Search Results (62)

Background: Emotional intelligence is the ability to make decisions and adapt to life changes. This capacity may be conditioned by emotional states. Evidence shows that postpartum women experience these changes, which affect an estimated 80% of postpartum women and their parenting management. The purpose of this study was to analyze the impact of interventions based on reinforcing emotional intelligence in pregnant and postpartum women and their relationship with the different sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of the mother and newborn. Methods: We conducted a quasi-experimental experiment between August 2016 and December 2018. We recruited a total of 69 pregnant women (35 women in the intervention group and 34 women in the control group). The pregnant women in the intervention group were exposed to hybrid interventions through a mobile health application and in-person interventions as part of a training and emotional management program. The Trait-Meta Mood Scale (TMMS-24) evaluation questionnaire was administered to measure emotional intelligence across its three dimensions. Results: The results showed important clinical significance, although not statistical significance in all TMMS domains. Postpartum scores for clarity (mean: 29.20; SD 6.36 vs. 24.91; SD 6.67; p > 0.05), repair (mean: 28.43; SD 5.58; vs. 24.62; SD 7.04; p > 0.05), and attention (mean: 26.03; SD 6.08 vs. 23.29; SD 5.14; p > 0.05) were higher in the intervention group compared to the control group. The duration of gestation notably influenced “Clarity”, while work situations and parental support affected “emotional repair”. Conclusions: Educational training increased emotional competencies and equipped women with the emotional mechanisms needed to adopt new adaptation strategies. Training in emotional self-management during pregnancy has a greater impact on the “Clarity” of emotions. Full article

While static conscientiousness is known to predict academic success, personality can be particularly dynamic during adolescence. This study adopted a unique change-oriented perspective to examine the longitudinal relationship between within-person changes in conscientiousness and changes in academic performance among Chinese high school students, while also exploring the moderating role of changes in parental academic expectations. Four waves of longitudinal data were collected from 453 students (265 males, Mage = 15.42, SD = 0.76), with each wave spaced 6 months apart. Results indicated that the changes in conscientiousness (T2-T1) predicted the changes in academic performance (T4-T3) through the changes in academic engagement (T3-T2). However, the moderating effect of changes in parental academic expectations on the relationship between changes in conscientiousness and academic engagement was not significant. These findings go beyond static trait approaches by illustrating how dynamic changes in personality relate to evolving academic outcomes via engagement during the crucial high school years. The study highlights the importance of a dynamic perspective on personality, particularly within the developmental context of adolescence, and offers implications for interventions targeting both student traits and parental support in the Chinese educational context. Full article

Background/Objectives: There is scientific evidence showing that body- and/or body weight-related blaming, guilting, and shaming continue to be both promoted and tolerated in many societal contexts, including schools and healthcare settings. A deeply ingrained belief still prevails among many individuals that inducing these negative emotions can serve as a motivator for children and adolescents to engage in obesity treatment. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review is to examine these emotions (blame, guilt, shame) in relation to body weight and their impact on psychological functioning within the pediatric population affected by overweight and obesity. Methods: Articles were searched up using PubMed and Web of Science in June 2023 and March 2025. The search was conducted without limiting the years of publication. The inclusion criteria included the following: (1) pediatric samples, (2) full text available, and (3) original research articles. Articles were excluded if they were editorials, letters, replies from authors, review articles, and articles without a full text. Results: The initial search returned 199 results. A total of 16 articles were included in the study. Analysis of the collected records revealed associations between body- or weight-related blame, guilt, and shame and various aspects of psychological functioning in the pediatric population such as (a) interpersonal context (e.g., social stigma, bullying, teasing history, social connectedness, weight-related language used by parents in conversations with children and adolescents; (b) intrapsychic context—relationship with eating and food (e.g., binge eating, dietary restraint, emotional eating, and the risk of developing eating disorders); (c) intrapsychic context—self-perception (e.g., self-esteem, feelings of worthlessness, self-compassion, self-efficacy, perceived control); (d) intrapsychic context—emotional functioning (e.g., emotional distress, anxiety, depression, emotion regulation strategies); and (e) intrapsychic context—additional psychological factors (e.g., mindfulness, quality of life, willingness to seek help, and motivation for both help-seeking and sustaining successful lifestyle changes). Conclusions: Understanding the dynamics of body- and/or weight-related blame, guilt, and shame among children and adolescents with overweight and obesity is essential for developing effective support systems that enhance their well-being and psychological resilience in both the prevention and treatment of obesity. Further research is needed to explore the relationships between body- and weight-related blame, guilt, and shame and psychological functioning in pediatric populations with overweight and obesity, including the dynamics of child–parent–healthcare provider interactions, the context of parenting skills and attitudes that support the child during obesity treatment, the long-term consequences of body- and weight-related blame, guilt, and shame, the relationship between healthcare providers’ tendencies to engage in body- and weight-related shaming or blaming and their communication skills and mental well-being (e.g., levels of professional burnout, emotion regulation skills, and personality traits), as well as the influence of social media on body- and weight-related shame, guilt, and blame. Full article

Purpose: Modifiable health factors influence racial disparities in cardiovascular health (CVH), yet the role of psychological health in these disparities remains understudied. This study examines (1) the association between negative and positive psychological health measures and CVH and (2) the racial differences in these associations among US adults. Methods: Aim 1 included adults aged 34–84 from the MIDUS biomarker substudy (n = 1255). Aim 2 included adults aged 28–84 from the MIDUS parent study (N = 4702). Our outcome was CVH, operationalized as the AHA’s Life’s Essential 8 (LE8) total score, behavior, and health factor subscores. Negative psychological health was operationalized as depressive symptoms (CES-D), stress reactivity (from the Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire [MPS]), aggression (from the MPS), pessimism (Life Orientation Test), perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale), and trait anxiety (Spielberger Trait Anxiety Inventory); positive psychological health was operationalized as psychological well-being (“PWB”; Ryff Well-Being Scale [WBS] and MPS), purpose in life (from the WBS), mindfulness (developed by MIDUS), gratitude (developed by MIDUS), and optimism (Life Orientation Test). Results: In covariate-adjusted models, most negative psychological health factors were negatively associated with LE8 total scores and health behavior subscores. Of those, pessimism was the only factor to demonstrate Black–White differences (Black > White, p < 0.001). Positive psychological health factors were less consistently associated with the LE8 total, health behavior, and health factor subscores in covariate-adjusted models. Of these, PWB (Black > White, p < 0.001), gratitude (Black > White, p < 0.001), and optimism (Black > White, p < 0.001) demonstrated significant differences by race. Conclusions: Black–White differences in LE8 are not largely explained by differences in psychological health. Full article

Background: Anorexia nervosa (AN) remains a severe psychiatric disorder with multifactorial pathogenesis and an uncertain prognosis. It is essential to identify any factors that may contribute to its onset in order to improve the targeting of preventive and therapeutic interventions. The present study explores the characteristics of parents of daughters with AN, comparing those with different ages of onset and ages at intake, in order to identify potential contributing factors from the parental side. Methods: The study recruited 69 adolescents and 56 adults diagnosed with AN, along with 73 healthy controls (HC). The 80 mothers and 69 fathers of the participants were compared to controls in terms of the age of onset and age at intake of their daughters. Self-administered instruments were used to assess personality (TCI), eating behaviors (EDI-2), general psychopathology (BDI), and family functioning (FAD). Results: The analysis revealed that several personality and psychopathological traits distinguished the parents of AN participants from the HC group in both conditions. Both mothers of adolescent- and adult-onset AN participants with any age at intake displayed greater harm avoidance and lower self-directedness facets, as well as greater inadequacy and social insecurity than controls. Fathers were less disordered and more self-indulgent and compassionate, but lower in role definition. Specifically, mothers of daughters with adolescent-onset AN and younger age at intake were more prone to depression. In contrast, mothers of daughters with an adult age at intake showed lower resourcefulness and higher levels of perceived inadequacy. Conclusions: Higher resourcefulness and a lower sense of ineffectiveness may help mothers facilitate earlier therapeutic intervention for their daughters. On the other hand, maternal depressive symptoms may play a significant role in the earlier onset of and intake for AN in their daughters. Supporting assertive qualities in mothers through preventive interventions is recommended, while maternal depression should be appropriately treated to prevent an early psychopathological onset in daughters. Full article

High school students face critical psychological challenges during adolescence, including academic pressures and educational decision-making. Dabrowski’s Theory of Positive Disintegration provides a framework for understanding growth through disintegration and reintegration, with perfectionistic traits acting as intrinsic motivators for self-improvement. This study examined the psychological profiles of 641 Taiwanese high school students: 207 mathematically and scientifically talented students (MSTS), 187 verbally talented students (VTS), and 247 regular students (RS). Using the ME III, refined from the ME II, and the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, our research assessed overexcitabilities (OEs) and perfectionism traits. MSTS and VTS scored significantly higher in Intellectual and Imaginational OEs than RS, with VTS also overperforming in sensual OE. MSTS and VTS showed higher personal standards, while VTS excelled in organization, and RS reported higher parental criticism. Emotional OE correlated with perfectionism, such as concern over mistakes, doubts about actions, and parental criticism, while Intellectual OE positively correlated with personal standards and negatively with parental criticism. Intellectual and Emotional OEs jointly predicted personal standards and organization; while Sensual, Intellectual, and Emotional OEs predicted doubts about actions, etc. These findings underscore the importance of tailored educational and counseling strategies to address the unique needs of gifted students, fostering environments that enhance their abilities and overall well-being. Full article

Adolescence is a critical period for identity formation and psychological adjustment, where parenting styles play a fundamental role in shaping socialization and emotional development. The present study analyzed the relationships of parenting styles with the Big Five personality traits (extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, emotional stability, and intellect), self-esteem, and life satisfaction in older Spanish adolescents. A sample of 366 Spanish university students (69.1% girls and 30.9% boys) aged 18 and 19 years completed measures assessing parenting styles, personality traits, self-esteem, and life satisfaction. Data analysis involved a multivariate approach, considering the four parenting styles as independent variables. The results of the MANOVA test indicate that adolescents raised with indulgent and authoritative parenting exhibit significantly higher levels of extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, emotional stability, self-esteem, and life satisfaction compared to those raised with neglectful or authoritarian parenting. These findings highlight the influence of parenting styles not only on adolescent well-being, but also on personality development. Full article

Several studies have indicated that parental education predicts children’s intelligence. In contrast, fewer studies have simultaneously analyzed the role of parental intelligence, education, and personality in shaping their children’s giftedness. This study investigated the effects of parental education, cognitive abilities (based on CHC theory), and personality traits (based on the Five-Factor Model) on the expression of gifted children’s cognitive abilities. Sixty-five gifted children (IQ ≥ 120) aged 6 to 14 years (M = 9.91 years; SD = 2.24 years) were assessed using the WISC-IV, while parents (65 mothers, M = 44.00 years; SD = 4.20 years, and 61 fathers, M = 45.70 years; SD = 5.40 years) completed the WAIS-IV and the Big-Five Inventory. The results indicated that maternal education was a key predictor of children’s Verbal Comprehension Index (VCI) in bivariate analyses, though its effect was not robust in multivariate models. Children’s Perceptual Reasoning Index (PRI) was associated with maternal conscientiousness, and fathers’ short-term memory (Gsm) emerged as the primary predictor of children’s Working Memory Index (WMI). Maternal processing speed (Gs) was the strongest predictor of children’s Processing Speed Index (PSI) across both bivariate and multivariate analyses. While personality traits, such as maternal conscientiousness, played a role in facilitating visual-spatial reasoning, their effects were weaker compared to cognitive and educational factors. The findings obtained, which are only partly consistent with data in the literature, highlight the domain-specific influence of parental characteristics on children’s giftedness and underscore the need for further research into the interplay of genetic, cognitive, and environmental factors. Full article

Background/Objectives: Although numerous investigations have been conducted on postpartum depression, studies on the association between postpartum depression and personality traits of mothers and fathers are lacking. This study aimed to examine the association between postpartum depression and the Big Five personality models among Japanese mothers and fathers at one-month health check-ups. Methods: The participants were 82 couples, and they responded to the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), the Japanese version of the Ten-Item Personality Inventory, and the Quality of Marriage Index (QMI). We examined the correlations among variables and analyzed the data using structural equation modeling (SEM). Results: Maternal neuroticism was significantly associated with maternal depression (β = 0.50, p < 0.001), and maternal extraversion was significantly associated with paternal depression (β = −0.64, p < 0.001). In addition, we found that maternal postpartum depression was associated with maternal marital satisfaction (r = −0.29, p = 0.037); however, this association disappeared in SEM. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that health practitioners should pay attention to depression and personality traits in both postpartum mothers and fathers. Moreover, we should consider the different associations between depression and personality in parents when initiating interventions. Full article

(1) Background: Since the COVID-19 pandemic was a source of stress for families, this study aimed to investigate the influence of dispositional factors, such as personality traits and sociodemographic variables, on parental burnout among Italian parents during two waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the study assessed personality traits and sociodemographic variables as protective or risk factors for parental burnout levels. (2) Methods: The study consisted of two cross-sectional samples collected during the second and fourth waves of the Italian pandemic. The participants included 600 Italian parents: 245 from the second wave (average age = 37.12, SD = 2.78) and 355 from the fourth wave (average age = 36.89, SD = 3.14). The measures used were the Balance between Risks and Resources, the Personality Inventory, and a sociodemographic questionnaire. (3) Results: The t-test showed that parents in the fourth wave had lower parental burnout levels. Moreover, stepwise multiple linear regression revealed that sociodemographic variables did not have an effect, while significant effects of personality traits were found. Specifically, neuroticism was identified as a risk factor for parental burnout, while agreeableness and openness were identified as protective factors. (4) Conclusions: The findings indicated that similar stress levels were reported between the two waves of parents and that personality traits play a crucial role in facilitating or limiting the management of parental competencies during a risk condition. Full article

When children enter adolescence, their personality traits easily give rise to psychological reactance (PR). PR involves a desire for autonomy and independence, as well as an aversion to parental and social rules and restrictions. Factors that influence PR include physiological, familial, and social aspects. However, most studies on adolescent noncompliance have primarily focused on rebellious behavior. Little research has examined motivational state reactance, although its interaction with environmental perception can significantly affect adolescents’ lives. This study aimed to explore the relationship between the perceived friendliness of the community environment and cognitive processing at different quality of life (QoL) levels in relation to PR among adolescents. Propensity score matching was performed on a sample of 3546 adolescents, collected in Sanya, China. The results show that child-friendly communities (CFCs) had a significantly negative impact on adolescents’ PR levels. Additionally, QoL had a moderating effect, meaning that the higher the QoL, the stronger the role of a CFC in alleviating PR. In contrast to claims that PR is determined by temperament or character profiles, this study reveals the importance of environmental shaping through triadic reciprocal determinism and a focus on the key role of the community environment. Full article

Need for Cognition has been established as a key intellectual investment trait shaping students’ academic development. However, little is yet known about its malleability, particularly in youth. This study investigated stability and change in Need for Cognition in a large longitudinal sample of 3409 adolescents from 166 classes in 27 schools in Flanders. Participants reported on their Need for Cognition in Grades 7, 8, 11 and 12. First, the latent rank-order stability of Need for Cognition between Grades 7 and 11 was found to be r = 0.50. This stability was of a similar magnitude to that of the Big Five personality traits observed in the same sample and larger than that of academic intrinsic motivation. Second, trajectories of Need for Cognition over time were found to vary between individuals. In particular, three trajectory classes could be identified, differentiated mainly by the initial level of Need for Cognition (i.e., a low, medium, and high trajectory). Finally, cognitive ability, cognitive stimulation at home, and parental autonomy support, but not parental educational level, were associated with higher odds of belonging to the high Need for Cognition trajectory and lower odds of belonging to the low Need for Cognition trajectory. Full article

Background: Community champions have been employed across various settings to disseminate evidence-based public health information. The Building Babies’ Brains programme trains champions to work with parents in communities, equipping them with child development knowledge and parental engagement strategies. We explored what makes community champions effective in distributing information to parents, including how the champion–parent relationship and champions’ personal characteristics affect information dissemination. Methods: Champions included both peers and professionals working with parents in target communities. We administered an online survey (n = 53) and follow-up interviews (n = 14) with champions, with representation from across all training cohorts. We conducted a realist-informed reflexive thematic analysis to generate themes in the data and highlight the contexts, mechanisms, and outcome patterns identified. Results: We observed 15 Context–Mechanism–Outcome configurations across five themes: information sharing opportunities, information relevance, the nature of the champion–parent relationship, interaction expectations, and champion confidence. Our programme theory for how the community champion approach works identified that peer champions focused more on building rapport, modelling behaviours, and being a trusted community resource than direct information transfer. Professional champions, in contrast, showed greater expertise and confidence in discussing parenting practices directly. For both groups, traits such as friendliness and the ability to establish a trusting relationship enhanced effectiveness. Conclusions: This research identifies the impacts of champion role, characteristics, and the champion–parent relationship on the effectiveness of knowledge mobilisation in this context, with implications for training and recruitment of champions. Those using a champion model in comparable settings should ensure that champions have the necessary knowledge, skills, and confidence to engage parents and share information effectively. Full article

Objective: The Test of Self-Conscious Affect-3 (TOSCA-3) is a scenario-based measure of self-conscious emotions. We aimed to create an abridged version of the TOSCA-3 that is appropriate for Japanese populations and has a good fit with the data, as well as validate its subscales. Methods: The TOSCA-3 was distributed to (a) a university student population (n = 512: Study 1) and (b) a parent population (n = 260: Study 2). In both studies, items with factor loading < 0.33 were deleted one by one to select culturally appropriate scenarios for each of the six domains of self-conscious emotions. In Study 1, self-conscious emotions were correlated with the other correlates. Results: Most of the final models showed a good fit with the data. In Study 1, the six domains of self-conscious emotions showed correlations with depression and related items, dispositional coping styles, experiences in childhood, ego function, borderline and narcissistic personality traits, and adult attachment styles, almost in the expected fashions. Conclusions: The TOSCA-3 is a useful tool to measure self-conscious emotions among Japanese student and parent populations if a few culturally inappropriate scenarios are deleted. Full article

Based on a sample of 8271 mothers, this study explored a set of psychological and sociodemographic factors associated with their vocabulary, drawing on data from a large, nationally representative sample of children born in 2000. The dependent variable was maternal vocabulary assessed when cohort members were at fourteen years of age, and the mothers were in their mid-forties. Data were also collected when cohort members were at birth, 9 months old, and at ages 3, 7, 11 and 14 years. Correlational analysis showed that family income at birth, parent–child relationship quality at age 3, maternal educational qualifications at age 11, and maternal personality trait Openness at age 14 were significantly and positively associated with maternal vocabulary. It also showed maternal malaise at 9 months and children’s behavioral adjustment at age 7, and maternal traits Neuroticism and Agreeableness at age 14 were significantly and negatively associated with maternal vocabulary. Maternal age was also significantly and positively associated with vocabulary. Regression analysis showed that maternal age, malaise, parent–child relationship quality, children’s behavioral adjustment, maternal educational qualifications, and traits Openness and Agreeableness were significant predictors of maternal vocabulary, accounting for 33% of total variance. The implications and limitations are discussed. Full article