EDITORIAL Changing Societies & Personalities, 2025 Vol. 9, No. 2, pp. 305–310 https://doi.org/10.15826/csp.2025.9.2.329 EDITORIAL Editor’s Note The current issue of Changing Societies & Personalities discusses questions pertaining to undergoing transformations in value systems investigated from diverse perspectives, such as the impact of community education; the individual ability to blend and flexibly engage with different time horizons; the psychology of leadership; the factors of inclusive social development; the role of women in the local governments and civic services; dissemination of fake news and their consequences; contemporary art galleries as a special type of museum space; sociocultural factors of positive body image; etc. Klara Kožar Rosulnik, Mojca Blažič, Petra Javrh, and Nives Ličen in the ARTICLE Community Education and Resilience: Making Knowledge, Making Community state that the role of community education is defined by addressing a fundamental human need for belonging, connection, and transcendence. The authors selected Slovenia as a case study. Here, the community-based adult education is implemented in various communities, cultural institutions, nature parks, adult education centers, religious organizations, and universities for older adults. In this country, community education has a historical presence, dating back to the 19th century when it was linked to national identity. Compared to other contexts, Slovenia’s linguistic and geographic compactness allows for the distinctive characteristics of community education, particularly aimed at the inclusion of older adults as a vulnerable target group. Finally, Slovenia reports below-average outcomes in functional literacy among vulnerable groups. The study examines how community education in local contexts relates to community resilience. Individual resilience is generally understood as the ability to recover from crises or stressful life changes, associated with endurance and self-organization amidst change. In addition to individual resilience, community resilience incorporates physical and socioeconomic factors that influence recovery from natural and other disasters. According to the authors, the research aims to explore how the actors of community-based adult education connect community adult education to community resilience within their local environments. To that end, a qualitative research paradigm was employed. Data collection occurred in Slovenia between 2020 and 2022 using semi-structured interviews and participant observation across three community-based organizations. Received 15 June 2025 © 2025 Elena A. Stepanova Published online 12 July 2025 Stepanova.elena.a@gmail.com https://changing-sp.com/ mailto:Stepanova.elena.a@gmail.com 306 Elena A. Stepanovа The ARTICLE Balanced Time Perspective as a Pathway to Flourishing: Examining the Role of Gratitude and Sense of Positive Agency by Peeyush Anand and Rabindra Kumar Pradhan deals with the concept of time as a crucial and finite resource, and the way individuals manage this valuable asset. The authors rely upon the theoretical concept of Balanced Time Perspective (BTP), which refers to the ability to blend and flexibly engage with different time horizons depending on the situational demands and needs, goals, and values of the individual. The authors believe that “individuals with a BTP tend to exhibit higher sense of positive agency beliefs (SoPA), as they can effectively integrate past experiences, present decision-making, and future planning.” The study posits that BTP can play a crucial role in fostering flourishing by nurturing temporal flexibility and cultivating a sense of gratitude and positive agency. The authors rely on the Construal Level Theory (CLT). This is understood as a cognitive ability, which posits that while individuals exist in the present, their thoughts, emotions, and actions are shaped by past experiences, future projections, and imagined alternatives through abstract mental constructs. The study involved 521 respondents (66.6% males and 33.4% females) between 18 and 29 of age, being proficient in English, with degrees in college and university education. Fadi Abdelfattah, Mohammed Salah, Khalid Dahleez, and Hussam Al Halbusi in their ARTICLE Psychology of Leadership: Understanding AI Adoption, Self-Efficacy, Green Creativity, and Risk Perception Among Oman’s Business Bosses note that although the adoption of AI promises innovation and competitive advantage, the broader implications of this technology are multifaceted, affecting not only the economic and technological spheres but also the domains of psychology and culture. With a blend of traditional wisdom and modern ambition, Oman’s context presents an intriguing landscape for exploring these dynamics. However, there remains a critical gap in understanding how Omani business leaders psychologically perceive and integrate such a technology, particularly regarding self-efficacy, risk perception, green creativity, and positive mental well-being. The research literature offers limited insights into the subject, thus leaving an opportunity to examine how collective cultural values, leadership beliefs, and organizational goals intersect. The authors underline that the cultural considerations intrinsic to Oman, which emphasize communal goals and traditional norms, formed an essential background to their study. The analysis of AI adoption in interaction with cultural nuances sheds light on technology acceptance at the highest managerial level. The study involved 214 top management members representing diverse industries and firms. In the ARTICLE Social Financial Grants in Thailand: A Catalyst for Inclusive Development and Economic Stability, Mohamad Zreik and Nazatul Faizah Haron analyze grants aimed at providing financial support to marginalized and vulnerable populations. They mention that “the evolution of social financial grants in Thailand is deeply intertwined with the country’s broader socioeconomic development and its efforts to address poverty and inequality,” evolving from basic welfare provisions to more sophisticated programs designed to empower communities, reduce poverty, and enhance social justice. The authors explore challenges, Changing Societies & Personalities, 2025, Vol. 9, No. 2, pp. 305–310 307 which face the effectiveness of social financial grants, their long-term viability, as well as the influence of external factors, including economic fluctuations and political dynamics, which can either enhance or undermine their impact. The study is based on a comprehensive analysis of secondary empirical data and an extensive literature review of policy reports, governmental documents, and academic sources. The concepts of Inclusive Development understood as a holistic approach to economic growth, and Social Justice, which is concerned with the fair and equitable distribution of resources, opportunities, and privileges within a society, serve as the foundational pillars for understanding the role and impact of social financial grants in Thailand. Denis B. Litvintsev in his ARTICLE Housing Precarity in Russia: Measurements in Regions and Federal Districts argues that housing precarity has become a new research focus: “This shift is driven, on the one hand, by the rise of housing sociology as an independent field, and on the other, by growing interest in labor precarity, which plays a key role in driving housing insecurity worldwide.” In contemporary Russia, housing precarity reflects wider socioeconomic disparities across regions and federal districts having a significant impact on individual well-being and social stability. However, systematic regional comparisons remain scarce. By developing an index-based method to evaluate housing affordability, security, and quality, the study tends to explore regional differences in housing precarity and examine how they are related to people’s satisfaction with their living conditions and their plans to improve them. The study takes into consideration a distinct feature of the Russian housing sector, namely private ownership of housing, ranging from individual houses to apartments. Therefore, Russia’s primary issues revolve around housing affordability, quality, and security. The research is based on an interdisciplinary economic and sociological framework. In the ARTICLE Exploratory Sequential Analysis on the Factors Affecting the Leadership of Women in Local Governments, Ronel Geraldizo Dagohoy and Mervin G. Gascon stress the importance of women’s participation, because “a more inclusive administration will more clearly reflect the demographic characteristics of society and be able to pull policy levers for the widest possible range of societal needs”. The authors note that despite global advancements in promoting gender equality, women remain underrepresented in leadership roles, particularly in local governance. They base their research on the Capability Approach Theory, which highlights the need for people to be able to enhance their potential, by examining their existing capabilities, and explore the factors influencing the leadership of women in local governments, aiming to provide a deeper understanding of the unique challenges and motivators they encounter. Specifically, the article seeks to answer the following questions: What are the common responses of women regarding the factors that affect their leadership? What structure of such factors can be developed based on these responses? The participants of this study were women holding at least “second level positions” in the local governments of Davao del Norte Province, Philippines. The authors provide recommendations for local governments, employees, female leaders, and researchers. https://changing-sp.com/ 308 Elena A. Stepanovа Hemlata Vivek Gaikwad and Suruchi Pandey in the ARTICLE Gendered Societies and Leadership Trajectories: A Qualitative Study of Women in the Indian Civil Services argue that in India, where women comprise 48% of the population, their more pronounced leadership is essential for the country’s future and development. The Constitution of India ensures equal rights to a satisfactory livelihood and equal pay for men and women. However, the Indian public services show an underrepresentation of women. Thus, in Indian government services, women’s representation is only 15%. The study “intends to fill this gap by studying the lived experiences of women who have successfully navigated their leadership trajectories” and pose the research questions: How do women navigate their leadership trajectories? What are the factors contributing to their success despite challenges? The study involved women professionals from the urban, semi-urban, and rural areas of India across different religions, languages, and Indian caste systems, concentrating on the lived experiences of women leaders in the Indian civil services. Qualitative data were collected by conducting in-depth semi- structured interviews. According to the authors, despite intersectional backgrounds, the respondents shared highly similar experiences. The ARTICLE Thematic Horizons of Regional Contemporary Art Exhibitions: Existential Values, Micro- and Macro-History, Humanistic Ideals by Elena S. Kochukhova and Evgenia A. Vakhrusheva focuses specifically on contemporary art galleries as a specific type of museum space. They hold thematic exhibitions addressing issues that are relevant to contemporary social institutions and employ interactive practices that help shape the meaning of these exhibitions. Exhibitions under the study were held at four galleries in Yekaterinburg between 2020 and 2023: the Ural Branch of the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, the Yeltsin Center Art Gallery, the Sinara Art Gallery, and the Museum of the Underground. All these galleries contribute to the broader context of contemporary cultural landscape. The study aims to identify the themes that galleries consider important for their audience, as well as the key meanings and value orientations in their interpretation of these themes. As the authors state, contemporary art is designed to reflect on the most pressing issues of the current moment and the associated value transformations. At the same time, the themes of these exhibitions reveal not only the significant issues of the present but also the values that extend beyond the current moment. Milen Filipov, Adel Askarkyzy, and Mehdi Aqarabi in the ARTICLE Sociocultural Factors Hindering Public Communication of Positive Body Image in Kazakhstan note that body perception plays a significant role in shaping women’s mental and emotional well-being. Cultural and societal influences from the media, fashion, and family reinforce and exacerbate their adverse effects on female well-being. Comparing oneself to the unrealistic body standards disseminated by the media can lead to dissatisfaction and a distorted view of one’s body. The authors believe that Kazakhstan presents an exciting research case due to the increasing studies on women’s roles and gender equality. However, they argue that insufficient attention has been given to Kazakhstani women’s body image, particularly positive ones. The research aims to bridge that gap by exploring the following question: What are the strongest factors Changing Societies & Personalities, 2025, Vol. 9, No. 2, pp. 305–310 309 hindering public communication of positive body image in Kazakhstan? The survey involved 94 female respondents from Almaty and Astana. In the ARTICLE Influence of Social Capital on Community Participation With Community Development as an Intervening Variable: A Systematic Literature Review and Path Analysis Study, Moh. Dulkiah and Anggi Saeful Majid argue that social capital plays a significant role in sustainable community development, as networks of trust and interpersonal interactions invariably enable effective collaboration. Their study aims to comprehensively examine how the dimensions of social capital (trust, network, and value) influence community development and community participation. The authors use a systematic literature review approach and path analysis in order to provide both theoretical and practical contributions to understanding the multidimensional dynamics of social capital. In particular, the abovementioned approach was selected by the authors with the specific aim of offering valuable insights for academics and policymakers who are interested in designing more effective interventions to enhance social capital and identify the role of university students in strengthening community participation in development programs. The results of the study reflect how trust and social networks served as the key components driving social dynamics within community, and how social values had no direct impact on community development and participation. Azahah Abu Hassan Shaari, Mohammad Rahim Kamaluddin, Zainal Abidin, Muhammad Adnan Pitchan, and Shalini Munusamy in the ARTICLE What Motivates Social Media Users to Share Fake News, and What Are Its Impacts? A Systematic Literature Review define online fake news as “deliberately spread to deceive the public, manipulate opinions, or promote specific agendas; users are often encouraged users to share it widely across platforms.” The authors note that misinformation spread significantly influences public discourse and societal perceptions, leading to widespread discord among diverse communities. The dissemination of fake news has far-reaching consequences, influencing various aspects of the society, such as public health, political stability, and social trust. In the political sphere, fake news can disrupt democratic processes by influencing voter behavior and polarizing public opinion. Misinformation campaigns during elections have been used to manipulate perceptions, spread conspiracy theories, and delegitimize political opposition. In particular, authors stress that the spread of fake news is influenced by psychological and cognitive factors. The study highlights the motivations behind fake news dissemination, its societal impacts, and the trends shaping its evolution from 2018 to 2023, offering a valuable resource for addressing this global challenge. The BOOK REVIEW section includes a review by Sergey V. Moshkin of Dmitrii Travin’s book Kak my zhili v SSSR [How we lived in the USSR], 2024. The author of the book under review supplements his own reminiscences with interviews from numerous eyewitnesses, whose testimonies add dimension and versatility to his depiction of everyday life in the USSR. As Sergey Moshkin notes, “by weaving together these descriptions, Travin unveils the reality far removed from the official exterior of that time and difficult to comprehend from today’s perspective.” https://changing-sp.com/ 310 Elena A. Stepanovа Discussions around the topics raised in the present issue will be continued in the subsequent issues of our journal. In planning to introduce new interesting themes, we welcome suggestions from our readers and prospective authors for thematic issues, debate sections, or book reviews. For more information, please visit our journal web-site: https://changing-sp.com/ Elena A. Stepanova, Editor-in-Chief Ural Federal University, Yekaterinburg, Russia https://changing-sp.com/