Luís Sérgio Vieira

Purpose: Vocational training schools in tourism, hospitality, and food services (VTS) that offer online education must provide high-quality services and experiences to their students, resulting in favourable attitudes and behaviours. This study aims to (1) investigate the direct effects of the perceived quality by students regarding their online education experiences (PQROEE) on their satisfaction, self-efficacy expectations, and their commitment to VTS; (2) examine the impacts of students’ satisfaction and their self-efficacy expectations on their commitment to VTS; (3) explore the mediating effects of satisfaction and self-efficacy expectations on the relationship between PQROEE and their commitment to VTS. Design/methodology/approach: This survey included 454 VTS students in Portugal. Participants completed an electronic form in which they shared their perceptions of the quality of their online education experiences in VTS. This study is based on the Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) theory. PLS-SEM tested the hypothetical model. Findings: The PQROEE is a stimulus that directly and positively influences satisfaction, self-efficacy expectations (organism) and commitment to VTS (behavioural response). Satisfaction and self-efficacy expectations mediate the relationship between PQROEE and their commitment to the schools. Originality/value: This unprecedented study contributes to S-O-R by simultaneously examining the direct and indirect relationships between PQROEE (stimuli), satisfaction and self-efficacy expectations (organism), and commitment to schools (response). Additionally, it provides practical insights for VTS stakeholders.

Studies highlight the importance of physical activity (PA) in relation to positive psychological functioning (PPF) among adults. Physical inactivity is strongly associated with lower levels of PPF, supporting the idea that lifestyle choices can be identified as a public health concern. There is growing evidence of the health benefits of regular PA. This study aims to analyze the contribution of PA to flow, PPF, and well-being. The sample consisted of 226 adults aged between 18 and 65 years (M = 41.23; SD = 12.50), mostly female (70.35%), with 56% reporting regular PA. Results revealed significant differences favoring active individuals over sedentary participants in all dimensions of flow, except for loss of self-consciousness. Regular PA was associated with higher levels of flow and psychological well-being. Both regular and intensive PA, as well as environmental mastery (EM), were key contributors to flow experiences, while self-acceptance and EM were central contributors to the Live Well Index. These findings support the association between PA and lower likelihood of sedentary lifestyles, emphasize its benefits for well-being, and highlight the association between PPF and active lifestyle patterns.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the influence of the perceived quality by students regarding their experiences in vocational schools in tourism, hospitality and food service on cognitive and affective responses (satisfaction, self-efficacy expectations and self-regulation strategies of motivation for learning - SRSML) and commitment (behavioural response).Design/methodology/approach: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 454 students from twelve Turismo de Portugal IP-affiliated schools. The theoretical framework was rooted in Self-Determination Theory (SDT) and PLS-SEM, using ADANCO 2.3 software to test the proposed model.Findings: Perceived quality by students concerning their school experiences are socio-contextual factors that directly influence their satisfaction and self-efficacy expectations (cognitive and affective responses). Satisfaction and self-efficacy expectations positively affected SRSML. Finally, satisfaction and the SRSML positively impacted the students` commitment to schools (behavioural response).Originality/value: This study contributes to academia by comprehensively addressing 16 perceived quality dimensions within vocational education. It aligns with SDT, revealing that socio-contextual factors affect students’ cognitive, affective, and behavioural responses. Additionally, it demonstrates positive relationships between student satisfaction, self-efficacy expectations, SRSML, and students’ commitment to vocational education institutions. This study emphasises the multidimensional nature of perceived quality, urging educational institutions to address tangible and intangible dimensions to develop strategies to provide high-quality experiences, increasing students` satisfaction, self-efficacy expectations, motivation, and commitment.

Meditation has been described as having a positive impact on well-being while reducing anxiety and stress among those who practice, mainly working as a resource to cope with everyday difficulties. As a simple and easy to apply meditation technique, transcendental meditation (TM) has shown promising results in adults and in children, although more studies are needed to show the impact on psychological and behavioral dimensions in children and adolescents. This quasi-experimental, pre-test–post-test study, with a control group, aimed to evaluate the impact of TM on the stress and resilience of children and adolescents, with ages between 9 and 16 years old. Participants were selected within schools which implemented the Quiet Time Program (QT), from those who volunteered to participate. They were randomly assigned to an experimental group (immediate TM learning) and to a control group (delayed TM learning). A repeated measures ANOVA showed an interaction of time and group on externalizing behavior, from the strengths and difficulties measure. The experimental group decreased on externalizing less adjusted behaviors, while the control group increased in this aspect, after a twelve-week period. TM failed to reduce anxiety and to contribute to resilience in the TM experimental group. Both groups improved anxiety indicators. The results might suggest students were acting upon their expectation of improvement on practicing TM or solely modifying their behavior along the contextual factors, which affected both groups equally.

Suporte parental e autonomia. Efeitos na exploração e indecisão vocacional Parental support and autonomy. Its effects on exploration and vocational indecision

Foi objetivo da investigação explorar a perceção dos treinadores profissionais de futebol sobre o seu contributo para a regulação psicológica e emocional dos futebolistas. Foram realizadas entrevistas semi-estruturadas com 10 treinadores profissionais de futebol. A análise temática do corpus permitiu perceber que os treinadores valorizam a dimensão psicológica do futebolista, mas parecem não demonstrar um domínio consistente das estratégias para regulação psicológica e emocional dos futebolistas.