Nusantara Journal of Behavioral and Social Science

Organization-Based Self-Esteem and Employee Outcomes: The Mediating Effects of Self-Enhancement and Self-Protection Strategies

Vathsala Wickramasinghe — Sun, 18 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Organization-based self-esteem (OBSE) signals employees’ perceptions of value, competence, and significance in the work organization. Self-regulatory mechanisms through which OBSE is associated with employees’ workplace outcomes remain insufficiently examined. This study, carried out in Sri Lanka, examined whether self-regulation plays a mediating role between OBSE and three important employee outcomes, namely, work performance, prosocial motivation, and intention to quit. Data were collected from 283 first-level supervisors employed in private-sector organizations using a survey questionnaire. The findings showed that OBSE is highly associated with improved work performance, stronger prosocial motivation, and lower turnover intentions. OBSE positively associates with positivity embracement, favorable construals, and self-affirming reflections while it negatively associates with defensiveness. Tests for mediation showed that positivity embracement and self-affirming reflections strengthen the positive association between OBSE and work performance, and favorable construals strengthen the association between OBSE and prosocial motivation. Defensiveness weakens the positive association of OBSE with work performance while it weakens the negative association of OBSE with intent to quit. Overall, the study underscores self-regulatory processes as mediators in explaining OBSE’s effects on employee outcomes.

The Role of Organizational and Personal Factors in Predicting Job Satisfaction Among Freelance Workers

Sun, 18 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study examined the role of organizational and personal factors in predicting job satisfaction among freelance workers in the digital creative industry. Specifically, the research investigated the contribution of Perceived Organizational Support (POS) and political skill to job satisfaction among freelance workers at Inavoice Yogyakarta. A quantitative, cross-sectional predictive design using a population study approach was employed. The participants consisted of 102 Indonesian freelance workers who had completed at least four projects between October 2025 and March 2026. Data were collected using the Job Satisfaction Scale, the Survey of Perceived Organizational Support (SPOS), and the Political Skill Inventory (PSI). Multiple regression analysis was conducted to test the proposed hypotheses. The findings revealed that POS and political skill jointly predicted job satisfaction significantly (R = .653, R² = .427, p < .001). Separate simple regression analyses indicated that both POS (R = .575, R² = .330, p < .001) and political skill (R = .526, R² = .276, p < .001) significantly and positively predicted job satisfaction. These findings suggest that organizational support and individual social effectiveness are both positively associated with job satisfaction among freelance workers. The study extends the understanding of job satisfaction in project-based employment settings within the digital creative industry.

Educational Exclusion and Youth Development in Rural Bihar: A Thematic Case Study with Implications for Policy and Practice

Niraj Kumar Singh — Mon, 19 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Education remains a fundamental human right and a crucial driver of social mobility and sustainable development. However, educational inequalities continue to affect millions of young people globally. Recent estimates indicate that approximately 251 million children and youth worldwide remain out of school. Although India's youth literacy rate (15–24 years) exceeds 97%, significant rural–urban, socioeconomic, caste-based, and gender disparities continue to influence educational access and outcomes. In Bihar, where the literacy rate remains below the national average, rural communities continue to face multiple educational challenges, including poverty, inadequate infrastructure, school dropout, learning poverty, and limited digital access. This study explores the lived experiences of educational marginalization among rural youth in the Panapur Block of Saran District, Bihar. Adopting a qualitative thematic case study design, data were collected from twelve youth participants aged 13–25 years through purposive sampling. Thematic analysis was employed to examine educational access, dropout experiences, family support, caste and gender-based exclusion, school conditions, digital literacy, institutional support, and future aspirations. The findings indicate that educational participation among the interviewed youth was constrained by interconnected barriers, including poverty, long distances to educational institutions, inadequate sanitation and school infrastructure, teacher absenteeism, caste-related concerns, gender-related safety restrictions, and limited digital access. Participants also expressed educational aspirations and a desire to contribute to community development. Their accounts point to the need for improved school infrastructure, teacher accountability, accessible digital learning resources, gender-responsive educational environments, and stronger community engagement. The study highlights the relevance of inclusive educational policies and context-sensitive social work interventions for addressing educational exclusion and supporting youth development in rural Bihar.