Kristian Rotaru

Prof. Kristian Rotaru

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

10Years (2017-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

View All Publications
25 September 2022 in Psychiatry Research
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
SLShuyi Liang
Shuyi Liang
CLChang Liu
Chang Liu
KRKristian Rotaru
Kristian Rotaru
KLKuiliang Li
Kuiliang Li
XWXinyi Wei
Xinyi Wei
XLXufeng Liu
Xufeng Liu
Existing research proposed that moving from a disorder-level analysis to a symptom-level analysis may provide a more fine-grained understanding of psychopathology. This study aimed to explore the relations between two dimensions (i.e., cognitive reappraisal, CR; expressive suppression, ES) of emotion regulation and individual symptoms of depression and anxiety among medical staff during the late stage of COVID-19 pandemic. We examined depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms and emotion regulation among 420 medical staff during the late stage of COVID-19 pandemic via network analysis. Two networks (i.e. emotion regulation-depression network and emotion regulation-anxiety network) were constructed in the present study. Bridge centrality index was calculated for each variable within the two networks. Among the present sample, the prevalences of depression and anxiety are 39.5% and 26.0%. CR and ES showed distinct connections to symptoms of depression and anxiety. Results of bridge centrality showed that in both networks, CR had a negative bridge expected influence value while ES had a positive bridge expected influence value. The results revealed the specific role of CR and ES in relation to depression and anxiety at a symptom level. Implications for clinical preventions and interventions are discussed.

30 March 2023 in Journal of Behavioral Addictions
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
CLChang Liu
Chang Liu
LRLei Ren
Lei Ren
KRKristian Rotaru
Kristian Rotaru
XLXufeng Liu
Xufeng Liu
KLKuiliang Li
Kuiliang Li
LALucy Albertella
Lucy Albertella
Background: Existing research has demonstrated that problematic smartphone use (PSU) may reflect a composition of heterogeneous symptoms, with individual PSU symptoms uniquely related to predisposing variables. The Big Five personality traits represent one of the most frequently examined predisposing variables in relation to PSU. However, no studies to date have examined the trait-to-symptom association between the Big Five personality traits and PSU. Using a network analysis approach, we aimed to understand: 1) specific pathways linking each of the Big Five personality traits to PSU symptoms and 2) the bridging effects of each Big Five personality trait on the PSU symptom cluster.Methods: A regularised graphical Gaussian model was estimated among 1,849 Chinese university students. PSU symptoms were assessed with items from the Problematic Smartphone Use Scale. Facets of the Big Five personality traits were assessed with the subscales of the Chinese Big Five Personality Inventory-15. An empirical index (i.e., bridge expected influence) was used to quantify bridge nodes.Results: Results revealed specific and distinct pathways between the Big Five personality traits and PSU symptoms (e.g., Neuroticism-Escapism/Avoidance, Conscientiousness-Preoccupation and Extraversion-Escapism/Avoidance). Further, Neuroticism showed the highest positive bridge centrality among the Big Five personality traits, while Conscientiousness had the highest negative bridge centrality.Discussion and conclusions: The current study provided direct empirical evidence concerning specific pathways between the Big Five personality traits and PSU symptoms and highlighted the influential role of Neuroticism and Conscientiousness as potential targets for early detection and treatment of PSU.

26 February 2024 in JMIR Serious Games
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
RKRebecca Kirkham
Rebecca Kirkham
LKLars Kooijman
Lars Kooijman
LALucy Albertella
Lucy Albertella
DMDan Myles
Dan Myles
MYMurat Yücel
Murat Yücel
KRKristian Rotaru
Kristian Rotaru
Background: Neuropsychological assessments traditionally include tests of executive functioning (EF) because of its critical role in daily activities and link to mental disorders. Established traditional EF assessments, although robust, lack ecological validity and are limited to single cognitive processes. These methods, which are suitable for clinical populations, are less informative regarding EF in healthy individuals. With these limitations in mind, immersive virtual reality (VR)–based assessments of EF have garnered interest because of their potential to increase test sensitivity, ecological validity, and neuropsychological assessment accessibility. Objective: This systematic review aims to explore the literature on immersive VR assessments of EF focusing on (1) EF components being assessed, (2) how these assessments are validated, and (3) strategies for monitoring potential adverse (cybersickness) and beneficial (immersion) effects. Methods: EBSCOhost, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched in July 2022 using keywords that reflected the main themes of VR, neuropsychological tests, and EF. Articles had to be peer-reviewed manuscripts written in English and published after 2013 that detailed empirical, clinical, or proof-of-concept studies in which a virtual environment using a head-mounted display was used to assess EF in an adult population. A tabular synthesis method was used in which validation details from each study, including comparative assessments and scores, were systematically organized in a table. The results were summed and qualitatively analyzed to provide a comprehensive overview of the findings. Results: The search retrieved 555 unique articles, of which 19 (3.4%) met the inclusion criteria. The reviewed studies encompassed EF and associated higher-order cognitive functions such as inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility, working memory, planning, and attention. VR assessments commonly underwent validation against gold-standard traditional tasks. However, discrepancies were observed, with some studies lacking reported a priori planned correlations, omitting detailed descriptions of the EF constructs evaluated using the VR paradigms, and frequently reporting incomplete results. Notably, only 4 of the 19 (21%) studies evaluated cybersickness, and 5 of the 19 (26%) studies included user experience assessments. Conclusions: Although it acknowledges the potential of VR paradigms for assessing EF, the evidence has limitations. The methodological and psychometric properties of the included studies were inconsistently addressed, raising concerns about their validity and reliability. Infrequent monitoring of adverse effects such as cybersickness and considerable variability in sample sizes may limit interpretation and hinder psychometric evaluation. Several recommendations are proposed to improve the theory and practice of immersive VR assessments of EF. Future studies should explore the integration of biosensors with VR systems and the capabilities of VR in the context of spatial navigation assessments. Despite considerable promise, the systematic and validated implementation of VR assessments is essential for ensuring their practical utility in real-world applications.

2 November 2022 in The International Journal of Logistics Management
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
TVTharaka De Vass
Tharaka De Vass
ANAlka Ashwini Nand
Alka Ashwini Nand
ABAnanya Bhattacharya
Ananya Bhattacharya
DPDaniel Prajogo
Daniel Prajogo
GCGlen Croy
Glen Croy
KRKristian Rotaru
Kristian Rotaru
Purpose: Using a soft-hard continuum of drivers and barriers, this research seeks to explain wood companies' adoption of circular economy (CE) practices.Design/methodology/approach: Multiple interviews, complemented by secondary documents and site observations were used to investigate three wood-based companies that have adopted CE practices. The 10R framework and soft-hard continuum are used to guide data analysis.Findings: The adoption of 10R practices were explained by soft-factor incentives of leaders' values and vision and openness for innovation, all within a regulatory void, and eventually overcome hard-factor barriers of process development, supply chain capability and customer behaviours at product end-of-life.Practical implications: Crucial for CE model adoption are leaders' positive attitudes, subsequently grown across the companies. The 10Rs are a prompt for CE practice adoption to capture and retain value and generate revenue. Collaboration across the supply chain, including customers and other value capture companies (e.g. repurposing companies), is essential to maximise value retention. Government should play an increased soft-factor incentive regulatory role and support CE practices to overcome hard-factor barriers.Originality/value: This study contributes an explanation of CE adoption within a relatively unsupported context. Despite the regulatory void, CE practice adoption was driven by leader values. To achieve their vision and overcome the numerous barriers, suppliers and customers required a large investment in education. Indeed, customer behaviour, previously thought to be an incentive for CE adoption, is also identified as a barrier.

1 June 2024 in Management Science
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PBPeter Bossaerts
Peter Bossaerts
FFFelix Fattinger
Felix Fattinger
KRKristian Rotaru
Kristian Rotaru
KXKaitong Xu
Kaitong Xu
Emotional involvement is known to be necessary but not sufficient for good decision making in the face of uncertainty. It has been conjectured that emotional engagement in anticipation of risky outcomes constitutes “good” emotions. We introduce a new methodology to determine whether anticipatory emotional engagement is beneficial in the context of trading in financial markets. We focus on heart rate changes because they occur at a sufficiently high frequency to discern timing relative to events in the marketplace. After conservatively adjusting for multiple hypothesis testing, we find that participants whose heart rate changes anticipate their order submissions at inflated prices earn significantly more, whereas participants whose heart rate responds to their trades earn significantly less. By investigating cointegration between skin conductance response and the dynamics of individual portfolio values, we confirm the importance of emotional involvement in determining who makes or loses money. This paper was accepted by Bruno Biais, finance. Funding: This work was supported by the Australian Research Council [Grants DP180102284 and LE130100112]. The authors also thank the Monash Business School for funds associated with the Monash Business Behavioural Laboratory facility and equipment used in this study. Supplemental Material: The data files and online appendix are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.4883 .

24 October 2023 in Scientific Reports
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
CICampbell Ince
Campbell Ince
Leonardo FontenelleLeonardo Fontenelle
Leonardo Fontenelle
ACAdrian Carter
Adrian Carter
LALucy Albertella
Lucy Albertella
JTJeggan Tiego
Jeggan Tiego
KRKristian Rotaru
Kristian Rotaru
Problematic pornography use (PPU) is a complex and growing area of research. However, knowledge of the PPU lived experience is limited. To address this gap, we conducted an online qualitative study with 67 individuals who self-identified as having problematic pornography use (76% male; Mage = 24.70 years, SD = 8.54). Results indicated several dimensions that have not been fully explored in the literature. These included various mental and physical complaints following periods of heavy pornography use, sexual functioning deficits with real partners, and a subjectively altered state of sexual arousal while using pornography. Moreover, we expanded on current knowledge regarding the inner conflict associated with PPU and clarified the ways that users can progress to increasingly intensified patterns of pornography use, such as tolerance/escalation and pornographic binges. Our study highlights the complex and nuanced nature of PPU and provides suggestions for future research and clinical practice.