RJAP

Address of correspondence: paul.sarbescu@e-uvt.ro

Abstract: The permeable boundary between family life and professional life allows interferences between them which could lead to either positive or negative consequences in both plans of the employees’ lives. Our paper aims to analyse the relationships between the work-family conflict, organizational attachment, positive and negative affectivity, work satisfaction and life satisfaction and last but not least, well-being. The sample consisted of 245 employees. The main hypothesis highlights the mediating role of the work-family conflict in the relationship between affectivity, workplace attachment and job satisfaction and satisfaction with life. Future research could focus on the environmental factors mediating the relationships between life and job satisfaction and on their interaction with the dispositional factors.

Keywords: job satisfaction, satisfaction with life, well-being, work-family conflict.

Address of correspondence: camitruta@unitbv.ro

Abstract: Based on the assumption that the construct of self-esteem should acts as a major factor in the selfevaluation model and it’s often given a consideration whenever the objective is determining the nature of human behavior including the coping styles usually adopted by employees as a result of exposure to insecure job perception, this study extends on previous research by employing the use of Lazarus transactional stress theory and Korman social construction theory to present a research model which highlights employees self-efficacy as an antecedent of perceived job insecurity with employee’s self-esteem acting as a mediator in this relationship. To advance our line of theoretical reasoning, we elicit responses from a total of one hundred and fifty three (153) randomly selected bankers in four major Nigerian Banks to empirically prove that employee self-esteem represents a core construct whenever the objective is centered on reducing the perception of job insecurity from the perspective of job related efficacies. Specifically, two key findings were uncovered: 1) while increase in self-efficacy will directly lead to a significant increase in self-esteem, it will however lead to an insignificant decrease in perceived job insecurity. 2) An improvement in self-esteem exercises a direct, negative and statistically significant influence on perceived job insecurity. Hence, with the view that managers and practitioners can advance their course in reducing employee’s self-perceived job insecurity through self-efficacy by focusing on improving selfesteem, we conclude by proposing relevant personality based interventions in addition to those organizational and institutional based interventions which may be employed in advancing this course.

Keywords: perceived job insecurity, self-efficacy, self-esteem, mediation, banking industry.

Address of correspondence: wallacetoks@yahoo.com

Abstract: This paper reports an experimental investigation of decision-making under uncertainty. Today, patients are encouraged to participate, or even decide for themselves what kind of care and treatment they should get; they are now in the position of a consumer that chooses what he believes is best. However, choosing a specific treatment rather than another has more important consequences in one's life than choosing a brand of yogurt rather than another. We wanted to see if people choose according to the available information, or not. Using a within-person design, we asked if there are any differences in the way people make medical choices, as compared to nonmedical, neutral choices. Latency was also measured for the 21 choices each participant had to make. Additionally, we investigated moral purity, and gender – as between-person variables, to see if they play a role in decision-making under uncertainty. We analyzed the data with hierarchical linear modelling, where a series of choices (level 1) were nested within individuals (level 2). Results showed that people relied on the available information more often for medical choices than for non-medical, neutral choices. The less time spent, the higher the probability of relying on the available information. Also, while moral purity was not a significant predictor of decision-making, gender seems to be a moderator: men tend to rely more than women on the known information, in the case of medical choices, while in the case of non-medical choices, the differences between men and women are insignificant.

Keywords: decision making, uncertainty, medical treatments, consumer choice, patient choice.

Address of correspondence: laurentiu.maricutoiu@e-uvt.ro

Abstract: This paper aimed at investigating the mediating role of one personality construct (i.e., dispositional optimism) on the relationship between self-authenticity and basic psychological needs (BPN) satisfaction. This study also aims to investigate the predictive role of three personality constructs (self-authenticity, optimism, and neuroticism) on basic psychological needs satisfaction. The participants were 566 Romanian adults from the general population (M = 43.66 years old, SD = 10.46), who were asked to fill in multiple questionnaires. Findings reveal that optimism mediates the relationship between self-authenticity and the satisfaction of the need for autonomy (β=.30, R2=.39) and also mediates the relationship between self-authenticity and the satisfaction of the need for competence (β=.51, R2=.36, p<0.001), but does not mediate the relationship between self-authenticity and the need for relatedness. Another result of this study is that the three personality factors (self-authenticity, optimism, and neuroticism) predict altogether the satisfaction of basic psychological needs (β= -.11, R2=.52, p<0.05). These results extend the current knowledge about personality determinants involved in autonomy, competence and relatedness basic needs from self-determination theory. In the end, the authors discuss the implications of the findings, the limits of the present study and future research suggestions.

Keywords: basic psychological needs satisfaction, self-authenticity, optimism, neuroticism.

Address of correspondence: claudia.iuliana.draganescu@drd.unibuc.ro

Abstract: This study examined whether using different imagery perspectives and modalities plays a role in the link between vividness of imagining positive events and positive cognition such as optimism, self-efficacy and memory for positive mood. We asked participants to complete self-rating scales of positive cognition and to imagine doing various actions in positive situations from the external and internal perspectives of visual modality and when using kinesthetic modality. We found that vividness of imagining actions in positive situations from an external perspective predicts all positive cognitions: optimism and self-efficacy and memory of positive mood. The vividness of imagining actions in positive situations from the internal perspective of visual modality and kinesthetic imagery predicted only self-efficacy and memory of positive mood but not optimism. We discuss the findings in light of existing theories regarding imagery and positive cognition and suggest several possibilities of using imagery perspective for imagery interventions.

Keywords: vividness of imagery, imagery perspective, cognition, optimism, self-efficacy, positive mood.

Address of correspondence: alexandrutiba@gmail.com

Abstract: Car transportation has many benefits, yet it also generates problems such as noise and air pollution, loss of urban space, traffic jams and contributes significantly to global warming. Three approaches for explaining car use behavior and intentions to reduce it are often used in the transportation literature, namely a rational choice (e.g. theory of planned behavior), a morality-based (e.g. norm activation model) and a habit-based approach. While there were studies that investigated their comparative power, there were relatively few attempts to integrate these different perspectives in a single theoretical model. The present study proposes an integrated model of the theory of planned behavior, the norm activation model and the concept of habits to predict drivers’ intentions to reduce their car use, and tests this model on a sample of Romanian drivers (N = 140). Results show that the model performed better than the theory of planned behavior, the norm activation model or a combination of the two and that all variables in the model predicted (directly or indirectly) behavioral intentions to reduce car transportation. The strongest predictors were perceived behavioral control, personal norms and car use related habits. The results contribute to theory development and provide a conceptual framework, which can inform the development of future travel demand management solutions.

Keywords: car use, sustainable transportation, theory of planned behavior, norm activation model, habits.

Address of correspondence: alin.semenescu@e-uvt.ro

Abstract: The objective of this paper was to identify the factors associated with moderate to high nicotine dependence in a sample of pregnant smokers from Romania. Data was collected through an ongoing cross-sectional pilot study from 130 pregnant smokers. The questionnaire included five main sections: socio-demographic information, medical and reproductive history, alcohol and smoking behaviors, emotional health and information regarding the relationship with the partner. Older age, first pregnancy, a negative screening for anxiety and depression, and negative partner interactions related to smoking were significantly correlated with increased odds of moderate to high nicotine dependence during pregnancy. In addition, high dyadic efficacy, low self-efficacy, high pregnancy-related anxiety, and a non-smoking life partner were correlated with increased odds of moderate to high nicotine dependence, although the results did not reach statistical significance. Once the level nicotine dependence is established, cessation treatment should target specific risks that are associated with this dependence. Maternal risk factors, spousal smoking status, and interactions in the couple hold promise in future tobacco cessation interventions. Future research should focus on both the prenatal smoking cessation and on postnatal relapse prevention among highly dependent women.

Keywords: nicotine dependence, pregnancy, risk factors, smoking, Romania.

Address of correspondence: dascalmarinadenisa@gmail.com

Abstract: This study aims to identify the moderator role of resilience in the relationship between exposure to stressful life events and health state. The study included 238 participants from the general Romanian population, aged between 23 and 68 years, M = 44.16, SD = 11.03, 188 women and 50 men. The instruments used were Stressful Life Event Questionnaire, Resilience Scale, RS-14, and General Health Questionnaire, GHQ-12. The results revealed that resilience moderates the relationship between stressful life events and health state, but contrary to our expectations, in a negative direction. The negative relationship between exposure to stressful life events and mental health became non-significant at lower levels of resilience and higher levels of resilience failed to buffer the effects of stressful life events on mental health of the individual. These results extend the current knowledge about resilience’s role in individual’s health state after confronting with stressful life events. The implications of the findings, the limitations, and future research directions were discussed.

Keywords: stressful life events, resilience, health state.

Address of correspondence: alina.chiracu@drd.unibuc.ro