João Gomes, Daniela Alves and Catarina Pacheco
This study aims to identify the perceptions and satisfaction of tourists while visiting Portugal.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to identify the perceptions and satisfaction of tourists while visiting Portugal.
Design/methodology/approach
This study is based on ongoing research by Instituto de Planeamento e Desenvolvimento do Turismo (IPDT) on “Tourist perceptions while visiting Portugal”.
Findings
This study identifies the places chosen by tourists who visited Portugal, as well as the atributes they most valued in the country. With this study, the level of satisfaction of those visiting the country can also be verified as being quite high.
Practical implications
This study provides knowledge about the perceptions and satisfaction of tourists while visiting Portugal, including the main aspects they valued and their satisfaction about Portugal’s main attributes.
Originality/value
This study aims to identify tourists’ opinion about Portugal, identifying the most valued attributes of the country as well as the main doubts about the impacts of tourism on the originality of Portuguese cities.
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Giovana Gonçalves Gallo, Daniela Fernandez Curado, Mayra Pires Alves Machado, Vitor Villar Scattone and Ana Regina Noto
Mental health issues are concurrent among college students and new interventions are needed to address the problem. The objective of this study was to evaluate the convergence of…
Abstract
Purpose
Mental health issues are concurrent among college students and new interventions are needed to address the problem. The objective of this study was to evaluate the convergence of symptoms into a single factor called “mental distress” and its relationship to mindfulness facets.
Design/methodology/approach
Brazilian university students (n = 136) answered self-report questionnaires, assessing sociodemographic information, dispositional mindfulness, insomnia severity, perceived stress, depression and anxiety. The analytical procedure consisted of defining the latent variable and relationships with mindfulness facets in a structural equations modeling environment.
Findings
The proposed model presented good fit [χ2 (23 = 34.38; p = 0.060; RMSEA = 0.068 (90% CI = 0.00;0.114); CFI = 0.951] and mental distress was inversely related to the five facets of mindfulness questionnaire of nonjudgment and nonreactivity.
Originality/value
The symptoms converged into a latent variable, and the latent variable was related to the abilities of not judging and not reacting to internal stimuli. The relationships found might guide the development of future intervention strategies to benefit university students’ mental health.
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Iris Alves Negrão, Thiago Poleto, Marinalva Maciel, Daniela Ribeiro de Oliveira, Itamar Gaudêncio and Ligiane Cristina Braga de Oliveira Friaes
The article aims to explore how the military police in Brazil’s Northern Region incorporate “difference” and “diversity” into leadership, focusing on women in leadership roles. It…
Abstract
Purpose
The article aims to explore how the military police in Brazil’s Northern Region incorporate “difference” and “diversity” into leadership, focusing on women in leadership roles. It examines institutional changes in leadership styles and the development of inclusive practices. The goal is to understand the competencies women bring to police leadership and how these can transform organizational culture.
Design/methodology/approach
The study employed in-depth interviews with 20 women’s police leaders in Pará, using MAXQDA for data analysis and criteria sampling for participant selection to achieve data saturation.
Findings
The study results indicate that women’s leadership in the Military Police of Pará fosters a new organizational culture, emphasizing shared and transformational leadership. Women’s leaders are seen as adaptable and resilient, capable of balancing professional performance with emotional management. Traits such as empathy and sensitivity are prominent, creating a more humanized work environment. Additionally, the creativity and charisma of women’s leaders facilitate the development of innovative solutions to complex problems, demonstrating the transformative impact of women’s leadership within the police.
Research limitations/implications
The study’s limitations include its focus on a specific region with a small sample size, reliance on self-reported data, which may introduce bias, and findings deeply embedded in the local cultural contexto in the police.
Practical implications
The practical implications of this study include encouraging the development of formal networks and mentorship opportunities, particularly those led by women. These initiatives aim to promote gender equity within the police force by preventing women from being disadvantaged in competitive processes such as exams and performance evaluations, thereby eliminating implicit biases. Implementing mentorship programs that connect experienced women officers with aspiring officers can facilitate the exchange of practical knowledge and experience while developing essential skills like empathy, compassion and emotional balance.
Originality/value
The originality and value of this study lie in its focus on the unique competencies and leadership styles of female leaders in the Military Police of Northern Brazil. It highlights how these leaders introduce empathy, creativity and resilience into the traditionally male-dominated police culture, fostering a more inclusive and effective organizational environment. This research fills a gap by providing insights into how female leadership can transform police practices, emphasizing the importance of diversity and gender-sensitive approaches in law enforcement.
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Florian Findler, Norma Schönherr, Rodrigo Lozano, Daniela Reider and André Martinuzzi
This paper aims to conceptualize impacts of higher education institutions (HEIs) on sustainable development (SD), complementing previous literature reviews by broadening the…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to conceptualize impacts of higher education institutions (HEIs) on sustainable development (SD), complementing previous literature reviews by broadening the perspective from what HEIs do in pursuit of SD to how these activities impact society, the environment and the economy.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper provides a systematic literature review of peer-reviewed journal articles published between 2005 and 2017. Inductive content analysis was applied to identify major themes and impact areas addressed in the literature to develop a conceptual framework detailing the relationship between HEIs’ activities and their impacts on SD.
Findings
The paper identifies six impact areas where direct and indirect impacts of HEIs on SD may occur. The findings indicate a strong focus on case studies dealing with specific projects and a lack of studies analyzing impacts from a more holistic perspective.
Practical implications
This systematic literature review enables decision-makers in HEIs, researchers and educators to better understand how their activities may affect society, the environment and the economy, and it provides a solid foundation to tackle these impacts.
Social implications
The review highlights that HEIs have an inherent responsibility to make societies more sustainable. HEIs must embed SD into their systems while considering their impacts on society.
Originality/value
This paper provides a holistic conceptualization of HEIs’ impacts on SD. The conceptual framework can be useful for future research that attempts to analyze HEIs’ impacts on SD from a holistic perspective.
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Cláudia Miranda Veloso, Daniela Magalhães, Bruno Barbosa Sousa, Cicero Eduardo Walter and Marco Valeri
The aim of this paper is to understand the importance of consumer loyalty in the specific context of Hotel Family Business. This study proposes a conceptual model to examine how…
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this paper is to understand the importance of consumer loyalty in the specific context of Hotel Family Business. This study proposes a conceptual model to examine how perceived service quality and corporate social responsibility (SCR) influence guest satisfaction and loyalty, and also how they relate to corporate image, perceived value and price.
Design/methodology/approach
Through the structural equation model (SEM), a research model was proposed to examine SQ and CSR affect satisfaction and loyalty to the Douro Family Hotel and also, how they interact with corporate image, perceived value and price. The main purpose is to analyse the drivers of guest loyalty and its importance for the development and sustainability of family hotels in Douro (Portugal).
Findings
The results of the study indicate that CSR and SQ perceived by the guest have a direct and positive effect on guest satisfaction and loyalty to Douro family hotels. These variables are also determinants of the perceived value, corporate image and price.
Research limitations/implications
The sample is restricted and obtained by the convenience technique, but with sufficient size for the application of the structural equations model. However, the results obtained cannot be generalised to all hotels or contexts, as they only reflect information on family hotels in the Douro.
Practical implications
Family businesses are a substantial share of the European economy, from the industrial sector to the services industry, including also hospitality. In Portugal, family businesses likewise play a key role, both in terms of wealth creation and job creation.
Originality/value
These findings provide knowledge to family hotels on how they should implement a CSR policy that promotes service quality, corporate image and guest satisfaction, and therefore their loyalty and the competitiveness of the family hotel business.
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Brenda Kelly Souza Silveira, Juliana Farias de Novaes, Sarah Aparecida Vieira, Daniela Mayumi Usuda Prado Rocha, Arieta Carla Gualandi Leal and Helen Hermana Miranda Hermsdorff
The purpose of this paper is to examine the associations of dietary patterns with sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics in a cardiometabolic risk population.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the associations of dietary patterns with sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics in a cardiometabolic risk population.
Design/methodology/approach
In this cross-sectional study data from 295 (n=123 men/172 women, 42±16 years) participants in a Cardiovascular Health Care Program were included. After a 24-hour recall interview the dietary patterns were determined using principal component analysis. Sociodemographic, clinical and lifestyle data were collected by medical records.
Findings
Subjects with diabetes and hypertension had a higher adherence in the “traditional” pattern (rice, beans, tubers, oils and meats). Poisson regression models showed that male subjects with low schooling and smokers had greater adherence to the “traditional” pattern. Also, students, women, and those with higher schooling and sleeping =7 h/night showed higher adherence to healthy patterns (whole grains, nuts, fruits and dairy). Women, young adults and those with higher schooling and fewer sleep hours had greater adherence to healthy dietary patterns. Those with low schooling and unhealthy lifestyle showed more adherence to the “traditional” pattern.
Social implications
The results indicate the importance to personalized nutritional therapy and education against cardiometabolic risk, considering the dietary patterns specific to each population.
Originality/value
Socioeconomic and lifestyle characteristics can influence dietary patterns and this is one of the few studies that investigated this relationship performing principal component analysis.
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Daniela Olo, Leonida Correia and Conceição Rego
This paper aims to find out what conditions are needed to enhance higher education curricula towards employability from the perspective of different stakeholders in the graduate…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to find out what conditions are needed to enhance higher education curricula towards employability from the perspective of different stakeholders in the graduate labour market.
Design/methodology/approach
An empirical study was developed, using a qualitative approach, based on semi-structured interviews with higher education institutions (HEIs) and labour market players, in the north region of Portugal. The data were analysed through content and descrip\tive analysis with NVivo.
Findings
The results show a set of constraints that hinder the match of higher education curricula with employability, namely, (1) the weak connection between HEIs and employers and (2) the curricular structure, which is characterised by a heavy theoretical component and a weak approach to the soft skills required by the current labour market. Possible solutions, with implications for educational policy, are given throughout the study.
Research limitations/implications
The geographical scope and the nature of the study suggest that some precautions are required when generalising results. However, the literature on other areas in Portugal strengthens the findings and compensates for the sample's limitations.
Originality/value
This study combines the perspectives of the different individual stakeholders involved which, when taken as a whole, provide some recommendations for tailored curricula towards employability. Other studies in Portugal address each of these issues individually, without a connection between all the different perspectives.
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Barbara de Lima Voss, David Bernard Carter and Bruno Meirelles Salotti
We present a critical literature review debating Brazilian research on social and environmental accounting (SEA). The aim of this study is to understand the role of politics in…
Abstract
We present a critical literature review debating Brazilian research on social and environmental accounting (SEA). The aim of this study is to understand the role of politics in the construction of hegemonies in SEA research in Brazil. In particular, we examine the role of hegemony in relation to the co-option of SEA literature and sustainability in the Brazilian context by the logic of development for economic growth in emerging economies. The methodological approach adopts a post-structural perspective that reflects Laclau and Mouffe’s discourse theory. The study employs a hermeneutical, rhetorical approach to understand and classify 352 Brazilian research articles on SEA. We employ Brown and Fraser’s (2006) categorizations of SEA literature to help in our analysis: the business case, the stakeholder–accountability approach, and the critical case. We argue that the business case is prominent in Brazilian studies. Second-stage analysis suggests that the major themes under discussion include measurement, consulting, and descriptive approach. We argue that these themes illustrate the degree of influence of the hegemonic politics relevant to emerging economics, as these themes predominantly concern economic growth and a capitalist context. This paper discusses trends and practices in the Brazilian literature on SEA and argues that the focus means that SEA avoids critical debates of the role of capitalist logics in an emerging economy concerning sustainability. We urge the Brazilian academy to understand the implications of its reifying agenda and engage, counter-hegemonically, in a social and political agenda beyond the hegemonic support of a particular set of capitalist interests.
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B.F. Giannetti, Feni Agostinho, C.M.V.B. Almeida, Marcos José Alves Pinto Jr, Maritza Chirinos Marroquín and Medardo Delgado Paredes
The study of sustainability within universities is recognized as essential for debates and research; in the long term, the “sustainable university” concepts can contribute to…
Abstract
Purpose
The study of sustainability within universities is recognized as essential for debates and research; in the long term, the “sustainable university” concepts can contribute to sustainability from a larger perspective. This study aims to propose a conceptual model for evaluating the students’ sustainability considering their interactions with the university and the environment. The proposed model is titled Sunshine model. It is applied to students of the La Salle University, Peru.
Design/methodology/approach
The model combines academic performance, happiness and the ecological footprint to quantify university students’ sustainability. A structured questionnaire survey was elaborated and applied to get the raw data that feeds the three methods. The students’ average grades evaluate academic performance. Happiness is quantified by the happiness index method, and the ecological footprint is measured by the demand for food, paper, electricity, transport and built-up areas. Results are evaluated under both approaches, overall group performance and clusters.
Findings
The proposed model avoids misleading interpretations of a single indicator or discussions on sustainability that lack a conceptual model, bringing robustness in assessing students’ sustainability in universities. To have a low ecological footprint, the student needs to need up to 1 planet for their lifestyle, be considered happy with at least 0.8 (of 1) for happiness index, and have good academic performance with at least a grade of 7 (of 10) in their course. Regarding the case study, La Salle students show a high academic grade degree of 7, a high level for happiness index of 0.8 and low performance for ecological footprint by demanding 1.8 Earth planets, resulting in an “environmentally distracted” overall classification for students with 2019 data. From a cluster approach, 81% of evaluated students (n = 603) have low performance for ecological footprint, whereas 31% have low performance for indicators of recreational activities of happiness. Changing lifestyles and making more recreational activities available play crucial roles in achieving higher sustainability for the La Salle students.
Research limitations/implications
The happiness assessment questionnaire can be subject to criticism, as it was created as a specific method for this type of audience based on existing questionnaires in the literature. Although it can be seen as an important approach for diagnoses, the proposed model does not consider the cause–effect aspect. The decision-maker must consider the sociocultural aspects before implementing plan actions.
Practical implications
University managers can better understand why university students have high or low sustainability performance and provide more effective actions toward higher levels of students’ sustainability.
Originality/value
The proposed model, Sunshine model, overcomes the single-criteria existing tools that access the sustainability of universities. Rather than focusing on university infrastructure, the proposed model focuses on the students and their relationship with the university.