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Behavioral Sciences
Volume 16
Issue 8
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Behav. Sci., Volume 16, Issue 8 (August 2026) – 198 articles

Cover Story (view full-size image): This study gives voice to young Black men navigating sexual and reproductive health during the college years. Through interviews with Black heterosexual men at an HBCU, it examines how sexual health knowledge, masculinity, relationships, STI risk, condom use, and future fatherhood shape decision-making. Participants described learning from both formal and informal sources, balancing social expectations with personal values, and viewing pregnancy prevention as an important responsibility. This study highlights the importance of engaging young Black men as active partners in reproductive health through culturally responsive, stigma-sensitive education and support. View this paper
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26 pages, 2521 KB  
Article
Caregiver-Implemented Lower-Intensity EMT en Español Para Autismo: A Single Case Design Study
by Natalie S. Pak, Jennifer L. Venne, Ann P. Kaiser and Tatiana Nogueira Peredo
Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(8), 1457; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16081457 - 21 Aug 2026
Viewed by 436
Abstract
Autism is a prevalent neurodevelopmental disability among children in the United States. Enhanced Milieu Teaching (EMT) en Español Para Autismo is a caregiver-implemented language-focused naturalistic developmental behavioral intervention specifically for young children on the autism spectrum whose families are Latino and Spanish-speaking. The [...] Read more.
Autism is a prevalent neurodevelopmental disability among children in the United States. Enhanced Milieu Teaching (EMT) en Español Para Autismo is a caregiver-implemented language-focused naturalistic developmental behavioral intervention specifically for young children on the autism spectrum whose families are Latino and Spanish-speaking. The current study tested a reduced intensity adaptation of EMT en Español Para Autismo using a single-case experimental design study with four caregiver–child dyads. All children demonstrated characteristics of autism and lived in low-income Spanish-speaking households. Caregivers were taught to use EMT en Español Para Autismo strategies during play with their child using a cyclical teach–model–coach–review approach. Home visits occurred once each week. Three out of four dyads completed the study. None of the caregivers demonstrated functional relations between the cyclical teach–model–coach–review approach and their use of strategies; however, caregivers did increase their use of contingent language models and time delays when intervention began. Caregiver impressions of the intervention were positive, but they varied in their perceptions of some of the strategies (e.g., limiting instructions), consistent with participants in prior studies. Overall, the reduced intensity of the intervention and long gaps between visits may have limited the effectiveness of this intervention compared to findings in prior studies. More research is needed to tailor language interventions for Latino Spanish-speaking families with autistic children, especially those with limited resources. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Early Communication Intervention for Individuals with Autism)
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21 pages, 862 KB  
Article
Music Learning Self-Efficacy and Deliberate Music Practice: The Mediating Role of Achievement Goal Orientation and the Moderating Role of AI Literacy
by Shihan Wang, Ziqiao Wang, Baoqian Yang and Lifang Tang
Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(8), 1456; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16081456 - 21 Aug 2026
Viewed by 377
Abstract
Deliberate practice plays a central role in high-quality music learning, yet the motivational and technology-related factors associated with sustained deliberate music practice remain insufficiently understood. Drawing on social cognitive theory, achievement goal theory, and the literature on artificial intelligence (AI) literacy, this study [...] Read more.
Deliberate practice plays a central role in high-quality music learning, yet the motivational and technology-related factors associated with sustained deliberate music practice remain insufficiently understood. Drawing on social cognitive theory, achievement goal theory, and the literature on artificial intelligence (AI) literacy, this study examined the relationships among music learning self-efficacy, achievement goal orientation, AI literacy, and deliberate music practice. A total of 458 music students from a teacher-training university in Liaoning Province, China, completed measures of the four constructs. Music learning self-efficacy was positively associated with deliberate music practice. Achievement goal orientation also showed a significant indirect association between music learning self-efficacy and deliberate music practice, such that students with higher self-efficacy reported stronger achievement goal orientations, which in turn were associated with greater engagement in deliberate music practice. AI literacy further moderated the association between achievement goal orientation and deliberate music practice, with this positive relationship being stronger among students reporting higher levels of AI literacy. These findings suggest that deliberate music practice is associated with both learners’ motivational beliefs and their self-reported AI literacy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Educational Psychology)
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22 pages, 721 KB  
Article
A Study on the Depressive Symptoms and Life Satisfaction Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults in China Based on CHARLS 2020 Data
by Shu Wang, Yoshihisa Shirayama, Ishtiaq Ahmad, Miyoko Okamoto and Motoyuki Yuasa
Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(8), 1455; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16081455 - 21 Aug 2026
Viewed by 467
Abstract
Background: Depressive symptoms have become a significant public health issue faced by middle-aged and older adults in China. Although previous studies have primarily focused on demographic and socioeconomic factors, the association between modifiable lifestyle behaviors and depressive symptoms still requires further investigation. Objective: [...] Read more.
Background: Depressive symptoms have become a significant public health issue faced by middle-aged and older adults in China. Although previous studies have primarily focused on demographic and socioeconomic factors, the association between modifiable lifestyle behaviors and depressive symptoms still requires further investigation. Objective: To examine the associations between sleep duration, physical activity, digital participation, social participation, and depressive symptoms as well as life satisfaction among middle-aged and older adults in China. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using data from the 2020 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey (CHARLS). Depressive symptoms were defined as CES-D-10 scores ≥10, with 13,576 individuals included in the analysis sample. Adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) were estimated using modified Poisson regression, while ordinal logistic regression was employed to analyze life satisfaction. The analysis controlled for covariates such as demographics, socioeconomic status, and health status, and accounted for the complex sampling design. Results: The weighted prevalence of depressive symptoms was 44.5%. Sleep deprivation (<7 h/day) was significantly associated with elevated depressive symptoms (aPR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.33–1.68); participation in recreational activities was significantly associated with reduced depressive symptoms (aPR = 0.86, 95% CI: 0.77–0.96); adequate physical activity was associated with a higher prevalence of elevated depressive symptoms (aPR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.04–1.32); watching videos (aPR = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.76–0.99) and playing online games (aPR = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.50–0.83) were significantly associated with reduced depressive symptoms; and overall internet use was correlated with lower life satisfaction (OR = 0.90, 95% CI: 0.81–1.00). Women, rural residents, and low-income groups exhibited higher prevalence of elevated depressive symptoms. Conclusion: Sleep deprivation, as well as different types of social engagement, physical activity, and digital behavior, exhibit distinct associations with depressive symptoms in middle-aged and older adults. Behavioral intervention strategies targeting sleep hygiene, leisure activities, and tailored digital behaviors warrant further attention. Full article
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23 pages, 939 KB  
Article
Psychometric Evaluation of the Lithuanian Version of the Revised Compound Psychological Capital Scale (CPC-12R) and Its Associations with Nature Exposure and Physical Activity
by Migle Baceviciene, Vaiva Balciuniene and Rasa Jankauskiene
Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(8), 1454; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16081454 - 21 Aug 2026
Viewed by 268
Abstract
Psychological capital (PsyCap), comprising optimism, hope, self-efficacy, and resilience, is an important positive psychological resource associated with well-being and adaptive functioning. The present study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Lithuanian version of the revised Compound Psychological Capital Scale (CPC-12R) and [...] Read more.
Psychological capital (PsyCap), comprising optimism, hope, self-efficacy, and resilience, is an important positive psychological resource associated with well-being and adaptive functioning. The present study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Lithuanian version of the revised Compound Psychological Capital Scale (CPC-12R) and to examine its associations with nature exposure and physical activity. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1255 Lithuanian adults aged 18–70 years (mean age 39.51 ± 13.84 years), and 64.4% were women. The total sample was randomly divided into exploratory (n = 628) and confirmatory factor analysis (n = 627) subsamples. Exploratory factor analysis supported a two-factor structure separating optimism from the remaining CPC-12R dimensions, whereas confirmatory factor analysis supported the theoretically expected second-order model comprising optimism, hope, self-efficacy, and resilience as first-order factors reflected by a higher-order PsyCap construct. The second-order model demonstrated good fit (robust CFI = 0.963, robust TLI = 0.952, robust RMSEA = 0.074, SRMR = 0.042) and strict measurement invariance across gender and place-of residence groups. Internal consistency was satisfactory to good for all subscales (McDonald’s ω = 0.79–0.85) and excellent for the total scale (ω = 0.93). Evidence of convergent validity was demonstrated through positive associations with self-esteem and life satisfaction and negative associations with psychological distress and poorer mental health. Furthermore, PsyCap explained a small but significant proportion of additional variance in mental health difficulties beyond self-esteem, life satisfaction, and psychological distress. PsyCap was positively associated with nature exposure, physical activity in nature, and leisure-time exercise. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that greater nature exposure and more frequent physical activity in nature were independently positively associated with PsyCap after accounting for sociodemographic characteristics, whereas leisure-time exercise was not. Overall, the findings support the reliability and validity of the Lithuanian CPC-12R, particularly its total score, although the EFA results suggest caution when interpreting the four subscale scores separately. The cross-sectional findings further identify engagement with natural environments as a meaningful behavioural correlate of PsyCap. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Understanding Well-Being in Daily Life)
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12 pages, 356 KB  
Article
A Non-Controlled Study of Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Panic Disorder in Veterans
by Daniel F. Gros and Jeffrey M. Pavlacic
Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(8), 1453; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16081453 - 21 Aug 2026
Viewed by 370
Abstract
Panic disorder is a highly prevalent and impairing diagnosis in veterans. Despite consistent efficacy findings in community samples, few studies have investigated evidence-based psychotherapies in veterans with panic disorder, limiting the understanding of their utility and deployment in Veterans Affairs (VA) settings. The [...] Read more.
Panic disorder is a highly prevalent and impairing diagnosis in veterans. Despite consistent efficacy findings in community samples, few studies have investigated evidence-based psychotherapies in veterans with panic disorder, limiting the understanding of their utility and deployment in Veterans Affairs (VA) settings. The present study preliminarily investigated cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for panic disorder via a non-controlled design in a treatment-seeking veteran sample with panic disorder at the VA. Of the 41 veterans initiating treatment, 28 (68.3%) participants completed at least eight sessions of psychotherapy. In general, participants evidenced medium-to-large post-treatment effects across disorder-specific symptoms (panic and anxiety symptomatology), comorbid presentations (symptoms of depression and posttraumatic stress disorder), and overall functioning. Disorder-specific symptom effects remained stable for six months after psychotherapy was terminated. In addition, the delivery of CBT for panic disorder was further supported by positive indices of treatment feasibility, including treatment engagement, homework completion and engagement, and high participant satisfaction ratings. While recognizing that this study did not include a control group, the findings provide limited support for CBT treatment of panic disorder in veterans’ settings, findings that will require confirmation in a multisite controlled clinical trial. Full article
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19 pages, 473 KB  
Article
The Contributions of Statistical Learning to L2 Morphosyntax Processing Across Visual and Auditory Modalities in Chinese Adolescent Learners
by Kaiyue Song, Weijia Yan, Guoying Yang, Yueyan Huang, Hui Yu and Li Li
Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(8), 1452; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16081452 - 21 Aug 2026
Viewed by 361
Abstract
Individual differences in statistical learning (SL) constitute an important cognitive mechanism that supports second language (L2) syntactic processing. However, existing research has primarily focused on adult populations, while potential differences across input modalities remain understudied. This study investigated the associations between SL and [...] Read more.
Individual differences in statistical learning (SL) constitute an important cognitive mechanism that supports second language (L2) syntactic processing. However, existing research has primarily focused on adult populations, while potential differences across input modalities remain understudied. This study investigated the associations between SL and implicit L2 morphosyntactic processing among Chinese adolescent English learners, comparing results across visual and auditory modalities. Participants completed visual and auditory SL tasks, self-paced reading (SPR), self-paced listening (SPL), as well as working memory (WM) and attention tasks. L2 morphosyntactic processing ability was measured via grammatical sensitivity indicators extracted from SPR and SPL data. Mixed-effects analyses did not detect statistically reliable group-level grammaticality effects in either task, though SPR exhibited a descriptive pattern where ungrammatical sentences elicited longer reading times at the third word. Participants achieved higher accuracy on the visual SL task than the auditory one. In exploratory regression analyses, visual SL accuracy was found to positively predict grammatical sensitivity measured at Word 3 in SPR. Still, this association was not confirmed in a follow-up sensitivity analysis. No corresponding significant association was observed between auditory SL and SPL sensitivity, and neither working memory nor attention showed consistent independent contributions to the outcome. These findings extend individual-differences research on this topic to adolescent classroom L2 learners and underscore the potentially important role of visual regularity learning in online L2 reading processing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Cognition)
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26 pages, 531 KB  
Article
Employee–AI Collaboration and Career Sustainability: The Role of Job Crafting and AI Job Role Clarity
by Huiling Jiang, Yuanyuan Zhang and Shumin Yan
Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(8), 1451; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16081451 - 21 Aug 2026
Viewed by 481
Abstract
Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the global labor market and creating both challenges and opportunities for employees. This study conceptualizes AI as a collaborative partner in the workplace and examines how employee–AI collaboration relates to career sustainability. Drawing on conservation of resources theory [...] Read more.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the global labor market and creating both challenges and opportunities for employees. This study conceptualizes AI as a collaborative partner in the workplace and examines how employee–AI collaboration relates to career sustainability. Drawing on conservation of resources theory and self-determination theory, the study proposes that job crafting mediates this relationship and that AI job role clarity strengthens the positive effect of employee–AI collaboration on job crafting. Three-wave survey data were collected from 398 employees who were required to use AI as part of regular work. The results showed that employee–AI collaboration was significantly associated with career sustainability, that job crafting mediated the relationship between employee–AI collaboration and career sustainability, and that AI job role clarity positively moderated the effect of employee–AI collaboration on job crafting. These findings extend research on AI adoption and job crafting by showing that employee–AI collaboration constitutes an interdependent work arrangement whose long-term career value depends on employees’ proactive work redesign and clear human–AI role boundaries. The findings further suggest that organizations can support employees’ proactive adaptation and career development by clarifying human–AI role boundaries, providing opportunities for skill development, and creating conditions that enable employees to redesign their work effectively. Full article
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23 pages, 1055 KB  
Article
Types of Punishment and Self-Reported Willingness to Change Behavior: Chain Mediation by Perceived Motivation for Punishment and Trust, and the Moderating Role of Group Relationship
by Zhen Zhang, Li Kong and Chunhui Qi
Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(8), 1450; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16081450 - 21 Aug 2026
Viewed by 364
Abstract
Correcting student misconduct is a central issue in educational psychology and classroom management; teachers often use punishment to correct students’ inappropriate behavior. Numerous empirical studies have shown that punishment influences individuals’ willingness to change their behavior, but the underlying mechanisms remain to be [...] Read more.
Correcting student misconduct is a central issue in educational psychology and classroom management; teachers often use punishment to correct students’ inappropriate behavior. Numerous empirical studies have shown that punishment influences individuals’ willingness to change their behavior, but the underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated. This study employed a scenario simulation method to survey 240 middle school students, aiming to explore the relationship between types of punishment and students‘ self-reported willingness to change their behavior in response to hypothetical scenarios. Furthermore, the study examined the chained mediating effects of perceived punishment motivation and trust, as well as the moderating effect of group relationship. The results showed that perceived punishment motivation and trust exert a chained mediating effect between punishment type and self-reported willingness to change behavior. Punishment first is associated with enhanced perception of the prosocial motivation behind the punishment, which in turn is associated with higher trust in the punishing teacher, and ultimately with greater self-reported willingness of misbehaving students to change their behavior; that is, perception of punishment motivation and trust sequentially transmit the effects of punishment. Furthermore, this transmission process is moderated by group relationship: when the punisher is a teacher (in-group), the influence of punishment type on students’ self-reported willingness through perceived punishment motivation and trust is stronger, whereas this effect is not significant when the punisher is an AI (out-group). These findings reveal the psychological pathway through which punishment influences self-reported willingness to change behavior in a hypothetical scenario via sequential processing of cognitive attribution (perceived punishment motivation) and attitudinal evaluation (trust), and highlight the moderating role of group relationship in this process. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emotion, Motivation, and Learning: Interdisciplinary Perspectives in Education)
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21 pages, 334 KB  
Article
The Ethno-Sexual Hyphen: Communicating Gay-Mizrahi Subjectivity in Israeli Workplaces
by Moshe Hajaj and Elazar Ben-Lulu
Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(8), 1449; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16081449 - 21 Aug 2026
Viewed by 448
Abstract
This study examines how gay-Mizrahi men in Israel navigate the communicative processes through which workplace subjectivities are constructed, negotiated, and legitimized. Mizrahiness refers to a Jewish ethno-cultural position associated with Middle Eastern and North African ancestry, historically shaped by unequal relations with Ashkenazi [...] Read more.
This study examines how gay-Mizrahi men in Israel navigate the communicative processes through which workplace subjectivities are constructed, negotiated, and legitimized. Mizrahiness refers to a Jewish ethno-cultural position associated with Middle Eastern and North African ancestry, historically shaped by unequal relations with Ashkenazi hegemony and intersecting class, geographic, cultural, and gendered hierarchies. Based on semi-structured interviews with self-identified gay-Mizrahi men across diverse occupational sectors, this study examines how sexuality, ethnicity and professionalism are read together in everyday organizational interactions. The findings reveal three strategic mechanisms: identity calibration, hyphenated subjectivity, and compensatory professionalism. Identity calibration refers to the ongoing tuning of identity visibility, timing, intensity, and communication. Hyphenated subjectivity captures the relational process through which gayness and Mizrahiness are not simply combined but continuously negotiated in relation to social expectations and organizational norms. Compensatory professionalism describes intensified investment in excellence, credentials and self-control to counter anticipated devaluation. These mechanisms show that organizational belonging is not a static outcome of diversity or inclusion but an advanced communicative achievement. Thus, this study contributes to workplace communication and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) scholarship by illustrating how marked workers achieve professional legibility. We argue that DEI practice must move beyond visible categories of diversity towards affective and communicative dimensions through which inequality is reproduced. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Workplace Communication: An Emerging Field of Study)
20 pages, 718 KB  
Article
A Multidimensional Analysis of AI Literacy Determinants: External Resources, Digital Skills, and Psychological Profile Among University Students
by Tak Sang Chow, Ken To, Bess Yin Hung Lam and Kung Wong Lau
Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(8), 1448; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16081448 - 21 Aug 2026
Viewed by 483
Abstract
External resources, digital competence, and psychological characteristics have each been linked to Artificial Intelligence (AI) literacy, but almost always in isolation, so the unique contribution of any one domain remains unknown. Grounded in social cognitive theory, this study models all three domains jointly. [...] Read more.
External resources, digital competence, and psychological characteristics have each been linked to Artificial Intelligence (AI) literacy, but almost always in isolation, so the unique contribution of any one domain remains unknown. Grounded in social cognitive theory, this study models all three domains jointly. Data were collected from 303 undergraduates at a liberal arts university in Hong Kong and analysed using hierarchical multiple regression. Perceived resources and perceived teacher support explained 29% of the variance in AI literacy; prior digital competence added a further 3%; and personal innovativeness, technology anxiety, and growth mindset in technology added a further 6%, with all three being significant in the final model (total R2 = 0.39). The external predictors remained significant throughout but attenuated substantially, indicating that institutional provision is necessary but not sufficient. Technology anxiety, which correlated negatively with AI literacy at the zero-order level, emerged as a positive predictor once other determinants were controlled. Analyses of the five AI literacy subdimensions localised this effect to critical evaluation and ethical competence and found no association with the three performance-oriented dimensions, suggesting that anxiety operates through heightened vigilance rather than enhanced operational skill. These findings, which no single-domain design could have produced, indicate that fostering AI literacy requires attention to students’ psychological readiness and foundational digital skills alongside the provision of infrastructure. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue AI Use and Academic Development)
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19 pages, 483 KB  
Article
The Longitudinal Associations of Mothers’ and Fathers’ Parenting Styles with Preschool Children’s Social Problem-Solving Skills: The Moderating Role of Primary-Caregiver Status
by Keman Yuan, Jiaxin Sun and Yufang Bian
Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(8), 1447; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16081447 - 21 Aug 2026
Viewed by 330
Abstract
The bioecological model emphasizes parent–child interactions as proximal processes associated with children’s development over time, whereas family systems theory highlights the distinct yet interdependent roles of mothers and fathers. However, few longitudinal studies have simultaneously examined the associations of mothers’ and fathers’ parenting [...] Read more.
The bioecological model emphasizes parent–child interactions as proximal processes associated with children’s development over time, whereas family systems theory highlights the distinct yet interdependent roles of mothers and fathers. However, few longitudinal studies have simultaneously examined the associations of mothers’ and fathers’ parenting styles with preschool children’s social problem-solving skills. This study recruited 275 co-residing mother–father Chinese families and employed a three-wave longitudinal design to investigate the longitudinal associations between fathers’ and mothers’ parenting styles and preschool children’s social problem-solving skills, while considering primary-caregiver status. After accounting for prior levels, mothers’ authoritative parenting at Time 2 was positively associated with children’s social problem-solving skills at Time 3, whereas mothers’ authoritarian parenting at Time 1 was negatively associated with social problem-solving skills at Time 2. Fathers’ authoritative parenting showed no significant longitudinal association. However, the interaction between authoritarian parenting at Time 1 and whether the father was identified as the primary caregiver was significantly associated with children’s social problem-solving skills at Time 2. These findings indicate limited and interval-specific longitudinal associations between parenting styles and children’s social problem-solving skills and the possible relevance of primary-caregiver status. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Family Interaction and Children’s Social Development: Behavioral and Neural Correlates)
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16 pages, 1620 KB  
Article
Sleep Characteristics and Mental Health Among Kuwait University Students: Sensitivity Analyses for Item Overlap
by Fatima Al-Ghadban and Ahmad Salman
Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(8), 1446; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16081446 - 21 Aug 2026
Viewed by 302
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Sleep is a potentially modifiable correlate of student mental health, but associations may be inflated by content overlap between sleep and mental health measures. We examined four self-reported sleep characteristics in relation to depressive symptoms and well-being, with sensitivity analyses [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: Sleep is a potentially modifiable correlate of student mental health, but associations may be inflated by content overlap between sleep and mental health measures. We examined four self-reported sleep characteristics in relation to depressive symptoms and well-being, with sensitivity analyses reducing item overlap. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, questionnaire data were collected from 389 Kuwait University students recruited by convenience from students who were concurrently participating in a campus-based physical-assessment study. Depressive symptoms used a nine-item PHQ-9-based measure (items 3, 9 modified); well-being used five WHO-5 items with modified frequency anchors. Associations used multivariable linear regression with sequential covariate adjustment. Results: For PHQ-9-based scores, independent associations were found for better sleep quality (B = −1.22, 95% CI −1.84 to −0.60; β = −0.20), more frequent disturbance (1.11, 0.49 to 1.73; β = 0.18), longer sleep duration (−0.48, −0.74 to −0.21; β = −0.17), and longer latency (0.54, 0.08 to 0.99; β = 0.11). Quality (4.01, 1.72 to 6.30; β = 0.19) and duration (1.35, 0.37 to 2.33; β = 0.14) were associated with well-being. No statistically significant sleep-by-sex interactions were detected; latency was not robust to item-3 removal. Conclusions: These findings support considering sleep health within university mental health initiatives; longitudinal studies are needed to establish directionality and intervention effects. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Health Psychology)
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17 pages, 654 KB  
Article
School Identification Alleviates Depressive Mood Among Chinese College Students: The Chain Mediating Role of Social Exclusion and Sense of Control
by Yanqiong Zhong, Lei Yan, Jialing Liu, Yanhong Zhang and Linchuan Yang
Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(8), 1445; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16081445 - 21 Aug 2026
Viewed by 364
Abstract
Depression represents a growing public health concern globally, with the mental health of college students requiring targeted attention. Drawing on the social cure theory, self-determination theory, and the agency-communion model, the current study explored the mechanisms linking school identification to depressive mood among [...] Read more.
Depression represents a growing public health concern globally, with the mental health of college students requiring targeted attention. Drawing on the social cure theory, self-determination theory, and the agency-communion model, the current study explored the mechanisms linking school identification to depressive mood among Chinese college students. Specifically, this cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the association between school identification and depressive mood, and whether social exclusion and sense of control mediate this relationship. A sample of 981 college students (464 males and 517 females) completed self-reported measures of school identification, depressive mood, social exclusion, and sense of control. Results showed that (1) School identification was negatively associated with college students’ depressive mood. (2) School identification affected depressive mood through three significant indirect pathways: the single mediating path via social exclusion, the single mediating path via sense of control, and the chain mediating path from social exclusion to sense of control. These findings reveal that the mechanism by which school identification alleviates depressive mood lies in first providing communion resources (reducing social exclusion) and then enhancing agency resources (increasing sense of control), thereby providing empirical support for the agency-communion model and offering practical implications for educational interventions targeting college students’ depressive mood. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Educational Psychology)
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16 pages, 2325 KB  
Article
Regulating Memory Use: Individual Differences in Working Memory Capacity in Natural Tasks
by Xutao Zheng, Mowei Shen, Hui Chen and Jifan Zhou
Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(8), 1444; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16081444 - 21 Aug 2026
Viewed by 377
Abstract
Working memory (WM) capacity predicts a wide range of cognitive abilities, yet little is known about how individuals with different WM capacities regulate memory use during natural tasks in which memory use is voluntarily determined. To address this question, we conducted two experiments [...] Read more.
Working memory (WM) capacity predicts a wide range of cognitive abilities, yet little is known about how individuals with different WM capacities regulate memory use during natural tasks in which memory use is voluntarily determined. To address this question, we conducted two experiments (N = 120) in which participants completed a copying task and a change-detection task. Experiment 1 manipulated sampling cost to increase reliance on internal memory storage, whereas Experiment 2 manipulated time pressure to increase demands for maintaining consistent memory use. Increasing sampling cost led participants to use more memory but did not make individual differences in WM capacity more apparent in mean memory usage. In contrast, time pressure revealed a reliable association between WM capacity and the consistency of memory usage across sampling episodes. Higher-capacity individuals exhibited more consistent memory use. These findings suggest that WM capacity shapes voluntary memory use not simply by increasing how much information people remember, but by influencing how consistently they regulate memory use under different task demands. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Cognition)
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14 pages, 865 KB  
Article
Judgment of Learning Reactivity for Emotional Faces
by Morgan O. Lemler, Daniel M. Bialer and Minyu Chang
Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(8), 1443; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16081443 - 21 Aug 2026
Viewed by 358
Abstract
Making judgments of learning (JOLs) can directly modify future memory, which is termed JOL reactivity. Recently, JOLs were found to produce positive reactivity for negative faces but not for positive faces. The finding was interpreted as support for the changed-goal hypothesis, which posits [...] Read more.
Making judgments of learning (JOLs) can directly modify future memory, which is termed JOL reactivity. Recently, JOLs were found to produce positive reactivity for negative faces but not for positive faces. The finding was interpreted as support for the changed-goal hypothesis, which posits that making JOLs highlights item differences in learning difficulty, thereby prompting people to become more performance-oriented and to focus more on items perceived as easier (e.g., negative faces) at the cost of items perceived as harder (e.g., positive faces). While face emotion was manipulated in a mixed-list design in a prior study, we used a pure list of either positive or negative faces during encoding, which minimizes incentives to change learning goals. We replicated the finding of positive reactivity for negative faces and null reactivity for positive faces even in the pure-list design. Additionally, this pattern was consistent across same-race and cross-race faces and persisted when faces were tested with neutral rather than emotional expressions, demonstrating the robustness of the finding. Our results suggest that the emotion-related difference in JOL reactivity for face recognition cannot be explained by the changed-goal hypothesis. Instead, the current findings may be explained by the elaborative processing account, which assumes that making JOLs engages more elaborative processing than people spontaneously do. Because positive faces are spontaneously processed more elaborately than negative faces during encoding, this account posits that JOLs should provide a weaker reactivity for positive faces than for negative faces. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metacognition in Learning and Memory)
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15 pages, 3549 KB  
Article
From Traditional Inspection to Quantitative Imaging: Tongue and Facial Color Features for Automated Machine Learning-Driven Depression and Schizophrenia Classification
by Limin Gao, Mengmeng Zhang, Yuanhao Li, Lijuan Wang, Peng Qian, Jie Tong, Haojie Fu, Xirong Sun and Fufeng Li
Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(8), 1442; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16081442 - 20 Aug 2026
Viewed by 286
Abstract
Objective and non-invasive markers for psychiatric assessment remain limited. This study evaluated whether standardized tongue and facial color features provide measurable information relevant to depression and schizophrenia classification. Tongue and facial images were collected from 749 participants, including healthy controls (n = 84), [...] Read more.
Objective and non-invasive markers for psychiatric assessment remain limited. This study evaluated whether standardized tongue and facial color features provide measurable information relevant to depression and schizophrenia classification. Tongue and facial images were collected from 749 participants, including healthy controls (n = 84), patients with depression (n = 246), and patients with schizophrenia (n = 419). Color characteristics were quantified in predefined tongue and facial regions using the LAB color space. Group differences were examined statistically, and machine-learning models were evaluated across five repeated stratified splits. Most LAB-derived features differed significantly across groups, with luminance-related measures showing the largest effect sizes and more consistent shifts in schizophrenia than in depression. In multiclass classification, LAB plus demographic variables achieved strong performance (accuracy = 0.782 ± 0.035, macro-F1 = 0.697 ± 0.038, AUC = 0.912 ± 0.027), similar to LAB plus demographic and traditional variables (AUC = 0.912 ± 0.032). LAB-only models showed comparable AUC to demographic-only models but lower macro-F1. In pairwise analyses, discrimination was strongest for healthy control versus schizophrenia (AUC = 0.952 ± 0.030) and depression versus schizophrenia (AUC = 0.926 ± 0.019), and lower for healthy control versus depression (AUC = 0.817 ± 0.054). These findings suggest that LAB-derived tongue and facial color features may provide complementary group-level information, particularly when combined with demographic variables, but should not be interpreted as standalone diagnostic biomarkers. Full article
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18 pages, 1045 KB  
Article
Online Shopping Addiction in Association with Depression, Anxiety, and Stress: Exploring Independent and Relative Contributions in a Cross-Sectional Study
by Mehmet Emin Arayici, Gizem Gedik, Dogan Basaran, Hatice Simsek and Sema Gultekin Arayici
Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(8), 1441; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16081441 - 20 Aug 2026
Viewed by 403
Abstract
Psychological distress is associated with problematic online shopping, but the relative and independent associations of depression, anxiety, and stress require careful evaluation without causal interpretation. This study examined their associations with continuous Online Shopping Addiction Scale (OSAS) scores after accounting for sociodemographic characteristics [...] Read more.
Psychological distress is associated with problematic online shopping, but the relative and independent associations of depression, anxiety, and stress require careful evaluation without causal interpretation. This study examined their associations with continuous Online Shopping Addiction Scale (OSAS) scores after accounting for sociodemographic characteristics and online shopping frequency. A cross-sectional convenience sample included 438 adults in Türkiye (54.0% female among respondents reporting gender; mean age = 33.79, SD = 10.24); a total of 317 participated online and 121 completed printed questionnaires face to face. Pearson correlations were estimated in the full sample. Hierarchical regressions used a common complete-case sample (n = 375). Because residual diagnostics indicated heteroscedasticity and tail departures, HC3 robust standard errors and 95% confidence intervals were reported. Anxiety, depression, and stress showed statistically significant but modest correlations with OSAS total scores (r = 0.34, 0.32, and 0.27, respectively; all p < 0.001). In separate adjusted models, anxiety (ΔR2 = 0.070; β = 0.283), depression (ΔR2 = 0.068; β = 0.276), and stress (ΔR2 = 0.042; β = 0.217) each increased explained variance (all p < 0.001). In the combined model, the DASS-21 block added ΔR2 = 0.091; anxiety (β = 0.206, p = 0.002) and depression (β = 0.200, p = 0.001) had comparable independent associations, whereas stress did not (β = −0.050, p = 0.473). Online shopping frequency had the largest standardized coefficient among concurrent covariates (β = 0.280), but it is conceptually proximal to the OSAS outcome. The combined model explained 31.6% of the variance (adjusted R2 = 0.291). Recruitment-mode comparisons were small and nonsignificant after Holm correction. Depression and anxiety were independently associated with higher OSAS scores, while most outcome variance remained unexplained. The findings do not establish temporal prediction, causation, or clinical diagnosis and should be interpreted in light of self-report measurement, construct overlap, residual confounding, and the digitally engaged convenience sample. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Health Psychology)
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24 pages, 298 KB  
Article
Virtual Money and Emotional Reality: A Qualitative Analysis of Symbolic Issues in a Stock Market Simulation
by Alain Finet, Kevin Kristoforidis and Julie Laznicka
Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(8), 1440; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16081440 - 20 Aug 2026
Viewed by 361
Abstract
This article analyzes how novice investors emotionally experience a stock market simulation conducted with virtual money. Financial simulations are sometimes criticized because they do not reproduce the real financial consequences of investment decisions. However, the fifteen semi-structured interviews conducted after the simulation show [...] Read more.
This article analyzes how novice investors emotionally experience a stock market simulation conducted with virtual money. Financial simulations are sometimes criticized because they do not reproduce the real financial consequences of investment decisions. However, the fifteen semi-structured interviews conducted after the simulation show that the absence of monetary loss does not eliminate the emotional intensity of the experience. Participants report stress, fear, frustration, disgust, disappointment, satisfaction, and pride. This article argues that virtual money shifts emotional responses toward other forms of issues. Virtual losses are often interpreted as signs of poor decision-making, a lack of competence, or personal failure. Conversely, virtual gains may produce feelings of satisfaction or validation of one’s choices. Ranking also plays a central role: it transforms the exercise into a competitive situation and gives social value to individual performance. The academic bonus constitutes another form of stake because it situates the simulation within a framework aimed at improving academic performance. Based on a thematic analysis of the interviews, this article identifies five dimensions: virtual money as partial protection against financial loss; ranking as a symbolic substitute for financial stakes, the academic bonus as a real consequence of performance, virtual loss as a perceived loss of competence and frustration as a driver of recovery attempts, withdrawal, or disengagement. These findings show that stock market simulations are useful tools for observing how novices assign emotional meaning to gains, losses, ranking and their own competence. This article contributes to the literature on emotions and experimental simulations by demonstrating that emotional intensity does not depend exclusively on exposure to financial loss. Even when virtual, money becomes emotionally significant when it is associated with stakes related to performance, social comparison, academic success, and decision-making identity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Behavioral Economics)
18 pages, 702 KB  
Article
The Relationship Between Loneliness and Academic Stress: The Mediating Role of Lack of Academic Organization Among Social Work Students in Chile
by Guillermo Davinson-Pacheco, Julio Tereucan-Angulo, José Luis Gálvez-Nieto, Ignacio Norambuena-Paredes, Vicenta Rodríguez-Martín and Marisol Lemunao-Díaz
Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(8), 1439; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16081439 - 20 Aug 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 407
Abstract
The study of loneliness and academic stress is a priority area in university research, given their impact on student well-being, retention in higher education, and academic performance. In Chile, with respect to Social Work education, these phenomena acquire relevance, given that students simultaneously [...] Read more.
The study of loneliness and academic stress is a priority area in university research, given their impact on student well-being, retention in higher education, and academic performance. In Chile, with respect to Social Work education, these phenomena acquire relevance, given that students simultaneously face high curricular demands and professional training practices in contexts of social vulnerability. In this context, a lack of academic organization may contribute to the perception of overload and limit students’ academic coping strategies. The objective of this study was to examine the relationships between loneliness, lack of academic organization, and academic stress among Social Work students in Chile. A total of 298 students from nine public and private universities participated, with an average age of 21.74 years (SD = 3.47). The results, obtained through a structural equation model, confirmed that the relationship between loneliness and academic stress was partially mediated by a lack of academic organization; however, the direct association between loneliness and academic stress represented the strongest effect within the model. Likewise, positive direct effects were observed among the three variables. Taken together, these findings reinforce the need to design educational and institutional strategies oriented at promoting student well-being, thereby strengthening the perception of professional preparedness among future social workers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Educational Psychology)
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13 pages, 737 KB  
Article
Retrieval Practice Enhances Lexico-Semantic Representations and Facilitates Word Identification During the Attentional Blink: Evidence from L3 French Compound Word Learning
by Su Liu, Shan Huang, Jiawen Han, Xinyi Wang, Siwei Long and Hong-Wen Cao
Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(8), 1438; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16081438 - 20 Aug 2026
Viewed by 347
Abstract
The present study investigated whether retrieval practice facilitates memory retention and the rapid identification of newly learned French word components under attentional blink (AB) conditions. Specifically, a total of 107 native Chinese speakers participated in the study, and 103 were included in the [...] Read more.
The present study investigated whether retrieval practice facilitates memory retention and the rapid identification of newly learned French word components under attentional blink (AB) conditions. Specifically, a total of 107 native Chinese speakers participated in the study, and 103 were included in the final analyses after exclusions. In Experiment 1, participants studied novel, semantically opaque French compound words under two learning conditions: retrieval practice and repeated study. Experiment 2 was conducted 15 min after the completion of Experiment 1. Participants performed a two-target rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) task in which the morphemic components of the learned compound words were presented as the first target (T1) and the second target (T2) at critical lags (Lag 3 and Lag 7). Experiment 1 confirmed the classical testing effect, with the retrieval practice condition showing higher accuracy and faster response times than the repeated study condition. Experiment 2 revealed that participants in the retrieval practice condition exhibited significantly higher T2 identification accuracy at Lag 7 and a numerical advantage at Lag 3 compared with those in the repeated study condition. These findings indicate that retrieval practice facilitates T2 identification, particularly when attentional resources are relatively recovered at Lag 7. Overall, retrieval-based learning appears to strengthen newly acquired lexico-semantic representations and support the rapid identification of newly learned word components under RSVP conditions. Full article
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17 pages, 1832 KB  
Article
Artistic-Value Descriptions Are Associated with Higher Aesthetic Ratings than Social-Value Descriptions for AI-Generated Variants of Classical Paintings
by Qi Li, Qi Li, Chaoyuan Zhang and Ziyu Feng
Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(8), 1437; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16081437 - 20 Aug 2026
Viewed by 334
Abstract
Contextual meaning can influence art evaluation even when viewers encounter images within a structured visual stimulus family. This exploratory questionnaire-version study examined whether value-oriented textual descriptions were associated with aesthetic ratings of AI-generated variants of classical paintings in three Chinese-language questionnaire versions emphasising [...] Read more.
Contextual meaning can influence art evaluation even when viewers encounter images within a structured visual stimulus family. This exploratory questionnaire-version study examined whether value-oriented textual descriptions were associated with aesthetic ratings of AI-generated variants of classical paintings in three Chinese-language questionnaire versions emphasising cultural value, artistic value, or social value. The available dataset contained 61 participants, each rating 40 images on a 1–10 aesthetic scale, yielding 2440 complete observations. A post hoc three-rater manipulation check of 30 image–description pairs found that all evaluated pairs satisfied the applied validation criterion; inter-rater reliability across item–dimension judgments was high at ICC(2,k) = 0.936. The primary analysis used a linear mixed-effects model with crossed random intercepts for participant and stimulus identity, and a fuller by-stimulus random-slope model was estimated as a diagnostic response to review. Relative to social-value descriptions, artistic-value descriptions were associated with higher ratings in the random-intercept model, where b = 1.74, SE = 0.57, z = 3.03, p = 0.002, 95% CI [0.62, 2.87], and this contrast also persisted in the diagnostic by-stimulus random-slope model, although that model converged with a non-positive-definite Hessian. Cultural-value descriptions were intermediate and should not be interpreted as showing a stable general advantage over social-value descriptions. The results therefore provide qualified evidence for an artistic-versus-social framing association, not a confirmed causal effect of all value-cue conditions. Interpretation remains bounded by the modest sample, undocumented allocation procedure, rapid-completion records, incomplete prompt metadata, and post hoc validation of a representative rather than exhaustive stimulus set. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Cognition)
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20 pages, 4235 KB  
Article
Individual Differences in Learning and Cessation Predict Academic Performance
by Ashley L. Macchione and Jeffrey Coldren
Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(8), 1436; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16081436 - 20 Aug 2026
Viewed by 311
Abstract
Most research on learning emphasizes knowledge learning, yet an equally important skill is knowing when to stop. This study examined learning cessation—when to disengage from further attempts once performance has stabilized—and its relation to academic performance. A sample of 183 undergraduates completed three [...] Read more.
Most research on learning emphasizes knowledge learning, yet an equally important skill is knowing when to stop. This study examined learning cessation—when to disengage from further attempts once performance has stabilized—and its relation to academic performance. A sample of 183 undergraduates completed three perceptual discrimination problems varying in solvability and mastery criteria. Performance curves were analyzed by measuring error rates, allowing for the measurement of performance within the learning and cessation phases. Learners demonstrated wide variability across all three problem types, persisting well beyond the point at which continued attempts offered additional value. Individual differences in cessation behavior were associated with academic outcomes, though the pattern varied by problem type and outcome measure. Efficient cessation in a solvable task predicted higher ACT scores and high school GPA, while more attempts on the unsolvable problem showed a positive association with ACT performance and university GPA. Findings highlight the educational relevance of regulation efficiency, suggesting that the ability to regulate not only how long to attempt learning but also when to cease is a critical dimension of effective learning. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Developing Cognitive and Executive Functions Across Lifespan)
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16 pages, 268 KB  
Article
The Relationship Between Nurses’ Perceptions of Disaster Preparedness and Psychological Preparedness: A Cross-Sectional Study
by Mehtap Genc, Ozge Cetinkaya and Emre Ciydem
Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(8), 1435; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16081435 - 20 Aug 2026
Viewed by 301
Abstract
Nurses’ psychological preparedness is an important component of effective disaster response; however, its relationship with preparedness perceptions across disaster management phases remains insufficiently understood. This cross-sectional correlational study examined the relationship between disaster preparedness perceptions and psychological preparedness among 237 nurses working in [...] Read more.
Nurses’ psychological preparedness is an important component of effective disaster response; however, its relationship with preparedness perceptions across disaster management phases remains insufficiently understood. This cross-sectional correlational study examined the relationship between disaster preparedness perceptions and psychological preparedness among 237 nurses working in three hospitals in Balıkesir, Türkiye. Participants were selected using purposive sampling. Data were collected using the Disaster Preparedness Perception Scale and the Psychological Preparedness for Disaster Threat Scale. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and hierarchical multiple regression analyses were performed. The mean psychological preparedness score was 63.16 ± 11.88. Psychological preparedness was positively correlated with overall disaster preparedness perception (r = 0.697, p < 0.001), response-phase preparedness (r = 0.735, p < 0.001), and post-disaster preparedness (r = 0.650, p < 0.001), but not preparedness-phase perception (r = 0.080, p = 0.220). In the final regression model, response-phase (β = 0.480, p < 0.001) and post-disaster preparedness perceptions (β = 0.321, p < 0.001) were positively associated with psychological preparedness. Nurses without disaster training had lower psychological preparedness (β = −0.107, p = 0.017), as did nurses with postgraduate education compared with those with high school education (β = −0.167, p = 0.037). The final model explained 60.2% of the variance (adjusted R2 = 0.602). These findings highlight the relevance of disaster preparedness perceptions and training to nurses’ psychological preparedness and may inform institutional training and support strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Health Psychology)
1 pages, 130 KB  
Correction
Correction: Schröder et al. (2026). Mental Skills Training: An Often-Overlooked Aspect of Preparation for Future High-Performing Athletes in Sports Schools. Behavioral Sciences, 16(7), 1109
by Sebastian Schröder, Christine Stucke, Tabea Linkohr and Melanie Schulz
Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(8), 1434; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16081434 - 20 Aug 2026
Viewed by 199
Abstract
Change of Corresponding Author and Email Address [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychological Factors Determining Performance Under Pressure)
23 pages, 681 KB  
Article
Psychological Well-Being and Innovative Work Behavior Among ICT Employees in Türkiye: Comparing the Mediating Roles of Creative Self-Efficacy and Subjective Vitality
by Nagihan Kartal, Fazlı Yıldırım and Mustafa Aslan
Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(8), 1433; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16081433 - 20 Aug 2026
Viewed by 387
Abstract
Innovation is an everyday imperative in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector, yet the psychological conditions through which well-being is associated with innovative action remain insufficiently understood. This study investigates whether subjective vitality and creative self-efficacy constitute distinct psychological pathways—an energy-based and [...] Read more.
Innovation is an everyday imperative in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector, yet the psychological conditions through which well-being is associated with innovative action remain insufficiently understood. This study investigates whether subjective vitality and creative self-efficacy constitute distinct psychological pathways—an energy-based and a belief-based mechanism, respectively—through which psychological well-being becomes associated with innovative work behavior, thereby providing a more differentiated examination of the assumption that psychologically healthy employees are more likely to behave innovatively. An online survey was administered to 463 ICT-sector employees in Türkiye, and partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to test direct and indirect relationships with comprehensive assessment of measurement quality, predictive relevance, and effect sizes. Creative self-efficacy emerged as a meaningful indirect pathway linking psychological well-being to innovative work behavior, whereas subjective vitality, though strongly predicted by well-being, showed no significant relationship with innovative outcomes. These findings suggest that not all positive psychological states are equally innovation-relevant: among ICT employees, the indirect association between well-being and innovation was evident through employees’ confidence in their own creative capability rather than through feelings of psychological energy—a distinction with meaningful implications for both theory and practice in knowledge-intensive, digitally dynamic organizations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Organizational Behaviors)
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24 pages, 393 KB  
Article
Effects of a Yoga Exercise Program on Cognitive Distortion, Communication Skills, Intolerance of Uncertainty, and Psychological Characteristics Among Probationary Employees
by Z. Dilay Ekiz and Elif Karagun
Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(8), 1432; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16081432 - 20 Aug 2026
Viewed by 382
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a ten-week yoga exercise program, implemented for probation employees, on psychological characteristics, cognitive distortions, communication skills, and intolerance of uncertainty. The Cognitive Distortion Scale, the Brief Symptom Inventory, the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale, and the [...] Read more.
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a ten-week yoga exercise program, implemented for probation employees, on psychological characteristics, cognitive distortions, communication skills, and intolerance of uncertainty. The Cognitive Distortion Scale, the Brief Symptom Inventory, the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale, and the Communication Skills Scale were administered to 71 volunteer employees. Thirty-three employees who indicated they would regularly participate in the yoga exercise program were assigned to the intervention group, and 38 employees were assigned to the control group. A quasi-experimental pretest–posttest control group design was employed. Statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS 24 software. The intervention group showed a significant adjusted posttest advantage in communication skills, although the time × group interaction was not significant. Psychological symptom scores showed favorable within-group reductions in anxiety, depression, and hostility in the intervention group; however, the adjusted group and time × group effects for overall symptoms were not significant. The total cognitive distortion scores showed a nonsignificant favorable trend. Conversely, intolerance of uncertainty increased significantly more in the intervention group than in the control group, indicating an unfavorable change. The yoga exercise regimen demonstrated limited and mixed effects in reducing anxiety, depression, and feelings of hostility within a group setting, and improving communication skills. The findings suggest that yoga can be integrated into institutional training and psychological support programs for employees. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Social Psychology)
21 pages, 350 KB  
Review
Artificial Intelligence as a Personal Coach: A Narrative Review of Benefits and Risks in Educational and Health Contexts
by Jason T. Potel and Madoka Kumashiro
Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(8), 1431; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16081431 - 19 Aug 2026
Viewed by 453
Abstract
The last decade has seen a rapid increase in individuals turning to artificial intelligence (AI) for advice related to their personal development, especially with the introduction of general-purpose large language models (LLMs) to the general public in 2022. This narrative review examines the [...] Read more.
The last decade has seen a rapid increase in individuals turning to artificial intelligence (AI) for advice related to their personal development, especially with the introduction of general-purpose large language models (LLMs) to the general public in 2022. This narrative review examines the potential benefits and risks of using AI for coaching purposes in educational and health contexts. Given that empirical studies on using general-purpose LLMs in these domains remain limited, this paper first synthesizes findings from purpose-built coaching chatbots designed to perform specific tasks that facilitate personal development in these domains and discusses limitations associated with studies that use older versions of chatbots. The reviewed evidence suggests that purpose-built chatbot coaching systems may have some benefits as they are generally well received and can support short-term motivation and selected behavior change, but effects for sustained, meaningful outcomes are inconsistent. We then reflect on the potential risks of using general-purpose LLMs as a coach without appropriate human oversight, by reviewing features of general-purpose LLMs, such as sycophancy, accuracy, and problematic patterns of use. Synthesizing these findings, we consider their implications before identifying potential directions for future research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Experiences and Well-Being in Personal Growth)
26 pages, 568 KB  
Article
A “Lightweight” Support Circle: How Urban Chinese Older Adults Reconfigure Online Peripheral Ties Through Low-Cost Digital Practices
by Huijun Wu and Yan Ge
Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(8), 1430; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16081430 - 19 Aug 2026
Viewed by 313
Abstract
Although peripheral ties are essential for social integration, traditional aging theories suggest that they naturally atrophy as older adults withdraw from physical social settings and prioritize intimate relationships. Digital technologies, however, offer new affordances that enable older adults to actively sustain such ties. [...] Read more.
Although peripheral ties are essential for social integration, traditional aging theories suggest that they naturally atrophy as older adults withdraw from physical social settings and prioritize intimate relationships. Digital technologies, however, offer new affordances that enable older adults to actively sustain such ties. Through six online focus groups with 32 older Chinese WeChat users (aged 55–74), this study examines how older adults manage their peripheral networks in the digital environment. Three findings emerge. First, older adults maintain a distinct typology of digital peripheral ties—Former Acquaintances, Present-day Acquaintances, and “Net Friends.” Second, they sustain these ties through strategically optimized observational engagement, tracking their networks with minimal interpersonal friction. Third, the benefits of these ties—practical information, identity maintenance, and direct emotional companionship—converge into a lightweight yet meaningful support circle that complements the strong-tie core. By uncovering these practices, this study shows that older adults are active curators of their digital social networks, providing empirical insight into the reconfiguration of late-life social convoys and design implications for age-friendly platforms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Technologies, Mental Health and Well-Being)
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21 pages, 2173 KB  
Article
Associations and Potential Pathways Linking Excessive Short-Video Use to Mental Health Among Vocational High School Students in China: An Integrated Analysis Based on Machine Learning and Path Analysis
by Qihan Zhang, Baidong Huang and Hongwen Song
Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(8), 1429; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16081429 - 19 Aug 2026
Viewed by 297
Abstract
Excessive short-video consumption is a global concern, yet its association with mental health among vocational high school students in China remains under-researched. Among many candidate individual, psychological, and behavioral factors, it remains unclear which are the most robust predictors of mental health. This [...] Read more.
Excessive short-video consumption is a global concern, yet its association with mental health among vocational high school students in China remains under-researched. Among many candidate individual, psychological, and behavioral factors, it remains unclear which are the most robust predictors of mental health. This study develops a comprehensive framework to identify core predictors and examine potential pathways linking short-video use to mental health. A survey was administered to 8346 vocational high school students recruited from vocational high schools in Tianjin, China, yielding 6096 valid responses for multi-stage analysis. First, Random Forest (RF) and linear Support Vector Regression (SVR) screened 13 individual, psychological, and behavioral features to identify core predictors. Subsequently, a Path Analysis (PA) with the Bootstrap method was used to examine statistical mediating pathways involving these core features. Across RF and SVR, social support, excessive short-video use, positive coping, and negative coping emerged as the four most important predictors of mental health. PA showed generally good fit (χ2/df = 5.86, CFI = 0.998, TLI = 0.99, RMSEA = 0.03, SRMR = 0.01). Excessive short-video use was significantly and directly associated with mental health problems (effect = 0.221, 95% CI = [0.189, 0.253], 76.7% of the total association) and showed small indirect associations through three statistical pathways: (1) lower social support (effect = 0.023, 8.1%); (2) higher negative coping (effect = 0.035, 12.0%); and (3) a small serial indirect association from reduced social support to decreased positive coping (effect = 0.007, 2.6%). Findings suggest that potential intervention efforts may consider regulating short-video use while simultaneously enhancing social support and adaptive coping mechanisms as part of strategies to reduce psychological risks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovations and Integrations in Quantitative Methods for Behavioral Science Research)
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15 pages, 1707 KB  
Article
Power Reshapes the Mental Representation of Social Hierarchy
by Yan Xi, Fengxiao Hao, Xiaorong Cheng, Xianfeng Ding and Zhao Fan
Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(8), 1428; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16081428 - 19 Aug 2026
Viewed by 458
Abstract
Social hierarchy represents a ubiquitous principle of social organization, often intuitively conceptualized as a pyramidal structure. The present study investigated whether subjective power can reshape this mental representation, thereby attenuating perceived psychological distance between social classes. Using eye-tracking technology and time-series representational similarity [...] Read more.
Social hierarchy represents a ubiquitous principle of social organization, often intuitively conceptualized as a pyramidal structure. The present study investigated whether subjective power can reshape this mental representation, thereby attenuating perceived psychological distance between social classes. Using eye-tracking technology and time-series representational similarity analysis, we measured participants’ gaze patterns toward stimuli denoting high- and low-status individuals under different power states. Results revealed a robust upward gaze bias toward high-status targets in the control condition, consistent with a pyramid-like representation in which upper classes occupy the apex and lower classes the base. This bias was amplified in the powerless condition but significantly attenuated in the powerful condition, suggesting that subjective power transforms the internalized hierarchy into a more egalitarian configuration, wherein social classes are perceived as more equivalent. Furthermore, power states systematically modulated horizontal gaze position and pupil diameter. These findings provide novel insights into how subjective power dynamically reshapes the representation of social hierarchy and point to new theoretical avenues for reducing perceived inequality at the psychological level. Full article
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