Gomal University Journal of Research

IMPACT OF TOXIC LEADERSHIP, EMOTIONAL EXHAUSTION & LACK OF WORK-LIFE BALANCE ON TURNOVER INTENTIONS: MEDIATING ROLE OF JOB STRESS

Basharat Raza — 2024-12-25

This study examines the impact of toxic leadership, emotional exhaustion, and lack of work-life balance on the employee turnover intentions, with a focus on mediating role of job stress. Research posits that toxic leadership, characterized by abusive, manipulative and harmful behaviors, exacerbates emotional exhaustion and disrupts work-life balance, thereby increasing employee stress & heightening turnover intentions. Using a survey-based method, data were collected from employees across various industries and structural equation modeling was employed to test the proposed model. The results indicate that toxic leadership is positively related to emotional exhaustion and a lack of work-life balance, both significantly contribute to job stress. Job stress, in turn, mediates the relationship amid these factors and employee turnover intentions. The findings suggest that organizations need to address the toxic leadership behaviors, enhance work-life balance programs, and mitigate emotional exhaustion to reduce stress at work and decrease turnover intentions. This study contributes to the understanding of the psychological mechanisms driving turnover intentions and provides valuable insights for the organizations aiming to improve the retention and employee well-being.

FROM CHALKBOARDS TO DIGITAL PLATFORMS: THE IMPACT OF MEDIA ON MODERN EDUCATION

Komal Mehboob — 2024-12-25

This qualitative study investigates the integration of media tools in O-level & A-level classrooms, focusing on perceived impact of multimedia resources such as digital platforms, smartboards, and interactive technologies on the student learning and engagement. Conducted in schools equipped with the modern educational resources, the research involved 50 students and 20 teachers experienced in media-enriched teaching. Data was collected through semi-structured teacher interviews & focus group discussions with students and analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings indicate that multimedia tools boost student engagement and comprehension, leading to improved learning outcomes. However, challenges like limited access to technology, inadequate teacher training, and potential student distractions were identified as barriers to effective implementation. Both teachers and students stressed the need for better technological resources & ongoing professional growth for educators. The study highlights the transformative potential of media integration in enhancing teaching, learning & features the importance of addressing existing limitations to maximize its benefits. By bridging gaps in technology access and educator training, schools can more effectively leverage multimedia tools to create dynamic & engaging learning environments.

THE IMPACT OF ELECTRONIC BANKING CHANNELS ON THE FINANCIAL INCLUSION IN NIGERIA

Abass Adekunle Adewale — 2024-12-25

This study explores the role of technological tools in enhancing financial inclusion within the Nigerian banking sector. The rise of mobile payments, Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), and Electronic Fund Transfers (EFTs) is reshaping financial landscape, particularly in developing economies like Nigeria. This research utilizes the linear regression model to examine the relationship amid financial inclusion and adoption of these technological tools. The data collected from Nigerian banks reveal a positive correlation between financial inclusion and use of mobile payments, although ATMs and EFTs show limited statistical significance in driving financial inclusion. The study highlights the increasing importance of mobile payments, which provide easier access to financial services, particularly in underserved rural areas where the traditional banking infrastructure is lacking. The findings underscore the need for policies that prioritize the digital infrastructure and mobile financial services to expand access to banking & improve economic participation for unbanked populations. Moreover, while the role of ATMs & EFTs is acknowledged, their impact is hindered by technical challenges, including the network instability and insufficient cash availability. This study contributes to literature on financial inclusion by suggesting that mobile payments are a key driver for financial inclusion thereby offering practical recommendations for policymakers & financial institutions to foster broader financial access.

THE HIDDEN DRIVERS OF JOB SATISFACTION: INCLUSIVE VS AUTOCRATIC LEADERSHIP WITH MEDIATING INFLUENCE OF TRUST

Mohammad Mohsen Liaqat — 2024-12-25

This study investigates the impact of inclusive & autocratic leadership styles on employees’ job satisfaction in manufacturing organizations, focusing on mediating role of organizational trust. Leadership significantly influences employees' attitudes, motivation, and overall performance, yet the interplay between leadership styles, organizational trust, and job satisfaction remains underexplored in the manufacturing sector. Drawing on leadership and organizational behavior theories, this research examines that how inclusive leadership fosters trust & boosts job satisfaction, while autocratic leadership may undermine trust, negatively affecting satisfaction. A quantitative survey design was employed, collecting data from 300 employees across diverse manufacturing firms. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to test hypothesized relationships. Results reveal that inclusive leadership positively correlates with job satisfaction, mediated by organizational trust thereby highlighting trust as critical mechanism linking leadership and satisfaction. Conversely, the autocratic leadership exhibits a negative relationship with organizational trust and job satisfaction. Therefore, results are important in highlighting the importance of creating enabling, and inclusive leadership styles to direct the trust as well as ensure better employee outcomes in the manufacturing settings.

SMARTPHONE ADDICTION, PROBLEMATIC SOCIAL MEDIA USE & MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS AMONG YOUNG ADULTS

Adeela Kanwal — 2024-12-25

Smartphones have transformed communication and relationship-building among young adults; but, their misuse not only disrupts daily functioning but contributes to mental health issues. This study examines the mediating role of social media problematic use in relationship between smartphone addiction and depression in young adults, addressing gaps in the existing research. Utilizing a correlational design and purposive sampling, the study surveyed 106 young adults (61 men and 49 women) aged 18 to 25. The findings indicate positive and significant association between smartphone addiction and depression and social media problematic use; however, the relationship between social media problematic use and depression was positive but not significant. Mediation analysis reveals the partial mediating effect of social media problematic use on the relationship amid smartphone addiction & depression, with both direct and total effects being significantly positive, while indirect effect remained insignificant. Gender comparisons show no significant differences, although men scored higher than women smartphone addiction, social media problematic use and depression. Study discusses implications for youth welfare, acknowledges its limitations, and offers recommendations.

THE NEXUS BETWEEN AGGRESSION & ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AMONG STUDENTS: A GENDER-BASED CORRELATIONAL STUDY

Mehwish Mursaleen — 2024-12-25

This research attempts to analyze the relationship between aggression and academic achievement among secondary school students, with a focus on gender differences. For this research, the purposive sample of 400 students (200 boys and 200 girls) was drawn from secondary schools across all five districts of Karachi, Pakistan. The aggression questionnaire short form was used to assess the participant’s overall aggression. The sample’s academic success was assessed by percentage of most recent school examination. Pearson product-moment correlation analysis revealed overall insignificant correlation between aggression and academic achievement for combined sample. The results provide significant information in reaching conclusion and making decision. However, significant negative correlation was found between the aggression and academic achievement in girls' sample. The t-test revealed a significant gender difference in academic achievement, with girls performing better than boys. No significant gender differences were observed in aggression levels. In this connection, this study highlights the diverse factors contributing to girls’ achievements and its relationship with aggression. Similarly, some limitations and future research directions are also offered.

GRADUATE ATTRIBUTES IN HIGHER EDUCATION: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF BANGLADESH, INDONESIA, MALAYSIA, AND PAKISTAN

Ashar Johnson Khokhar — 2024-12-25

This study explores evolving landscape of higher education in Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia & Pakistan, emphasizing graduate attributes necessary for the success in the 21st-century workforce. The higher education policy documents were analyzed using the qualitative content analysis method and the themes were derived from developed countries’ higher education documents. The analysis of documents analyzed in this study revealed that all the skills identified in higher education policy document of developed world were also the focus of higher education plans and these plans asked the universities to offer the programmes that prepare graduates who can thrive in multicultural, technology-driven environments while addressing local and global challenges, creating and strengthening the indigenous knowledge, employable & lifelong learning skills, intercultural adaptability, critical thinking, communication skills, ethical awareness, and adaptability. The analysis offered significant indormation in reaching the conclusion and making the suitable decesions about the phenomena under consideration. Moreover, this study recommends continuous evaluation of educational programmes to ensure the alignment with emerging trends as well as the development of the comprehensive frameworks for assessing the policy implementation.

THE SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICTION NEGATIVE EMOTIONS AND AGGRESSION: A QUANTITATIVE STUDY OF YOUNG ADULTS

Rukhsana Kausar — 2024-12-25

Young adults frequently engage with social media platforms for various purposes, including the communication, information sharing, business and education. However, excessive use of these platforms can lead to negative outcomes such as aggressive behavior, as suggested by previous research. Despite this, the role of negative emotions, particularly depressed mood, in this association has been largely ignored, especially in Pakistan. This study seeks to address this gap by exploring the association between the social media addiction, depressed mood, and aggression. Using a cross-sectional correlational design and purposive sampling, study focused on 147 young adults aged 18 to 30 (M=20.61, SD=1.52). Results show that while social media addiction is positively related with depressed mood, this association is not statistically significant. However, social media addiction is significantly associated with aggression, depressed mood is positively and significantly associated with aggression. The result also depicts a partial mediation effect of depressed mood in the association between social media addiction and aggression, with both direct and total paths being significant, but indirect path being insignificant. The study concludes with limitations and provides recommendations and implications for supporting the mental well-being of young adults.

MISANTHROPIC ATTITUDE IN EMERGING ADULTS: EXPLORING THE ROLE OF RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE AND MORAL DISENGAGEMENT

Amna Akhlaq — 2024-12-25

The present study examined the relationship amid religious intolerance, moral disengagement and misanthropy in adults. In order to examine the hypothesized relationship, a cross-sectional correlational research design was employed to collect data from a sample of 200 emerging adults (n = 104 men, n = 96 women) aged (18-25) years (M=21.14, SD=1.98) by using a nonprobability convenient sampling technique. The study variables were assessed through the Interreligious Sensitivity Scale (Holm, Nokelainen & Tirri, 2011), the Moral Disengagement Scale for Adults (Saif & Riaz, 2021), and Misanthropy Scale (Wuensch, 2002). The results provide significant information in reaching the conclusion. The results showed a significant positive relationship between religious intolerance, moral disengagement and misanthropy. Besides, religious intolerance and moral disengagement positively predicted misanthropy in the emerging adults. However, moral disengagement did not mediate the relationship between the religious intolerance and misanthropy. These indigenous findings would help the educational institutes to incorporate religious tolerance in emerging adults through curricula, promoting social harmony and can be used for further research exploration.

GENDER DIFFERENCES IN SMARTPHONE ADDICTION, PROBLEMATIC SOCIAL MEDIA USE, AND PROBLEMATIC GAME USE

Ayan . — 2024-12-25

The technology is advancing rapidly, making our lives easier and more convenient than before. However, excessive use of technology can disrupt daily routines and create various life challenges. The objective of current study is to examine the gender differences in variables such as smartphone addiction, problematic social media use, and problematic use of games among young adults aged 18 to 30. The study involved the cohort of 342 participants (172 men & 170 women), with a mean age of 24.23 years and SD of 2.57. The correlational research design was adopted and purposive sampling was employed to select participants. Findings reveal a significant association between smartphone addiction, problematic social media use, and problematic use of games among young adults. Gender differences were observed, with the men scoring significantly higher on the variable of problematic social media use compared to women. Moreover, although men also scored slightly higher on smartphone addiction and problematic use of games, these differences were not statistically significant. The study discusses its limitations in the detail and offers recommendations for future research. Additionally, the implications of the findings for improving the well-being of young adults are thoroughly discussed at the conclusion of the study.