As summer break ends and everyone settles back into daily routines, we have a fresh selection of articles from our Open Access research platform. Our top picks for August cover a wide range of topics, from student and teacher well-being to blood pressure medication and the dilemmas behind getting vaccinations.
1. Can Our Self-Perceptions Fuel Burnout?
None of us are strangers to burnout. Whether as students or working professionals, we have all been through stressful periods where we overwork ourselves to the point of physical and emotional exhaustion. This state of burnout often hampers our productivity, creating feelings of frustration. For students in particular, it can even result in subpar academic performance. But what lies behind this exhaustion, and could it somehow be tied to our self-perception?
Read this study to learn more about the fascinating effect self-esteem can have on student engagement and academic burnout.
2. Are There Alternatives to a Lifetime of Medication for High Blood Pressure?
Numerous medical treatments exist for ailments today, including hypertension or high blood pressure. However, not all of us faithfully follow medication schedules or treatment courses. Consistency is especially critical for conditions like high blood pressure, highlighting the value of exploring alternative healing techniques. While medication is undoubtedly vital, integrating alternative methods can enhance its effect.
Discover how progressive muscle relaxation exercises can lower blood pressure in hypertensive patients alongside pressure medicine here.
3. Why is Higher Education Becoming an International Experience?
In today’s interconnected world, the trend of national universities and higher education institutions expanding internationally is on the rise. You have probably come across the concept of international accreditation and its associated advantages. This phenomenon is particularly prominent in the Gulf region, where the internationalisation of national universities through strategies like international student mobility, campus partnerships, and branch campuses is gaining traction. But does this trend bring more benefits to the region, or does it pose potential challenges? Does it create or limit opportunities for youth?
Read this study to understand the case of higher education in the Arab Middle East and North Africa.
4. Why do Parents Vaccinate Their Children?
In an era of immunisations designed to combat infectious diseases, a range of solutions has emerged, with the MMR vaccine standing as one of the most widespread. This vaccine, aimed at preventing measles, mumps, and rubella, is usually given to children between nine to 15 months of age. The decision to administer the MMR vaccine rests solely with parents, as their children are too young to decide for themselves. Making these decisions might feel familiar, as some of us may also have had a hard time deciding whether to take a vaccine or not because of the many side effects we are warned against. But what factors usually weigh on our minds when we opt for or against vaccines?
Read this study to learn more about the factors influencing parents decisions to choose the MMR vaccine in Indonesia.
5. What Influences Teachers’ Well-Being?
As the world grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic, teachers faced new challenges with physical schools closing and learning shifting online. This changed how teachers worked, with in a greater reliance on technological pedagogy aids, which could result in added stress. Now that schools have reopened, some things are back to normal, but some things have also changed. We’re more dependent on technology for teaching than before. Some teachers like this change, while others worry about it. But how does all this affect teachers’ lives overall? How does it connect with how they feel at work and their psychological well-being?
Read this study to find out the factors that affected teachers’ quality of life during the pandemic, and how they could still apply.
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