European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education

The purpose of this study was to examine the explanatory power of a predictive model of bully/perpetrator behaviour in Romanian athletes, consisting of negative pre-competitive emotions (anxiety, sadness, and anger), perception of male gender normativity, and relationships with coaches and teammates. Additionally, we aimed to explore the mediation effect of bully–victim behaviour on the relationship between athletes’ connections with their coaches and bully/perpetrator behaviour. The current research involved a nonexperimental, cross-sectional design exploring the presence of bully/perpetrator behaviour in Romanian male and female athletes. The quantitative methodology was used to collect and analyse the data obtained. Researchers translated, adapted and pretested the questionnaire set to the Romanian cultural background (SEQ, MAMS, CART-Q, In-group Ties Scale, BSQ) before distributing it to 448 participants. 58.7% were male participants, and 41.3% were female participants. The mean age was 21.15 (SDage = 2.37, range = 18–32). The research was conducted in the first half of 2023. SPSS (V. 20) and Hayes’s PROCESS tool were used to investigate the data. The findings demonstrated that in the case of Romanian male athletes, perception of male gender normativity, anger, and weaker connections with coaches are the most important psychological factors in predicting bully/perpetrator behaviour. In contrast, in the case of Romanian female athletes, only weaker connections with coaches and perception of male gender normativity play an essential role in explaining bully/perpetrator behaviour. Additionally, the study demonstrated that bully–victim behaviour mediates the relationship between athletes’ weaker connections with their coaches and bully/perpetrator behaviour. Athletes’ weaker connections with their coaches lead to experiencing a high level of bully/perpetrator behaviour by stressing bully–victim behaviour, which also contributes to achieving a high level of bully/perpetrator behaviour. Full article

Numerous complications of type 1 diabetes (T1D) may be prevented through suitable glycemic control. Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) may be one of the markers for the early detection of the metabolic imbalance characteristic of the disease. However, optimal control of diabetes is not achieved in a large group of patients. It was demonstrated that numerous factors (sociodemographic, psychological, and clinical) contributed to this condition. The aim of the study was to identify factors influencing the control of diabetes measured via glycated hemoglobin concentrations in people with T1D. Independent factors influencing better diabetes control measured via HbA1c in the study group included higher disease acceptance, higher nutritional adherence, lower BMI, and a lower risk of eating disorders. Describing the determinants will allow for the improvement of the system of care provided to people with T1D and for it to comprise important psychological variables related to self-care and acceptance of the disease. Full article

Digital addiction (DA), an umbrella term referring to addiction to any type of digital media, such as the internet, smartphone, digital games, and social media, is a significant factor influencing students’ academic achievement (AA). Many scholars have contributed to this line of research from around the world. Nevertheless, the literature lacks a holistic investigation of how the DA–AA research field evolved, which could guide future studies. The current study aims to address this void and conducts a combined bibliometric and science mapping analysis of research addressing the relationship between DA and AA. Data were retrieved from the WoS database, considered one of the optimal databases for such studies with its comprehensive coverage of quality journals. One hundred eighteen articles were included in the final dataset and were analyzed using the SciMAT software, which allowed analysis over three consecutive periods and yielded comparable results regarding the conceptual and thematic evolution of the DA–AA domain. The results indicated an increased research interest in the topic, especially during the last five years. The science mapping analysis showed that the most-studied types of addiction were smartphone addiction for the first two periods and social media addiction for the last. Research in the DA–AA domain which focused on understanding the addictive use of smartphones during the first period, evolved to address factors such as self-efficacy or life satisfaction leading to smartphone addiction and lower grades. During the third period, the number of factors addressed gained significant variety and covered family-related and personal factors. Full article

This paper presents a comprehensive review of the literature on electronic reading (e-reading) versus paper reading. The main objective was to assess the current state of research comparing digital and paper reading outcomes among students aged 6–18 years old, as well as assessing the impact of various factors (gender, socioeconomic status, and school location) in explaining the differences between the two modes. Inclusion criteria included the following: participants (6–18 years), research focus (comparing digital reading and paper reading), study type (quantitative or mixed methods), publication (peer reviewed between 2015 and 2022), and language (English). A systematic search in four databases (WOS, Scopus, ERIC, and JSTOR) in August 2022 was conducted by three reviewers. The search revealed 23 studies matching the inclusion criteria. The findings from the reviewed studies are diverse, with some reporting no significant differences in reading comprehension between the two modes, while others suggest screen inferiority, thereby favoring paper reading. Individual-level predictors, such as prior comprehension skills and reading habits, play a crucial role in determining reading performance across modes. Family-level factors, such as the number of books at home, and school-level factors, like the usage of ICT resources, influence both paper and digital reading comprehension. Moreover, gender differences in attitudes and performance towards different reading modes are apparent. SES is positively associated with reading achievement in both modes, with a larger effect shown for paper reading. Overall, the comparison between electronic and paper reading modes reveals a complex interplay of individual and contextual factors influencing reading comprehension and attitudes. Full article

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the number of students with mental health problems: depression, anxiety, stress. Faced with this reality, teachers and schools must be prepared to respond quickly and effectively. Therefore, the objective of this article is to analyze the emotional competences of primary school teachers in the city of Valencia based on the following sociodemographic variables: sex, age, professional experience, type of center and whether they have children. For this purpose, a quantitative methodological approach has been followed, through which the emotional competencies of primary education teachers are analyzed. These results allow us to establish teacher profiles according to sociodemographic variables and help to detect possible training deficiencies. A sample of 371 teachers of primary education in the city of Valencia has been analyzed. The Questionnaire on Teaching Competences of Primary Education Teachers, carried out under the Planned Action Model, has been used, and descriptive, univariate, bivariate and cluster analyses have been carried out. The mean, the standard deviation and the interquartile range (IQR) have been analyzed, as well as non-parametric tests such as the Wilcoxon, Kruskal–Wallis or Z test. The most significant results are that teachers have a greater ability to interpret emotions and to listen to students. On the contrary, it is teachers who most reject prejudice, discrimination and racism. Younger teachers are the ones who implement more inclusive learning environments. Finally, in general, all teachers are very respectful of students and claim to know how to manage classroom conflicts. The results obtained, in general terms, coincide with most of the research on teachers’ emotional competencies. Some aspects simply do not coincide with the literature. The teachers who participated in our research perceive themselves as having a greater capacity to observe and interpret students’ emotions, to generate learning situations that cater to diversity and to listen to their students. Other studies place these competencies at lower levels. Full article

Recently, the emerging technologies have been constantly shaping the education domain, especially the use of artificial intelligence (AI) for language learning, which has attracted significant attention. Many of the AI tools are being used for learning foreign languages, in both formal and informal ways. There are many studies that have explored the potential of the recent technology “ChatGPT” for education and learning languages, but none of the existing studies have conducted any exploratory study for assessing the usability of ChatGPT. This paper conducts an assessment for usability of ChatGPT for formal English language learning. The study uses a standard questionnaire-based approach to ask participants about their feedback for usefulness and effectiveness of ChatGPT. The participants were asked for their feedback after performing series of tasks related to formal English language learning with ChatGPT. A variety of student participants were selected for this study with diverse English language proficiency levels, education levels, and nationalities. The quantitative analysis of the participant responses shed light on their experience with regards to the usability of ChatGPT for performing different English language learning tasks such as conversation, writing, grammar, and vocabulary. The findings from this study are quite promising and indicate that ChatGPT is an effective tool to be used for formal English language learning. Overall, this study contributes to the fast-growing research domain on using emerging technologies for formal English language learning by conducting in-depth assessment of usability for ChatGPT in formal English language learning. Full article

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the lives of individuals, families, and children worldwide. In Italy, the implementation of measures such as lockdowns and distance learning in schools affected the mental health of children and families. Methods: This article employs a qualitative method to explore the efficacy of a death education project that aimed to help primary school children process the emotions and losses that they experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study encompassed both the children who took part in the death education project and their teachers and parents to investigate their perspectives on the emotions of the minors and the effectiveness of the project. Results: Distance learning posed challenges for the learning process and exacerbated social inequalities. The children suffered from limited social contact with their friends and experienced negative emotions, including anger, fear, and concern for the health of their loved ones. The death education project provided a safe space for children’s emotional expression and facilitated their acquisition of coping strategies. Open communication between adults and children about illness and death proved effective in mitigating the psychological impacts of loss and preventing traumatic bereavement. Conclusion: The findings highlight the utility of death education in enhancing children’s ability to express their emotions and approach the topic of death more frankly. Full article

Attentional biases toward body-related information increase body dissatisfaction. This can lead at-risk populations to develop psychopathologies. This phenomenon has not been extensively studied in girls affected by idiopathic scoliosis. This work aimed to study the cognitive processes that could contribute to the worsening and maintaining of body image disorders in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Twenty-eight girls were recruited and tested for body image dissatisfaction through the Scoliosis-Research-Society-22-revised (SRS-22r) questionnaire. Attentional biases towards disease-related body parts were assessed using a computerized visual match-to-sample task: girls were asked to answer as fast and accurately as possible to find the picture matching a target by pressing a button on a computer keyboard. Reaction times (RTs) and accuracy were collected as outcome variables and compared within and between groups and conditions. Lower scores in SRS-22r self-image, function, and total score were observed in scoliosis compared to the control group (p-value < 0.01). Faster response times (p-value = 0.02) and higher accuracy (p-value = 0.02) were detected in the scoliosis group when processing shoulders and backs (i.e., disease-relevant body parts). A self-body advantage effect emerged in the scoliosis group, showing higher accuracy when answering self-body stimuli compared to others’ bodies stimuli (p-value = 0.04). These results provide evidence of body image dissatisfaction and attentional bias towards disease-relevant body parts in girls with scoliosis, requiring clinical attention as highly predisposing to psychopathologies. Full article

Being able to quantify gaming motivation in a valid, systematic way has important implications for game designers and gaming user experience researchers. In the present study, we aimed to develop and validate a 30-item Gaming Instinctual Motivation Scale (GIMS) based on Dillon’s 6–11 Framework on instinctual gaming motivation and Lazzaro’s gaming experience model. To validate the scale, we recruited 194 regular gamers (M_age = 22.70 years old, SD = 4.38) to complete the GIMS based on their general gaming experience and their experience playing role-laying games (RPGs), first-person shooters (FPSs), real-time strategy, puzzle, and action games. We used a cross-validation approach and performed exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis to test the structure of the scale and the reliability and validity of the scale, respectively. The final version of the GIMS had a one-dimensional structure with 15 items. It also had good construct validity, χ² (N = 117, df = 86) = 126.28, p = 0.003, CFI = 0.93, TLI = 0.92, and RMSEA = 0.064 (90% CI [0.04, 0.09]), and reliability (CR = 0.89), and an acceptable convergent validity (AVE = 0.35). The one-dimensional structure was generalizable to RPG and FPS games, demonstrating the applicability of the scale to these two gaming genres. Higher scores on the GIMS were also associated with a greater intention to play games. Full article

Police work demands a high level of physical fitness (PF) and psychosocial well-being (PSWB) to cope with the challenges and demands of the profession. The profession has historically been male-dominated, and female police officers (POs) face unique challenges and stereotypes. This study aims (i) to identify the PF and PSWB attributes that significantly distinguish the women from three different professional training courses (agents, chiefs, and officers) and (ii) to assess the significance of PF and PSWB attributes on the likelihood that women in professional training courses belonging to a special bodyguard police sub-unit. A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted, involving 102 female POs (professional PO training courses, n = 94; special bodyguard police sub-unit, n = 8). PF (morphology; fitness, including endurance, strength, and flexibility tests) and PSWB (measured through scales for grit and dispositional resilience) attributes were assessed. Significant differences were observed in age, morphological (height and waist-to-hip ratio), fitness (horizontal jump and endurance tests), and PSWB (perseverance in effort and alienation) attributes among the three professional training courses. Stepwise discriminant analysis revealed that waist-to-hip ratio, waist-to-height ratio, relative fat mass, relative muscle mass, horizontal jump, and endurance on exertion significantly distinguished between the three groups. Complementarily, it was observed that the waist-to-hip ratio and sit-up attributes influence the probability of women from the professional training courses joining the special bodyguard police sub-unit. The study highlights that (i) female POs in different professional training courses showed distinct PF and PSWB profiles, and (ii) only two PF attributes (waist-to-hip ratio and sit-up) were predictors for the special bodyguard police sub-unit. In accordance, these findings provide valuable insights for designing training programs to support female POs in improving their PF, psychological well-being, and overall performance in the police profession. Full article

(1) Background: Low life satisfaction (LS) is associated with impaired mental and physical health. Outdoor physical activity (PA) has diverse somatic and psychological benefits. This study aimed to analyse the associations between sports settings and LS in women of reproductive age. (2) Methods: Special Eurobarometer on Sport and Physical Activity (2022, 2018, 2013) data on regularity and settings of sports/PA, LS and sociodemographic variables were analysed. The representative sample consisted of 18,489 women (34.60 ± 9.36 years). Pearson χ² test and multivariate logistic regression analysis were conducted, using IBM SPSS version 28.0 according to the STROBE guidelines. The significance level was set at p < 0.05. (3) There was a significant difference in LS based on sports settings (χ² = 409.696, p < 0.001). In the outdoor group, a 21.4% higher probability of being “very satisfied” compared to the non-outdoor, 30.0% higher compared to the inactive group, was found (R²N = 0.151). Dividing the sample by age, a significant effect remained in middle adulthood (35–44 years p = 0.002 and 45–49 years p = 0.033). (4) Conclusions: Our results underline the importance of the promotion of outdoor, green exercise and the development of special interventions to maintain or improve the psychological well-being of women in reproductive age. Full article

Human contact through physical touch is a core element in social bonding, which facilitates psychosocial well-being. Touch avoidance is an individual disposition that may prevent individuals from engaging in or benefiting from physical touch. The present study recruited 450 Italian participants (51.1% female) with a mean age of 32.2 ± 13.5 to complete a battery of demographic questionnaires and the Touch Avoidance Questionnaire (TAQ). Individuals who were single and reporting same-sex attraction avoided touch with family more often than their coupled counterparts or those reporting opposite-sex attraction. Moreover, males reporting same-sex attraction avoided touch with a potential partner more frequently. When comparing sex differences, women reported greater touch avoidance with opposite-sex friends more frequently, while males avoided touch with same-sex friends more frequently. Individuals reporting opposite-sex attraction reported greater touch amongst same-sex friends. Single males avoided touch with same-sex friends more frequently than those in a relationship. Overall, this contribution reflects the individual differences related to social touch avoidance with respect to sex, relationship status, and sexual orientation in an Italian sample. Full article

University counseling services (UCSs) are actively involved in mental health assessment and in supplying interventions aimed at preventing, facing and possibly overcoming psychological problems. However, we do not have a global overview of psychological counseling among universities. This systematic review aims at reviewing the literature on university psychological counseling, including articles documenting: (1) mental health and attitudes regarding help-seeking behaviors and UCSs among university students or counselors, (2) the description of protocols/services among UCSs, (3) the efficacy of psychological counseling/interventions among university students (both face-to-face and internet-delivered interventions). The study followed PRISMA guidelines and was registered on PROSPERO. After defining inclusion and exclusion criteria, a literature search was conducted, identifying 7085 records. Finally, 152 articles met the review eligibility criteria and were included in the qualitative synthesis. Results are divided into seven thematic topics that emerged during the analysis of the literature. The results mainly showed that face-to-face and web-based counseling/psychological interventions improve university students’ mental health. Cross-sectional studies showed that many biases exist toward help-seeking behaviors, especially among international students. Both students and counselors must strive to overcome cultural barriers. Available resources for UCSs are scarce and need to be strengthened, as well as efficacy studies through randomized clinical trials. Full article

This study responds to the need to explore psychological predictors of COVID-19-related anxiety in vulnerable groups. An anonymous voluntary online survey was conducted (n = 520) with (a) working parents with young children (0–12 y.o.), (b) people with chronic physical conditions, (c) people with multiple vulnerability characteristics and (d) a control group (no self-reported vulnerability) in 2022. Findings showed that perceived stress of the parents and trait anxiety of the chronic sufferers were single weak positive predictors of COVID-19 anxiety. However, both psychological factors had a stronger effect on the pandemic-related anxiety for the group with multiple vulnerabilities. In the control group, trait resilience and optimistic expectations (combined with perceived stress) were moderate negative predictors of COVID-19 anxiety. The findings emphasize the importance of perceptions, expectations, trait anxiety as well as the need for intersectional research of vulnerability from multiple perspectives. Furthermore, they highlight the necessity of group-specific policies and interventions aimed both at handling the negative psychological tendencies of the vulnerable groups and at strengthening the positive tendencies of non-vulnerable groups, rather than tackling only emergent anxiety conditions in crisis times. Full article

System justification (SJ) is an important construct in social psychology that has received considerable attention over the past three decades. At the empirical level, system justification is examined by means of a specially developed System Justification Scale (SJS), which is designed to explain how individuals accept justice, whether they consider a given social order to be fair, how they evaluate the conditions in the country in which they live, how they accept social change, or to what extent they express compliance with established rules. System justification involves not only those who benefit from the existing social order, but also those who are disadvantaged. In their case, system justification mitigates negative perceptions of objective inequalities and asymmetries. Empirical evidence suggests that system justification may also be associated with higher perceived quality of life. The present study translated and validated the SJS, providing complex and detailed information on the psychometric properties of the scale. In addition, the scale’s internal consistency, unidimensionality, and construct validity were examined. The conclusions presented are based on the results of exploratory factor analysis, internal consistency assessment, analysis of variance, correlation analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis. Results were obtained from face-to-face survey data collected from a sample of 1419 individuals representing the Czech population aged 18–79 years. Since the SJS showed high internal consistency, adequately discriminated levels of system justification, and had robust psychometric properties, it could be recommended for further use. Full article

Social entrepreneurship has grown worldwide in recent decades as it attempts to create and implement innovative solutions to social and environmental issues through business strategies. The aim of this study was to explore what motivates public health social entrepreneurs to act, the challenges and barriers they face, achievements, and competencies required for success. As such, we interviewed 15 social entrepreneurs in Israel. Budget issues, regulatory barriers, and struggles against powerful companies were the frequent barriers to success. The interviewees indicated several achievements at the health policy level by positioning and becoming an authority in the field, positively influencing other people’s lives. They highlighted the importance of creativity, determination and courage, leadership, and the ability to persevere in the face of overwhelming adverse odds as essential for the social entrepreneur’s success. Social entrepreneurship in public health is essential when struggling with health disparities. Nevertheless, recognizing that social entrepreneurship is not a substitute for methodological government planning and accountability is crucial. Full article

This study aims to investigate the relationship between anxiety, depression, and stress levels with physical activity level and academic performance in high school students; secondly, this study aims to relate and compare anxiety, depression, and stress levels with physical activity level and academic performance. This is a quantitative, descriptive, and comparative cross-sectional study, which evaluated 443 high school students (48% female; 15.13 ± 1.59 years) belonging to the Maule region, Chile. The Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Questionnaire (DASS-21) and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) were applied. Academic performance was consulted on language, mathematics, and overall grade point average. The results indicate that vigorous physical activity (OR = 0.504; p = 0.017) and high academic performance in mathematics (OR = 0.597; p = 0.027) are associated with a reduced risk of depression. In turn, there is a significant inverse correlation between physical activity with anxiety (r = −0.224; p = 0.000), depression (r = −0.224; p = 0.000) and stress (r = −0.108; p = 0.032), while the performance of mathematics is inversely correlated with depression (r = −0.176; p = 0.000). On the other hand, significant differences (p < 0.05) between anxiety, depression, stress levels, and grade point average were found, with females exhibiting higher scores than males. In conclusion, greater vigorous physical activity and scoring above average in mathematics performance are protective factors against depression. Full article

Background: Smart phone use has become a part of people’s everyday life. However, when the lack of using the smart phone to establish and maintain electronic communication is related to psychological distress, such a behavior may be considered a modern-age phobia, or nomophobia (no mobile phone phobia). The aims of the present study were to investigate among a sample of young adults the associations between scores for nomophobia and symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, insomnia, and obsessive–compulsive disorders. Methods: A total of 537 students (mean age: 25.52 years; 42.3% females) participated in the study. They completed a booklet of self-rating questionnaires covering sociodemographic information and symptoms of nomophobia, depression, anxiety, stress, insomnia, and obsessive–compulsive disorders. Results: Higher scores for nomophobia were associated with higher scores for depression, anxiety, and stress, but not with scores for insomnia and obsessive–compulsive disorders. The regression model confirmed that symptoms of anxiety predicted nomophobia. Conclusions: The present results support the assumption that nomophobia appears to be a mood disturbance related to stronger associations with symptoms of anxiety and, to a lesser extent, with symptoms of depression and stress. By contrast, nomophobia appeared to be unrelated to insomnia and symptoms of obsessive–compulsive disorders. Full article

Although the studied polymorphisms affect muscular proteins, aerobic adaptations, and recovery, their influence on the anthropometric variables and performance in ultramarathon runners is still poorly understood. This study aimed to determine the influence of ACTN3 R577X, ACE I/D, and CK MM A/G NcoI polymorphisms on the changes in the anthropometric variables and running time of 105 km mountain runners, in which 22 male Brazilian elite athletes (35.9 ± 6.5 years) were evaluated. Genotyping of the R577X (RR, RX, and XX), ACE I/D (DD, ID, and II), and CK MM A/G Ncol (AA, AG, and GG) polymorphisms was performed using the Polymerase Chain Reaction–Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique with DNA extracted from saliva. Body composition was determined via bioimpedance. Pre- and post-race weight differences were observed on athletes with the AA genotype (77.1 ± 5.9 kg; 74.6 ± 5.6 kg) compared with those with the AG genotype (74.5 ± 8.0 kg; 68 ± 5.1 kg) (p = 0.02; p = 0.02). The RR genotype showed a correlation between BMI and running time (R = 0.97; p = 0.004). The genotype II showed a correlation with % fat and fat mass concerning running time (R = 0.91; p = 0.003; R = 0.99; p < 0.0001). The AA genotype was associated with post-race weight and lean mass loss, while the RR genotype correlated with BMI, and the genotype II correlated with % body fat and fat mass in relation to times in the 105 km mountain ultramarathon. Full article