Behavioral Sciences

26 pages, 2948 KB

Open AccessReview

How Users Perceive and Respond to Digital Humans: A Scoping Review of Agency, Embodiment, Social Role, and Response Outcomes

by Xuandi Gong and Li Zeng

Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(9), 1700; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16091700 (registering DOI) - 20 Sep 2026

Abstract

Digital humans are emerging as a form of mediated communication, appearing as virtual influencers, virtual agents, avatars, VTubers, AI companions, and other humanlike digital entities across social media, entertainment, commerce, and online communities. Research on how users perceive and respond to these entities [...] Read more.

Digital humans are emerging as a form of mediated communication, appearing as virtual influencers, virtual agents, avatars, VTubers, AI companions, and other humanlike digital entities across social media, entertainment, commerce, and online communities. Research on how users perceive and respond to these entities remains fragmented across disciplines. This scoping review synthesizes evidence on users’ perceptions of and responses to digital humans. Following established scoping review guidance and PRISMA-ScR reporting principles, we searched Scopus, Web of Science, and EBSCO for English-language, peer-reviewed studies published between 2016 and 2025. Fifty-one studies met the inclusion criteria and were synthesized descriptively and thematically. The synthesis identified three recurring dimensions of user perception (i.e., perceived agency, perceived embodiment, and perceived social role) and three broad response domains: psychological, relational, and behavioral. These findings suggest that users’ responses to digital humans are shaped by more than human-likeness alone, with capability, embodied presence, and social role also emerging as important interpretive dimensions. The evidence base was concentrated in marketing and commerce, with limited attention to broader media contexts, long-term interaction, cultural diversity, and negative or ambivalent responses. Overall, this review provides an evidence-organizing framework for understanding how users interpret, relate to, and act toward digital humans. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Psychology Perspective on Emerging Media)

20 pages, 1340 KB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Effects of Dance and Rhythmic Physical Activity Interventions on Executive Function and Motor Competence in Children: A Systematic Review and Three-Level Meta-Analysis

by Hao Luo, Lingyun Long, Haozhe Wang and Wenjia Chen

Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(9), 1699; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16091699 (registering DOI) - 20 Sep 2026

Abstract

Dance and rhythmic physical activity may support motor and cognitive development in children, but the magnitude and consistency of these effects remain uncertain, and individual trials frequently contribute multiple statistically dependent outcomes. Five electronic databases and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched from inception to May [...] Read more.

Dance and rhythmic physical activity may support motor and cognitive development in children, but the magnitude and consistency of these effects remain uncertain, and individual trials frequently contribute multiple statistically dependent outcomes. Five electronic databases and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched from inception to May 2026. Executive function (EF) and motor competence (MC) were analyzed as separate primary domains using multilevel random-effects models with an estimated sampling variance–covariance structure and trial-clustered CR2 robust inference. Cluster-randomized designs, shared controls, and overlapping reports were explicitly accounted for. Twenty-two reports representing 21 unique trials and 2496 unique children were included. The primary EF model included 34 core-EF effect sizes from seven trials and yielded g = 0.50 (95% CI [−0.04, 1.04], p = 0.063; 95% PI [−1.24, 2.24]). The MC model included 103 effect sizes from 17 trials and showed a positive average effect (g = 0.95, 95% CI [0.39, 1.52], p = 0.003; 95% PI [−1.43, 3.34]). Trial-clustered dose–response models did not identify statistically supported associations for intervention duration, total minutes, weekly frequency, or session duration. Certainty of evidence was very low for EF and low for MC. Dance and rhythmic physical activity may improve motor competence in children on average, although effects vary substantially across settings. Executive-function findings remain preliminary and statistically uncertain. Current evidence does not support causal recommendations for longer interventions or higher total doses. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Health Psychology)

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17 pages, 457 KB

Open AccessArticle

Childhood Family Violence and Depressive Symptoms in Urban Chinese Women: The Moderating Role of Social Contact Frequency

by Shiyao Han, Li Zheng and Xiaohe Xu

Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(9), 1698; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16091698 (registering DOI) - 20 Sep 2026

Abstract

Guided by the stress process model, this study examined whether childhood family violence—specifically, parental physical abuse (PPA) and witnessing interparental violence (WIPV)—was associated with depressive symptoms among ever-married women in Beijing and Chengdu, China, and whether these associations were moderated by social contact [...] Read more.

Guided by the stress process model, this study examined whether childhood family violence—specifically, parental physical abuse (PPA) and witnessing interparental violence (WIPV)—was associated with depressive symptoms among ever-married women in Beijing and Chengdu, China, and whether these associations were moderated by social contact frequency. Drawing on data from the 2020 Family and Health Survey (N = 1849), we used ordinary least squares regression with heteroskedasticity-robust standard errors and conducted supplementary sensitivity analyses. In separate models, both PPA and WIPV were positively associated with depressive symptoms. Social contact frequency showed no significant main effect, but its interactions with both PPA and WIPV were significantly negative, a pattern consistent with the stress-buffering hypothesis. In combined models including both violence types, WIPV retained a significant unique association with depressive symptoms, whereas the PPA association was attenuated. The moderation findings suggest that social contact frequency may condition the violence–depression relationship, underscoring the potential importance of social relationships for responses to early-life adversity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Health Psychology)

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29 pages, 1256 KB

Open AccessArticle

How Experience of Online Group Polarization Relates to University Students’ Value-Related Judgments and Choices: The Parallel Mediating Roles of Cognitive Dissonance and Emotional Contagion

by Shaosen He, Jiawei Li, Runcong Yang, Zhekun Wu and Huanhua Lu

Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(9), 1697; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16091697 (registering DOI) - 20 Sep 2026

Abstract

The psychological processes linking polarization experiences across different online interaction contexts to university students’ value-related judgments and choices warrant further investigation. This study distinguishes experienced polarization within online communities (EPC) from experienced polarization in open online discussions (EPD) and examines their associations with [...] Read more.

The psychological processes linking polarization experiences across different online interaction contexts to university students’ value-related judgments and choices warrant further investigation. This study distinguishes experienced polarization within online communities (EPC) from experienced polarization in open online discussions (EPD) and examines their associations with university students’ value-related judgments and choices, including parallel indirect associations through cognitive dissonance response (CDR) and emotional contagion response (ECR). Data from 2105 valid cross-sectional self-report questionnaires collected at a university in China were randomly divided into two subsamples: 770 cases for exploratory factor analysis and 1335 cases for confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling. Indirect effects were estimated using 5000 bootstrap resamples. After adjustment for seven covariates covering demographics, internet use, and online participation, both forms of polarization experience were significantly and positively associated with CDR and ECR. Both psychological responses were also significantly and positively associated with value judgment difficulty (VJD) and value choice susceptibility (VCS). All four direct paths from the two forms of polarization experience to VJD and VCS were significant. Standardized estimates for the eight specific indirect effects ranged from 0.032 to 0.198, and all 95% bias-corrected confidence intervals excluded zero. Together, the predictors in the respective regression equations explained 44.4% of the variance in VJD and 54.5% in VCS. These findings provide statistical support for the hypothesized mediation relationships, indicating a pattern in which direct and indirect associations coexist. By distinguishing polarization experiences in specific interaction contexts, the study jointly connects cognitive and emotional responses to judgment formation and the reference points informing choices. It thereby provides empirical evidence for understanding how university students respond to online opinions and forms the basis for their evaluations and choices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Behavior and Psychological Processes in Social Media and Smartphone Use)

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16 pages, 730 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Association Between Physical Exercise and Local Cultural Identity: Indirect Associations Through Three Dimensions of Social Support

by Boqian Sun, Ye Zhang, Yifei Chen and Xiaoming Wang

Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(9), 1696; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16091696 (registering DOI) - 20 Sep 2026

Abstract

Using the Physical Activity Rating Scale (PARS-3), the College Students’ Local Cultural Identity Scale, and the Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS), this study surveyed 412 college students to examine the associations among physical exercise, three dimensions of social support (objective support, subjective support, [...] Read more.

Using the Physical Activity Rating Scale (PARS-3), the College Students’ Local Cultural Identity Scale, and the Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS), this study surveyed 412 college students to examine the associations among physical exercise, three dimensions of social support (objective support, subjective support, and support utilization), and local cultural identity, with particular attention to the indirect associations through the three dimensions of social support. The results showed that physical exercise was positively associated with local cultural identity. Among the three dimensions of social support, only objective support showed a significant positive association with local cultural identity, whereas subjective support and support utilization did not show significant independent associations with local cultural identity. The total indirect association through the three dimensions of social support was statistically significant. Specifically, the indirect association between physical exercise and local cultural identity through objective support was significant, whereas the indirect associations through subjective support and support utilization were not significant. These findings suggest that objective support may represent one pathway linking physical exercise with local cultural identity among college students. The findings provide implications for understanding the relationship among physical exercise, social support, and local cultural identity in Chinese college students. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Social Psychology)

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23 pages, 2014 KB

Open AccessArticle

Assessing Social Consequences for Task Completion in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder

by Laura B. DeZayas, Janae’ A. Pendergrass, Arielle R. Marshall, Justin B. Han, Faris R. Kronfli and Timothy R. Vollmer

Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(9), 1695; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16091695 (registering DOI) - 20 Sep 2026

Abstract

We used a concurrent operant assessment (COA) to evaluate social preferences for individuals with autism spectrum disorder across three comparison conditions: praise versus no interaction, preferred conversation topics versus no interaction, and preferred conversation topics versus praise. First, a multiple stimulus without replacement [...] Read more.

We used a concurrent operant assessment (COA) to evaluate social preferences for individuals with autism spectrum disorder across three comparison conditions: praise versus no interaction, preferred conversation topics versus no interaction, and preferred conversation topics versus praise. First, a multiple stimulus without replacement preference assessment was conducted to identify the preferred conversation topics and interests for all participants. Second, a COA was conducted where participants were able to choose which consequence they wanted to receive while working on an academic task during each comparison condition. We found that five out of six participants allocated more time to the praise side over no interaction, five out of six participants allocated more time to the preferred conversation topics over no interaction, and four out of six participants allocated more time to the preferred conversation topics over praise. The results indicate that social stimuli such as praise and preferred conversation topics may function as preferred stimuli indicating a need for future researchers and clinicians to individualize reinforcers. Thus, a proof-of-concept study is established to evaluate procedures for indicating preferences for types of social interaction. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Social Psychology)

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22 pages, 650 KB

Open AccessArticle

Generative Artificial Intelligence Use and Learning Engagement Among Medical Undergraduates: Statistical Indirect and Configurational Associations Involving Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction

by Qian He, Guanglei Chang, Ning Su, Yingying Yang and Jun Ma

Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(9), 1694; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16091694 (registering DOI) - 20 Sep 2026

Abstract

As generative artificial intelligence (GAI) becomes increasingly integrated into undergraduate medical education, its relationship with students’ learning engagement warrants further investigation. Guided by self-determination theory, this cross-sectional questionnaire study surveyed 498 medical undergraduates at a medical university in China and used structural equation [...] Read more.

As generative artificial intelligence (GAI) becomes increasingly integrated into undergraduate medical education, its relationship with students’ learning engagement warrants further investigation. Guided by self-determination theory, this cross-sectional questionnaire study surveyed 498 medical undergraduates at a medical university in China and used structural equation modeling (SEM) and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to examine average associations and configurational patterns among GAI use, basic psychological need satisfaction, and learning engagement. SEM results showed that GAI use was positively but weakly associated with basic psychological need satisfaction, whereas basic psychological need satisfaction was more strongly associated with learning engagement. The direct association between GAI use and learning engagement was not statistically significant, while the statistical indirect association through basic psychological need satisfaction was significant but small. The fsQCA results showed that high GAI use was not a necessary condition for high learning engagement. The configuration combining autonomy, competence, and relatedness need satisfaction had the highest coverage and showed relatively stable results across threshold adjustments, with competence need satisfaction as a core condition. These findings suggest that the educational relevance of GAI use may be better understood in relation to students’ psychological need conditions than to use frequency alone. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Transforming Student Learning Engagement Through Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI))

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26 pages, 918 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Mediating Roles of Two Psychological Experience Pathways: How Cross-Border Live Streaming Interactions Trigger Impulsive Purchases?—The Moderating Effect of AI Enablement

by Yangxue Xiang, Miaoli Liu, Jin Chen and Zhaoxu Chen

Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(9), 1693; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16091693 (registering DOI) - 20 Sep 2026

Abstract

With the booming of cross-border live streaming e-commerce, this study examined the influence mechanism of cross-border live streaming interactions on consumers’ impulsive purchase intention based on the timulus–organism–response (SOR) model. Two independent psychological organism mediators are proposed, immersive experience and foreign cultural identity, [...] Read more.

With the booming of cross-border live streaming e-commerce, this study examined the influence mechanism of cross-border live streaming interactions on consumers’ impulsive purchase intention based on the timulus–organism–response (SOR) model. Two independent psychological organism mediators are proposed, immersive experience and foreign cultural identity, and AI (artificial intelligence) enablement acts as a cross-layer moderating variable. Three core dimensions of cross-border live streaming interaction (consumer–product, consumer–consumer, consumer–anchor) are refined, and empirical tests are conducted with 620 valid questionnaires via SPSS 26.0, AMOS 28.0 and PROCESS. Results showed that consumer–product and consumer–anchor interactions exerted significant positive direct effects on impulsive purchase intention (consumer–consumer interaction’s direct effect was insignificant); both flow experience dimensions exert partial mediating effects in the paths linking consumer–product/consumer–anchor interaction to impulsive purchase intention and full mediating effects for the consumer–consumer interaction path. AI enablement positively moderates the effect of live streaming interactions on flow experience and the effect of immersive experience on impulsive purchase intention, but its moderating effect on the foreign cultural identity–impulsive purchase intention link was insignificant. This study advanced the research on cross-border live streaming consumer behavior and offered targeted practical suggestions for platform optimization with AI technology while enriching the SOR model’s application in cross-cultural consumption scenarios. Full article

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14 pages, 239 KB

Open AccessEditorial

The Many Pathways to Personal Growth: Contemporary Perspectives and Future Directions

by Madoka Kumashiro

Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(9), 1692; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16091692 (registering DOI) - 20 Sep 2026

Abstract

Although philosophers and psychologists have pondered for centuries on what it means to pursue personal development and to live a good life, psychological research on personal growth remains broad and diverse. This Editorial introduces a Special Issue comprising 25 contributions to Experiences and [...] Read more.

Although philosophers and psychologists have pondered for centuries on what it means to pursue personal development and to live a good life, psychological research on personal growth remains broad and diverse. This Editorial introduces a Special Issue comprising 25 contributions to Experiences and Well-Being in Personal Growth. These diverse perspectives conceptualize growth as an aspect of eudaimonic well-being, an intentional process of self-change, a response to adversity, or a process facilitated by relationships and broader contexts. Growth may emerge through coping with adversity or through engagement with life opportunities, and its likelihood and consequences depend on individual characteristics, close relationships, and wider social and cultural environments. The Editorial synthesizes recent developments in the field, with special attention paid to the central role of interpersonal relationships, highlighting contributions from this Special Issue to the broader discussion surrounding personal growth. Future research directions are identified, including the need to prioritize greater conceptual and measurement precision, stronger longitudinal and causal evidence, closer attention to individual and contextual variation, and consideration of how the growing use of conversational AI for support and guidance may reshape how personal growth is pursued, experienced, and understood. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Experiences and Well-Being in Personal Growth)

26 pages, 848 KB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Virtual Pedagogical Agents and Instructional Content Type on Learners’ Experience in Online Learning: Evidence from Behavioral, Eye-Tracking, and EEG Data

by Shasha Liu, Xiaoqi Shen and Tiansheng Xia

Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(9), 1691; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16091691 (registering DOI) - 19 Sep 2026

Abstract

Online learning has become an important means of acquiring knowledge. Virtual pedagogical agents have gradually evolved from auxiliary tools into intelligent instructional media capable of affective interaction. However, how these agents affect learning outcomes remains unclear. Integrating social agency theory and cognitive load [...] Read more.

Online learning has become an important means of acquiring knowledge. Virtual pedagogical agents have gradually evolved from auxiliary tools into intelligent instructional media capable of affective interaction. However, how these agents affect learning outcomes remains unclear. Integrating social agency theory and cognitive load theory, this study developed a model in which virtual pedagogical agent type was the independent variable; learning experience was the dependent variable; psychological distance, emotional attachment, and attentional engagement were mediators; and instructional content type was the moderator. A 2 (virtual pedagogical agent: human-like vs. non-human) × 2 (instructional content type: traditional knowledge vs. interest-oriented popular science) mixed design was used. Questionnaires, eye tracking, and electroencephalography (EEG) were combined to assess the learning processes of 40 university students. The results showed that the interaction between agent type and instructional content type significantly affected learning experience. Specifically, in learning contexts featuring traditional knowledge content, human-like virtual agents were associated with higher learning satisfaction, greater emotional attachment, and lower psychological distance. In contrast, during interest-oriented content learning, non-human agents achieved superior knowledge recall scores, along with higher learning satisfaction, stronger emotional attachment, and lower psychological distance. Furthermore, eye-tracking data showed that attentional allocation was also affected by this combination. EEG data showed that FCz spectral power varied with it as well, however, because power rose simultaneously in theta, alpha, beta, and gamma; this broadband pattern is not an unambiguous index of deeper processing and may partly reflect a general increase in signal amplitude. In addition, the moderated-mediation analysis revealed that psychological distance and emotional attachment mediated the relationship between virtual-agent type and learning experience, while knowledge type moderated these mediating paths. The practical implications for online learning are discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Motivation and Emotions in Learning Processes)

27 pages, 1322 KB

Open AccessArticle

Body-Shape Concerns, Eating Regulation, and Mediterranean Diet Adherence in a Romanian Convenience Sample: A Cross-Sectional Self-Determination Theory Perspective

by Cristina Georgescu, Cristina Filip, Ada Moldovan and Florina Daniela Ruta

Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(9), 1690; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16091690 (registering DOI) - 19 Sep 2026

Abstract

Autonomous motivation may support healthy eating, whereas body-shape concerns may fuel controlled eating regulation; the two had not been examined jointly with Mediterranean diet adherence in Romanian adults. In this cross-sectional study, a convenience sample of 224 predominantly female (87.1%), university-educated Romanian adults [...] Read more.

Autonomous motivation may support healthy eating, whereas body-shape concerns may fuel controlled eating regulation; the two had not been examined jointly with Mediterranean diet adherence in Romanian adults. In this cross-sectional study, a convenience sample of 224 predominantly female (87.1%), university-educated Romanian adults completed the Body Shape Questionnaire-16B (BSQ-16B), the Regulation of Eating Behaviors Scale (REBS), and a Romanian-adapted 14-item Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS). The theory-derived expectations were not preregistered. Fit of the six-factor REBS structure improved substantially when cross-loadings between adjacent regulations were allowed, though discriminant validity remained limited; a bifactor analysis supported the BSQ-16B total score. BSQ-16B scores were associated with introjected (β = 0.65) and controlled regulation (β = 0.54) but not with autonomous styles or adherence (ρ = −0.03). Autonomous motivation was associated with adherence after adjustment (b = 0.63 points per standard deviation; 95% confidence interval 0.31–0.94), as was physical activity; in an exploratory subscale model, integrated regulation showed the strongest unique association. Body-shape concerns were coupled with internal pressure but showed little evidence of an association with MEDAS-assessed adherence, whereas autonomous regulation emerged as a relevant correlate. The findings are consistent with, but do not test, autonomy-supportive counseling. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Health Psychology)

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20 pages, 924 KB

Open AccessArticle

Stable Co-Occurrence and Time-Specific Within-Person Associations Among Depressive Symptoms, Fear of Negative Evaluation, and Problematic Internet Use in Chinese Adolescents

by Zhenhua Li, Zijian Zheng, Yangang Nie and Pei Chen

Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(9), 1689; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16091689 (registering DOI) - 19 Sep 2026

Abstract

With the internet becoming increasingly integrated into adolescents’ lives, problematic internet use (PIU) is closely associated with their psychological adjustment. However, the longitudinal relationships between PIU, depressive symptoms (DS), and fear of negative evaluation (FNE) remain unclear. Therefore, based on three-wave longitudinal data [...] Read more.

With the internet becoming increasingly integrated into adolescents’ lives, problematic internet use (PIU) is closely associated with their psychological adjustment. However, the longitudinal relationships between PIU, depressive symptoms (DS), and fear of negative evaluation (FNE) remain unclear. Therefore, based on three-wave longitudinal data from a convenience sample of 1062 Chinese adolescents (among those with available age data, ages ranged from 11 to 16 years; M = 13.71, SD = 1.58) in three secondary schools in Guangzhou, China, this study employed a random-intercept cross-lagged panel model to examine the longitudinal associations between PIU, DS, and FNE, and further tested gender differences in the structural pathways. Valid data on at least one core study variable were available for 1060, 881, and 883 participants at T1, T2, and T3, respectively. PIU, DS, and FNE were significantly positively associated at the between-person level, suggesting a stable co-occurrence of these three constructs among Chinese adolescents. However, they did not form stable, reciprocal within-person longitudinal associations across the two measurement intervals; instead, the significant associations were specific to particular intervals. Specifically, higher-than-usual PIU at T1 was associated with higher subsequent DS at T2, and higher-than-usual DS at T2 was associated with higher subsequent PIU and FNE at T3; in contrast, FNE was not significantly associated with subsequent PIU in either of the two adjacent time periods. Exploratory multigroup analysis did not provide evidence of an overall gender difference in structural paths. These findings preliminarily suggest that understanding adolescent PIU may benefit from distinguishing between stable between-person patterns across the observed study period and time-specific within-person changes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Developmental Psychology)

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25 pages, 630 KB

Open AccessArticle

Algorithmic Gamification and Gig Workers’ Proactive Service Behaviour: An Attribution Theory Perspective

by Yepeng Wu, Xin Yan and Yuanyuan Jiao

Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(9), 1688; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16091688 (registering DOI) - 19 Sep 2026

Abstract

Algorithmic gamification has become an important tool for gig platforms to shape labour input; however, its relationship with the proactive service behaviour of gig workers remains unclear. Drawing on attribution theory, this study developed a dual-path model linking algorithmic gamification to gig workers’ [...] Read more.

Algorithmic gamification has become an important tool for gig platforms to shape labour input; however, its relationship with the proactive service behaviour of gig workers remains unclear. Drawing on attribution theory, this study developed a dual-path model linking algorithmic gamification to gig workers’ proactive service behaviour through commitment attribution and control attribution, with algorithmic procedural fairness as a boundary condition. The results indicate that algorithmic gamification is positively associated with proactive service behaviour through commitment attribution and negatively associated with it through control attribution. Further analyses revealed that the indirect effect through commitment attribution was larger in absolute magnitude than that through control attribution, yielding a statistically significant positive total indirect effect. Moreover, algorithmic procedural fairness strengthens the positive association between algorithmic gamification and commitment attribution and attenuates its positive association with control attribution. At high levels of algorithmic procedural fairness, the conditional indirect effect of control attribution was not statistically significant. By examining workers’ attributions of platform intent, this study identifies two mechanisms linking algorithmic gamification to extra-role service behaviour and offers managerial implications for the design of algorithmic gamification on gig platforms. Full article

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16 pages, 1583 KB

Open AccessArticle

A New Normal: An Age–Period–Cohort Analysis of the Transformed Childhood Adversity Landscape in the United States

by David Brown, Robert F. Anda and Laura E. Porter

Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(9), 1687; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16091687 (registering DOI) - 19 Sep 2026

Abstract

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are strongly associated with poor physical, mental, and social outcomes, yet few studies have examined ACE prevalence across birth cohorts. We pooled Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data from 2009–2012 and 2019–2024 (1925–2003 birth cohorts) and analyzed them [...] Read more.

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are strongly associated with poor physical, mental, and social outcomes, yet few studies have examined ACE prevalence across birth cohorts. We pooled Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data from 2009–2012 and 2019–2024 (1925–2003 birth cohorts) and analyzed them using an Age–Period–Cohort (APC) model. Early cohorts (circa 1930) reported a mean ACE score < 1 (prevalence of ACE score ≥ 4: ~1 in 20), whereas late 1990s/early 2000s cohorts reported a mean score > 2 (prevalence of ACE score ≥ 4: ~1 in 4). In APC models, the 1955–1979 cohorts had ~50% higher mean ACE scores (incidence rate ratio [IRR]: ~1.50) than pre-1930 cohorts. Additionally, ACE reporting was ~25% lower in 2009 than in 2019 (IRR = 0.75), indicating a strong period effect toward greater disclosure. At the population level, childhood adversity has shifted to a high-prevalence reality, likely reflecting both historical increases across cohorts and a shift toward greater disclosure over time. Addressing this cumulative burden requires integrated, intersectoral policy and safety-net reforms across the health, education, social services, and justice sectors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Traumatic Stress and Adverse Childhood Experiences: Exploring the Implications of Developmental Adversity, Resilience, and Transformation)

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17 pages, 497 KB

Open AccessArticle

(Dis-)Empowering Motivational Climate and Social Physique Anxiety in Physical Education: Is There a Gender Difference?

by Antonio Granero-Gallegos, Luis M. Salmerón-Hinojosa, María Carrasco-Poyatos and Ginés D. López-García

Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(9), 1686; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16091686 (registering DOI) - 19 Sep 2026

Abstract

Background: Building on Duda’s hierarchical approach, this study examined gender differences in students’ perceptions of (dis-)empowering motivational climates, self-esteem and social physique anxiety in the physical education context. Furthermore, it analysed the associations of (dis-)empowering climates with these self-presentation-related outcomes among boys and [...] Read more.

Background: Building on Duda’s hierarchical approach, this study examined gender differences in students’ perceptions of (dis-)empowering motivational climates, self-esteem and social physique anxiety in the physical education context. Furthermore, it analysed the associations of (dis-)empowering climates with these self-presentation-related outcomes among boys and girls. Methods: A total of 2438 Spanish Physical Education students (Mage = 16.15 ± 2.01; 50.74% girls) participated in this cross-sectional research. A multi-group structural equation modeling approach was used to answer the research objectives. Results: Girls scored significantly higher than boys in negative self-esteem and social physique anxiety. The multi-group structural equation modeling showed slightly higher coefficients among boys for the associations between empowering climate and positive self-esteem and between disempowering climate and negative self-esteem. The negative self-esteem–SPA coefficient was higher among boys, whereas the inverse positive self-esteem–SPA coefficient was higher among girls. Conclusions: The main findings underscore the relevance of PE teachers creating empowering climates and avoiding disempowering climates, given their associations with positive self-esteem and social physique anxiety among boys and girls. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Self-Determination and Motivation in Physical Education)

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20 pages, 511 KB

Open AccessArticle

by Yuqiang Zhang and Xiaofei Xu

Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(9), 1685; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16091685 (registering DOI) - 18 Sep 2026

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Abstract

This cross-sectional study examined the association between self-reported fitness-related short video social media engagement and body appreciation among Chinese college students, focusing on the mediating roles of exercise identity and mindful eating and whether these pathways differed by gender. A total of 536 [...] Read more.

This cross-sectional study examined the association between self-reported fitness-related short video social media engagement and body appreciation among Chinese college students, focusing on the mediating roles of exercise identity and mindful eating and whether these pathways differed by gender. A total of 536 Chinese college students (270 women, 266 men) completed self-report measures. Multigroup structural equation modeling (SEM) with 5000 bootstrap resamples was used to test the hypothesized mediation pathways and formally compare indirect effects across genders. Measurement invariance was examined; only body appreciation achieved partial metric invariance, and the exercise identity scale showed suboptimal configural fit, so gender comparisons involving the other latent variables should be interpreted with caution. The serial mediation pathway (engagement → exercise identity → mindful eating → body appreciation) was significant only among women (effect = 0.069, 95% CI [0.037, 0.111]), with a significant gender difference (Women–Men diff = 0.062, 95% CI [0.019, 0.111]). The indirect pathway through exercise identity alone (engagement → exercise identity → body appreciation) was significant only among men (effect = 0.124, 95% CI [0.059, 0.199]), also with a significant gender difference (Women–Men diff = −0.111, 95% CI [−0.204, −0.022]). These findings suggest that the processes linking fitness-related short-video engagement and body appreciation may differ by gender. Among women, the observed indirect association was consistent with a sequential pathway involving both exercise identity and mindful eating, whereas among men, the observed indirect association was primarily explained by exercise identity. These findings are correlational and hypothesis-generating and require replication in longitudinal and experimental research before any causal or interventional implications can be drawn. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Mechanisms and Interventions of Eating Behaviors)

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23 pages, 586 KB

Open AccessArticle

When Work Overload Cuts Both Ways: Job Crafting, Emotional Exhaustion, and the Role of Self-Efficacy in Rural Teachers’ Subjective Well-Being

by Zicheng Wang, Sizhen Chen, Huiting Liu and Tianfeng Li

Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(9), 1684; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16091684 (registering DOI) - 18 Sep 2026

Viewed by 121

Abstract

Rural teachers often face work overload arising from demanding teaching responsibilities and extensive non-teaching duties, which may be closely associated with their subjective well-being. However, prior research has largely adopted a single-effect perspective, paying insufficient attention to the potentially competing mechanisms linking work [...] Read more.

Rural teachers often face work overload arising from demanding teaching responsibilities and extensive non-teaching duties, which may be closely associated with their subjective well-being. However, prior research has largely adopted a single-effect perspective, paying insufficient attention to the potentially competing mechanisms linking work overload to well-being. Drawing on cognitive appraisal theory of stress, this study develops a moderated parallel mediation model to examine the dual pathways through which work overload is associated with rural teachers’ subjective well-being. Survey data were collected from 639 rural primary and secondary school teachers across 12 provincial-level regions in western China. The proposed model was tested using confirmatory factor analysis, hierarchical regression, and bootstrapping. The results indicate that work overload is positively associated with subjective well-being through job crafting, but negatively associated with subjective well-being through emotional exhaustion. Self-efficacy strengthens the positive association between work overload and job crafting while weakening the positive relationship between work overload and emotional exhaustion. Moreover, self-efficacy moderates both indirect associations, amplifying the beneficial pathway through job crafting and attenuating the detrimental pathway through emotional exhaustion. These findings reveal two distinct mechanisms linking work overload to rural teachers’ subjective well-being and extend research on occupational stress by identifying self-efficacy as an important boundary condition. The study also provides practical implications for educational authorities seeking to optimize workload arrangements and develop targeted support and incentive mechanisms for rural teachers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Well-Being and Coping Strategies in Educational Psychology)

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20 pages, 890 KB

Open AccessArticle

Associations Between Smartphone Addiction and Physical Education Learning Engagement Among Chinese University Students: A Variable-Centered and Person-Centered Analysis

by Shiyu Zhang, Huawei Chen and Liang Li

Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(9), 1683; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16091683 (registering DOI) - 18 Sep 2026

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Abstract

Smartphone addiction is increasingly prevalent among university students, yet its association with physical education learning engagement remains underexplored. This study investigated the relationship between smartphone addiction and physical education learning engagement using variable-centered and person-centered approaches, and further examined the serial indirect association [...] Read more.

Smartphone addiction is increasingly prevalent among university students, yet its association with physical education learning engagement remains underexplored. This study investigated the relationship between smartphone addiction and physical education learning engagement using variable-centered and person-centered approaches, and further examined the serial indirect association involving self-esteem and physical activity participation. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 2118 university students in Jiangxi Province, China. Participants completed measures of smartphone addiction, self-esteem, physical activity participation, and physical education learning engagement. Pearson correlations, multiple regression analyses, and analyses of indirect associations with bias-corrected bootstrapping were performed in SPSS, and latent profile analysis was conducted in Mplus. Smartphone addiction was negatively associated with self-esteem (β = −0.446, p < 0.001), physical activity participation (β = −0.231, p < 0.001), and physical education learning engagement (β = −0.152, p < 0.001). Self-esteem and physical activity participation showed significant indirect associations in the relationship between smartphone addiction and physical education learning engagement, including a significant serial indirect association through both variables. Person-centered analyses identified three smartphone addiction profiles, namely a low-smartphone-addiction group, moderate-smartphone-addiction group, and high-smartphone-addiction group, accounting for 22.10%, 44.24%, and 33.66% of the sample, respectively. Significant gradient differences were observed across these profiles in self-esteem, physical activity participation, and physical education learning engagement. Smartphone addiction was negatively associated with physical education learning engagement among university students, both directly and indirectly through self-esteem and physical activity participation. Distinct smartphone addiction profiles were also identified, with corresponding differences in psychological and behavioral characteristics. Given the cross-sectional and self-report design, the findings should be interpreted as correlational rather than causal. Full article

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16 pages, 396 KB

Open AccessArticle

Preliminary Clinical Outcomes of Culturally Adapted Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Reducing Panic Disorder Symptoms and Improving Quality of Life: Pilot Study

by Jamil Nasif, Agnes Chong Shu Sze and Mahadir Ahmad

Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(9), 1682; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16091682 (registering DOI) - 18 Sep 2026

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Abstract

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based treatment for panic disorder, but culturally adapted interventions remain insufficiently studied in Palestinian populations. Pilot trials are needed to estimate recruitment, retention, acceptability, and preliminary clinical outcomes before a definitive trial is undertaken. To examine preliminary [...] Read more.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based treatment for panic disorder, but culturally adapted interventions remain insufficiently studied in Palestinian populations. Pilot trials are needed to estimate recruitment, retention, acceptability, and preliminary clinical outcomes before a definitive trial is undertaken. To examine preliminary clinical outcomes of a culturally adapted cognitive behavioral therapy (CA-CBT) intervention for reducing panic disorder symptoms and improving quality of life among Palestinian adults. A two-arm randomized pilot study with a waitlist control was conducted among 30 adults diagnosed with panic disorder in the West Bank of Palestine. Participants were allocated to CA-CBT (n = 15) or waitlist control (n = 15). The intervention comprised structured weekly brief psychotherapy sessions up to 12 individual sessions, adapted to the Palestinian sociocultural context. Panic symptoms were assessed using the Clinical Indicators Scale for Diagnosing Panic Disorder (CISDPD) and the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), while quality of life was assessed using the WHOQOL-BREF. Analyses were conducted among participants who completed post-intervention assessments; therefore, outcome estimates should be interpreted as complete-case pilot findings. Thirty participants were enrolled, and 22 completed post-intervention assessment (CA-CBT: 13/15, 86.7%; waitlist: 9/15, 60.0%). Mixed-model repeated-measures ANOVA showed significant group × time interactions for CISDPD (F(1, 20) = 112.81, p < 0.001, partial η² = 0.85) and WHOQOL-BREF (F(1, 20) = 10.67, p = 0.004, partial η² = 0.35). The HAM-A group × time interaction was borderline and should be interpreted cautiously (F(1, 20) = 3.48, p = 0.05, partial η² = 0.15). The findings provide feasibility evidence and preliminary outcome estimates to inform a fully powered randomized controlled trial with prespecified feasibility criteria, intention-to-treat analysis, treatment-fidelity assessment, and longer-term follow-up. Ethics approval: The study was approved by the Research Ethics Secretariat of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (Approval No. JEP-2024-551). All participants received information about the study and provided written informed consent before participation. The study was not prospectively registered as a clinical trial. Full article

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21 pages, 298 KB

Open AccessArticle

Knowledge and HIV-Related Stigmatizing Attitudes Among Healthcare Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study

by Zulal Yavuz Akay, Fatma Ozlem Kandemir, Mustafa Serhat Sahinoglu, Tugce Simsek Bozok and Kasim Akay

Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(9), 1681; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16091681 (registering DOI) - 18 Sep 2026

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Abstract

Background: Healthcare workers are central to the care of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV), yet their own stigmatizing attitudes can undermine it. This cross-sectional study assessed HIV/AIDS knowledge and stigmatizing attitudes toward PLHIV among healthcare workers and the factors associated with stigma. Methods: [...] Read more.

Background: Healthcare workers are central to the care of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV), yet their own stigmatizing attitudes can undermine it. This cross-sectional study assessed HIV/AIDS knowledge and stigmatizing attitudes toward PLHIV among healthcare workers and the factors associated with stigma. Methods: All physicians and nurses employed at three public hospitals in Mersin, Turkey (N = 2230), were invited to participate; because participation was voluntary and anonymous, the analysed sample was self-selected and is best characterised as a convenience sample. Data were collected over 45 days using an anonymous, self-administered questionnaire hosted on an online survey platform, comprising a 10-item HIV/AIDS knowledge questionnaire adapted from a previously used instrument and the Health Care Provider HIV/AIDS Stigma Scale (HPASS; Turkish version), which measures stereotyping, discrimination, and prejudice. Associations were examined using group comparisons, correlations, and multivariable linear regression. Results: Among 460 participants (median age 35.0 years, IQR 31.0–44.0; 63.5% female; response rate 21.7%), knowledge assessment scores were not associated with any stigma subdimension; instead, older age, being married, and greater professional experience were associated with higher stereotyping and discrimination, with age and experience remaining significant after multivariable adjustment (p < 0.05). Notably, 81.1% felt they would need to inform other staff when encountering a PLHIV, which may raise confidentiality concerns; 67.4% believed HIV is mostly acquired through risky behaviours, and only 69.1% were comfortable working with an HIV-positive colleague. Conclusions: Stigmatizing attitudes were common and were associated with age and professional experience rather than with knowledge assessment scores. These findings generate the hypothesis that interventions addressing the attitudinal and professional-culture dimensions of stigma—particularly among more senior staff—may be more effective than information provision alone. Because the design was cross-sectional and the knowledge questionnaire had limited validity evidence, longitudinal and interventional studies are needed to test this hypothesis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Health Psychology)

25 pages, 1529 KB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Economic Empowerment Interventions on Mental Health Outcomes Among People Living with HIV in Low and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Literature Review

by Peter Onchuru Mokaya, Evans Kasmai Kiptulon, Dahabo Adi Galgalo, Mohammed Elmadani and Gabriella Hideg-Fehér

Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(9), 1680; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16091680 (registering DOI) - 17 Sep 2026

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Abstract

There is strong evidence of the correlation between economic hardship and poor mental health outcomes among people living with HIV (PLHIV). However, the causal efficacy and mechanisms of specific economic interventions through which they contribute to mental health improvement among PLHIV remain fragmented [...] Read more.

There is strong evidence of the correlation between economic hardship and poor mental health outcomes among people living with HIV (PLHIV). However, the causal efficacy and mechanisms of specific economic interventions through which they contribute to mental health improvement among PLHIV remain fragmented and inconsistent. This systematic review aims to collate and synthesize existing evidence on the effect of economic empowerment interventions on mental health symptoms among PLHIV in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We conducted a comprehensive literature review that adhered to the PRISMA guidelines for methodological rigor and transparency. Comprehensive searches were conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, CINAHL, Scopus, and MEDLINE. We conducted a narrative synthesis of 11 studies: two cohorts, two qualitative, one intervention (non-randomized), and six randomized clinical trials. We registered this review with PROSPERO (CRD420251152471). The process theory served as an analytical framework. Evidence suggests that multi-component economic empowerment interventions (e.g., combined savings, skills training, and psychological support) may be associated with improved mental health among PLHIV in LMICs. Qualitative evidence from other studies suggested that reduced financial stress and strengthened psychological resources may contribute to improved mental health. The effectiveness of the intervention depends not only on simple cash transfers but also on a theoretically sound integrated approach. Interventions were more effective among lower-income groups. Integration of multi-component economic and psychosocial interventions into standard HIV care could improve mental health outcomes among PLHIV in LMICs and is hereby recommended by this study. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Health Psychology)

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34 pages, 689 KB

Open AccessArticle

Beyond Engagement Alone: Heterogeneous Profiles of Academic Engagement and Mental Well-Being Among Chinese Adolescents

by Yaohua Zhang, Song Chang, Yunyun Huang, Min Xu, Xiaohui Xu and Sufei Xin

Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(9), 1679; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16091679 (registering DOI) - 17 Sep 2026

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Abstract

Academic engagement and mental well-being are central indicators of adolescent development, yet how these domains jointly characterize heterogeneous patterns of adolescent functioning remains insufficiently understood. This study aimed to identify distinct engagement–well-being configurations among adolescents and to examine factors associated with profile membership [...] Read more.

Academic engagement and mental well-being are central indicators of adolescent development, yet how these domains jointly characterize heterogeneous patterns of adolescent functioning remains insufficiently understood. This study aimed to identify distinct engagement–well-being configurations among adolescents and to examine factors associated with profile membership and differences in perceived academic achievement across profiles. A sample of 1848 Chinese adolescents in Grades 7, 8, and 10 (ages 12–18 years) completed measures of academic engagement, mental well-being, and demographic, socioeconomic, and psychosocial characteristics. Latent profile analysis identified five distinct configurations, followed by multinomial logistic regression and distal outcome analyses. The resulting profiles were labeled Moderate Distress with Moderate Functioning, Psychologically Stable but Disengaged, Flourishing and Engaged, Distressed but Engaged, and Highly Vulnerable and Disengaged. Notably, relatively high engagement could coexist with psychological vulnerability, suggesting that engagement alone does not indicate optimal functioning. Psychosocial resources were consistently associated with more favorable profiles, while demographic and socioeconomic factors showed more variable associations. Perceived academic achievement differed across profiles, highlighting the value of considering academic engagement and mental well-being jointly when examining adolescents’ perceived academic achievement. These findings underscore the value of a person-centered perspective for understanding adolescent development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue A Whole-School Approach to Promote Mental Health, Equity, and Connectedness)

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14 pages, 432 KB

Open AccessArticle

Perfectionism Dimensions and Longitudinal Depressive Symptom Profiles in Adolescents: Distinguishing Evaluative Self-Criticism from Personal Standards

by Meng Yuan and Yuheng Huang

Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(9), 1678; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16091678 (registering DOI) - 17 Sep 2026

Viewed by 104

Abstract

Perfectionism is multidimensional, yet it remains unclear whether evaluative self-criticism and high personal standards differentially identify adolescents with unfavorable depressive symptom profiles. Using data from a baseline sample of 1150 adolescents aged 14 to 19 years and six monthly follow-up assessments, a three-class [...] Read more.

Perfectionism is multidimensional, yet it remains unclear whether evaluative self-criticism and high personal standards differentially identify adolescents with unfavorable depressive symptom profiles. Using data from a baseline sample of 1150 adolescents aged 14 to 19 years and six monthly follow-up assessments, a three-class quadratic growth mixture model identified low-stable, high-decreasing, and increasing/high-escalating profiles among 1129 trajectory-eligible participants. Three-Step Approach(R3STEP) models entered self-critical perfectionism, personal standards perfectionism, age, sex, rural/urban source, and highest parental education simultaneously; a sensitivity model additionally included baseline depressive symptoms. Self-critical perfectionism was associated with both non-low-stable profiles and remained significant after baseline symptom adjustment, although estimates were attenuated. Personal standards perfectionism showed no consistent association. Direct coefficient contrasts indicated stronger self-critical than personal-standards effects for both non-low-stable profiles in the primary model, but these between-predictor differences were no longer significant after baseline Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) adjustment. A targeted sensitivity analysis excluding parental education as a covariate yielded the same substantive pattern for self-critical perfectionism. The findings provide a person-centered extension of multidimensional perfectionism-depression research while also indicating that the two Child and Adolescent Perfectionism Scale(DPSCA) subscales showed only modest internal consistency and imperfect absolute factorial fit in this sample. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mental Health in Adolescent)

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17 pages, 545 KB

Open AccessArticle

Communication Anxiety and Bicultural Engagement in Relation to Parenting Efficacy Among Chinese Marriage Migrant Women in Korea: The Mediating Role of Parenting Stress

by Linge Guan and Yujin Jang

Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(9), 1677; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16091677 (registering DOI) - 17 Sep 2026

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Abstract

This study examined the relationships among communication anxiety, bicultural engagement, parenting stress, and parenting efficacy among Chinese marriage migrant women living in Korea, with particular attention to the mediating role of parenting stress. Using cross-sectional survey data, the study tested a structural model [...] Read more.

This study examined the relationships among communication anxiety, bicultural engagement, parenting stress, and parenting efficacy among Chinese marriage migrant women living in Korea, with particular attention to the mediating role of parenting stress. Using cross-sectional survey data, the study tested a structural model linking communication anxiety and acculturation to parenting efficacy through parenting stress. The results showed that higher communication anxiety was associated with higher parenting stress, whereas higher bicultural engagement was associated with lower parenting stress. Parenting stress, in turn, was negatively associated with parenting efficacy. The direct relationship between communication anxiety and parenting efficacy was not significant, while the indirect relationship through parenting stress was significant. Bicultural engagement showed a positive indirect relationship with parenting efficacy through lower parenting stress, although its direct relationship with parenting efficacy was in the opposite direction. These findings suggest that communication anxiety and bicultural engagement represent distinct aspects of migration-related experience and are differently associated with parenting. They also highlight parenting stress as an important mechanism linking migration-related experiences with mothers’ perceptions of parenting competence. The findings underscore the need for support programs that address communication-related anxiety, cultural adjustment, and parenting stress among Chinese marriage migrant women in Korea. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Educational Psychology)

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13 pages, 386 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Effect of Compassion Satisfaction on Happiness at Work Among Nurses: Its Role as Mediator of Employee Well-Being

by Halil Türktemiz

Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(9), 1676; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16091676 (registering DOI) - 17 Sep 2026

Viewed by 149

Abstract

Nurses play a significant role in the delivery of healthcare services. They experience compassion satisfaction when providing care to patients in need. However, the effect of compassion satisfaction on workplace happiness has not been sufficiently examined. Drawing on self-determination theory and positive psychology, [...] Read more.

Nurses play a significant role in the delivery of healthcare services. They experience compassion satisfaction when providing care to patients in need. However, the effect of compassion satisfaction on workplace happiness has not been sufficiently examined. Drawing on self-determination theory and positive psychology, this study examines the mediating role of employee well-being in the relationship between compassion satisfaction and workplace happiness among nurses. The findings indicate that nurses’ compassion satisfaction has a statistically significant positive effect on workplace happiness and employee well-being. Employee well-being fully mediates the relationship between compassion satisfaction and workplace happiness. This finding suggests that nurses’ compassion satisfaction alone is insufficient to directly increase workplace happiness; however, improving employee well-being can increase nurses’ workplace happiness. It is recommended that staffing levels be adjusted based on nurses’ workloads, that managers adopt a nurse-centered leadership style, and that flexible work hours be integrated into the system. These measures can lead to greater happiness among nurses and improved quality of care. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Lifestyle Medicine and Nursing Research)

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26 pages, 3735 KB

Open AccessArticle

When Visual Richness Meets Cognitive Simplicity: How Interface Design Shapes Consumer Experience in Digital Fashion Commerce

by Xu Hu and Jing Zhang

Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(9), 1675; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16091675 (registering DOI) - 17 Sep 2026

Viewed by 74

Abstract

This study examines how user interface type and interface complexity influence perceived shopping quality in digital fashion commerce. Drawing on dual-process theory and the online servicescape perspective, two 2 × 2 between-subjects experiments were conducted in apparel and cosmetics shopping contexts, with 192 [...] Read more.

This study examines how user interface type and interface complexity influence perceived shopping quality in digital fashion commerce. Drawing on dual-process theory and the online servicescape perspective, two 2 × 2 between-subjects experiments were conducted in apparel and cosmetics shopping contexts, with 192 valid participants in each study. The results show that peripheral-route-oriented user interfaces, characterized by visual richness and interactivity, consistently produce higher perceived shopping quality than central-route-oriented user interfaces. Low-complexity interfaces are also evaluated more favorably than high-complexity interfaces. However, the conditional effects differ across product categories. Study 1 provided qualified evidence that shopping frequency conditioned the joint effect of interface type and complexity, whereas in Study 2, interface type and complexity mainly showed direct effects. These findings suggest that effective digital shopping interfaces should combine visual richness with structural simplicity, while also accounting for differences across product categories. The study applies a dual-process-informed perspective to digital interface design and identifies product category and shopping engagement as potential boundary conditions in consumer responses to online shopping environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exploring the Dynamics of Consumer Behavior in Digital Commerce)

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18 pages, 367 KB

Open AccessArticle

Attachment, Physical Leisure, and Suicidal Ideation in Emerging Adulthood: Evidence from University Students

by Jessica Morales-Sanhueza, Guadalupe Martín-Mora-Parra and Ismael Puig-Amores

Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(9), 1674; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16091674 (registering DOI) - 17 Sep 2026

Viewed by 146

Abstract

University students are particularly vulnerable to mental health problems during emerging adulthood, and suicidal ideation represents a major public health concern. This study examined the relationships among attachment styles, leisure activities, social network use, and suicidal ideation in Chilean university students, considering the [...] Read more.

University students are particularly vulnerable to mental health problems during emerging adulthood, and suicidal ideation represents a major public health concern. This study examined the relationships among attachment styles, leisure activities, social network use, and suicidal ideation in Chilean university students, considering the role of biological sex. A cross-sectional, descriptive–correlational design was employed with a sample of 1096 students aged 18–29 years. Participants completed measures of suicidal ideation, adult attachment, and leisure activities. Descriptive statistics, chi-square analyses, ANOVA, and binary logistic regression models were conducted. Results revealed a high prevalence of medium-to-high suicidal ideation (55.9%) and insecure attachment styles (63.5%). Women reported higher levels of insecure attachment, a greater risk of suicidal ideation, and lower participation in physical leisure activities than men. Insecure attachment was significantly associated with a higher likelihood of suicidal ideation, whereas participation in physical leisure activities was associated with a lower likelihood of suicidal ideation. Logistic regression analyses confirmed that both attachment style and physical leisure remained significant predictors of suicidal ideation after controlling for sex. No significant associations were found between suicidal ideation and daily internet use or most social network variables. These findings highlight the relevance of relational and behavioral factors in understanding suicidal ideation and underscore the potential value of promoting physical leisure activities and identifying insecure attachment early as areas for further research and intervention in university populations. Full article

19 pages, 2818 KB

Open AccessReview

Research Trends in Sport Pedagogy and Physical Education: A Bibliometric Analysis of Motivation, Self-Efficacy, Creativity, and Critical Thinking

by Laura Ruiz Sánchez, Andrea Ceciliani, Gabriele Russo and Ramón Chacón-Cuberos

Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(9), 1673; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16091673 (registering DOI) - 17 Sep 2026

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Abstract

Contemporary sport pedagogy increasingly emphasises learner-centred, inclusive, and psychologically supportive approaches. This bibliometric review mapped research at the intersection of Physical Education, well-being-related perspectives, and motivation, self-efficacy, creativity, and critical thinking. Scopus and the Web of Science Core Collection were searched, and the [...] Read more.

Contemporary sport pedagogy increasingly emphasises learner-centred, inclusive, and psychologically supportive approaches. This bibliometric review mapped research at the intersection of Physical Education, well-being-related perspectives, and motivation, self-efficacy, creativity, and critical thinking. Scopus and the Web of Science Core Collection were searched, and the records were processed in R (version 4.5.0) using the bibliometrix package (version 5.3.0) and its Biblioshiny web interface. The searches identified 683 records; after 208 initial duplicates were removed, all 475 unique records were re-screened. A further eight residual duplicates and 261 ineligible records were removed, yielding 206 documents published between 2008 and 2026 across 95 sources. The corpus averaged 16.35 citations per document and 26.7% international co-authorship. Motivation was explicitly represented in 174 documents (84.5%), self-efficacy in 34 (16.5%), creativity in 16 (7.8%), and critical thinking in four (1.9%). A 58-node author-keyword network and a five-cluster thematic map showed substantially greater consolidation around motivation and self-determination theory than around creativity or critical thinking. These findings describe the retrieved intersectional corpus rather than the whole Physical Education literature. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Self-Determination and Motivation in Physical Education)

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18 pages, 451 KB

Open AccessArticle

Psychometric Properties of the French Version of the Physical Literacy Self-Description (PLSD) Questionnaire Among Children

by Christophe Maïano, Alexandre J. S. Morin, Johanne April, Olivier Hue and Olivier Rey

Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(9), 1672; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16091672 - 17 Sep 2026

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Abstract

This study sought to document the psychometric properties of scores on the French Version of the Physical Literacy Self-Description questionnaire. A sample of 191 French-speaking Canadian and French children, aged 5–12 years, participated in this study. Results from an exploratory factor analytic solution [...] Read more.

This study sought to document the psychometric properties of scores on the French Version of the Physical Literacy Self-Description questionnaire. A sample of 191 French-speaking Canadian and French children, aged 5–12 years, participated in this study. Results from an exploratory factor analytic solution supported a two-factor solution encompassing (a) perceived confidence and value; and (b) perceived skills competence. Subsequent analyses supported the weak, strong and strict invariance of this solution as a function of sex, and its weak, strong, and partial strict invariance (one item was less reliable in France) across countries. The results also revealed meaningful differences in terms of latent variances (showing more inter-individual variability in Canada and among boys) and covariances (showing stronger correlations in France and among boys) across grouping variables. Results further revealed a lack of differential item functioning as a function of age and time spent in moderate to vigorous physical activities, but minimal evidence of differential item functioning as a function of body mass index (on two items). Moreover, Canadian children scored higher on perceived confidence and value and lower on perceived skills competence, while younger children scored higher on perceived skills competence. Likewise, children spending more time in moderate physical activity scored higher in the perceived confidence and value factor, while those spending more time in vigorous physical activity scored higher on the perceived skills competence factor. Finally, results supported the convergent validity of scores obtained on the French Physical Literacy Self-Description questionnaire in relation to parental ratings of children’s overall, cognitive, and motor physical literacy. Full article

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29 pages, 9759 KB

Open AccessArticle

Telling Students to Evaluate Does Not Make It Happen: Task Stage, Offloading Tendency, and Error Detection in AI-Assisted Student Writing

by Mengmeng Fan and Pengcheng Chang

Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(9), 1671; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16091671 - 17 Sep 2026

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Abstract

Instructors can prescribe which part of a writing task a student may delegate to generative AI, but not how the student works. This four-arm randomised experiment separated them. At Site A, 744 undergraduates were randomised to one of four divisions of labour across [...] Read more.

Instructors can prescribe which part of a writing task a student may delegate to generative AI, but not how the student works. This four-arm randomised experiment separated them. At Site A, 744 undergraduates were randomised to one of four divisions of labour across four rounds of report writing—AI drafts and the student evaluates and revises; the student drafts and AI evaluates; the student drafts, AI revises, and the student adjudicates each change; no AI—with all AI withdrawn at Week 6 post-test, immediately after the final round (639 completed). A reduced three-arm replication at Site B randomised 126 students (109 completed). Both arrangements in which the student judged AI-produced text outperformed the arrangement in which AI judged student-produced text and the no-AI control (d = 0.35 to 0.36), whereas having AI evaluate was equivalent to no AI. The benefit was unevenly distributed (arm × tendency F(3, 629) = 7.25, p < 0.001), and logs showed students high in dependent tendency re-outsourcing their assigned evaluation (b = 0.072, p < 0.001). Satisfaction carried no information about error detection (r = 0.015), while self-rated quality was weakly associated with writing performance. Prescribing a division of labour governs the assignment, not the cognition. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue AI Use and Academic Development)

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