Behav. Sci., Volume 14, Issue 5 (May 2024) – 36 articles

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in psychological distress in the general population, but contrasting results have been shown regarding its impact on psychological symptoms in clinical and non-clinical samples. Consequently, the aim of the present study was to compare in a longitudinal design (September–November 2020 and February–April 2021) the mental health outcomes of a clinical and a control sample and to determine the implications of various risk and protective factors in this regard. A total of 234 participants from the general population and 80 psychiatric patients took part in the present online study using the following measurements: the Brief Symptom Checklist (BSCL); Three-Item Loneliness Scale (TILS); Resilience Scale-13 (RS-13); and Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy—Spiritual Well-Being Scale—Non-Illness (FACIT-Sp Non-Illness). The results show an overall decrease in active suicidal ideation as well as “peace”, a subscale of spiritual well-being, as well as increases in passive suicidal activation in the clinical sample, which did not change in the control sample. Psychological symptoms did not significantly change in either group. Significant group effects show an increase in resilience in the clinical sample. Resilience and peace turned out to be protective factors for negative mental health outcomes. However, loneliness, which interestingly increased only in the control sample, was shown to be an overall potential risk factor. Our results highlight the complex implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health outcomes of different groups in the population, demonstrating the necessity of further research, specifically regarding the risk of active and passive suicidal activation. Highlighted protective factors are discussed in regards to spirituality (i.e., peace), which is not strictly related to religion but rather personal spirituality related to the meaning of situations of one’s life, as well as in terms of mental health interventions. Full article

Solitude behaviors encompass four types: positive solitude, eccentricity, social avoidance, and loneliness. These four types of solitude behaviors are not entirely independent but can co-occur within individuals. Thus, the purpose of this study was to explore latent classes of solitude behaviors, their developmental patterns, and relevant influencing factors among college students. The Solitude Behavior Scale—Short Version was administered to a sample of college students. A total of 417 Chinese students completed a three-time longitudinal paper questionnaire. The data analysis was performed using Mplus 8.0 and SPSS 26.0. Harman’s single-factor test, latent class analysis (LCA), and latent transition analysis (LTA) were employed for subsequent analysis. The results revealed three classes: low solitude, moderate solitude, and high solitude, which exhibited temporal changes. Social avoidance and loneliness could facilitate transitions between high solitude and moderate solitude. Females and first-grade students exhibited higher transition probabilities than males and students not in the first grade. The incidence of moderate solitude in the not-first-grade group was significantly higher than that in the first-grade group. Finally, this study offers new insights into the dynamics of solitude behaviors and their association with gender and age. Full article

Introduction: The self-medication hypothesis (SMH) suggests that individuals consume alcohol to alleviate stressful emotions. Still, the underlying mechanisms between stress and heavy episodic drinking remain to be explored. Impaired control over drinking (IC) reflects a failure of self-regulation specific to the drinking context, with individuals exceeding self-prescribed limits. Parenting styles experienced during childhood have a lasting influence on the stress response, which may contribute to IC. Method: We examined the indirect influences of parenting styles (e.g., permissive, authoritarian, and authoritative) on heavy episodic drinking and alcohol-related problems through the mediating mechanisms of stress and IC. We fit a latent measurement model with 938 (473 men; 465 women) university students, utilizing bootstrap confidence intervals, in Mplus 8.0. Results: Higher levels of authoritative parenting (mother and father) were indirectly linked to fewer alcohol-related problems and less heavy episodic drinking through less stress and IC. Maternal permissiveness was indirectly linked to more alcohol-related problems and heavy episodic drinking through more stress and, in turn, more IC. Impaired control appeared to be a mediator for stress and alcohol-related problems. Conclusions: Maternal permissiveness contributes to the use of alcohol to alleviate stress. Thus, reducing stress may reduce problematic heavy drinking and alcohol problems among emerging adults with high IC who may also have experienced permissive parenting. Stress may exacerbate behavioral dysregulation of drinking within self-prescribed limits. Full article

Scientific research on romantic love has been relatively sparse but is becoming more prevalent, as it should. Unfortunately, several misconceptions about romantic love are becoming entrenched in the popular media and/or the scientific community, which hampers progress. Therefore, I refute six misconceptions about romantic love in this article. I explain why (1) romantic love is not necessarily dyadic, social, or interpersonal, (2) love is not an emotion, (3) romantic love does not just have positive effects, (4) romantic love is not uncontrollable, (5) there is no dedicated love brain region, neurotransmitter, or hormone, and (6) pharmacological manipulation of romantic love is not near. To increase progress in our scientific understanding of romantic love, I recommend that we study the intrapersonal aspects of romantic love including the intensity of love, that we focus our research questions and designs using a component process model of romantic love, and that we distinguish hypotheses and suggestions from empirical findings when citing previous work. Full article

Introduction: Academic and emotional challenges faced by medical students can affect their psychological well-being and health. Personal characteristics may also predispose one to the manifestation of distress reactions. Individuals with type D personality have an increased tendency to develop depressive reactions and somatic diseases, including the presence of cognitive dysfunction. In students, the presence of cognitive dysfunction may additionally adversely affect academic and psycho-emotional problems. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of type D personality and coping strategies on cognitive functioning in medical students. Methods: A cross-sectional study included 258 medical students (age 19 ± 1.2 years, 79 men). All participants completed psychological questionnaires (DS-14 to identify type D personality, and The Coping Strategy Indication, CSI—to determine coping strategies), as well as extensive neuropsychological testing of cognitive functions. Results: Among the medical students examined, the frequency of identification of type D personality was 44%. In persons with personality type D, according to psychometric testing, a decrease in the level of functional mobility of nervous processes (FMNP) was noted, which was manifested in an increase in the test completion time (p < 0.001) and an increase in the number of errors (p < 0.001) during the FMNP test, and an increase in the test completion time in the attention concentration test. In addition, in type D participants, an increase in the test execution time during the attention test was noted (p = 0.007). Personality type D was an independent risk factor for cognitive decline in students in multiple linear regression analysis, when type D was analyzed as a dichotomous construct. Conclusions: Assessing personal characteristics and identifying personality type D is advisable for medical students, to develop subsequent programs to increase their resistance to academic challenges, improve cognitive function, and also to prepare for future stress loads during professional activities in the field of healthcare. Full article

Objective: Two brief computerized motivational interventions for excessive-drinking university students were evaluated. Method: Participants (N = 88, females = 61.5%, mean age = 21.05 years) were randomly assigned to a control group or one of two experimental groups: Computerized Brief Intervention (CBI) or Computerized Brief Intervention-Enhanced (CBI-E). CBI followed the principles of Motivational Interviewing to motivate participants to change their drinking behavior. CBI-E additionally used the principles of Systematic Motivational Counseling to identify and discuss with participants their dysfunctional motivational patterns that were interfering with their attainment of emotional satisfaction. At baseline and a three-month follow-up, the participants completed a battery of measures of alcohol consumption and related problems. Results: At baseline, the participants were confirmed to be heavy drinkers with many drink-related negative consequences. Males and females responded differently to the interventions. During follow-up, males’ alcohol use was ordered: CBI-E < CBI < Controls. The females in all three groups reduced their alcohol use, but there were no significant group differences. Conclusions: Males responded to the interventions as expected. For females, the assessment itself seemed to serve as an effective intervention, and there were no post-intervention differences among the three groups. Suggestions for future research using CBI and CBI-E are discussed. Full article

This research aims to compare the developmental profiles of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and children with Down Syndrome (DS) between the ages of 3 and 6 years. The study examines whether these developmental disorders share common developmental milestones or exhibit distinctive characteristics. A total of 43 children, 23 with DS and 20 with ASD, participated in the study. Cognitive and language skills were assessed using standardized tools, including the Battelle Developmental Inventory, Reynell Developmental Language Scales III, and NEPSY-II battery. The results indicated that children with ASD outperformed children with DS in the areas of fine motor skills, gross motor skills, and communication. Additionally, children with ASD demonstrated higher scores in language comprehension and expressive language, compared to children with DS. Significant correlations were found between motor skills and communication abilities. Neuropsychological evaluations revealed significant differences between the two groups in various tasks, such as the comprehension of instructions, body part naming and identification, and recognition of emotions. These findings contribute to our understanding of the similarities and differences between ASD and DS, shedding light on the dissociation between cognition and language and its impact on adaptive functioning in these populations. Full article

Background: Postoperative anal dilations (PAD) are the standard of care for patients after a posterior sagittal anorectoplasty (PSARP) for anorectal malformation (ARM) or a transanal pull-through (TP) procedure for Hirschsprung disease (HD). This study assessed the psychosocial impact of PAD among caregivers of children with ARM or HD, which may inform postoperative care strategies. Methods: Caregivers of patients with ARM and HD who underwent PSARP or TP within five years participated in the online survey. Questions included demographics, patient and caregiver experiences with PAD, and baseline psychosocial functioning. Quantitative results were reported descriptively, while qualitative responses were summarized as major themes. Results: The survey indicated a response rate of 26% caregivers, with most being female (91%) and biological mothers (85%). Patients were mostly male (65%), born with ARM (74%), and were five months old on average when PAD began. Caregivers reported that during PAD, children experienced distress (56%), pain (44%), and fear (41%), while a third noted no negative reactions. Over time, their child’s ability to cope with PAD got easier (38%) or stayed the same (41%). Caregivers reported worry/anxiety (88%), guilt (71%), stress (62%), and frustration (35%), noting that additional coping strategies to manage the emotional and logistical challenges of daily PAD would be helpful. Conclusion: Although PAD is necessary, it can be highly stressful for the patients and their caregivers. Key findings emphasized the need for additional coping strategies and highlighted the importance of integrating psychosocial support into the postoperative care regimen. Full article

This study aimed to examine the mediating role of body image coping strategies in the relationship between positive body image and wellbeing. Three hundred and seventy-two women and three hundred and seventy-seven men completed a questionnaire assessing body appreciation, body appreciation functionality, body compassion, body image coping strategies (appearance fixing, avoidance, positive rational acceptance), self-acceptance and overall psychological wellbeing. Path analysis showed that avoidance significantly mediated the relationship between body appreciation and overall psychological wellbeing among both women and men; its mediating role was confirmed for men’s but not for women’s self-acceptance. Positive rational acceptance was a significant mediator of the relationship between body compassion and both psychological wellbeing and self-acceptance among men but not among women. These findings show that higher body appreciation is associated with a lower tendency to avoid appearance-related cognitions or thoughts that are interpreted as threatening, with an indirect effect on women’s and men’s psychological wellbeing. Analogously, but only for men, body compassion is associated with mental activities and self-care behaviors that foster rational self-talk and the acceptance of one’s experiences, which, in turn, are linked to higher wellbeing. These findings can help to plan programs aimed at fostering individuals’ wellbeing by focusing on their positive body image considering gender differences. Full article

Based on the extended parallel process model, this study investigated the relationship between young adults’ media exposure to COVID-19 and their adoption of protective behaviors. This study surveyed 141 college students and found that increased risk perceptions led to greater intentions to engage in COVID-19-preventive behaviors and that these intentions were mediated by normative beliefs. There was no significant difference in risk perceptions between traditional media and social media. The results showed that college students took precautions against COVID-19 because they perceived themselves to be both vulnerable and capable. Full article

The following article proposes a reflection on the experience of Narrative Therapy of a group of cancer patients, non-homogeneous for sites and stages of disease, participating to a therapeutic writing path, in order to process the trauma reactive to cancer and to reflect on themselves. Taking inspiration from the assumption that “writing helps when people are faced with a stumble”, facilitating the process of distancing from life-events, each writer establishes either context, in a more intimate and true way, or memories and emotions connected to it, in order to express them to the group and to themselves too, and to identify new adaptation styles. The therapeutic path lasted eight meetings, during which some themes were chosen to guide the written reflection, which was carried out at home, and then shared with the group. The therapeutic path is an opportunity to adjust the perspective with which the specialist accompanies patients during the adaptation process to the disease, moving from the “explanation” to “comprehension”; from symptom to “sense”. The group narration is based on a relational perspective of co-construction of the meaning of experiences, highlighting the different roles and relevance of the factors involved. Full article

As a booming branch of online retailing, live-streaming e-commerce can present abundant information dimensions and diverse forms of expression. Live-streaming e-commerce has enabled online retailers to interact with customers face-to-face, resulting in widespread instances of emotional and impulse buying behavior. Prior research in live-streaming e-commerce has suggested that live streamers’ characteristics, especially the live streamer’s face, can affect customers’ purchase intentions. The present research used questionnaire surveys and an eye tracking experiment to investigate the impact of live streamer’s facial attractiveness on consumer purchase intention for search-based and experience-based products. The questionnaire survey analyzed 309 valid questionnaires and revealed that attractive faces are the key influencing factor driving consumers’ impulse purchase intentions. Moreover, consumers’ emotional experience plays a partial mediating role in the process of live streamers’ faces influencing purchase intention. The eye tracking experiment further explored the mechanism of a live streamer’s facial attractiveness on consumers’ purchase intentions of search-based products and experience-based products from the perspective of visual attention by analyzing 64 valid sets of data. The results showed that attractive faces attract more consumers’ attention and, therefore, increase their purchase intention. Furthermore, there is a significant interaction between product type, the live streamer’s facial attractiveness, and consumers’ purchase intentions. In the case of unattractive live streamers, consumers are more likely to buy search-based products than experience-based products, while the purchase intention does not vary between search-based products and experience-based products in the case of attractive live streamers. The present study provides evidence for ‘beauty premium’ in live-streaming e-commerce and sheds light on the design of the match between live streamers and different types of products. Full article

Upward comparisons are prevalent in life and have a significant influence on consumer psychology and subsequent behavior. Previous research examined the effects of upward comparisons on consumption behavior, mainly focusing on behavior that evokes positive emotions (e.g., donation behavior, sustainable consumption) or behavior that evokes negative emotions (e.g., impulsive consumption, compulsive consumption) and less on behavior that evokes both negative emotions and positive emotions (i.e., counterhedonic consumption). This research examined the effect of upward comparisons on counterhedonic consumption. Five studies (N = 1111) demonstrated that upward comparison (vs. non-upward comparison) leads to counterhedonic consumption, and this effect is mediated by relative deprivation (Studies 2 and 3). In addition, this research showed that the comparison targets moderate the effects of upward comparisons on counterhedonic consumption. Specifically, when the comparison target is a friend, an upward comparison (vs. non-upward comparison) leads to counterhedonic consumption. When the comparison target is a stranger, an upward comparison (vs. non-upward comparison) has no significant influence on counterhedonic consumption (Study 5). Our findings extend the research on upward comparisons, relative deprivation, and counterhedonic consumption. Full article

Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) has taken educational settings by storm in the past year due to its transformative ability to impact school education. It is crucial to investigate pre-service teachers’ viewpoints to effectively incorporate GenAI tools into their instructional practices. Data gathered from 606 pre-service teachers were analyzed to explore the predictors of behavioral intention to design Gen AI-assisted teaching. Based on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model, this research integrates multiple variables such as Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK), GenAI anxiety, and technology self-efficacy. Our findings revealed that GenAI anxiety, social influence, and performance expectancy significantly predicted pre-service teachers’ behavioral intention to design GenAI-assisted teaching. However, effort expectancy and facilitating conditions were not statistically associated with pre-service teachers’ behavioral intentions. These findings offer significant insights into the intricate relationships between predictors that influence pre-service teachers’ perspectives and intentions regarding GenAI technology. Full article

Despite the success of the standard functional analysis (FA), some limitations to conducting an FA in practice include time, resources, ecological relevance, and safety, which have led to the development of procedural adaptations such as trial-based and synthesized FA formats. The purpose of this case study was to identify the function(s) of self-injurious behavior (SIB) for a 3-year-old female with developmental disabilities using a brief trial-based FA with ecologically relevant synthesized contingencies, based on caregiver input, to minimize opportunities for SIB. We identified that positive physical attention likely functioned, at least in part, as a reinforcer for SIB, in less than 42 min. Overall harm to the child as a result of the synthesized trial-based FA was minimal, and the caregiver viewed the modified conditions favorably. We then assessed the role of competing stimuli on SIB rates with the child’s mother and identified two potential items that may compete with attention as a reinforcer for SIB. Our findings highlight the utility and importance of individualized assessment as the first step in the safe treatment of severely challenging behavior. Full article

Migrant workers from rural China often leave their children at home to be raised by grandparents or other family members. This study explored the relationship between parents’ educational expectations, parental involvement, and the academic performance of left-behind children in China. A total of 19,487 student samples were obtained from the China Education Panel Survey (CEPS), and 5078 of these met the criteria for being considered as ‘left behind’ children. Results indicated: (1) a significant positive correlation between parents’ educational expectations and left-behind children’s academic achievement; (2) parental education involvement plays a partial mediating role between parents’ educational expectations and left-behind children’s academic performance; (3) a significant negative correlation between parental intellectual involvement and educational expectations of left-behind children; (4) parental management involvement was not significantly correlated with parents’ educational expectations and left-behind children’s academic performance; and (5) a significant positive correlation between parental emotional involvement and educational expectations of left-behind children. The findings highlight the important role of parental educational expectations and have implications for the improvement of educational outcomes in China. Full article

Second language (L2) teachers’ emotions can influence their well-being and students’ performance. However, most of the existing studies have focused on the role of individual factors in affecting L2 teachers’ emotions, while leaving environmental factors underexplored. To fill this gap, this study aimed to examine how the four dimensions of a supportive work environment (SWE) (perceived climate, PC; supervisory relationship, SR; peer group interaction, PGI; and perceived organization support, POS) relate to L2 teachers’ emotions (enjoyment, anxiety, pride, and anger). A sample of 406 Chinese L2 teachers completed two valid scales to measure their SWE and emotions. The data were analyzed by Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) using Smart PLS 3 software. The results showed that (1) PC, PGI, and POS had a positive and significant effect on enjoyment, while SR had no significant effect; (2) PGI and POS had a negative and significant effect on anxiety, while PC and SR had no significant effect; (3) PGI had a positive and significant effect on pride, while the other three dimensions had no significant effect; and (4) POS had a negative and significant effect on anger, while the other three dimensions had no significant effect. The study concludes with some implications for L2 teachers’ education. Full article

Decision-making styles are a habit-based propensity that drive behavior and affect daily life. Rational and intuitive decision-making styles have been associated with good mental health. However, the underlying mechanisms are not clear. In the last decade, high basal levels of heart rate variability (HRV) have been proposed as an index of health and emotional control, and this could be one of the variables involved in the effects of decision making on health. Therefore, the aim of this study is to analyze the capability of decision-making styles to predict resting HRV. A cross-sectional study was conducted in a sample of 199 (119 women) young university students, and a resting ECG was recorded to extract frequency domain HRV variables. Subsequently, participants completed sociodemographic data and the General Decision-Making Style questionnaire (GDMS). Results showed that the intuitive style predicted high-frequency HRV, while the avoidant style predicted less low-frequency HRV. This study presents new data on the relationship between decision-making style and HRV, suggesting that the intuitive style has a cardioprotective effect, while the avoidant style is related to lower HRV, which has been associated with health vulnerability. In conclusion, this study contributes to the understanding of HRV and its potential as a biomarker for cognitive styles that may improve health. Full article

This study examined the associations between maternal involvement in education and bicultural acceptance and school adjustment during the first year of middle school among adolescents from Korean multicultural families as well as the reciprocal relationships between bicultural acceptance and school adjustment during the three years of middle school. The present study used three-wave longitudinal data of 1185 dyads of adolescents (50.8% girls; mean age = 12.96 ± 0.35 years at the first wave) and their immigrant mothers (mean age = 43.54 ± 5.19 years at the first wave), who participated in the Multicultural Adolescents Panel Study. An autoregressive cross-lagged modeling analysis revealed that maternal involvement in education was significantly and positively associated with adolescents’ bicultural acceptance and school adjustment in the first year of middle school. Individual levels of bicultural acceptance and school adjustment among adolescents remained moderately stable over the three years. Whereas the positive effects of school adjustment on bicultural acceptance were significant over time, the effects of bicultural acceptance on school adjustment were not. Finally, this study highlights the roles of intervention programs (e.g., parent and multicultural education) in facilitating maternal involvement in education and school adjustment as well as in increasing bicultural acceptance among minority youths. Full article

Autobiographical memories of close relationships have been shown to have strong influence in health and life. Yet, there is no research published about longitudinal memory reconstruction of violent sporadic relationships while reading and discussing scientific evidence on gender violence victimization. This article presents a novel case of the reconstruction throughout time of the memory of a disdainful hookup experienced by a young woman. The victim’s diary and an interview were the sources of data collection. The analytical categories were developed in dialogue with the participant. The results indicate that, as the subject learned scientific evidence on gender violence in sporadic relationships, she progressively recalled details of the episode that she had self-censored before, became aware of the very violent nature of the hookup, rejected the relationship, and freed her desire for satisfactory romantic relationships. Full article

The Flourishing Scale (FS) is one of the most well-known tools for assessing psychological flourishing. However, its psychometric properties have been little analyzed in the case of teachers. This study aimed to examine the validity of the scale in the case of a sample of Romanian teachers and to analyze the latter’s level of flourishing. In this regard, 323 Romanian teachers from the pre-university education system were recruited. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to assess the construct validity of the scale, and Cronbach’s α and McDonald’s ω indices were used to assess internal consistency. The convergent validity was assessed by associating the FS with other instruments related to well-being: the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form and the Scale of Positive and Negative Experience. Network analysis was performed to examine the items that are particularly influential in the scale. As a result of the CFA, the one-factor structure of the scale was certified (χ²/df = 1.39; CFI = 0.99; RMSEA = 0.035). The internal consistency is excellent (both α and ω = 0.89). The FS correlates with both of the scales which operationalize components of well-being. The teachers’ flourishing level is above average. The network approach showed that the items related to self-acceptance, optimism, and respect had the highest indicators of centrality, and the item related to supportive social relationships was the least informative in the network. For the male subsample, flourishing means optimism about the future and respect for others, and for the female respondents, it is related to self-acceptance and respect. The results provide support for using the scale in assessing flourishing among teachers. Full article

Behavioral and biological addictions can impair decision-making processes, mainly by means of a dysfunction in brain regions associated with reward and frontal areas that may lead to disadvantageous choices. Understanding these differences helps establish appropriate terminology and enhances our ability to recognize, prevent, and treat these disorders effectively. Thus, while behavioral and biological addictions share some common elements, their underlying mechanisms and impact on decision-making vary significantly. Moreover, decision-making can be measured through questionnaires (stable or “cold” measures) or dynamic tasks (hot decisions) such as the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT), which can reflect different dimensions of this process. The aim of this study was to compare decision-making from different perspectives—stable and dynamic measures—in patients with gambling addiction (GA) (n = 42) and patients with biological addictions (BA) (n = 43). Decision-making was assessed using GDMS (Decisional Styles) and the LCT (Loss Aversion), as cold decision-making measures, as well as a hot or situational task called the IGT (Iowa Gambling Task). The results revealed that GA patients exhibited lower rational style scores compared to BA patients. Additionally, GA patients showed greater loss aversion according to the LCT questionnaire. On the other hand, when analyzing the IGT results, no differences were observed between groups in the overall IG index, learning curves, or the loss aversion parameter. However, GA patients showed higher sensitivity to feedback and less consistency in their decisions. These findings highlight the differences between different types of addictions and highlight the importance of considering the type of measure used to evaluate decision-making. Full article

Increasing evidence indicates that the addictive use of social media can have a detrimental effect on marital satisfaction, due mainly to the decrease in time and focus given to one’s spouse. However, the impact of social media use among older couples remains under-investigated, and the research that does exist relies on individual-level data that do not allow the exploration of the dynamics between the dyadic partners. Therefore, the present study focused on older adults’ use of short-video platforms, as these have been shown to be particularly addictive for older adults. A sample of 264 older couples was gathered (mean_age = 68.02, SD = 8.68), and both spouses completed surveys reporting addictive use of short-video platforms, negative emotions, and marital satisfaction. Using an actor–partner interdependence model, we found an asymmetrical dyadic process in that the addictive use of short-video platforms by the wives was not only related to their own negative emotions, but also those of their spouse, as well as to decreased marital satisfaction. Meanwhile, addictive use by the husbands seemed to relate only to their own increased negative emotions, as well as to decreased marital satisfaction. Together, the findings from this study reveal dyadic dynamics with delineated pathways through which the addictive use of short-video platforms can damage older couples’ interactive processes and marital satisfaction. Full article

Traumatic experiences are associated with increased experiences of positive schizotypy. This may be especially important for People of Color, who experience higher rates of trauma and racial discrimination. No study to date has examined how racial disparities in traumatic experiences may impact schizotypy. Furthermore, of the studies that have examined the relationship between trauma and schizotypy, none have examined racial discrimination as a potential moderator. The present study examined if racial discrimination moderates the relationship between trauma and multidimensional (positive, negative, and disorganized) schizotypy. In a sample of 770 college students, we conducted chi-squared analyses, analyses of variance, and stepwise regressions. We found that Black students experienced significantly higher racial discrimination and trauma than Latinx and Asian students. Furthermore, Black and Latinx students experienced significantly more multidimensional schizotypy items than Asian students. Trauma and racial discrimination explained 8 to 23% of the variance in each dimension of schizotypy. Racial discrimination did not moderate the relationships between trauma and multidimensional schizotypy. Our findings suggest that we need to examine risk factors that may prevent recovery from psychotic disorders. Additionally, disorganized schizotypy showed the most robust associations and may be a critical site of intervention. Full article

Employee innovative behavior is crucial for organizations to engage in innovative activities and gain competitive advantages in the context of digital transformation. Despite many studies having focused on the relationship between leadership and employee innovative behavior, the role of digital leadership and the underlying mechanisms for employee innovative behavior remain unclear. Using the cognitive–affective processing system framework, the study investigated the dual mediating role of psychological empowerment and affective commitment between digital leadership and employee innovative behavior and the moderating role of a proactive personality in such relationships. Employing data from 359 employees, the study conducted structure equation modeling to examine the hypotheses. The results show that digital leadership influences employee innovative behavior through psychological empowerment but not affective commitment. Furthermore, a proactive personality does not moderate the direct effect of digital leadership on psychological empowerment and affective commitment or the indirect effect of digital leadership on employee innovative behavior. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed. Full article

Physicians are exposed to occupational stress and burnout, which have been identified as contributing to a decrease in the quality of work life (QWL). Thailand’s medical education program, consisting of a six-year curriculum with government tuition support followed by three years of internships, provides the context for this investigation. This study aimed to assess the QWL among intern physicians (IPs) in public hospitals and investigated the association between burnout and QWL. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 241 IPs in public hospitals in Thailand utilizing an online self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire included a Thai version of a 25-item QWL scale and the Maslach Burnout Inventory—Human Services Survey for Medical Personnel. Data analysis was performed using multivariable logistic regression. A significant proportion of IPs experienced low to moderate QWL (72.6%), with low levels of home–work interface (39.4%) and employee engagement (38.6%). In the exploratory model, after adjusting for sex and age, IPs with high depersonalization and low personal accomplishment demonstrated an association with low QWL (adjusted OR, aOR 2.08, 95% CI 1.01 to 4.31; aOR 2.74, 95% CI 1.40 to 5.39). Healthcare organizations should regularly assess intern physicians’ QWL and burnout, prioritizing interventions; ensure reasonable work hours, schedule adjustments, and open communication; and develop support systems for cost-effective interventions. Further research on the dynamic relationship between burnout and QWL is crucial for targeted and culturally sensitive interventions. Full article

Individuals with bipolar disorder (BD) have a greater suicide risk than the general population. In this study, we employed latent profile analysis (LPA) to explore whether Chinese individuals with different phases of BD differed at the levels of suicidal ideation. We recruited 517 patients. Depressive symptoms were measured using the 24-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-24), and manic symptoms were evaluated using the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS). The extent of suicidal thoughts was determined through the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSSI). The scores of HAMD and YMRS were used to perform LPA. LPA categorized participants into three classes: one exhibiting severe depressive and mild manic symptomatology, another showing severe depressive and severe manic symptomatology, and the third one displaying severe depressive and intermediate manic symptomatology. Suicidal ideation levels were found to be remarkably elevated across all three classes. Additionally, the three classes showed no significant differences in terms of suicidal ideation. Our research confirms the link between depressive symptoms and suicide, independent of the manic symptoms. These findings carry meaning as they provide insight into the suicide risk profiles within different phases of BD. Full article

During major health emergencies (e.g., the COVID-19 pandemic) people often fear missing relevant information. COVID-19 information fear of missing out (FOMO) is a phenomenon where people feel anxiety about losing control of COVID-19-related information. The present study aimed to examine how COVID-19 information FOMO relates to mental health (e.g., depression and anxiety), the mediating role of resilience, and the moderating role of personality types during the COVID-19 pandemic. We surveyed 1442 Chinese undergraduates (M_age = 21.68 ± 2.35 years) on the relevant variables. The results showed that COVID-19 information FOMO was positively associated with depression and anxiety, and resilience mediated these associations. Latent profile analysis (LPA) identified three personality types (undercontrolled, adaptive, and overcontrolled). Personality types moderated the mediation models, in which the indirect effects were only significant in the participants classified in the undercontrolled group rather than the participants classified in the other two groups. This study told us that undergraduates’ mental health, particularly that of the undercontrollers, should be paid attention to when responding to a major public health emergency (e.g., the COVID-19 pandemic). Full article

In this study, binary logistic regression and linear regression analyses were used to examine the relationship between interoceptive body awareness and suicidal orientation among Colombian university students. Additionally, the bootstrap technique was employed to resample and estimate the distribution of the data. The results support the idea that greater interoceptive awareness may protect against suicidal orientation by improving emotional regulation. An inverse relationship was found between interoceptive awareness and suicidal ideation. These findings align with previous literature emphasizing the importance of body awareness for emotional well-being. Further longitudinal research is needed to explore this relationship more deeply. Full article

Nowadays the phenomenon of hearing voices represents a very fertile and discussed field of research. In psychological and psychiatric fields, the phenomenon has been described as a normal phenomenon, but also as a prodromal stage and as a symptom of psychosis. Through a qualitative research methodology, the aim was to explore how family medicine physicians configure the phenomenon and its clinical and interactive implications. The present research involved 35 family medicine physicians as figures of primary importance in the approach toward people who start to hear voices. Semi-structured interviews have been used and they have been analyzed by the method of discourse analysis. The results show a remarkable difficulty in understanding the phenomenon in all its complexity and the tendency to consider it a symptom or a prodromal stage of psychopathology. Increasing the knowledge of doctors on the subject is necessary so that their evaluation and choice of intervention match the needs of each patient. We also discuss the importance of promoting the knowledge of the potential meanings taken on by the voices in the context of the personal and family background of the individual hearer, and of collaboration with other relevant professionals and services. Full article