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Methods Employed in Studies Identifying “Levels” of Test Anxiety in University Students: A Systematic Review
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Choosing One’s Words: Conversational Indirectness and Humor Style in Two Distinct Cultural Groups
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Why Does Intimate Partner Violence Cause Sexual Risk Taking? The Emergence of Avoidant Tendencies
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.
- Companion journal: International Journal of Cognitive Sciences
Impact Factor:
2.5 (2023);
5-Year Impact Factor:
2.7 (2023)
Latest Articles
Coping with Job Resources for Female Employees’ Thriving at Work: A Mediated Moderation Model of Benevolent Sexism and Self-Efficacy
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(5), 640; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15050640 - 8 May 2025
Abstract
Building on the work–home resources model, this study develops a mediated moderation model to examine how benevolent sexism within intimate relationships influences female employees’ thriving at work through job resources and self-efficacy. In this cross-sectional study, we surveyed 209 married female employees from
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Building on the work–home resources model, this study develops a mediated moderation model to examine how benevolent sexism within intimate relationships influences female employees’ thriving at work through job resources and self-efficacy. In this cross-sectional study, we surveyed 209 married female employees from six Chinese public hospitals and their spouses via online questionnaires between April and July 2023. To mitigate common method bias, we implemented a two-wave data collection approach with a one-month interval. We employed confirmatory factor analysis, Pearson’s correlation, and multiple regression to test the hypothesized relationships. The results support the proposed model, indicating that benevolent sexism within intimate relationships moderates the positive effect of job resources on thriving at work, such that this relationship weakens when benevolent sexism within intimate relationships is high. Furthermore, this moderating effect is mediated by self-efficacy, as benevolent sexism within intimate relationships undermines female employees’ self-efficacy, thereby limiting their ability to leverage job resources effectively. These findings highlight the need for human resource managers to consider the personal circumstances of female employees and implement targeted interventions to facilitate their optimal utilization of job resources, thereby enhancing their ability to thrive in both professional and domestic domains.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Social Psychology)
Open AccessArticle
The Influence of Communication Modality on the “Saying-Is-Believing” Effect
by
Rui Yin and Xianyun Liu
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(5), 639; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15050639 - 8 May 2025
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In communication, people adjust their information expression based on the audience’s attitude toward a topic, which is known as the audience-tuning effect. This effect also leads individuals to develop memory biases favoring the audience’s attitude, a process termed the “saying-is-believing” (SIB) effect. This
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In communication, people adjust their information expression based on the audience’s attitude toward a topic, which is known as the audience-tuning effect. This effect also leads individuals to develop memory biases favoring the audience’s attitude, a process termed the “saying-is-believing” (SIB) effect. This study validates the SIB effect using a classical paradigm based on shared reality theory. Additionally, it explores the impact of different communication modalities on the SIB effect, considering the information dissemination context in the internet era and the unique characteristic of “visual anonymity” in online communication compared to offline communication. A two-factor mixed experimental design with 2 (audience’s attitude: positive, negative) × 2 (communication modality: online, offline) was employed. The following results were found: (1) The SIB effect exists, meaning that people adjust their descriptions and recalls based on the audience’s attitude. (2) Communication modality and the audience’s attitude interactively influence the SIB effect, with a greater deviation in description and recall valence when the audience’s attitude is negative (positive) in online (offline) compared to offline (online) communication. In summary, online communication is more likely to generate negative information than offline communication. This study enriches and expands the research field of the SIB effect, filling the gap in cross-media comparisons within this field. Moreover, it further enhances individuals’ understanding of online and offline communication modalities, which has certain guiding significance for enhancing work and learning effectiveness, improving the internet environment, and supporting enterprise management. Future research can further subdivide communication modalities, improve the classical paradigm to make it more practical, and incorporate neural technologies to delve deeper into the influencing factors and underlying mechanisms of the SIB effect.
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Open AccessOpinion
Character Virtues: Toward a Functionalist Perspective on Character Virtue Science
by
Navrose Bajwa and Vincent Ng
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(5), 638; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15050638 - 7 May 2025
Abstract
Contemporary psychology often reduces virtue to stable traits or observable behaviors, overlooking the motivational core that has long been central to classical virtue ethics. However, focusing narrowly on behaviors without considering intent is insufficient for virtue assessment because similar behaviors can stem from
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Contemporary psychology often reduces virtue to stable traits or observable behaviors, overlooking the motivational core that has long been central to classical virtue ethics. However, focusing narrowly on behaviors without considering intent is insufficient for virtue assessment because similar behaviors can stem from vastly different intentions, and both the behavior and its intention is definitional to what behaviors are considered virtuous. We draw on Aristotle’s five character types—beastly, vicious, incontinent, continent, and virtuous—in this paper. In doing so, we ultimately argue that a functionalist approach to character research is not only a useful alternative to the trait approach, but necessary to more fully capture the character virtues construct. At the same time, we recognize an epistemic boundary: psychology can only observe manifestations and reports of virtue, never virtue itself. We therefore distinguish carefully between descriptive evidence and the normative judgments required to label any act ‘virtuous’.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Picturing Morality from Multidisciplinary Perspectives—Second Edition)
Open AccessArticle
Short Videos Turn Everyone into Bearers of Traditional Sports and Games: A Mixed-Methods Study from China
by
Shuangshuang Liu, Yifan Zuo, Sirong Chen, Rob Law and Jiabao Cui
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(5), 637; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15050637 - 7 May 2025
Abstract
The emergence of short video applications (“apps”) has facilitated the dissemination, inheritance, and protection of traditional sports and games (TSGs). However, the effectiveness of these apps in raising public awareness and responsibility toward the preservation and heritage of TSGs has received insufficient research
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The emergence of short video applications (“apps”) has facilitated the dissemination, inheritance, and protection of traditional sports and games (TSGs). However, the effectiveness of these apps in raising public awareness and responsibility toward the preservation and heritage of TSGs has received insufficient research attention. This study constructs a theoretical model based on value-belief-norm theory and the theory of planned behavior, employing both PLS-SEM and fsQCA methods to empirically analyze 417 questionnaires. The results indicate that the PLS-SEM method identifies key factors influencing users’ responsible behaviors toward TSGs on short video apps, along with the complex and interdependent relationships among these factors. The fsQCA method reveals the intricate interactions and nonlinear effects of the antecedents on users’ responsible behaviors and identifies six configurations that drive high-level TSG responsible behaviors among users. This paper extends research on public responsible behaviors concerning TSGs and provides important practical guidance for government managers, inheritors, and conservation entities in the protection and heritage of TSGs.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The “Constructive” Side of Media: Promoting Prosocial Behavior, Well-Being, and Health)
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Open AccessBrief Report
The Role of Sex Differences in the Link Between Emotion Regulation and Psychological Well-Being During a Major Mental Health Crisis
by
Zeyi Zang, Florin Dolcos, Kelly Hohl, Paul C. Bogdan and Sanda Dolcos
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(5), 636; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15050636 - 7 May 2025
Abstract
Emotion regulation (ER) strategies, such as reappraisal and suppression, have been linked to psychological well-being. The available evidence points to the differential impact of ER strategies on resilience and post-traumatic growth (PTG), as factors related to well-being, as well as to sex differences
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Emotion regulation (ER) strategies, such as reappraisal and suppression, have been linked to psychological well-being. The available evidence points to the differential impact of ER strategies on resilience and post-traumatic growth (PTG), as factors related to well-being, as well as to sex differences in the link between ER preference and well-being. However, previous studies are mixed regarding these links. To address this issue, college students (N = 1254) recruited between 2020 and 2023 reported their habitual use of ER strategies, resilience and PTG during the COVID-19 pandemic, which, as a global health crisis, has raised not only severe physical health concerns but also mental distress. First, reappraisal was positively associated with both resilience and PTG, whereas suppression was negatively correlated with these measures. Second, female participants had lower suppression scores and higher PTG scores than male participants. Third, a moderation analysis showed that the positive relationship between reappraisal and PTG was stronger in female participants, whereas the negative relationship between suppression and PTG was stronger in male participants. Overall, these findings shed light on the links among ER strategies, resilience, and PTG and have relevance for customized training in the use of reappraisal to increase well-being in women and men.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Cognitive Processes Underpinning Resilience in Individuals Exposed to Adversity)
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Open AccessArticle
Influence of Information Sources and Group Norms on University Students’ Online Rumor Refuting Behavior During Public Health Emergencies
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Hongmei Xia, Zitong Xing and Yu Liu
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(5), 635; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15050635 - 7 May 2025
Abstract
In the digital era, social media proliferation accelerates rumor dissemination. During public health emergencies, such misinformation intensifies social harm. Studying the influencing factors of online rumor refutation behavior thus becomes crucial. This study uses the stimulus–organism–response (SOR) theory as an analysis framework, based
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In the digital era, social media proliferation accelerates rumor dissemination. During public health emergencies, such misinformation intensifies social harm. Studying the influencing factors of online rumor refutation behavior thus becomes crucial. This study uses the stimulus–organism–response (SOR) theory as an analysis framework, based on the perspective of information sources and integrating group norms as a moderating factor, to explore the psychological processes affecting Chinese university students’ online rumor refuting in public health emergencies. Against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, a questionnaire survey was conducted on 1017 respondents, and the collected data were analyzed using the structural equation modeling research method. The results indicate that both online and offline information seeking positively influence university students’ fear of contracting the COVID-19 virus. University students’ fear positively influences their engagement in online rumor refuting. Notably, fear mediates the link between online and offline information seeking and online rumor refuting. Additionally, group norms help strengthen the connection between university students’ fear and their involvement in online refuting rumors. These results provide theoretical explanations and practical guidance for university students to refute rumors online.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Social Psychology)
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Open AccessArticle
Fear/Anxiety and Sleep Deprivation Combine to Predict Courage
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Jeffrey A. Gibbons, Brenna E. McManus, Ella C. White and Akihaya M. Gibbons
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(5), 634; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15050634 - 6 May 2025
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The current study examined the combined effects of sleep deprivation and anxiety on participants’ willingness to act courageously in both heroic and everyday situations. The participants consisted of 256 undergraduate students between the ages of 18 to 25 years old seeking regular and
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The current study examined the combined effects of sleep deprivation and anxiety on participants’ willingness to act courageously in both heroic and everyday situations. The participants consisted of 256 undergraduate students between the ages of 18 to 25 years old seeking regular and extra credit for their psychology classes through SONA. Following informed consent, the participants completed demographic questionnaires through Qualtrics, as well as the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and an adapted version of the Woodard Pury Courage Scale-23 (WPCS-23). The adapted Woodard Pury Courage Scale-23 measures participants’ willingness to engage in challenging tasks that require either heroic or everyday courage and the fear they would experience when engaging in these tasks. The six measures of courage included willingness to engage in everyday, heroic, and both acts, as well as fear when engaging in these actions. Fear/anxiety by sleep interactions predicted every courage measure except for fear when engaging in daily courageous actions. The results supported the hypothesis that fear/anxiety and poor sleep would combine to predict courage, and their implications are discussed.
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Open AccessArticle
The First Digital Strategy-Based Method for Training of Executive Functions: Impact on Cognition and Behavioral and Emotional Regulation, and Academic Success in Children With and Without Psychosocial Risk
by
David Cáceres-González, Teresa Rossignoli-Palomeque and María Vaíllo Rodríguez
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(5), 633; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15050633 - 6 May 2025
Abstract
STap2Go is the first purely digital strategy-based method for the training of executive functions, making its evaluation relevant. This study assesses the effectiveness of this intervention in children with (at risk) and without (no-risk) psychosocial risk, which refers to socio-educational vulnerability, and examines
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STap2Go is the first purely digital strategy-based method for the training of executive functions, making its evaluation relevant. This study assesses the effectiveness of this intervention in children with (at risk) and without (no-risk) psychosocial risk, which refers to socio-educational vulnerability, and examines whether its impact differs between groups. A total of 124 children (9–12 years old) were randomly assigned to either an experimental or an active control group. Individual assessments and family questionnaires were administered (FDT, WISC-V, RIST, BRIEF-2). Both groups received a 12-week intervention. The experimental group showed significant improvements in executive functions, processing speed, IQ, academic performance, and emotional and behavioral regulation compared to the controls. Notably, IQ, metacognition, and working memory continued improving at follow-up, suggesting lasting effects. While both groups benefited, the effects were more pronounced in at-risk children, particularly in BRIEF-2 (Inhibition, Metacognition, Behavioral Regulation) and academic performance in mathematics and language. Moreover, the psychosocial risk control group showed a trend toward deterioration over time. The far transfer achieved thanks to digital strategy-based training seems to have a greater effect on at-risk children, and can be used to compensate for their difficulties.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Developing Cognitive and Executive Functions Across Lifespan)
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Open AccessArticle
Economic Rationality and Health Behavior: Investigating the Link Between Financial Literacy and the BMI
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Kota Ogura, Honoka Nabeshima, Tomoka Kiba, Sakiho Aizawa, Hibiki Nagahama, Haruka Izumi, Mostafa Saidur Rahim Khan and Yoshihiko Kadoya
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(5), 632; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15050632 - 6 May 2025
Abstract
Obesity is a major global health concern related to chronic diseases and rising healthcare costs. While previous studies focused on diet habits, environmental issues, and physical activity, financial literacy remains an overlooked factor in weight management. This study examined the relationship between financial
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Obesity is a major global health concern related to chronic diseases and rising healthcare costs. While previous studies focused on diet habits, environmental issues, and physical activity, financial literacy remains an overlooked factor in weight management. This study examined the relationship between financial literacy and the body mass index (BMI), using financial literacy as a proxy for rational health decision-making. A quantitative approach was employed, where linear regression analyzed the BMI as a continuous variable and a probit regression assessed overweight, normal weight, and underweight categories. A nationwide survey, the Preference Parameter Study, conducted by Osaka University, Japan, in the United States, provided the data for this study. The results indicate a significant negative association between financial literacy and the BMI, with higher financial literacy linked to a lower BMI and a greater likelihood of maintaining a normal weight. The key control variables, including impatience, gender, education, income, and smoking, also significantly affected the BMI. These findings reflect a strong correlation between financial literacy and the weight status; however, due to data limitations, causal inferences could not be made. We acknowledge the potential endogeneity and the cross-sectional nature of the data as limitations. Thus, while our results suggest a potential role for financial literacy in promoting rational health behavior, the policy implications should be interpreted with caution. Future research should explore targeted interventions across various demographic groups to maximize the impact.
Full article
Open AccessArticle
Exploring Interindividual Variability in Resilience to Stress: Social Support, Coping Styles, and Diurnal Cortisol in Older Adults
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Marie-Josée Richer, Sébastien Grenier and Pierrich Plusquellec
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(5), 631; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15050631 - 6 May 2025
Abstract
The psychobiological response to stress is known to be a key factor affecting health at any age, but especially in older adults. It involves the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, a hormonal circuit whose product is the activation of cortisol. We sought to explore the
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The psychobiological response to stress is known to be a key factor affecting health at any age, but especially in older adults. It involves the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, a hormonal circuit whose product is the activation of cortisol. We sought to explore the relationships leading to resilience to stress, as exemplified by the model of aging, stress, and resilience, in a sample of older adults at risk for mental health problems. Specifically, we examined the concurrent effects of individual age-related determinants, social support, and coping style on the cortisol awakening response (CAR), the cortisol area under the curve (AUC) with respect to ground, and the rate of change of cortisol from the awakening peak to bedtime. Our results showed an association between life impairment and health problems on the three indicators of HPA disturbance. An higher AUC was also observed in older age and in individuals reporting more major life events. Less use of avoidance coping was also associated with greater levels of CAR and AUC. Although significant, the measured determinant explained only a small part of the total interindividual variability in our three cortisol indices. Other factors, such as same-day stressors especially in older populations at risk for psychological distress, should be considered in future studies.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Biological Psychiatry)
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Open AccessArticle
The Social Context of Malevolent Creativity
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Harun Tadik, A. Kadir Bahar and Mark A. Runco
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(5), 630; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15050630 - 5 May 2025
Abstract
The purpose of the present study was to investigate the influence of social context and morality on malevolent creativity. The sample consisted of 217 (176 female, 41 male) undergraduate and graduate students in a Southeastern public research university in the U.S. Six different
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The purpose of the present study was to investigate the influence of social context and morality on malevolent creativity. The sample consisted of 217 (176 female, 41 male) undergraduate and graduate students in a Southeastern public research university in the U.S. Six different open-ended socially oriented problems (three Divergent Thinking (DT) Social Games and three DT Realistic Presented Problems tasks) were used to explore the way malevolent creativity differs in two sets of problem tasks. Realistic Presented Problems are constructed differently from Social Games tasks in such a way that they include unfair, disturbing, and threatening contextual factors, while Social Games problems have more neutral and everyday problem scenarios. Participants also completed the Self-Report of Creative Traits and morality measures. The findings of the study indicated that fluency and originality were related significantly to malevolent creativity. Further, social contexts in DT tasks led to a significant difference in malevolent creativity. Participants generated significantly more malevolent creative responses in Realistic Presented Problems than in Social Games tasks. The results also revealed that morality was significantly correlated with creative personality, but the results provided no evidence that morality moderates the relation between creativity indices and malevolent creativity.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue An Interdisciplinary Look at the Psychology and Neuroscience of Creativity)
Open AccessArticle
Moving Minds: How Physical Activity Shapes Motivation and Self-Concept in School Children
by
Slobodan Pavlović, Vladan Pelemiš, Marko Badrić, Dalibor Stević and Nebojša Mitrović
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(5), 629; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15050629 - 5 May 2025
Abstract
Background: This study aimed to investigate the differences in motivation and physical self-concept among pupils based on their level of physical activity during physical education classes. Methods: The research encompassed 398 pupils (aged 10 ± 0.3 years), including 211 boys and 187 girls,
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Background: This study aimed to investigate the differences in motivation and physical self-concept among pupils based on their level of physical activity during physical education classes. Methods: The research encompassed 398 pupils (aged 10 ± 0.3 years), including 211 boys and 187 girls, divided into three groups according to their level of physical activity during class (Group A—low; Group B—medium; Group C—high). The modified Self-Regulation Questionnaire was used to evaluate pupils’ motivational orientations, while the corresponding subscales of the Self-Perception Profile for Children (SPPC) were employed to measure physical self-concept. Pupils’ physical activity (measured in steps and intensity) during physical education classes was assessed using CoachGear pedometers and Suunto Memory Belt heart rate monitors. Results: The findings revealed significant differences between the groups of pupils of both genders concerning their physical activity levels during early school years. Notably, these differences were more pronounced in boys than in girls. Additionally, it was observed that less active pupils generally exhibited lower levels of motivation as well as lower physical self-concept scores. Conclusion: Pupils with higher levels of physical activity during physical education classes demonstrated greater motivation and a more positive physical self-concept, highlighting the crucial role of engagement in fostering both psychological and physical development. These findings underscore the need for well-structured and engaging physical education programs that support active participation and enhance pupils’ overall well-being.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity for Psychological and Cognitive Development—Second Edition)
Open AccessArticle
Modeling K12 Teachers’ Online Teaching Competency and Its Predictive Relationship with Performance—A Mixed-Methods Study Based on Behavioral Event Interviews
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Jun Tian and Wenhui Tian
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(5), 628; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15050628 - 5 May 2025
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This study constructs and validates a multidimensional online teaching competency model for K12 teachers through an integrated mixed-methods design. Combining behavioral event interviews (n = 38) with large-scale psychometric evaluation (n = 4378), we identified six hierarchically organized competency dimensions encompassing
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This study constructs and validates a multidimensional online teaching competency model for K12 teachers through an integrated mixed-methods design. Combining behavioral event interviews (n = 38) with large-scale psychometric evaluation (n = 4378), we identified six hierarchically organized competency dimensions encompassing 29 measurable elements. The model differentiates between 12 discriminative competencies and 17 baseline competencies, further categorized into explicit (knowledge, technical, instructional, management) and implicit (achievement orientation, individual traits) dimensions. Exploratory and confirmatory analyses validated the model’s robust multidimensional structure (CFI = 0.923, TLI = 0.914, RMSEA = 0.042). Structural equation modeling revealed significant competency-performance linkages, with 10 of 12 hypothesized paths attaining statistical significance (p < 0.05). Management competencies emerged as the strongest predictor of both process (β = 0.37) and outcome performance (β = 0.29), followed by instructional competencies (β = 0.31 and 0.24 respectively). The model provides empirically grounded guidance for developing online teaching norms, competency-based teacher training programs, and performance evaluation systems.
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Open AccessArticle
Social Workers’ Reports on Needs and Recommendations to Enhance School Safety
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Natalie Fensterstock, Kate R. Watson, Luz E. Robinson, Vanessa R. Warri, Anthony A. Garcia, Chaoyue Wu, Sawyer Hogenkamp, Yinuo Xu, Hannah Garner, Danielle Dunn, Ron Avi Astor, Dorothy L. Espelage, Susan D. McMahon, Linda A. Reddy, Andrew Martinez, Eric M. Anderman and Frank C. Worrell
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(5), 627; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15050627 - 4 May 2025
Abstract
Issues with school safety and violence have raised concerns that warrant attention from researchers, policy makers, and practitioners alike. In this study, we explored how school social workers—a group of school personnel who are understudied in the school violence literature—experience school safety and
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Issues with school safety and violence have raised concerns that warrant attention from researchers, policy makers, and practitioners alike. In this study, we explored how school social workers—a group of school personnel who are understudied in the school violence literature—experience school safety and violence in the United States. Using a sample of 271 school social workers, we analyzed qualitative responses to two open-ended survey questions: (a) What are the most concerning safety issues facing educators and staff in your school? (b) What policies, procedures, resources, or interventions are needed to better prevent or address violence in your school? Data were collected online between March and June 2022 by the American Psychological Association Task Force on Violence against Educators and School Personnel. Derived using a socioecological framework, findings reflect school social workers’ needs for workplace safety and perspectives on how to prevent and mitigate school violence at the school site, district, and community levels. Implications range from promoting strong relationships in schools and between the school and community to bolstering funding sources that can sustain programs, training, and staffing aimed at improving experiences for all students. The implications of our findings for future research and practice are presented.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Violence in the School Community: Students, Parents, Teachers, and Staff Members)
Open AccessArticle
Health Behaviors in the Context of Optimism and Self-Efficacy—The Role of Gender Differences: A Cross-Sectional Study in Polish Health Sciences Students
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Małgorzata Dębska-Janus, Michał Rozpara, Agnieszka Muchacka-Cymerman, Paweł Dębski and Rajmund Tomik
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(5), 626; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15050626 - 3 May 2025
Abstract
This study examines the roles of optimism and self-efficacy in influencing health behaviors among Polish health sciences students, with a focus on gender differences. A cross-sectional design was used with a sample of 318 students. The General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), the Life Orientation
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This study examines the roles of optimism and self-efficacy in influencing health behaviors among Polish health sciences students, with a focus on gender differences. A cross-sectional design was used with a sample of 318 students. The General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), the Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R), and the Health Behavior Inventory (HBI) were used to assess self-efficacy, optimism, and health behaviors’ (HB) intensity, respectively. The variation in the HB was significant concerning the level of dispositional optimism (F(2, 312) = 4.22, p = 0.016, η2p = 0.03). LOT-R results turned out to be a statistically significant condition for higher frequency of positive mental attitude (PMA) behaviors and preventive actions (PAs). Gender differences were observed: higher scores of PMA and PhA were more frequent among men, whilst women were characterized with higher PA. The effect of gender and both GSES and LOT-R for the HBI results was statistically significant in two subscales (with LOT-R for PhA and with GSES for PA). These findings enhance the understanding of psychological determinants of health behaviors and suggest practical implications for educational and public health strategies. Gender turned out to be a significant determinant of some relationships between health behaviors and the examined dispositions in Polish health sciences students.
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(This article belongs to the Section Health Psychology)
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Open AccessArticle
The Impact of Parenting Avoidance (IPA): Scale Development and Psychometric Evaluation Among Parents of Transgender Youth
by
Haley R. Hedrick, Stephanie V. Caldas and Danielle N. Moyer
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(5), 625; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15050625 - 3 May 2025
Abstract
Parental support and acceptance are strong protective factors for better mental health outcomes among transgender and gender diverse youth. Psychological inflexibility, specifically in the role of parenting, or “parenting inflexibility”, refers to an over-reliance on avoidance strategies at the expense of parenting values.
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Parental support and acceptance are strong protective factors for better mental health outcomes among transgender and gender diverse youth. Psychological inflexibility, specifically in the role of parenting, or “parenting inflexibility”, refers to an over-reliance on avoidance strategies at the expense of parenting values. Parenting inflexibility may be related to parental support, making it a useful target of intervention for parents of transgender youth. The aim of the present study was to develop a brief clinically useful measure of parenting inflexibility based on a synthesis of existing measures and to evaluate the psychometric properties across two study populations. Study 1 used exploratory factor analysis to examine this measure among parents in the general population recruited using MTurk. Study 2 used confirmatory factor analysis to examine the measure among parents of transgender youth recruited from a clinic. The final measure, the Impact of Parenting Avoidance (IPA) scale, is a one-factor 7-item measure of parenting inflexibility that is easy to administer and interpret in a pediatric health setting. The resulting measure demonstrated acceptable reliability, and it was significantly correlated with important outcome variables, such as negative parenting practices and lower perceived parental support among transgender and gender diverse youth.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychological Flexibility for Health and Wellbeing)
Open AccessArticle
Strong Association of Perceived Chronic Stress with Leadership Quality, Work–Privacy Conflict and Quantitative Work Demands: Results of the IMPROVEjob Study
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Julian Göbel, Lukas Degen, Karen Minder, Monika A. Rieger and Birgitta M. Weltermann
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(5), 624; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15050624 - 3 May 2025
Abstract
The health of primary care professionals is crucial for the health of populations. A lower number of general practitioners per 1000 patients correlates with higher patient mortality. Challenging work demands, work–privacy conflict, and poor leadership quality are associated with higher perceived chronic stress
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The health of primary care professionals is crucial for the health of populations. A lower number of general practitioners per 1000 patients correlates with higher patient mortality. Challenging work demands, work–privacy conflict, and poor leadership quality are associated with higher perceived chronic stress and/or burnout in physician populations. However, studies investigating the influence of all three factors in a single quantitative model are lacking. This study analysed the associations between the mentioned parameters and perceived chronic stress among general practice personnel based on baseline data of the cluster-randomized IMPROVEjob study. It comprised 60 German general practices with 366 participants (84 general practice leaders, 28 employed physicians, 254 practice assistants). Perceived chronic stress (TICS-SSCS), leadership quality (LMX-7, FIF), work–privacy conflict (COPSOQ), and quantitative and emotional work demands (COPSOQ) were measured with validated questionnaires. The factors associated with lower perceived chronic stress were identified using a multilevel regression model approach. The model showed a significant association with less work–privacy conflict (p < 0.001, β = 0.31), lower quantitative work demands (p < 0.001, β = 0.28), and good leadership quality (p < 0.001, β = −0.22). Especially transformational leadership with the dimension ‘innovation of the leader’ was associated with lower perceived chronic stress. The data support the importance of high-quality leadership as a protective factor for perceived chronic stress among general practice personnel, which needs to be considered in future leadership interventions in this setting.
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Open AccessArticle
The Influence of Identity Within-Person and Between Behaviours: A 12-Week Repeated Measures Study
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Kristie-Lee R. Alfrey, Matthew Condie and Amanda L. Rebar
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(5), 623; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15050623 - 3 May 2025
Abstract
People act in ways that align with the values and roles that constitute their identity. However, the consistency of identity’s influence across different behaviours, and whether identity influences behaviours directly or indirectly via intention, self-determined motivation, or habit, remains uncertain. Participants (N
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People act in ways that align with the values and roles that constitute their identity. However, the consistency of identity’s influence across different behaviours, and whether identity influences behaviours directly or indirectly via intention, self-determined motivation, or habit, remains uncertain. Participants (N = 98; Mage = 30.4 years, SD = 11.7 years) completed up to 12 weekly surveys, self-reporting engagement in physical activity, student, and support-seeking behaviours, and behaviour-associated identity, intention strength, self-determined motivation, and habit. Stepwise multilevel models tested the between- and within-person associations of identity with behaviour, and whether the relationships remained after accounting for intention, self-determined motivation, and habit. Results suggested identity as stable, with the most variability at the between-person level. Identity was associated with behaviour at both within- and between-person levels, with the exception that support seeking and identity were only associated between-person. For student behaviour and physical activity, the identity–behaviour relationship at the within-person level waned and became non-significant after accounting for intention, but not self-determined motivation or habit. These findings highlight that identity may be difficult to change. However, as identity is associated with a range of behaviours, a person’s identification with a particular behaviour may be valuable for tailoring behaviour change interventions, specifically through or in the same way as behavioural intentions.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychology of Health Behavior Change)
Open AccessArticle
Alcohol Misuse: Integrating Personality Traits and Decision-Making Styles for Profiling
by
Luis F. García, Lara Cuevas, Oscar García, Ferran Balada and Anton Aluja
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(5), 622; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15050622 - 2 May 2025
Abstract
The literature has described how different and independent personality profiles (pathways or motives) lead to the same outcome: alcohol misuse. In addition, decision-making styles could also play a role in understanding alcohol misuse better, although the evidence is much more scarce compared to
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The literature has described how different and independent personality profiles (pathways or motives) lead to the same outcome: alcohol misuse. In addition, decision-making styles could also play a role in understanding alcohol misuse better, although the evidence is much more scarce compared to personality traits. The present paper aims to test how personality traits and decision-making styles could be integrated to better understand different pathways/profiles of alcohol misuse. Measures of alcohol misuse (AUDIT and RAPI), structural personality models (ZKA-PQ/SF), impulsivity (BIS-11 and UPPS-P), and decision-making styles (GDMS) were applied to a sample of 988 individuals from the Spanish general population (446 of them also completed the NEO-PI-R). Exploratory factor analyses support the identification of different pathways to alcohol misuse, and regression analyses suggest that decision-making styles add little variance to personality traits to account for differences in alcohol misuse, although the spontaneous style is consistently associated with alcohol misuse. The conclusions highlight the need to consider different aetiologies of alcohol misuse, especially an antisocial/disinhibited profile, and claim for the assessment of decision-making styles and, especially, personality traits to facilitate more successful treatment and prevention programs for alcohol misuse.
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(This article belongs to the Section Biological Psychiatry)
Open AccessArticle
Mechanisms from Growth Mindset to Psychological Well-Being of Chinese Primary School Students: The Serial Mediating Role of Grit and Academic Self-Efficacy
by
Yicen Meng, Yan Sun, Lizhu Yang and Yasmin Othman Mydin
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(5), 621; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15050621 - 2 May 2025
Abstract
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The psychological well-being of primary school students holds significant value for their academic success and overall life development. A growth mindset is one of the critical factors influencing psychological well-being, yet the mechanisms through which a growth mindset exerts its impact remain underexplored.
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The psychological well-being of primary school students holds significant value for their academic success and overall life development. A growth mindset is one of the critical factors influencing psychological well-being, yet the mechanisms through which a growth mindset exerts its impact remain underexplored. This study investigates the relationship between growth mindset and psychological well-being, focusing on the mediating role of grit and academic self-efficacy among primary school students. A sample of 301 students from a primary school in Northeast China was selected via convenience sampling. Data were collected using validated questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS 26.0. Serial mediation analysis was performed with Hayes’ PROCESS macro (Model 6, V4.0). Results indicated that growth mindset indirectly predicted psychological well-being through grit and academic self-efficacy. Both constructs served as individual mediators and acted as serial mediators in the pathway from growth mindset to psychological well-being, fully bridging the connection. These findings suggest that fostering a growth mindset, along with grit and academic self-efficacy, can enhance psychological well-being among primary school students. Educators and policymakers are encouraged to implement interventions targeting these factors to support students’ overall development.
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