The COVID-19 pandemic has potentially a serious impact on many people's mental well-being. This study analyses the influence of the perceived threat of COVID-19 on subjective mental well-being with an online survey (n = 711). Findings confirmed the hypothesized model that provides a process explanation for this effect through the mediating influence of the activation of future anxiety. In addition, results confirmed that this influence via future anxiety is moderated by resilience, a personality trait that enables individuals to cope better with stressful or traumatic events. Individuals with higher levels of resilience compared to those with lower levels registered a lower impact of perceived Covid threat on future anxiety and, in turn, on subjective well-being. This study contributes theoretically to a better understanding of the factors that determine the impact of traumatic events such as a pandemic on people's mental health. The implications of this study indicate interventions that may be carried out to minimize the pandemic's negative psychological consequences.

Purpose This paper aims to examine the effects of natural plants on satisfaction and loyalty in the hospitality servicescape and provides a theoretical framework explaining the underlying processes. Design/methodology/approach An experimental study (plants vs no-plants) was conducted in a restaurant with a sample of 119 individuals. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and bootstrapping moderated mediation analysis (Hayes, 2013). Findings The results of the study confirmed significant effects of indoor natural plants on consumers’ satisfaction and loyalty, mediated by the experiential value components of aesthetic value, service excellence and escapism. The absence of an interaction of these influences with consumers’ connectedness to nature indicates that the beneficial effects of indoor plants universally affect all individuals, independent of their personal degree of feeling connected with nature. Practical implications Indoor natural plants as ambient elements in restaurants can improve satisfaction and loyalty by enhancing the dimensions of aesthetics and escapism of the service experience, as well as the perception of service quality. Originality/value This is the first experimental study analyzing the effects of indoor plants on customer satisfaction and loyalty conducted in a real-life restaurant setting using actual plants. The findings contribute theoretically by providing an integrated conceptual model of the satisfaction and loyalty effects of atmospheric stimuli (i.e. plants) in the hospitality servicescape, which offers a process explanation based on the mediating influence of aesthetic value and the sequential mediations of aesthetic value → service excellence and aesthetic value → escapism.

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PurposeThis study measures the influence of educational programs oriented toward entrepreneurship (POE) on the prediction of the entrepreneurial intention (EI) of university students, based on the theory of planned behaviour (TPB).Design/methodology/focusThe sample contains a total of 4,697 answers from university students, obtained through the 2018 Global University Entrepreneurial Spirit Students' Survey (GUESSS) project. A model of structural equations was used.FindingsThe results show that educational POE have an impact on EI, mediated by the perceived university environment (UE) and entrepreneurial skills (ES). In addition, it was confirmed that the variable that best explains EI is the attitude toward entrepreneurship (ATE), followed by perceived behavioral control (PBC); these two variables are able to mediate the effect of subjective norm (SN) on EI.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is limited to students in higher education. Additionally, the data used come from only one country.Practical implicationsEducational POE that are focused on providing and improving ES and knowledge must be promoted, given that they indirectly strengthen the EI of students in higher education.Originality/valueThe effect of educational POE, mediated by ES and the UE, on EI is measured.

Chile is one of the countries with higher GPB in Latin America and important sources of incomes and employment comes from tourism. Hotels are adopting sustainable practices but it is unknown whether customers value this. This research looks to measure consumer attitude, perception and preference for hotels based on their sustainable practices. A survey was applied to 208 guests at Chilean hotels. Correspondence and exploratory factor analysis was carried. Lack of knowledge about "Sustainability", but Willingness to pay extra for Sustainable Hotels, indicate a higher level of commitment and care for environment. Three clusters were obtained: 'non-Committed', 'Influenced' and 'Committed'.

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The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) has shown in the USA that the Perceived Usefulness (PU) and the Perceived ease-of-use (PEU) determine the intention to use (IU) a specific technology or information system. In this research, the TAM model is validated in Chile, considering the cultural factors of this country, through an application of the model to university students. The results show that the TAM model works in Chile, regardless of the studied technology or the cultural aspects of the country. Finally, new questions arise related to this topic such as the influence of the intensity of use, familiarity with the technology and the individual's reference group for the technologies aimed to encourage communication among people.

En los últimos años en Chile y Latinoamérica se ha impulsado fuertemente el emprendimiento en mujeres como parte fundamental de políticas para la superación de la pobreza. Las motivaciones que tienen mujeres para emprender se han obviado en su sentido profundo por parte de las políticas de género, sin cuestionarse las diferencias que pueden existir entre dichos motivos y los factores contextuales que determinan una real elección por el emprendimiento. Este estudio cualitativo, utiliza el enfoque del análisis del discurso desde una perspectiva socioconstruccionista, para lograr el objetivo de investigar los factores que condicionan el acceso y éxito del emprendimiento femenino. Para esto, se realizaron 24 entrevistas en profundidad a mujeres emprendedoras de diferentes estados civiles y niveles socioeconómicos. Posteriormente el software Atlas Ti 7.0 apoyó el análisis de contenido. Los principales resultados muestran que las mujeres emprendedoras se categorizan en dos grupos definidos en relación a si tienen o no acceso a otras alternativas viables de desempeño laboral. De esta forma, se concluye la necesidad de una política pública que integre las diferencias económicas contextuales y los motivos que tienen las mujeres para emprender para la generación de programas de apoyo y fortalecimiento de las condiciones.