The Journal of Behavioral Science

Mental Health Literacy and Barriers to Care among Rural Women: A Systematic Review

2025-10-06T18:05:37+07:00

Background: Mental health literacy among rural women remains low in countries such as India, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Turkey, and Ghana. Limited awareness, stigma, and restrictive socio-cultural norms contribute to poor recognition, delayed help-seeking, and underutilization of services. Traditional beliefs, rigid gender roles, and poor access to professional care compound these issues, making rural women’s mental health an overlooked concern.
Objective: This systematic review examined levels of mental health literacy among rural women, explored socio-cultural influences on mental health perceptions, and identified barriers to care, with implications for behavioral science and policy in low- and middle-income countries.
Design and Methodology: Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, five databases were searched, yielding 170 records. Twelve peer-reviewed studies published between 2008 and 2025 met inclusion criteria, with 2008 chosen as the launch of WHO’s mental health gap action programme. A thematic synthesis, guided by the health belief model and socio-ecological perspectives, integrated findings across quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods designs.
Results: Four major themes emerged. Firstly, mental health literacy was low, through regional variations were observed. Secondly, socio-cultural influences shaped perception, with stigma, supernatural attributions, and reliance on traditional treatments widely reported. Thirdly, barriers included poor access, somatic presentations, affordability, and gender-based restrictions. Finally, interventions such as community education, awareness campaigns, and integration of traditional and biomedical care improved knowledge and reduce stigma, through sustainability was limited.
Conclusion and Implications: Despite some progress, rural women face persistent disadvantages. Interventions must be culturally tailored, community-based, and theory-driven, while future research should emphasize sustainability, intersectional, and rigorous evaluation to strengthen policy impact.

The Impact of Negative Workplace Gossip and Narcissistic Leadership on Behavioral Cynicism and Knowledge Hiding: The Moderating Effect of Workplace Spirituality

2025-10-06T18:07:30+07:00

Background/Problem: Lecturers at public universities in East Java, Indonesia, often face toxic workplace dynamics such as negative workplace gossip and narcissistic leadership. These behaviors are associated with emotional fatigue, distrust, knowledge hiding, and behavioral cynicism. However, the potential buffering role of workplace spirituality in such environments remains underexplored.
Objective/Purpose: This study investigates the influence of negative workplace gossip and narcissistic leadership on behavioral cynicism and knowledge hiding, while also examining the moderating role of workplace spirituality.
Design and Methodology: A total of 257 lecturers from the faculty of economics and business at public universities in East Java participated in the study. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM).
Results: Negative workplace gossip significantly affects behavioral cynicism (β = .32, p = .00) and knowledge hiding (β = .18, p = .02). Narcissistic leadership positively influences behavioral cynicism (β = .21, p = .00) and knowledge hiding (β = .26, p = .01). Workplace spirituality moderates the impact of gossip on behavioral cynicism (β = −.17, p = .03) and knowledge hiding (β = −.13, p = .04), and also moderates the effect of narcissistic leadership on both behavioral cynicism (β = −.22, p = .00) and knowledge hiding (β = −.23, p = .03).
Conclusion and Implications: The findings underscore the value of structured interventions that enhance workplace spirituality through behavioral approaches such as mindfulness training, reflective practice sessions, and prosocial behavior programs to reduce cynicism, discourage knowledge hiding, and strengthen openness, trust, and collaboration. This study contributes novel insights into how workplace spirituality can buffer the negative effects of narcissistic leadership and negative workplace gossip on behavioral cynicism and knowledge hiding in higher education institutions.

Psychosocial Factors Driving Entrepreneurial Intention among High School Students in Conflict-Affected Southern Provinces of Thailand

2025-10-06T18:07:28+07:00

Background/ problem: The three border provinces in the deep south of Thailand face economic problems and insurgency, hindering youth development. Promoting entrepreneurship through entrepreneurial intention among high school students could support economic growth and strengthen long-term regional resilience.
Objective/ purpose: This study aimed to examine the psychosocial determinants influencing entrepreneurial intention among final-year high school students in Islamic private schools as the dominant educational institutions in this region.
Design and Methodology: This quantitative study employed stratified random sampling to collect data from 2,078 final-year high school students enrolled in the Islamic private schools in the investigated area. The data was analyzed using structural equation modelling.
Results: The findings confirm that entrepreneurial intention was positively and significantly influenced by personal attitude (b = .90, p = .00), risk-taking (b = .18, p = .00), and financial behavior (b = .04, p = .02), while entrepreneurial education (b = .33, p = .00), subjective norms (b = .19, p = .00), perceived behavioral control (b = .10, p = .00), individual-level unrest impact (b = .03, p = .02) and societal-level unrest impact (b = –.10, p = .00) significantly impacted entrepreneurial intentions through personal attitudes.
Conclusion and Implications: This study identifies personal attitude as a key driver of entrepreneurship among high school students and highlights extended factors, unrest impacts, entrepreneurial education, financial behavior, and risk-taking, as critical additions to the theory of planned behavior in conflict-affected contexts. Public policy should address these factors to foster youth entrepreneurship and support sustainable development.

Entrepreneurial Mindset as Predictor of Resilience among Gambian Youth Entrepreneurs: The Mediating Role of Business Acumen and Business Persistence

2025-10-06T18:05:42+07:00

Background/ problem: In fragile economies, such as The Gambia, young entrepreneurs face persistent structural and contextual challenges, limited financial access, institutional voids, cultural constraints, and underdeveloped infrastructure that threaten business survival. Traditional entrepreneurship models often overlook the behavioral and psychological capacities needed to thrive in such conditions.
Objective/ purpose: Grounded in psychological capital theory, this study investigates how the psychological resources of hope, self-efficacy, and optimism interact with entrepreneurial traits, specifically business acumen and business persistence, to build resilience among young entrepreneurs in The Gambia.
Design and Methodology: A quantitative approach was used, drawing on data from 203 entrepreneurs, aged 18-35 across Banjul City, Kanifing Municipality, and West Coast Region, The Gambia. PLS-SEM was applied to test the hypothesized model.
Results: The entrepreneurial mindset significantly predicts resilience both directly (β = .55, p < .001) and indirectly via business acumen (β = .25, p < .001), indicating partial mediation. Business acumen also positively influences resilience (β = .40, p < .001) and business persistence (β = .51, p < .001). Although entrepreneurial mindset predicts business persistence (β = .33, p < .001), business persistence does not significantly affect resilience (β = .08, p = .26), and its mediating effect is unsupported (β = .01, p = .30).
Conclusion and Implications: These findings contribute to behavioral science by empirically validating resilience as a behavioral outcome shaped by psychological and entrepreneurial traits. The study advances interdisciplinary understanding of youth entrepreneurship and informs behavioral policy design for fragile economies. Specifically, the results can be utilized by policymakers, entrepreneurship educators, and development organizations in contexts such as The Gambia to design targeted interventions that strengthen youth entrepreneurial resilience.

Effects of Realistic Acceptance Enhancing Program on Self-Care Behaviors and Foot Health in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes in Thailand

2025-10-03T16:22:27+07:00

Background/Problem: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are a common and preventable complication among individuals with type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), often leading to lower limb amputation. Promoting effective self-care behaviors is crucial in minimizing the risk of DFUs.
Objective/Purpose: The aims of this study were to design and evaluate a 12-week realistic acceptance enhancing (RAE) program in improving self-care behaviors and foot health in adults with T2DM in Thailand.
Design and Methodology: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 96 participants randomly assigned to either the experimental or control group (n = 48 per group). This program was developed based on the theory of self-care of chronic illness integrated with acceptance and commitment concepts. Research instruments included the self-care of diabetes inventory, the self-care evaluation instrument to prevent diabetic foot, Thai visual analogue scale-foot and ankle, and foot health status form.
Results: The results demonstrated significant improvements in the experimental group’s self-care behaviors and foot health status at Weeks 8 and 12 (p ≤ .001), compared to the control group. No significant differences were found in pedal pulses and protective sensation.
Conclusion and Implications: This health promotion initiative integrating realistic acceptance could foster psychological flexibility and value-based actions, thereby enhance self-care behavior engagement and sustain long-term foot health outcomes. Nurses and health care providers can use this program to improve adherence to self-care behaviors and promote better foot health.

A Causal Model of Factors Affecting Health Information–Seeking Behavior of Muslim Older Adults in Pattani Province, Thailand

2025-10-03T16:22:24+07:00

Background: Muslim older adults in Pattani Province, Thailand, face persistent challenges in health literacy, particularly in accessing and critically evaluating health information. The abundance of online resources complicates identifying credible content. Despite the importance of health literacy, limited research has examined how theoretical constructs such as health literacy (HL) and protection motivation theory (PMT) explain health information-seeking behavior (HISB) among marginalized older populations. Addressing this gap is essential for developing culturally sensitive interventions.
Objective: To develop and validate a causal model of factors influencing HISB among Muslim older adults in Pattani Province, Thailand.
Methods: A causal research design was employed. Data were obtained from 400 Muslim older adults through structured interviews and standardized HISB questionnaires. Statistical analyses included confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM).
Results: Health literacy exerted a strong and statistically significant direct influence on HISB (β = .89, p < .001. The model explained 44% of the variance in health literacy and 63% in HISB.
Conclusion: Health literacy is a pivotal determinant of HISB among Muslim older adults in Pattani. Interventions that strengthen comprehension, critical appraisal, and application of health information are essential. Guided by HL and PMT frameworks, community-based strategies can enhance health outcomes, treatment adherence, and self-care advocacy. These findings provide evidence for designing culturally tailored interventions and inform public health policy.

Empowering Leadership and Work Engagement Among Generation Z in the Indonesian Coal Mining Industry: A Multilevel Model Analysis

2025-10-06T18:05:45+07:00

Background/Problem: The coal mining industry in South Kalimantan, Indonesia, faces increasing challenges in managing Generation Z employees, who now constitute a significant portion of its workforce. While this generation values flexibility, they often demonstrate low work engagement, characterized by high turnover, low motivation, and limited initiative, which threatens operational sustainability.
Objective/Purpose: This study investigates the predictors of work engagement among Generation Z employees in the coal mining sector, utilizing social cognitive theory (SCT). It focuses on empowering leadership, self-efficacy, a supportive work environment, and team learning capability as direct and mediating variables.
Design and Methodology: A quantitative, time-lagged survey design involving 432 participants from four coal companies was employed. Multilevel structural equation modeling (ML-SEM) was conducted to examine both individual- and group-level variables.
Results: Empowering leadership significantly predicted work engagement directly and indirectly through team-level mechanisms. Specifically, self-efficacy (β = .93, p < .001) and a supportive work environment (β = .37, p <.01) acted as mediators in this relationship. In contrast, team learning capability did not demonstrate a significant mediating effect (β = .04, p = .13). These findings underscore the indirect influence of team-level variables on individual engagement outcomes. The final model accounted for 86.1% of the variance in work engagement.
Conclusion and Implications: The study contributes a multilevel, SCT-based framework to explain engagement in labor-intensive industries. Enhancing self-efficacy and fostering supportive leadership and work environments can significantly improve Generation Z’s engagement. These findings provide actionable insights for developing sustainable workforce strategies in emerging economies.

Developing Cross-Cultural, Online Group, and Digital Counseling Competencies through Experiential Learning in Thailand’s Southern Border Provinces

2025-10-03T16:22:30+07:00

Background/ problem: Rapid digital transformation and cultural complexity demand that counselor education evolve to foster integrated competencies for online, multicultural, and technologically mediated practice. This is critical in Thailand's southern border provinces, where online counseling serves communities with distinct traditions amid limited access to mental health services. Despite this urgency, little is known about how counseling students cultivate cross-cultural, digital, and group counseling skills through real-world engagement.
Objective/ purpose: This study aimed to explore and describe the lived experiences of graduate students in counseling psychology regarding the development of cross-cultural, online group, and digital counseling competencies through experiential learning during an online practicum.
Design and Methodology: This qualitative phenomenological study involved 12 second-year graduate students, purposively selected to participate in online group counseling and supervision in Thailand's southern provinces. Data was collected one month after the practicum through semi-structured group interviews and online reflective surveys. Qualitative experts reviewed instruments, and data were analyzed using content analysis.
Findings: Counselor identity development was a relational and transformative process rather than a linear acquisition of skills. Three themes emerged: (1) cross-cultural competence as a lived experience; (2) humanistic values as foundational to online group counseling; and (3) digital counseling competency as an emotionally attuned and ethically grounded practice.
Conclusion and Implications: The study highlights the value of integrating virtual practicum, culturally responsive training, and digital ethics in counselor education and supervision. Embedding these elements can guide training programs, strengthen supervision, and inform policy to prepare future practitioners better to serve diverse populations with competence and integrity.

The Mediating Role of Financial Behavior on Financial Literacy/Inclusion, and Financial Well–being among SMEs Owners in Indonesian Marine and Fisheries Industry

2025-10-06T18:05:40+07:00

Background/ problem: The rapid advancement of digital technology and financial innovation has created new opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). However, limited financial literacy and the digital divide continue to hinder the financial well-being of business actors, especially in archipelagic regions on Indonesia.

Objective/ purpose: This study examined the inter-relations between financial literacy, digital financial inclusion, financial behavior, and financial well-being of maritime SME owners in Eastern Indonesia according to the theories of social learning and planned behavior.

Design and Methodology: A survey of n = 303 SME owners was conducted using a quantitative approach. All constructs demonstrated acceptable reliability (α > .70). Data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modelling.

Results: Financial literacy significantly influenced financial behavior (β = .28, p < .001) and financial well-being (β = .49, p< .001). Digital financial inclusion also significantly affected financial behavior (β = .26, p< .001) and financial well-being (β = .16, p = .01). Financial behavior predicted financial well-being (β = .13, p = .009) and mediated the effects of financial literacy (β = .04, p = .04) and digital financial inclusion (β = .03, p = .03).

Conclusion and Implications: The findings confirm that financial literacy and digital financial inclusion promote SME owners' financial well-being through behavioral change. From a behavioral science perspective, interventions must expand literacy and digital tools while shaping attitudes, intentions, and habits. Policies integrating literacy, digital access, and community learning can foster resilience and financial well-being in coastal and island contexts.