Journal Description
Behavioral Sciences
Behavioral Sciences
is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal on psychology, neuroscience, cognitive science, behavioral biology and behavioral genetics published monthly online by MDPI.
- Open Access— free for readers, with article processing charges (APC) paid by authors or their institutions.
- High Visibility: indexed within Scopus, SSCI (Web of Science), PubMed, PMC, PsycInfo, and other databases.
- Journal Rank: JCR - Q2 (Psychology, Multidisciplinary) / CiteScore - Q2 (Development)
- Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision is provided to authors approximately 28.7 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 2.8 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the second half of 2024).
- Recognition of Reviewers: reviewers who provide timely, thorough peer-review reports receive vouchers entitling them to a discount on the APC of their next publication in any MDPI journal, in appreciation of the work done.
Impact Factor:
2.5 (2023);
5-Year Impact Factor:
2.7 (2023)
Latest Articles
Therapeutic Interventions for Music Performance Anxiety: A Systematic Review and Narrative Synthesis
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(2), 138; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15020138 (registering DOI) - 26 Jan 2025
Abstract
The aim of this systematic review was to summarise and evaluate the published literature on interventions for treating music performance anxiety (MPA). Adhering to the PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive literature search of three electronic databases was conducted: PubMed, Web of Science, and PsychInfo
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The aim of this systematic review was to summarise and evaluate the published literature on interventions for treating music performance anxiety (MPA). Adhering to the PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive literature search of three electronic databases was conducted: PubMed, Web of Science, and PsychInfo (Ovid). Records were included in this review if they were quantitative pre–post interventional studies that utilised a recognised outcome measure or a clinical diagnosis for evaluating MPA. A narrative synthesis was orchestrated on 40 extracted studies assessing 1365 total participants. The principal intervention types observed included cognitive behavioural therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, music therapy, yoga and/or mindfulness, virtual reality, hypnotherapy, biofeedback, and multimodal therapy. Although most of the reviewed studies demonstrated encouraging improvements in musicians’ MPA following delivered interventions, the current evidence base remains in its infancy, and numerous methodological weaknesses exist across studies. Small sample sizes, heterogeneity amongst treatment programmes, lack of follow-up data, a scarcity of standardised MPA assessments, and few randomised controlled designs render it imprudent to draw definitive recommendations concerning the interventions’ efficacy.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interventions for Music Performance Anxiety)
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Leveraging Sentiment–Topic Analysis for Understanding the Psychological Role of Hype in Emerging Technologies—A Case Study of Electric Vehicles
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Francis Joseph Costello and Cheong Kim
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(2), 137; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15020137 (registering DOI) - 26 Jan 2025
Abstract
This study presents a novel approach to examining the psychological impact of emerging technologies through the development of a Hype Cycle Model (HCM), utilizing sentiment analysis and topic modeling. Focusing on electric vehicles, we investigate how public sentiment—captured via social media comments—reflects the
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This study presents a novel approach to examining the psychological impact of emerging technologies through the development of a Hype Cycle Model (HCM), utilizing sentiment analysis and topic modeling. Focusing on electric vehicles, we investigate how public sentiment—captured via social media comments—reflects the psychological effects of technology adoption and hype. Our model integrates both qualitative and quantitative analyses, utilizing sentiment scoring and topic modeling to explore thematic psychological trends. An analysis of approximately 43,000 social media comments on electric vehicles demonstrated that the integration of expert knowledge with public sentiment provides a comprehensive understanding of technology hype dynamics. The results revealed that sentiment analysis enables real-time tracking of emotional responses to emerging technologies, while Correlated Topic Modeling (CTM) offers contextual insights into the positioning of technologies within the HCM. These findings demonstrate that understanding public sentiment towards emerging technologies can provide valuable insights for both organizations and policymakers in technology forecasting and adoption planning. Our approach transforms the traditional black box implementation by Gartner Inc. into a transparent framework that illuminates the psychological underpinnings of technology hype, revealing how collective excitement, expectations, and emotional responses shape the trajectory of emerging technology adoption.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychological Interventions of Technology and Its Effects on Social Relationships)
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Evaluating the Pattern of Relationships of Speech and Language Deficits with Executive Functions, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and Facets of Giftedness in Greek Preschool Children. A Preliminary Analysis
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Maria Sofologi, Georgia Chatzikyriakou, Chrysoula Patsili, Marina Chatzikyriakou, Aphrodite Papantoniou, Magda Dinou, Eleni Rachanioti, Dimitris Sarris, Harilaos Zaragas, Georgios Kougioumtzis, Dimitra V. Katsarou, Despina Moraitou and Georgia Papantoniou
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(2), 136; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15020136 (registering DOI) - 26 Jan 2025
Abstract
Speech and language deficits often occur in preschool children, and empirical studies have indicated an association between language impairments and challenges in different cognitive domains. The primary aim of the current study was to evaluate the associations between speech and language deficits, executive
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Speech and language deficits often occur in preschool children, and empirical studies have indicated an association between language impairments and challenges in different cognitive domains. The primary aim of the current study was to evaluate the associations between speech and language deficits, executive function (EF) impairments, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and aspects of giftedness in Greek preschoolers based on assessments from their teachers. Investigating the associations between aspects of EFs, ADHD, and giftedness was another objective of the current study. Finally, we examined on a sample of Greek preschool children the convergent validity of the LAMP screening test in relation to the following questionnaires: the Childhood Executive Functioning Inventory (CHEXI), the ADHD-IV Questionnaire, the Gifted Rating Scales-Preschool/Kindergarten Form (GRS-P), and the Scales for Rating the Behavioral Characteristics of Superior Students (SRBCSS). For the purpose of the present study, 20 kindergarten teachers and 71 Greek preschoolers (41 boys and 30 girls) were included in the sample. Data analysis revealed that according to teachers’ estimations, speech and language deficits are positively associated to a statistically significant degree with ADHD and with deficits in working memory (WM) and inhibition. On the other hand, aspects of preschool-aged creativity and giftedness were significantly correlated negatively with speech and language deficits. Additionally, the findings demonstrated a negative correlation between aspects of giftedness and ADHD symptoms as well as poor achievement on working memory (WM) and inhibition assessment tests. Furthermore, there was no association between hyperactivity/inhibition deficit and creativity, which is an aspect of giftedness. The moderate positive associations of the LAMP screening test with the psychometric tools of measurement of ADHD and executive function (EF) deficits, and the negative associations with the scales of giftedness showed the good convergent and distinct validity of the LAMP assessment test.
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(This article belongs to the Section Developmental Psychology)
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Exploring the Role of Foveal and Extrafoveal Processing in Emotion Recognition: A Gaze-Contingent Study
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Alejandro J. Estudillo
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(2), 135; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15020135 (registering DOI) - 26 Jan 2025
Abstract
Although the eye-tracking technique has been widely used to passively study emotion recognition, no studies have utilised this technique to actively manipulate eye-gaze strategies during the recognition facial emotions. The present study aims to fill this gap by employing a gaze-contingent paradigm. Observers
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Although the eye-tracking technique has been widely used to passively study emotion recognition, no studies have utilised this technique to actively manipulate eye-gaze strategies during the recognition facial emotions. The present study aims to fill this gap by employing a gaze-contingent paradigm. Observers were asked to determine the emotion displayed by centrally presented upright or inverted faces. Under the window condition, only a single fixated facial feature was available at a time, only allowing for foveal processing. Under the mask condition, the fixated facial feature was masked while the rest of the face remained visible, thereby disrupting foveal processing but allowing for extrafoveal processing. These conditions were compared with a full-view condition. The results revealed that while both foveal and extrafoveal information typically contribute to emotion identification, at a standard conversation distance, the latter alone generally suffices for efficient emotion identification.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Understanding Facial Expression Processing: New Methods, Measures and Models)
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Working Memory as the Focus of the Bilingual Effect in Executive Functions
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Jiejia Chen, Zitong Li, Zhiheng Xiong and Guangyuan Liu
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(2), 134; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15020134 (registering DOI) - 26 Jan 2025
Abstract
The bilingual effect on executive functions (EFs) has garnered considerable attention, with most studies focusing on the visual domain and largely overlooking the auditory domain. Furthermore, research has predominantly concentrated on specific subcomponents of executive functions, with few studies systematically examining all three
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The bilingual effect on executive functions (EFs) has garnered considerable attention, with most studies focusing on the visual domain and largely overlooking the auditory domain. Furthermore, research has predominantly concentrated on specific subcomponents of executive functions, with few studies systematically examining all three key subcomponents. This raises two important questions: (a) Is the bilingual effect specific to certain modalities (modality-specific), or a more general phenomenon (modality-general)? (b) Is the bilingual effect concentrated in a specific component of executive functions (process-specific), or does it extend to all three components (process-general)? To explore these questions, this study recruited monolingual Chinese and bilingual Chinese–English participants, using matched visual and auditory Stroop, N-back, and task-switching tasks to assess inhibitory control, working memory, and cognitive flexibility in both groups. The results showed that, after controlling for variables like intelligence, socioeconomic status, and age, bilingualism significantly predicted performance in both auditory and visual working memory tasks, explaining 34% and 19% of the variance, respectively. However, no evidence was found to support a bilingual effect in inhibitory control or cognitive flexibility. In conclusion, these results suggest that bilingual effects are not only process-specific (affecting only working memory) but also modality-general (providing advantages in both visual and auditory modalities).
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Developing Cognitive and Executive Functions Across Lifespan)
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Behavioural Systems Mapping of Solid Waste Management in Kisumu, Kenya, to Understand the Role of Behaviour in a Health and Sustainability Problem
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Joanna Davan Wetton, Micaela Santilli, Hellen Gitau, Kanyiva Muindi, Nici Zimmermann, Susan Michie and Michael Davies
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(2), 133; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15020133 (registering DOI) - 26 Jan 2025
Abstract
Poor solid waste management in Kisumu, Kenya, contributes to adverse health, social, and environmental outcomes as a result of open burning, illegal dumping, and reliance on landfills. Taking Kisumu as a case study, we use behavioural systems mapping (BSM) for the purpose of
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Poor solid waste management in Kisumu, Kenya, contributes to adverse health, social, and environmental outcomes as a result of open burning, illegal dumping, and reliance on landfills. Taking Kisumu as a case study, we use behavioural systems mapping (BSM) for the purpose of understanding the role of behaviour in this complex problem. We qualitatively analysed transcripts from focus groups and interviews with 45 stakeholders in Kisumu to construct a BSM of the perceived actors, behaviours, and behavioural influences affecting waste management, as well as causal links. Influences were analysed using the capability, opportunity, and motivation model of behaviour (COM-B). The resulting BSM connects 24 behaviours by 12 different actors and 49 unique influences (30 related to opportunity, 16 to motivation, and 3 to capability). It reflects three sub-systems: policy-making, public waste management, and the policy–public interface. Six key feedback loops are described, which suggest that cycles of underfunding are interlinked with problematic practices around the build-up, handling, and segregation of waste and conflicting public and political views around responsibility. We demonstrate how the BSM method can be used with transcript data and provide steps that others can follow to inform the design of systemic behaviour change interventions. Further research to validate and adapt this approach may extend the learnings to other countries and health and sustainability challenges.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Promoting Behavioral Change to Improve Health Outcomes)
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What Is the Link of Closeness and Jealousy in Romantic Relationships?
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Ana María Fernández, Maria Teresa Barbato, Pamela Barone, Belén Zavalla, Diana Rivera-Ottenberger and Mónica Guzmán-González
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(2), 132; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15020132 (registering DOI) - 26 Jan 2025
Abstract
From an evolutionary perspective, love and attachment foster closeness, while jealousy ensures exclusivity in romantic relationships. This study examined the links between jealousy and affective aspects of love, hypothesizing positive associations despite their apparent opposition. An online sample of 265 individuals in Chile
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From an evolutionary perspective, love and attachment foster closeness, while jealousy ensures exclusivity in romantic relationships. This study examined the links between jealousy and affective aspects of love, hypothesizing positive associations despite their apparent opposition. An online sample of 265 individuals in Chile and Spain completed measures of digital jealousy, closeness, love, felt loved, and attachment. Results revealed higher jealousy in Chile than in Spain. Across both countries, anxious attachment and closeness were significant predictors of jealousy, explaining nearly 30% of its variance. In Chile, feeling loved negatively predicted jealousy, suggesting that reassurance of the romantic bond may reduce jealousy in this cultural context. Notably, affective closeness—conceptualized as the inclusion of the self in the other—emerged as a novel predictor of jealousy, extending beyond the established role of anxious attachment. These findings underscore the nuanced interplay between cultural context, affective closeness, and attachment in shaping jealousy.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Science of Mating, Love, and Attachment in Romantic Relationships)
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Building a Positive Work Environment: The Role of Psychological Empowerment in Engagement and Intention to Leave
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Pachsiry Chompukum and Tita Vanichbuncha
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(2), 131; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15020131 (registering DOI) - 26 Jan 2025
Abstract
This study examines the relationships between psychological empowerment, employee engagement, and intention to leave. Employing structural equation modeling, this study analyzes survey data from both academic and non-academic staff in Thailand. Findings reveal that psychological empowerment positively relates to employee engagement, which, in
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This study examines the relationships between psychological empowerment, employee engagement, and intention to leave. Employing structural equation modeling, this study analyzes survey data from both academic and non-academic staff in Thailand. Findings reveal that psychological empowerment positively relates to employee engagement, which, in turn, negatively relates to the intention to leave. In addition, psychological empowerment directly affects the intention to leave. This highlights the potential of empowerment-focused interventions as an innovative strategy for improving employee retention, particularly relevant in today’s dynamic and challenging work environments. Our study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on positive organizational psychology by demonstrating the efficacy of empowerment initiatives in a non-Western context. Furthermore, it offers practical implications for organizations seeking nonmonetary rewards to foster a thriving workforce by cultivating a sense of meaning, competence, autonomy, and impact among their employees. Future research can explore the broader applicability of empowerment-based strategies across diverse organizational contexts.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Promoting Flourishing at Work: Innovations in Positive Work and Organizational Psychology)
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Leadership Styles in Non-Profit Institutions: An Empirical Study for the Validation and Reliability of a Scale in the Latin American Context
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Javier Enrique Espejo-Pereda, Elizabeth Emperatriz García-Salirrosas, Miluska Villar-Guevara and Israel Fernández-Mallma
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(2), 130; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15020130 (registering DOI) - 26 Jan 2025
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There is no doubt that leadership is one of the most researched and disseminated topics in recent years, and over time, some distinguished models have developed a solid foundation and a reputable structure. From this perspective, this study analyzes the evidence of validity
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There is no doubt that leadership is one of the most researched and disseminated topics in recent years, and over time, some distinguished models have developed a solid foundation and a reputable structure. From this perspective, this study analyzes the evidence of validity and reliability of a scale that assesses leadership styles in non-profit institutions. The study had an instrumental design. The sample consisted of 272 workers from nine Latin American countries, aged between 19 and 68 years (M = 34.08 and SD = 8.61), recruited through non-probabilistic sampling. A validity and reliability analysis of the scale confirmed the nine items and three original factors (servant, empowering and shared leadership). The KMO test reached a high level (0.898 > 0.70), and the Bartlett test reached a highly significant level (Sig. = 0.000). The scale also showed good internal consistency (α = 0.918 to 0.956; CR = 0.918 to 0.957; AVE = 0.755 to 0.880). Likewise, for the Confirmatory Factor Analysis, a measurement adjustment was performed, obtaining excellent and acceptable fit indices for Model 2 (CMIN/DF = 1.794; CFI = 0.993; SRMR = 0.023; RMSEA = 0.054; Pclose = 0.369). This study provides a brief and useful tool to measure leadership styles in Latin America, as a scale used specifically for this context would allow for a more accurate and valid assessment. This is crucial for generating effective organizational interventions, fostering the development of authentic leaders, and improving the competitiveness of non-profit institutions.
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Exploring the Impact of Workplace Hazing on Deviant Behavior in the Hospitality Sector: The Roles of Emotional Exhaustion and Hope and Optimism
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Osama Aljaier, Ahmad Alzubi, Amir Khadem and Kolawole Iyiola
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(2), 129; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15020129 (registering DOI) - 25 Jan 2025
Abstract
Workplace hazing remains a critical concern in the hospitality sector, known for its high-pressure environments and hierarchical dynamics. Drawing on transactional stress theory, this study explores the intricate relationships between workplace hazing, emotional exhaustion, and deviant behavior, with a focus on the moderating
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Workplace hazing remains a critical concern in the hospitality sector, known for its high-pressure environments and hierarchical dynamics. Drawing on transactional stress theory, this study explores the intricate relationships between workplace hazing, emotional exhaustion, and deviant behavior, with a focus on the moderating roles of hope and optimism. The research aims to examine how these psychological factors buffer the negative impacts of workplace hazing on employee behavior. Using a quantitative approach, data were collected from 494 valid responses comprising employees and supervisors from four- and five-star hotels in Aqaba, Amman, and Petra, Jordan. Convenience sampling was employed, and the data were analyzed using SPSS 29 and AMOS 26. The findings reveal that workplace hazing significantly predicts emotional exhaustion and deviant behavior, with emotional exhaustion mediating this relationship. Hope and optimism were found to moderate these effects, suggesting employees who maintain an optimistic outlook are better equipped to handle stress, which, in turn, reinforces their positive mindset, ultimately fostering healthier workplace cultures. The study offers both theoretical and practical implications. Theoretically, it extends the transaction theory of stress by integrating emotional exhaustion and deviant behavior. Practically, it suggests that hospitality organizations should focus on mitigating hazing practices, addressing emotional exhaustion through support mechanisms, and fostering positive psychological traits like hope and optimism to enhance employee well-being and minimize deviant behavior.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Preventing and Addressing Negative Behaviors in the Workplace)
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Reflection or Dependence: How AI Awareness Affects Employees’ In-Role and Extra-Role Performance?
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Heng Zhao, Long Ye, Ming Guo and Yanfang Deng
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(2), 128; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15020128 (registering DOI) - 25 Jan 2025
Abstract
To address the challenges posed by AI technologies, an increasing number of organizations encourage or require employees to integrate AI into their work processes. Despite the extensive research that has explored AI applications in the workplace, limited attention has been paid to the
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To address the challenges posed by AI technologies, an increasing number of organizations encourage or require employees to integrate AI into their work processes. Despite the extensive research that has explored AI applications in the workplace, limited attention has been paid to the role of AI awareness in shaping employees’ cognition, interaction behaviors with AI, and subsequent impacts. Drawing on self-construal theory, this study investigates how AI awareness influences employees’ in-role and extra-role performance. A multi-time-point analysis of data from 353 questionnaires reveals that employees’ AI awareness affects their perceived overqualification, which subsequently influences reflection on AI usage and dependence on AI usage, ultimately shaping their in-role and extra-role performance. Furthermore, employee–AI collaboration moderates the relationship between AI awareness and perceived overqualification. This study elucidates the mechanisms and boundary conditions through which AI awareness impacts employees’ performance, offering a more comprehensive perspective on AI awareness research and providing practical implications for promoting its positive effects while mitigating its negative consequences.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Employee Behavior on Digital-AI Transformation)
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The Effects of Hotel Employees’ Attitude Toward the Use of AI on Customer Orientation: The Role of Usage Attitudes and Proactive Personality
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Peng Wang and Yong Hou
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(2), 127; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15020127 - 24 Jan 2025
Abstract
Along with the development and application of artificial intelligence technology, intelligent services are also emerging in the travel industry. Especially in the tourism and hotel industry, many organizations have started to introduce AI to assist their employees. The purpose of this study is
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Along with the development and application of artificial intelligence technology, intelligent services are also emerging in the travel industry. Especially in the tourism and hotel industry, many organizations have started to introduce AI to assist their employees. The purpose of this study is to explore the effects of employees’ perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use of AI on customer orientation, and further analyze the mediating role of attitudes toward use and the moderating role of a proactive personality. A questionnaire was administered to hotel employees in Liaoning Province, China, and hypothesis testing was conducted using SPSS 24.0 and AMOS 22.0. It was found that the perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use significantly and positively influenced usage attitudes and customer orientation. The usage attitudes mediated between perceived usefulness/perceived ease of use and customer orientation. Proactive personality moderated the effects of perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use on usage attitudes. This study not only theoretically enriches the research related to technology acceptance modeling, but also practically provides suggestions for hotel managers to manage their employees after the introduction of AI.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Employee Behavior on Digital-AI Transformation)
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Occupational Burnout and Insomnia in Relation to Psychological Resilience Among Greek Nurses in the Post-Pandemic Era
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Christos Sikaras, Argyro Pachi, Sofia Alikanioti, Ioannis Ilias, Eleni Paraskevi Sideri, Athanasios Tselebis and Aspasia Panagiotou
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(2), 126; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15020126 - 24 Jan 2025
Abstract
Recent studies indicate that nurses experienced high levels of occupational burnout and insomnia during and after the pandemic and highlight resilience as a crucial competence for overcoming adversity. The aim of this study was to assess occupational burnout, insomnia, and psychological resilience and
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Recent studies indicate that nurses experienced high levels of occupational burnout and insomnia during and after the pandemic and highlight resilience as a crucial competence for overcoming adversity. The aim of this study was to assess occupational burnout, insomnia, and psychological resilience and to explore their interrelations among Greek nurses 14 months after the official ending of the pandemic which was declared in May 2023. The study was conducted online in July 2024 and included 380 nurses currently working in Greek hospitals, who completed the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI), the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), and the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS). Overall, 56.1% of the nurses exhibited insomnia symptoms and 46.8% displayed signs of occupational burnout. Low resilience scores were observed in 26.3%. Multiple regression analysis indicated that CBI explained 34.4% of the variance in the AIS scores, while an additional 3% was explained by the BRS. Mediation analysis revealed that resilience operates protectively as a negative mediator in the relationship between burnout and insomnia. In conclusion, one year after the end of the pandemic the levels of occupational burnout and insomnia among nurses remain high, whereas psychological resilience seems to be retained at moderate levels. Consequently, there is an urgent need to regularly monitor for risk of burnout and insomnia and to implement resilience-building strategies for nurses to combat burnout and improve insomnia symptoms.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stress, Anxiety, and Depression among Healthcare Workers)
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Cognitive Mechanisms Underlying Memory Advantages in Bridge Experts: Based on Suit Categorization and Honor Card Rules
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Yanzhe Liu, Yan Liu, Bingjie Zhao and Qihan Zhang
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(2), 125; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15020125 - 24 Jan 2025
Abstract
To explore the memory advantage and the underlying mechanisms of bridge experts, this study conducted two experiments. Experiment 1 investigated the effects of the suit categorization rule and the rank ordering rule on the memory performance of bridge experts when memorizing hands. The
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To explore the memory advantage and the underlying mechanisms of bridge experts, this study conducted two experiments. Experiment 1 investigated the effects of the suit categorization rule and the rank ordering rule on the memory performance of bridge experts when memorizing hands. The findings revealed that the suit categorization rule significantly influenced the memory advantage of bridge experts, regardless of whether the task involved recognition or free recall. Conversely, the rank ordering rule had no discernible effect on their memory performance, though the honor card information within this rule notably impacted their memory. Building on the first experiment, Experiment 2 further examined the roles of visual familiarity induced by the suit categorization and honor card rules, alongside the abstract knowledge embedded in these rules, on the memory performance of bridge experts. The results demonstrated that visual familiarity influenced recognition among bridge experts, while both visual familiarity and abstract knowledge jointly contributed to recall performance. These research findings concurrently support both chunking/template theory and SEEK theory.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity for Psychological and Cognitive Development—Second Edition)
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Perceptual, Not Attentional, Guidance Drives Happy Superiority in Complex Visual Search
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Sjoerd M. Stuit, M. Alejandra Pardo Sanchez and David Terburg
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(2), 124; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15020124 - 24 Jan 2025
Abstract
Emotional facial expressions are thought to attract attention differentially based on their emotional content. While anger is thought to attract the most attention during visual search, happy superiority effects are reported as well. As multiple studies point out confounds associated with such emotional
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Emotional facial expressions are thought to attract attention differentially based on their emotional content. While anger is thought to attract the most attention during visual search, happy superiority effects are reported as well. As multiple studies point out confounds associated with such emotional superiority, further investigation into the underlying mechanisms is required. Here, we tested visual search behaviors when searching for angry faces, happy faces, or either happy or angry faces simultaneously using diverse distractors displaying many other expressions. We teased apart visual search behaviors into attentional and perceptual components using eye-tracking data and subsequently predicted these behaviors using low-level visual features of the distractors. The results show an overall happy superiority effect that can be traced back to the time required to identify distractors and targets. Search behavior is guided by task-based, emotion-specific search templates that are reliably predictable based on the spatial frequency content. Thus, when searching, we employ specific templates that drive attentional as well as perceptual elements of visual search. Only the perceptual elements contribute to happy superiority. In conclusion, we show that template-guided search underlies perceptual, but not attentional, happy superiority in visual search.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Understanding Facial Expression Processing: New Methods, Measures and Models)
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Becoming a Researcher: An Empirical Study on the Factors Influencing Chinese PhD Students’ Research Career Intentions
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Xingqi Luo, Jie Yin, Yang Zou, Xianwei Liu, Wanli Ma and Yichu Deng
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(2), 123; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15020123 - 24 Jan 2025
Abstract
Increasing the attractiveness of research careers for PhD students has been a key objective of science, technology, and innovation policies worldwide. This study draws on an expanded career construction theory framework to examine the effects of proactive personality, employability social capital, and career
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Increasing the attractiveness of research careers for PhD students has been a key objective of science, technology, and innovation policies worldwide. This study draws on an expanded career construction theory framework to examine the effects of proactive personality, employability social capital, and career adaptability on PhD students’ research career intentions as well as the moderating role of gender in this structural model. We collected data from 795 Chinese PhD students at 10 universities via an online questionnaire survey. Structural equation modeling analysis revealed that proactive personality had no significant direct effect on research career intentions; however, it could influence research career intentions indirectly via the separate and chain mediating effects of employability social capital and career adaptability. In addition, gender was shown to moderate the relationship between employability social capital and research career intentions. The theoretical and practical implications of this research are highlighted, and recommendations for future research are discussed.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue External Influences in Adolescents’ Career Development)
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Interaction Between Social Support and Muscle Dysmorphia: The Role of Self-Efficacy and Social Media Use
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Fiorenza Giordano, Danilo Calaresi, Loriana Castellani, Valeria Verrastro, Tommaso Feraco and Valeria Saladino
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(2), 122; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15020122 - 24 Jan 2025
Abstract
Muscle dysmorphia (MD) consists of a type of body dysmorphic disorder and involves a distorted perception of one’s muscles, strict diets, and workouts. Mostly, studies focus on adult male athletes, especially bodybuilders, while research on adolescents and women is limited. Our study aims
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Muscle dysmorphia (MD) consists of a type of body dysmorphic disorder and involves a distorted perception of one’s muscles, strict diets, and workouts. Mostly, studies focus on adult male athletes, especially bodybuilders, while research on adolescents and women is limited. Our study aims to explore potential protective or risk factors influencing MD, using a mediation model calculated through Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and at the same time help to involve female individuals in the exploration of a distress traditionally and predominantly analyzed only in male individuals. The model examines whether problematic social media use (PSMU) and generalized self-efficacy (GSE) are potential first- and second-level mediators, respectively, in the relationship between perceived social support (PSS) and MD. The sample consisted of 2325 individuals of both sexes aged 14–29 years. Structural equation models were used to assess effect sizes, regressions, and direct and indirect effects of perceived social support on muscle dysmorphia and general self-efficacy both on problematic social media use and muscle dysmorphia. Our results suggest that inadequate perceived social support may reduce individuals’ perceived effectiveness in managing daily challenges, potentially leading to problematic use of social media, which may contribute to muscle dysmorphia symptoms. Future interventions could promote a healthier perception of one’s body, improving confidence in individuals’ coping strategies and strengthening the social environment of reference.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychological Well-Being and Mental Health)
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Relationship Between Ethical Climate and Burnout: A New Approach Through Work Autonomy
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Carlos Santiago-Torner, Mònica González-Carrasco and Rafael Miranda-Ayala
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(2), 121; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15020121 - 24 Jan 2025
Abstract
Burnout is a factor that affects organizational performance. Researchers have not determined whether an ethical climate and adequate work autonomy provide sufficient emotional stability to dampen burnout or, conversely, increase it. In addition, the abundant literature analyzing the relationship between work autonomy and
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Burnout is a factor that affects organizational performance. Researchers have not determined whether an ethical climate and adequate work autonomy provide sufficient emotional stability to dampen burnout or, conversely, increase it. In addition, the abundant literature analyzing the relationship between work autonomy and burnout does not sufficiently establish whether it acts as a stress-reducing resource or a stress-increasing demand. It is also unknown to what extent work autonomy contributes to explaining the relationship between ethical climate and burnout. Therefore, the main aim of this study is to examine the relationship between an ethical climate based on principles and norms and burnout using the moderating effect of work autonomy. We approached this question using a multivariate moderation analysis. The sample consists of 448 employees in the Colombian electric sector. The results show that an ethical climate of principles and work autonomy are positively related to burnout, measured by the dimensions of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization. However, the relationship between an ethical climate of principles and burnout shifts from positive to negative when a rule-demanding work environment is associated with a high perception of work autonomy. In conclusion, when employees have considerable control over their usual tasks, they develop a pattern of behavior that incorporates both the organization’s internal standards and the principles that shape individual morality. In this case, employees are able to balance the workload with the high psychological demands of an ethical climate of principles, without it being a disturbance to their emotional well-being. The results of this research are particularly relevant because they show for the first time that an ethical climate of principles can have opposite effects on employee burnout, both positive and negative, depending on the degree of work autonomy. This opens the door to new strategies for organizations to prevent certain psychosocial occupational risks, such as burnout, which often have a serious impact on employees’ mental health. Moreover, the model of moderation proposed in this article can be replicated in other Latin American countries with similar characteristics to those of Colombia or even transferred to rich countries.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Healthy Work Environment: Employee Well-Being and Job Satisfaction)
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Open AccessArticle
Impact of Perpetrator and Victim Gender on Perceptions of Stalking Severity
by
Megan Brenik, Ana-Cristina Tuluceanu, Emma Smillie, Luan Carpes Barros Cassal, Caroline Mead and Dara Mojtahedi
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(2), 120; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15020120 - 24 Jan 2025
Abstract
Many individuals will dismiss the seriousness of ex-partner stalking offences, often as a result of inaccurate and problematic beliefs about the offence (stalking myths). However, to date, stalking myth acceptance measurements have only considered attitudes about stereotypical stalking (male stalking a female). The
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Many individuals will dismiss the seriousness of ex-partner stalking offences, often as a result of inaccurate and problematic beliefs about the offence (stalking myths). However, to date, stalking myth acceptance measurements have only considered attitudes about stereotypical stalking (male stalking a female). The current research considered whether inaccurate and problematic perceptions of stalking were dependent on the gender and sexuality of the perpetrator, victim, and participant. Additionally, it examined whether existing stalking myth acceptance scales measuring stereotypical stalking attitudes would predict perceptions of stalking incidents that involved female stalkers and/or male victims. Participants (N = 336) completed the stalking myth acceptance scale and then responded to a series of questions measuring their perceptions towards a stalking vignette. An independent groups design was used to manipulate the gender of the stalker and victim. The need for police intervention was greatest for incidents involving a male stalker and a female victim. Female victims of male stalking were predicted as being the most fearful, whilst male victims of female stalking were rated as least likely to be fearful. Heterosexual males and participants with minority sexual orientations were also more likely to identify the perpetrator’s actions as stalking. Finally, the SMA scales predicted participants’ attitudes for stereotypical stalking cases but not for the other scenarios. The findings demonstrate that gender plays a significant role in stalking perceptions and highlights the need for more inclusive SMA measurements to consider problematic attitudes towards non-stereotypical stalking.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Contemporary Developments in Attitudes and Interactions with Victims of Crime)
Open AccessReview
Mindfulness, Loving-Kindness, and Compassion-Based Meditation Interventions and Adult Attachment Orientations: A Systematic Map
by
Taranah Gazder, Erica Ruby Drummond, Mine Gelegen and Sarah C. E. Stanton
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(2), 119; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15020119 - 24 Jan 2025
Abstract
Meditation interventions have important benefits, including potentially helping those with higher attachment anxiety and avoidance enjoy better personal and relational growth. This preregistered and reproducible systematic map sought to identify the extent and scope of experimental evidence investigating the role of mindfulness, loving-kindness,
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Meditation interventions have important benefits, including potentially helping those with higher attachment anxiety and avoidance enjoy better personal and relational growth. This preregistered and reproducible systematic map sought to identify the extent and scope of experimental evidence investigating the role of mindfulness, loving-kindness, and compassion-based multi-session meditation interventions in (a) moderating the effects of attachment orientations on outcomes over time and/or (b) changing attachment orientations over time. We conducted a systematic map, as the literature on meditation interventions and attachment is nascent. We searched 5 databases, screening 725 studies. We extracted data from four journal articles and one dissertation (five studies in total) which met our inclusion criteria. Four studies examined the effects of meditation interventions on buffering attachment insecurity and one examined attachment security enhancement. All five studies included a mindfulness meditation intervention, and one included a loving-kindness meditation intervention. All studies were conducted in Western cultures. Studies primarily found evidence for interventions benefitting those with higher attachment anxiety, although some evidence emerged for higher attachment avoidance. Our systematic map highlights a critical need for further application of meditation interventions in an attachment and personal growth context, given the promising nature of early work in this area.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Experiences and Well-Being in Personal Growth)
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