Search Results (102)

In the Hexaflex model of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), psychological flexibility refers to the ability to openly embrace difficult thoughts and emotions while acting in alignment with personal values. In contrast, psychological inflexibility involves rigid avoidance and control strategies that hinder adaptive functioning. Although previously studied, more culturally relevant evidence is needed to inform interventions that promote well-being and mental health among Latin American students. This study explored manifestations of psychological flexibility and inflexibility in 15 undergraduate students from the University of Magdalena in Colombia (mean age = 20.13 years; 53.33% female) through semi-structured, face-to-face interviews (~45 min each). Data were analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), focusing on how participants described and made sense of their experiences. A total of 25 emergent themes were identified and grouped into 12 subordinate themes, mapped onto the 6 core ACT processes. The participants reported efforts to control or avoid distressing internal experiences, often resulting in difficulty acting in accordance with their values. The findings highlight a recurring ambivalence between avoidance and acceptance, and barriers to committed action, underscoring the dynamic interplay between flexibility and inflexibility. These results support the relevance of ACT-based interventions, such as structured group sessions that foster acceptance, mindfulness, and values-based behavior. Integrating this training into counseling and academic support services could enhance students’ well-being and performance. Future research should examine these dynamics longitudinally and across diverse contexts. Full article

Background/Objectives: Child abuse is a pervasive global issue with significant implications for the physical, emotional, and psychological well-being of victims. This review highlights the clinical, molecular, and therapeutic dimensions of child abuse, emphasizing its long-term impact and the need for interdisciplinary approaches. Early exposure to abuse activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, leading to chronic cortisol release and subsequent neuroplastic changes in brain regions such as the hippocampus, amygdala, and prefrontal cortex. These molecular alterations, including epigenetic modifications and inflammatory responses, contribute to the heightened risk of psychiatric disorders and chronic illnesses in survivors. Clinically, child abuse presents with diverse manifestations ranging from physical injuries to psychological and developmental disorders, making timely diagnosis challenging. Methods: A multidisciplinary approach involving thorough clinical evaluation, detailed histories, and collaboration with child protection services is essential for accurate diagnosis and effective intervention. Results: Recent advances in molecular biology have identified biomarkers, such as stress-related hormones and epigenetic changes, which provide novel insights into the physiological impact of abuse and potential targets for therapeutic intervention. Current treatment strategies prioritize the child’s safety, psychological well-being, and prevention of further abuse. Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy and family-centered interventions are pivotal in promoting recovery and resilience. Conclusions: Emerging research focuses on integrating molecular findings with clinical practice, utilizing digital health tools, and leveraging big data to develop predictive models and personalized treatments. Interdisciplinary collaboration remains crucial to translating research into policy and practice, ultimately aiming to mitigate the impact of child abuse and improve outcomes for survivors. Full article

The rapid expansion of digital communication platforms has created new spaces for antisocial, manipulative, and emotionally detached behaviors. While psychopathy has been extensively studied in clinical and forensic settings, its digital manifestation, referred to as cyberpsychopathy, remains conceptually underdefined. This integrative review aimed to synthesize empirical research exploring psychopathy and aversive personality traits in online contexts to identify key conceptual domains and propose a preliminary definition. A systematic search across five databases yielded 35 peer-reviewed studies meeting the inclusion criteria. Using a biopsychosocial framework and thematic synthesis, six interrelated domains were identified: online behaviors (e.g., trolling and deception), online environments (e.g., anonymity and reward mechanisms), sociodemographic factors (e.g., age and gender), personality traits (e.g., psychopathy and narcissism), psychological factors (e.g., emotion dysregulation and low self-esteem), and motivations (e.g., dominance and emotional compensation). These domains interact to shape how psychopathic tendencies manifest online. Most studies were of moderate-to-high methodological quality, though variability limited direct comparisons. We propose cyberpsychopathy as a multidimensional construct representing the expression of aversive traits facilitated by digital affordances and psychological vulnerabilities. This review provides a foundational framework for understanding cyberpsychopathy and underscores the need for empirical validation and the development of assessment tools suited to digital behavior in both clinical and forensic settings. Full article

Background/Objectives: Orthorexia Nervosa (ON), a condition marked by an obsessive focus on eating healthily, has drawn increasing clinical attention due to its rigid dietary patterns and social impairment. Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), characterized by emotional dysregulation, impulsivity, and unstable interpersonal relationships, frequently co-occurs with eating disorders. Recent research suggests that autistic traits—such as cognitive rigidity and restricted interests—may underlie both ON and BPD, especially in female populations. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of orthorexic tendencies in patients with BPD compared to healthy controls (HCs) and to explore their associations with autistic traits and disordered eating behaviors. Methods: This study involved 73 BPD patients and 52 HCs. Participants completed the Adult Autism Subthreshold (AdAS) Spectrum, Eating Disorder Inventory-2 (EDI-2), and the ORTO-15 questionnaire. Results: BPD patients scored significantly higher than HCs on AdAS Spectrum and EDI-2, and significantly lower on ORTO-15, indicating more pronounced autistic traits, disordered eating behavior, and orthorexic tendencies. A greater proportion of BPD individuals reported clinically relevant ON symptoms according to the ORTO-15 threshold. Orthorexic symptoms were significantly correlated with most EDI-2 and all AdAS Spectrum domains. Regression analysis revealed that autistic traits, but not feeding and eating disorder symptoms, significantly predicted orthorexic tendencies. Conclusions: Orthorexic tendencies are more prevalent in individuals with BPD and are significantly associated with autistic traits. These findings suggest that ON may represent a manifestation of the autism spectrum, particularly in individuals with BPD, and support a reconceptualization of ON within a neurodevelopmental framework. Recommendation: Future research is needed in order to clarify the temporal and causal relationships among autistic traits, BPD symptomatology, and the emergence of orthorexic behaviors. Full article

Perceived experiences of violence, trauma, body dissatisfaction, and body shaming emerge as interconnected factors contributing to suicide attempts among adolescents. There is a critical need to improve the understanding and prediction of suicide attempts in this vulnerable population. In this study, a primarily qualitative design was employed, supported by descriptive quantitative elements, such as code frequencies and word clouds, to explore in-depth narrative interviews of adolescents who attempted suicide. Thematic content analysis was utilized to analyze the transcripts of these narrative interviews. The study sample consisted of 22 adolescents (M_age = 16.98 years; SD = 1.624; 77% males, 19% females, 4% non-binary or transgender). The content analysis revealed two significant body-related risk factors for suicide attempts: experiences of violence or trauma and body dissatisfaction, which were associated with maladaptive coping strategies, including self-harm, substance use, and eating disorders. Acute somatic warning signs such as dissociative states, loss of control, and disconnection from one’s body suggested pronounced psychophysiological dysregulation. The findings underscore the body as a battleground, where emotional pain related to bodily experiences and perceptions manifests significantly. Future research should integrate subjective body-related experiences in risk assessments and interventions targeting adolescent suicidal behaviors. Full article

There is a close relationship between self-esteem and emotions. However, most studies have relied on self-report measures, which primarily capture retrospective and generalized emotional tendencies, rather than spontaneous, momentary emotional expressions in real-time social interactions. Given that self-esteem also shapes how individuals regulate and express emotions in social contexts, it is crucial to examine whether and how self-esteem manifests in dynamic emotional expressions during self-presentation. In this study, we recorded the performances of 211 participants during a public self-presentation task using a digital video camera and measured their self-esteem scores with the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Facial Action Units (AUs) scores were extracted from each video frame using OpenFace, and four basic emotions—happiness, sadness, disgust, and fear—were quantified based on the basic emotion theory. Time-series analysis was then employed to capture the multidimensional dynamic features of these emotions. Finally, we applied machine learning and explainable AI to identify which dynamic emotional features were closely associated with self-esteem. The results indicate that all four basic emotions are closely associated with self-esteem. Therefore, this study introduces a new perspective on self-esteem assessment, highlighting the potential of nonverbal behavioral indicators as alternatives to traditional self-report measures. Full article

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs), including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/motor neuron disease, and multiple sclerosis, are characterized by progressive loss of neuronal structure and function, leading to severe cognitive, motor, and behavioral impairments. They pose a significant and growing challenge due to their rising prevalence and impact on global health systems. The societal and emotional toll on patients, caregivers, and healthcare infrastructures is considerable. While significant progress has been made in elucidating the pathological hallmarks of these disorders, the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Increasing evidence implicates oligodendrocytes and their progenitors—oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs)—in the pathogenesis of several NDs, beyond their traditionally recognized role in demyelinating conditions such as MS. Oligodendrocytes are essential for axonal myelination, metabolic support, and neural circuit modulation in the central nervous system. Disruptions in oligodendrocyte function and myelin integrity—manifesting as demyelination, hypomyelination, or dysmyelination—have been associated with disease progression in various neurodegenerative contexts. This review consolidates recent findings on the role of OPCs in NDs, explores the concept of myelin plasticity, and discusses therapeutic strategies targeting oligodendrocyte dysfunction. By highlighting emerging research in oligodendrocyte biology, this review aims to provide a short overview of its relevance to neurodegenerative disease progression and potential therapeutic advances. Full article

Objective: The present investigation sought to examine the interrelationships between early-life adverse experiences, dissociative symptoms, suicidal ideation, and depressive manifestations among metropolitan firefighters screened with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and to elucidate the potential mediating effects of these psychological variables on both the presence and severity of PTSD symptomatology in this high-risk occupational cohort. Methods: A cross-sectional investigation was performed to assess psychological conditions among 760 metropolitan male firefighters, employing conditional process analysis with multiple mediation modeling (PROCESS macro Model 6). The investigative protocol employed validated psychometric instruments including the PTSD Checklist (PCL-5); the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ-33); the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES); the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire (SBQ-4); and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Bootstrap resampling (n = 5000) generated bias-corrected 95% confidence intervals, enabling interrogation of complex trauma response mechanisms. Results: Conditional process analysis demonstrated that childhood trauma functions as a significant mediator (indirect effect = 0.142, 95% CI [0.086, 0.198]), with emotional abuse pathways revealing significant mediational effects (β = 0.285, p < 0.001). Stratifying participants using a PCL-5 ≥ 33 threshold (non-PTSD: n = 543, 71.5%, median PCL-5: 22; PTSD: n = 217, 28.5%, median PCL-5: 39), the investigation elucidated serial mediation mechanisms, particularly through childhood trauma to dissociative experiences (serial indirect effect = 0.168, 95% CI [0.092, 0.244]), collectively explaining nearly half of PTSD variance through complex psychological interaction pathways. Conclusions: Conditional process analysis revealed childhood trauma as a pivotal mediator, with emotional abuse pathways demonstrating significant mediational effects, while dissociative experiences emerged as a significant secondary mechanism, collectively explaining a substantial portion of PTSD variance through interactions between occupational trauma exposure and intrinsic psychological vulnerabilities. Full article

The impostor phenomenon, characterized by self-doubt and an external attribution of success, significantly impacts daycare center directors, influencing their leadership effectiveness and childcare quality. This qualitative study aims to explore how the impostor phenomenon manifests among Korean daycare center directors within an ecological framework. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 Korean daycare center directors using grounded theory methods. Analysis identified the phenomenon across cognitive, emotional, and behavioral dimensions, revealing both negative self-perceptions and strategic, perfectionism-related behaviors consistent with previous research. This study proposes a contextual model based on Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory, illustrating interactions at macrosystem, exosystem, mesosystem, microsystem, and chronosystem levels, with a detailed paradigm model further explaining microsystem and chronosystem interactions. These findings contribute to clarifying and contextualizing the impostor phenomenon, particularly highlighting situational influences and strategic manifestations. This research provides a foundation for future studies in South Korean contexts and practical insights for developing targeted leadership support programs for daycare center directors. Full article

Low social affiliation has been described as a phenotypic marker of antisocial behaviors by disrupting children’s initiation and enjoyment of positive physical and emotional connections with others. Laboratory studies have shown that, in early childhood, low social affiliation rates are preceded by lower attention to faces. In addition, while low social affiliation has also been associated with behavioral outcomes when accounting for parenting influences, the effect that parental environmental sensitivity may have on contributing to the link between emotional processing early in life and later behavioral manifestations associated with antisocial behavior is currently unknown. Objectives: The present eye-tracking study aims to delineate the potential contribution of parental Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS) to the link between children’s rates of social affiliation and their attentional patterns in response to emotional faces. Methods: For the needs of this study, children performed a lab-based, computerized facial processing task (N = 153; Mage = 9.97; SDage = 1.28; 48.8% females). In addition, one of the children’s parents completed questionnaires for their children’s and their own behavior (N = 153; Mage = 40.9; SDage = 4.85; 87.7% females). Results: The results underline the contributing role of parental SPS on the associations between social affiliation and visual scanning when viewing angry emotional faces. In particular, children with low rates of social affiliation spent significantly more time fixating on the mouth regions of angry faces only when their parents had higher SPS. Conclusions: This study unveils the possibility for the contextual influence of parental environmental sensitivity on the early emotional processing mechanisms in children with low rates of social affiliation. These findings suggest that interventions aimed at improving emotional processing in children at risk for antisocial behavior should consider parental SPS as a contributing factor. Tailoring parent-based interventions to address how highly sensitive parents interpret and respond to emotional challenges may reduce children’s attentional biases to threats and support healthier socioemotional development. Full article

Background/Objectives: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, have a significant impact on overall well-being. Sexual health, a critical component of overall well-being, is often compromised in individuals with IBD, especially in women, owing to physical, psychological, and social factors. This narrative review aims to synthesize the fragmented existing evidence on the impact of IBD on women’s sexual health by examining clinical manifestations along with patients’ perceptions and lived experiences. Methods: Five databases (CINAHL Complete, Medline, APA PsycInfo, APA PsycArticles, and Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection) were searched using keywords related to IBD, sexual health, and women’s experiences. Fifteen studies that met the predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria were analyzed. Results: Women with IBD often perceive their bodies as “damaged” or “mutilated,” which profoundly affects their self-esteem and sexual satisfaction. Physically, debilitating symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and chronic fatigue limit sexual desire and intimacy. Psychological factors, including anxiety, depression, and negative body image, exacerbate these challenges, and compromise emotional well-being and intimate relationships. Social stigma further isolates patients, making it more difficult for them to communicate their sexual needs to both partners and healthcare providers. Strategies such as psychological support, health education, and promoting open communication with partners emerge as promising avenues to improve sexual health and quality of life. Conclusions: IBD profoundly affects women’s sexual health by intertwining physical, psychological, and social challenges. A holistic and personalized clinical approach that incorporates sexual well-being into routine care is essential to improve patients’ quality of life. Full article

Age-related differences in emotion recognition are well-documented in older adults aged 65 and above, with stimulus valence and the age of the model being key influencing factors. This study examined these variables across three experiments using a novel set of images depicting younger and older models expressing positive and negative emotions (e.g., happy vs. sad; interested vs. bored). Experiment 1 focused on valence-arousal dimensions, Experiment 2 on emotion recognition accuracy, and Experiment 3 on visual fixation patterns. Age-related differences were found in emotion recognition. No significant age-related differences in gaze behavior were found; both age groups looked more at the eye region. The positivity effect—older adults’ tendency to prioritize positive over negative information—did not consistently manifest in recognition performance or scanning patterns. However, older adults evaluated positive emotions differently than negative emotions, rating negative facial expressions as less negative and positive emotions as more arousing compared to younger adults. Finally, emotions portrayed by younger models were rated as more intense and more positive than those portrayed by older adults by both older and younger adults. We conclude that the positivity effect and own-age bias may be more complex and nuanced than previously thought. Full article

Maternal hormonal and metabolic disorders, such as diabetes and obesity, can adversely affect the intrauterine environment, resulting in suboptimal fetal growth and an elevated risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases in the later life of the offspring. In this review, we examine the long-term impact of elevated maternal androgen levels during pregnancy on offspring. Maternal hyperandrogenemia is linked to various neurodevelopmental disorders, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and anxiety-like behaviors, mediated by alterations in key brain regions responsible for emotion and cognition. Furthermore, children born to mothers with hyperandrogenemia exhibit heightened risk of metabolic and cardiovascular dysfunctions, such as obesity, insulin resistance, and hypertension, which can manifest early in life. Prenatal exposure to androgens has also been linked to reduced birth weights and altered fetal growth, potentially due to impaired placental function. Additionally, maternal testosterone levels influence offspring sex ratios, often favoring male births, though exceptions occur in certain conditions, such as congenital adrenal hyperplasia. The findings of this review underscore the need for healthcare professionals to monitor maternal serum androgen profiles during pregnancy. Further research is needed to determine underlying mechanisms and potential interventions to mitigate these risks. Full article

The colors of traditional dwellings are an extremely intuitive manifestation of regional culture and an important reference for guiding rural housing. This study takes the Gutian district as the research region and explores the internal influence mechanism of the “color perception–preference–supportive behavior” of the indigenous residents towards traditional dwellings, specifically rammed earth dwellings. After constructing a structural equation model, the results were as follows: (1) The color perception of the indigenous residents towards traditional dwellings has two dimensions: distinctiveness and rootedness. (2) The color perception of the indigenous residents towards traditional dwellings can significantly enhance their color preference, but the two dimensions of color perception have different effects on color preference. (3) Color perception has a direct impact on color supportive behavior, mainly reflected in the dimension of the perception of distinctiveness. On the other hand, the mediating role of color preference has a positive impact on color—supportive behavior, mainly reflected in the dimension of the perception of rootedness. This study constructs a positive—cycle model that goes from the strengthening of color perception to the promotion of color preference and finally to the enhancement of color supportive behavior. The aim is to deeply analyze the multiple values contained in the colors of traditional dwellings, which not only demonstrate regional characteristics but also closely meet the emotional needs of the indigenous residents and have broad application potential in rural housing and cultural inheritance significance. Full article

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) represent one of the most critical factors contributing to the manifestation of psychiatric disorders later in life. Furthermore, such experiences are often associated with deficits in interpersonal relationships, manifesting as mistrust and violent behaviors, and are indicative of a fragmented personality. This study aimed to analyze the correlative relationships between personality deficits influenced by ACEs and the expression of reactive and appetitive aggression using self-report questionnaires in 53 male forensic psychiatric patients with a drug dependency background detained under §64 of the German Criminal Code between 2019 and 2022. Instruments included the Operationalized Psychodynamic Diagnosis Structure Questionnaire (OPD-SF), the Maltreatment and Abuse Chronology of Exposure Scale–German Version (KERF), and the Appetitive and Facilitative Aggression Scale (AFAS). Specifically, the OPD-SF used the following subscales: self-perception, self-regulation, the regulation of object relations, emotional communication inward/outward, internal/external attachment, and total score. The results demonstrate a significant relationship between childhood traumatic experiences, personality structure, attachment capacity, self-perception, and regulation and the expression of both reactive and appetitive aggression. While the association with reactive aggression is intuitively plausible, the findings notably reveal that the propensity to derive pleasure from violence is also associated with personality deficits caused by adverse childhood experiences. These findings have important implications for the treatment of offenders with personality disorders and should be considered in therapeutic interventions. Full article