiracist Beliefs Scale (GCBS), the Dirty Dozen Scale, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). Results: Statistical analyses using Pearson’s correlation coefficient did not indicate a statistically significant co-occurrence between conspiratorial thinking and Dark Triad personality traits. Furthermore, the mediation models did not show significant values for mediating effects, suggesting that perceived social support—including its dimensions of support from a significant person, family, and friends—did not alter the relationship between personality traits and conspiracy thinking in this sample. Conclusions: The findings contradict several earlier reports, contributing to the ongoing debate regarding the dispositional roots of conspiracy beliefs. The results suggest that conspiratorial ideation may not be rooted in stable aversive personality traits, but instead may be driven by specific neurocognitive processes such as uncertainty processing and threat reactivity, aligning with current brain-based models of belief evaluation. Future research should integrate neuroscientific perspectives with social psychology to develop more comprehensive models of conspiratorial ideation.

Abstract: Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) is increasingly integrated into higher education, where it supports writing, feedback, problem solving, and research-related tasks while also raising concerns about cognitive offloading and learner dependence. This scoping review mapped the literature on the relationships among GenAI, cognitive offloading, and learner agency in higher education. Peer-reviewed English-language studies were reviewed to examine how learner agency has been conceptualized, how GenAI may both enhance and erode agency, which mechanisms link GenAI use to educational outcomes, and which pedagogical conditions shape these effects. The review shows that learner agency is conceptualized as a multidimensional construct involving self-regulation, reflective judgement, intentionality, and responsible action. Across the literature, GenAI operates through a dual-pathway structure: one pathway may enhance learner agency by strengthening self-regulated learning, self-efficacy, feedback literacy, and reflective engagement, whereas the other may erode learner agency through cognitive offloading, overreliance, dependence, uncritical uptake, and weakened judgement. Overall, the findings suggest that the educational value of GenAI depends less on the technology itself than on how it is pedagogically embedded, with augmentation-oriented and scaffolded use being more supportive of learner agency than replacement-oriented use.

Abstract: Background: Climate change is increasingly recognized as a major global health threat, with disproportionate impacts on vulnerable populations, including women living with breast cancer who are receiving palliative care. These women often experience compounded physical, psychological, and socioeconomic burdens that may be intensified by climate-related stressors such as heatwaves, flooding, and disruptions to healthcare delivery. However, there is limited evidence from low- and middle-income countries, including Ghana, on how climate change affects the palliative care continuum and quality of life (QoL) among this population. Materials and Methods: A qualitative descriptive phenomenological design was employed to explore the experiences of women with breast cancer receiving palliative care at Ho Teaching Hospital, Ghana. Fourteen participants were purposively sampled between January and March 2026. Data were collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews conducted face-to-face. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using Graneheim and Lundman’s conventional content analysis approach. Trustworthiness was ensured through credibility, dependability, confirmability, and transferability strategies. Ethical clearance was received before data collection began (HTH-REC/EX/2026/003) Results: Four main themes and thirteen sub-themes emerged: (1) Climate-related environmental disruptions (extreme heat, flooding, and unreliable electricity supply); (2) Health-related consequences along the palliative care continuum (symptom exacerbation, treatment interruptions, and reduced care accessibility); (3) Psychosocial and economic strain (emotional distress, financial hardship, food and water insecurity); and (4) Adaptive and coping responses (spiritual coping, family support, and reliance on healthcare providers and community networks). Conclusion: The study demonstrates that climate change significantly disrupts the palliative care continuum and diminishes the quality of life of women with breast cancer through interconnected environmental, clinical, and psychosocial pathways. Strengthening climate-resilient palliative care systems, improving healthcare infrastructure, and integrating psychosocial and environmental adaptation strategies into oncology and palliative care practice are urgently needed.

Abstract: With contemporary social movements related to civil rights, personal freedoms, and tensions in higher education institutions around academic freedom, ideological open-mindedness has become an increasingly popular research topic in recent decades. Such openness has been defined as a disposition to engage meaningfully with novel ideas that may conflict with one’s own, and to accommodate or disregard such views with delicacy, precision, and care (Cormier et al., 2026; Kwong, 2023). Findings on effective interventions to reduce ideological polarization remain limited, highlighting the need for a cohesive review. This review catalogued and analyzed findings on individual differences related to ideological open-mindedness through an exploratory research question: Are there measured individual differences (psychological and demographic variables such as personality traits, political beliefs, and gender) that relate meaningfully to ideological open-mindedness? The search process retained 152 records. Results showed associations between ideological open-mindedness and personality traits, age, gender, sexual orientation, culture, language, political standing, socioeconomic status, religious beliefs, education level and type, personal past experience, competence, personal beliefs and interests, and emotional tendencies. Considering varied associations between individual characteristics and differences in ideological open-mindedness, this review serves as a guide towards better understanding this complex construct as precursor to informing effective interventions.

Abstract: This study analyzes the relationship between digital access and knowledge-economy practices among young Ecuadorian adults, with emphasis on their implications for sustainable digital inclusion and knowledge-based development. The study is based on the premise that access to the Internet, devices, and technological tools does not necessarily ensure critical, productive, collaborative, or knowledge-generating uses of information. A quantitative, non-experimental, cross-sectional, and descriptive-correlational design was applied to a sample of 441 young Ecuadorian adults aged 18 to 30. Data were collected through an online questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, KMO and Bartlett indicators, the Mann–Whitney U test, effect sizes, and Spearman’s rho with 95% confidence intervals. The instrument showed very high internal consistency for knowledge-economy practices (α=.978; ω=.978) and digital access and technological resources (α=.963; ω=.964). The KMO values were also adequate for both variables (.963 and .902, respectively), and Bartlett’s tests were statistically significant (p&lt;.001). The results showed that digital access received more favorable ratings than knowledge-economy practices. A very strong, positive, and statistically significant association was found between digital access and knowledge economy practices (ρ=.822, 95% CI [.765, .870], p&lt;.001). Information management and collaboration was the dimension most strongly associated with digital access (ρ=.820, 95% CI [.764, .868], p&lt;.001). Women reported higher scores than men in knowledge-economy practices, although the effect size was small (r=.158; rrb=.184). These findings suggest that digital access is a necessary but insufficient condition for sustainable digital inclusion. The study contributes empirical evidence from a developing-country context and highlights the need for educational and public-policy strategies that transform connectivity into critical learning, collaboration, innovation, and knowledge creation.

Abstract: Urban mobility planning in smart cities requires sophisticated simulation tools, yet their complexity often creates a technical barrier for non-expert stakeholders. This paper presents a novel architecture that integrates generative artificial intelligence with digital twin technology to create an accessible and robust decision-support system. The framework employs a conversational AI agent based on Gemini 2.5 Flash Lite to interpret natural language intentions and translate them into validated simulation parameters. A critical safety layer, built using Pydantic, ensures that the agent’s stochastic outputs adhere to strict technical schemas and urban logic before execution. The underlying digital twin, developed with SimPy, NetworkX, and OSMnx, features a multi-source data integration strategy that includes demographic density (INE), tourism activity (ISTAC), and high-resolution traffic statistics (TomTom) to calibrate vehicle behavior. The architecture was validated through a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4 proof-of-concept in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, simulating multimodal scenarios including buses, the future MetroGuagua (BRT), and pedestrian flows. Results demonstrate a 95.99% success rate in intent recognition and configuration mapping, with end-to-end execution times under 20 minutes for a 19-hour simulated day. This study demonstrates that LLM-driven orchestration, coupled with automated data pipelines and a decoupled microservice architecture, can democratize access to urban simulation, fostering more inclusive, agile, and evidence-based smart city governance.

Abstract: Smart cities are being advocated to solve the excessive urbanization. They are supposed to be more efficient, more connected and more sustainable. However, long-term sustainability cannot be achieved in a real situation unless we seal the loopholes that still prevail in our current efforts. The main issues are: integrating renewable-energy solutions to reduce carbon; applying the principles of the circular economy to consume fewer resources and produce less waste; and ensuring that every resident of urban areas is able to access available urban resources and services that are usually not evenly distributed. In this article, the sustainability challenges are gathered together and demonstrate how they can be addressed by use of technology, provided that the technology is supported by good governance and accepted standards. A city that strategically connects its smart-city strategies to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, as well as to the appropriate national, industry, and IEEE standards, has left its technology-centered viewpoint, where people, the environment, and long-term resilience are prioritized. Ultimately, to head in the right direction and create the sustainable urban futures, we need to combine the latest technology with equitable policies and plans that would respond to climate change. This is when smart cities will bring a sustainable advantage to the lives of people and the planet.

Abstract: Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) have demonstrated safety potential and are becoming increasingly available in the vehicle markets across the world. However, drivers’ perceptions, trust, and engagement with these systems in Thailand remain unexplored. This study therefore aimed to explore Thai drivers’ perceptions towards ADAS and investigated factors associated with trust and intention to use. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 849 licensed drivers in Thailand. The online survey measured perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, trust, barriers and concerns, expectations and preferences, and intention to use ADAS. Data were analyzed using Mann–Whitney U tests and Spearman’s rank correlations. Results showed that Thai drivers reported positive perceptions of usefulness and intention to use ADAS, while trust was moderate, and barriers and concerns showed variability. Trust demonstrated strong positive associations with perceived usefulness (ρ = .69), perceived ease of use (ρ = .56), and intention to use (ρ = .49). The findings highlight the important role of perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and trust in shaping drivers’ intent to use the system and supports the development of learning strategies to enhance ADAS usage whilst promoting utilization of these systems.