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Article History

Received: 15 August 2025

Accepted: 11 February 2026

First Online: 21 February 2026

Declarations

:

: The research protocol for this study was reviewed and approved by the relevant institutional ethics review body, namely Scientific Council of the Research Institute for Business and Social Processes at the Rezekne Academy of Technologies (excerpt from the minutes of meeting No. 9, dated 25 April 2023). The study was conducted in accordance with applicable ethical guidelines. All procedures involving human participants were conducted in accordance with the institutional “Rules on Academic Integrity at Rezekne Academy of Technologies (RTA)” (approved by the RTA Senate on 29 November 2022, Decision No. 3) and the national “Code of Ethics for Scientists” (Latvian Academy of Sciences and Latvian Science Council, revised 2017).

: Not applicable. The study did not involve any identifiable personal data, images, or other materials requiring individual consent for publication.

: The authors declare no competing interests.

: Informed consent was obtained from parents or legal guardians through an opt-out procedure approved as part of the ethical review. Parents were informed about the study objectives, procedures, voluntary nature of participation, and data handling through the school’s official "E-klase" digital communication system and were given the opportunity to decline their child’s participation. No objections were received. No personal or sensitive data were collected from the students, and participation did not involve any physical, psychological, or emotional risk.

: Not applicable.