Mustafa Aslan

Background: People may obtain the same product as everyone else and still feel discomfort that someone got there first: a reaction that is neither fear of missing out, since nothing was missed, nor envy, since only timing differs. This article introduces Firstness Orientation, the value placed on attaining temporal priority over one’s reference group and the responses to gaining or losing it, and Fear of Not Being the First, its aversive side. We ask whether it is distinct and measurable. Methods: Two studies with Turkish adults. Study 1 ( N = 259) examined a 36-item pool by parallel analysis and principal axis factoring. Study 2 ( N = 299, independent) evaluated that structure by confirmatory factor analysis on polychoric correlations, compared competing representations including a bifactor model, tested invariance across gender, assessed discriminant and incremental validity against five established instruments, and modeled item characteristics with a graded response model. Results: A strong general factor accompanied by three distinct facets emerged, Firstness-Based Self-Enhancement, Firstness-Related Apprehension, and Emotional Distress From Losing Temporal Priority, and the 11-item measure was supported in the independent sample, was invariant across gender, and placed most reliable variance on the general factor. All heterotrait-monotrait ratios fell below the conservative threshold, including those against fear of negative evaluation, and the measure explained incremental variance in status consumption beyond the rival constructs but not impulsive buying. Modeled as orthogonal residuals, only the appetitive facet retained an independent association with the criteria, and the apprehension items sit higher on the continuum. Conclusions: Firstness Orientation is distinguishable from its measured neighbors and is best scored as a total, with facet scores secondary. The findings fit an appetitive-centered interpretation, in which the aversive components reflect the loss of the rewards of temporal priority, better than a fear-centered one. Replication and independent behavioral criteria remain necessary.

While aviation safety is a global concern, Iran’s aviation sector presents a unique case due to prolonged sanctions, which have created severe operational and safety challenges. The sanctions imposed on Iran in 1980 have significantly impacted the civil aviation sector over time. These sanctions were designed to prevent the purchase of aircraft containing more than 10% American technology, making such transactions subject to approval by the U.S. Treasury Department. Intermediary companies that fail to comply with this rule also risk being subjected to U.S. sanctions. This study aims to investigate the relationship between sanctions on Iran and civil aviation accidents. Using ICAO’s API Data Service, two related samples were analyzed: accident-causation patterns in Iran were examined for 2011–2020, while the cross-country comparison of accident rates drew on 2014–2020 data, comparing Iran with three regional countries (Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt) and one Far Eastern country (Thailand), considering a similar number of flights. The results indicate that accident rates in Iran are higher than those in the four comparison countries, and this difference is statistically significant. The findings suggest that the consequences of these sanctions may extend beyond Iran, potentially influencing broader aviation safety dynamics. The fact that this study is the first of its kind on the basis of the data obtained highlights its significance for the field.

This study examines the mediating role of psychological ownership in the relationship between career management system practices and organizational commitment within the aviation industry. It highlights the importance of career management systems in fostering employees’ sense of belonging and commitment to their organizations. Data were collected via an online survey from 253 aviation personnel, and Partial Least Squares–Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was used for analysis. Results indicate that career development and career management are positively associated with both behavioral and attitudinal commitment, while career planning shows no significant association. Additionally, psychological ownership—particularly affective and job-based ownership—is consistent with a mediating role in these relationships. The findings suggest that employees who perceive career growth opportunities within their organizations tend to report stronger attachment and ownership, which is associated with higher organizational commitment. This study contributes to the literature by integrating psychological ownership into career management frameworks and offering empirical evidence from the aviation sector. The results provide valuable insights for organizations seeking to improve employee retention and commitment through effective career management strategies.

The rapid proliferation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) has introduced new opportunities as well as significant safety challenges for civil aviation stakeholders. While UAVs provide notable operational advantages in logistics, surveillance and emergency response, their integration into shared airspace raises critical safety, regulatory and human-factors concerns. This study examines the risk perceptions of two key aviation stakeholder groups – pilots and air traffic controllers (ATCs) – using the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Safety Management Manual (SMM) risk matrix as a comparative framework. Thirty aviation professionals (15 pilots and 15 ATCs) evaluated eight major UAV-related risk scenarios across likelihood and severity dimensions, including technical failures, operator inexperience, mid-air collisions and privacy violations. The results reveal substantial perceptual asymmetries between the groups: pilots emphasised catastrophic consequences and direct flight safety, whereas ATCs prioritised systemic disruptions and likelihood-based assessments. Both groups, however, identified ‘inexperienced UAV operators’ as the most critical and unacceptable risk factor. The findings suggest that UAV safety cannot be managed solely through technological improvements, but also requires human-centred considerations in risk communication and coordination, and cross-disciplinary risk communication. Moreover, the results highlight the need to expand ICAO’s risk assessment framework to incorporate ethical and socio-technical considerations, including privacy and data protection. By aligning diverse professional risk perceptions, this study contributes to improving safety risk communication and interpretation within SMS practices for UAV integration within civil aviation systems.

Innovation is an everyday imperative in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector, yet the psychological conditions through which well-being is associated with innovative action remain insufficiently understood. This study investigates whether subjective vitality and creative self-efficacy constitute distinct psychological pathways—an energy-based and a belief-based mechanism, respectively—through which psychological well-being becomes associated with innovative work behavior, thereby providing a more differentiated examination of the assumption that psychologically healthy employees are more likely to behave innovatively. An online survey was administered to 463 ICT-sector employees in Türkiye, and partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to test direct and indirect relationships with comprehensive assessment of measurement quality, predictive relevance, and effect sizes. Creative self-efficacy emerged as a meaningful indirect pathway linking psychological well-being to innovative work behavior, whereas subjective vitality, though strongly predicted by well-being, showed no significant relationship with innovative outcomes. These findings suggest that not all positive psychological states are equally innovation-relevant: among ICT employees, the indirect association between well-being and innovation was evident through employees’ confidence in their own creative capability rather than through feelings of psychological energy—a distinction with meaningful implications for both theory and practice in knowledge-intensive, digitally dynamic organizations.

Background: Fear of flying, or aviophobia, is one of the most prevalent phobias, affecting approximately 3 to 5% of the population. Although air travel has become significantly safer, fear of flying continues to impact individuals’ social, professional, and personal lives, often leading to avoidance behaviors and significant distress. This qualitative study explores the causes, triggers, and coping strategies associated with fear of flying, focusing on participants from Türkiye. Methods: Through semi-structured interviews with 20 individuals with self-reported fear of flying, conducted between June 2024 and February 2025, the study identifies key factors associated with the fear of flying, including psychological factors (e.g., anxiety disorders, claustrophobia), negative flight-related experiences (e.g., turbulence, media coverage of crashes), cognitive factors (e.g., catastrophic thinking), environmental and social influences (e.g., learned behaviors, media exposure), physiological responses (e.g., sweating, palpitations), and cultural contexts. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis, and data collection continued until thematic saturation was achieved. Results: The findings reveal that turbulence, fear of enclosed spaces, and media portrayals of aviation accidents are significant triggers. Coping strategies such as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), relaxation techniques, and spiritual methods (e.g., praying) are commonly employed to manage flight anxiety. The study also highlights the role of social media in relation to fear of flying, as exposure to negative aviation content is associated with increased anxiety and avoidance behaviors. Despite the availability of professional support and airline-sponsored programs, many participants reported a notable underutilization of these resources. Conclusions: The study concludes that a multifaceted approach, combining psychological interventions, education, and culturally sensitive treatments, may be important for addressing fear of flying. These findings contribute to the growing body of literature on fear of flying and provide insights for developing targeted interventions to help individuals overcome their fear of flying.

Purpose: In omnichannel retailing, information plays a crucial role in shaping the customer journey. However, research examining information quality (IQ) as an antecedent of electronic logistics service quality (e-LSQ) is lacking. Few studies have examined how e-LSQ is associated with consumer behaviour in emerging e-commerce markets, such as Türkiye. Therefore, this study aims to reinvestigate the relationship between IQ and e-LSQ, as well as the role of IQ in shaping customer expectations prior to the service encounter in Türkiye's e-commerce market. Design/methodology/approach: Grounded in Expectation Confirmation Theory (ECT), the research examines the mediating roles of e-LSQ dimensions and customer satisfaction in the relationships among IQ, pre-purchase expectations, and repurchase intention (RI). A survey was used to examine the associations between IQ, e-LSQ, and RI, and the data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling. Findings: The findings supported the positive association between IQ and e-LSQ and, in turn, the association between selected e-LSQ dimensions and customer satisfaction (CS). Moreover, the results of the analysis reveal that e-LSQ dimensions and CS play mediating roles in the association between IQ and RI. Practical implications: The study reveals the critical importance of IQ in shaping online shoppers' expectations and perceptions of e-LSQ. The novel approach analyses the link between IQ, e-LSQ, and CS, extending researchers' and managers' understanding of e-LSQ in e-tailing. Originality/value: Theoretically, to the extent of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to reposition IQ as an antecedent of e-LSQ and a benchmark in interpreting customer expectations, rather than as a subdimension of e-LSQ. The theoretical background draws on ECT with a novel hierarchical approach to provide insight into the associations between IQ and e-LSQ.

This manuscript provides a comprehensive overview of climate change, focusing on its causes, effects, and future projections. It begins by defining climate change and its primary drivers, particularly human activities such as fossil fuel combustion, deforestation, and industrialization. The paper explores key climate indicators and mechanisms, including Earth's energy balance and the greenhouse effect, which underlie the current global warming trends. It categorizes the effects of climate change into physical, ecological, and socio-economic impacts, such as rising temperatures, biodiversity loss, and increased health risks. Furthermore, it discusses both mitigation and adaptation strategies to address these challenges, emphasizing the need for urgent action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prepare societies for unavoidable climate impacts. The manuscript concludes by highlighting the critical role of science, policy, and global cooperation in shaping a sustainable future in the face of escalating climate risks.