Abstract:

This study examines sex differences between children with and without ADHD. Specifically, functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) resting-state functional connectivity measures were used to analyze neural profiles of female and male children based on both group and symptom severity score. Participants, aged 6-8, participated in this study by performing a Passive Viewing Paradigm resting-state task. The K-SADS interview was used to determine ADHD diagnosis and subtype, from which a continuous symptom severity score across group and subtype was calculated. It was found that female children with combined-type ADHD demonstrate different neural profiles than male children overall and based on symptom severity. Male children with ADHD, across subtypes, demonstrate less refined functional connectivity. Males with the combined type also show less significant connectivity. Most notably, within the combined-type group, connectivity increases as symptom severity increases in male children whereas connectivity decreases as symptom severity increases in female children, contrasting from their typically developing peers.

Abstract: Discipline is a significant predictor of parent-child attachment and relationship quality across the lifespan. Yet, much of the research on Black families’ disciplinary strategies uses a deficit and myopic lens that focuses on punitive punishment styles (e.g., spanking or taking away privileges). In the current qualitative study, we used an intergenerational narrative lens (Fivush & Merrill, 2016) and thematic analysis to explore semi-structured interview data from 31 Black mothers (25–60 years, Mage = 46) in the United States around maternal discipline experiences. Mothers varied widely in their retrospective accounts of their mothers’ disciplinary strategies, which we categorized into three main themes: (a) punitive (b) logical, and (c) natural, as well as three thematic categories around the extent to which Black adult daughters continued to use the maternal disciplinary practices they experienced during childhood (d) continuity, (e) mix, and (f) shift. Results highlighted the personal and cultural factors that informed Black women’s disciplinary strategies across two generations of motherhood and revealed that most adult daughters shifted away from what they experience during childhood – often towards less punitive strategies. Finally, we explored the explicit connections that adult daughters made between their childhood disciplinary practices and their current relationship with their mothers. We identified three main categories: (g) strained, (h) progressing, and (i) healthy. Each category revealed important patterns about the extent to which adult daughters felt connected, validated, and supported by their mothers. Overall, our findings lend significant insight into Black mother-daughter relationship dynamics, particularly around the importance of communication patterns and emotional connection in the culture of discipline within families.

Abstract: There has been a significant increase in the prevalence and estimates of neurodevelopmental disorders, especially autism spectrum disorders, in the last decade. The literature has seen increasing research on understanding wellbeing and mental health. To understand the association and interaction of well-being and mental health with autism and ADHD, a survey was given to 560 secondary school students. The survey used the wellbeing process questionnaire, the autism spectrum quotient, the ADHD self-report scale, and the strengths and difficulties questionnaire. The analysis conducted using SPSS showed that there was a significant correlation between anxiety, depression, AQ, and ADHD. Anxiety and depression were also significantly correlated with all well-being and SDQ variables. The regression analysis showed that anxiety was significantly associated with positive well-being, negative well-being, emotional problems, and prosocial behaviour. In contrast, depression was significantly associated with positive well-being, negative well-being, physical health, flourishing, conduct problems, emotional problems and peer problems. The associations between anxiety, depression and the outcomes were stronger than with either AQ or ADHD

Abstract:

Exploring cognitive abilities is necessary in educational contexts, where such insights shape decisions about student placement and teaching methods. Traditionally, educational assessments have been leaned on academic performance to guide decisions related to grading and student placement. This study examines the relationships among specific neuropsychological measures, namely the Event Related Potentials (ERPs), P300 waveform, reaction time, and fluid intelligence in children. Raven’s Standard Progressive Matrices (RSPM) was utilized to assess intelligence levels. Based on their RSPM scores, participants were grouped into two categories: those with "high mental abilities" and those with "average mental abilities." It was hypothesized that children with higher RSPM scores might display reduced P300 latencies and quicker reaction times, potentially reflecting greater neural efficiency. Electrophysiological data collected using ERPs, focusing on the P300 component. The results suggest a possible association between higher intelligence scores and shorter P300 latencies and quicker reaction times, which could support the concept of neural efficiency and the significance of cognitive speed in understanding intelligence. This investigation into the neuropsychological foundations of cognitive ability in children is in the same line with studies supporting how brain activity, connectivity, and processing efficiency vary. These differences could help develop educational strategies that are more tailored to individual cognitive processing styles.

Abstract:

This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of the Motivational Interviewing Matrix on reducing anger and increasing self-efficacy in male high school students. Method: This quasi-experimental study employed a pre-test-post-test control group design. The study sample consisted of 8 male 10th and 11th grade students, selected through convenience sampling and randomly assigned to two groups: experimental (n=4) and control (n=4). Participants were assessed using the Spielberger State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2 (STAXI-2) and the Morris Academic Self-Efficacy Scale (2001). The experimental group received 8 counseling sessions based on the Motivational Interviewing Matrix model, while the control group received no intervention. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, paired samples t-test, and independent samples t-test. Results: The results indicated that the Motivational Interviewing Matrix significantly reduced anger and increased self-efficacy in the experimental group. The mean anger score in the experimental group decreased from 32.25 to 23.75, while no significant change was observed in the control group (31.50 in the pre-test to 30.75 in the post-test). Additionally, the mean self-efficacy score in the experimental group increased from 14.50 to 21.00, while the control group showed a slight change (14.25 in the pre-test to 14.75 in the post-test). The paired samples t-test revealed that these changes were significant in the experimental group (t anger = 6.28, P = 0.002; t self-efficacy = 7.11, p = 0.001). Furthermore, the independent samples t-test showed a significant difference between the experimental and control groups (t anger = 3.96, p = 0.004; t self-efficacy = 4.55, p = 0.002). The effect size also indicated a strong and sustained impact of the intervention on the study variables (d anger = 2.10, d self-efficacy = 2.40). Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that the Motivational Interviewing Matrix can be used as an effective tool in improving emotional regulation and enhancing self-efficacy in students. It is recommended that this model be implemented in school counseling and emotional management training programs.

Abstract:

This study explores the relationship between GPT usage and addiction-related traits through a questionnaire survey. The research participants included 22 graduate students (master’s and doctoral candidates) who have been using GPT extensively for academic research. The results suggest that GPT usage correlates with certain characteristics of addiction, particularly in terms of mood modification, tolerance, and withdrawal symptoms (according to the biopsychosocial framework of addiction). Many participants considered GPT essential for their research work, with usage frequency increasing over time, indicating a trend towards greater adaptability. Mood modification was primarily influenced by the purpose of use: when GPT served as a conversational partner, it was seen as relaxing, while its use as a tool elicited emotional responses dependent on its performance. Additionally, some participants reported mild anxiety or discomfort when unable to access GPT, especially when practical needs were unmet. A few participants expressed concern that over-reliance on GPT could negatively impact independent thinking and learning abilities, and they also raised concerns about potential academic integrity issues arising from its use. Overall, while GPT use exhibited some addictive traits, its role as a tool differentiates these traits from those associated with traditional substance addictions. Future research should further investigate the potential harms and addictive potential of GPT use across various user groups.

Abstract: Background: Despite the growing recognition of the importance of family harmony, individual-social responsibility, emotional management skills, and social media addiction in an individual's psychosocial functioning, a significant gap remains in the literature regarding the associations between these constructs within the context of Turkish young adults. This study aimed to investigate the mediating effects of emotional management skills and social media addiction on the relationship between family harmony and individual social responsibility among young Turkish adults. Methods: A cross-sectional study using an online survey recruited 854 participants (64.1% female) who completed the Individual–Social Responsibility Scale, the Family Harmony Scale, the Emotion Management Skills Scale, and the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale. Results: The results showed that high family harmony, emotional management skills, and low social media addiction were related to higher levels of individual social responsibility in young adults. Emotional management skills and social media addiction had partial and serial mediating effects on the relationship between family harmony and individual social responsibility. Conclusions: Educating young adults about fostering familial harmony can contribute to their emotional regulation abilities, reduce their involvement in detrimental social media behaviors, and enhance their levels of individual and social responsibility.

Abstract: Although affective commitment has been the focus of numerous studies, we know relatively little about certain factors that drive or hinder its progress. In this sense, this study contributes to the knowledge on the subject by establishing a relationship between a benevolent ethical climate and affective commitment, taking into account the mediating effect of intrinsic motivation. Furthermore, we highlight depersonalization as an aspect that can hinder these relationships when it assumes a moderating function. The sample was established through 448 employees of the Colombian electrical sector. The mediating effect was confirmed through a four-step method. The moderated mediation model was examined using SEM structural equations. The results show that a benevolent ethical climate is positively related to affective commitment and that intrinsic motivation is a mediating factor that justifies this relationship. However, depersonalization moderates the mediation between benevolent ethical climate, intrinsic motivation, and affective commitment. Specifically, the positive effect of the benevolent ethical climate on affective commitment is halted when depersonalization is high. The positive relationship between intrinsic motivation and affective commitment is interrupted when depersonalization is medium or high. Finally, as depersonalization progresses, the positive relationship between a benevolent ethical climate and intrinsic motivation is reduced. Therefore, organizations in the Colombian electrical sector must take measures that, in addition to avoiding social isolation, behave as indicators that warn when employees' behaviors change significantly.

Abstract: This meta-analysis examines how unemployment, a psychosocial stressor, influences Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex PTSD (CPTSD). It specifically explores unemployment as a risk factor for trauma, with emphasis on CPTSD, and investigates economic variables, including the GINI coefficient, as potential moderators. A systematic search in Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed yielded 33 studies comprising more than 65,000 participants. Odds Ratios (OR) were computed, and a random-effects model synthesized finding. Meta-regression examined the effects of economic inequality and nominal gross domestic product (NGDP). Results revealed that unemployment significantly elevated risk for PTSD (OR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.18–1.88) and CPTSD (OR = 2.17, 95% CI: 1.35–3.47), with a stronger impact on CPTSD. Additionally, economic inequality, measured via the GINI coefficient, moderated unemployment’s effect on CPTSD, reducing this association in nations with higher inequality. No similar moderation was detected for PTSD. These findings emphasize unemployment as a pivotal predictor of trauma, especially CPTSD, broadening the traditional focus on interpersonal factors. They also highlight the importance of integrating psychosocial and economic variables into clinical assessments and public health policies. Addressing both unemployment and economic inequality could be critical for effective interventions and prevention efforts, underscoring the need for further multidisciplinary research.

Abstract: Educational psychology plays a crucial role in enhancing students' learning experiences, academic performance, and personal development by ensuring their mental health. Traditionally reliant on qualitative methods such as interviews and educator assessments, this field has often struggled with the limitations of subjective and less comprehensive evaluations. Recent advancements in technology offer new possibilities for improving student psychological support. This study proposes a novel approach by utilizing bibliographic methods to investigate the integration of big data and machine learning in educational psychology. Big data encompasses extensive student-related information, including academic performance, behavioral patterns, and socio-economic backgrounds. Machine learning applies advanced algorithms to this data, enabling the identification of patterns and predictive insights into psychological conditions. By developing comprehensive databases and machine learning models, this approach facilitates the early detection of potential mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and extreme behaviors. This proactive methodology offers timely interventions and enhances traditional practices. The use of big data and machine learning promises a more precise and data-driven strategy for managing student mental health, thereby advancing the effectiveness of educational support systems and promoting overall academic success. This study underscores the transformative potential of these technologies in revolutionizing educational psychology.

Abstract:

This study aimed to investigate the multiple mediating effects of eating disorder beliefs and maladaptive schema modes on the relationship between authoritarian parenting behaviors and eating disorders. To this end, data were collected from 269 women with eating disorders in their 20s, who were selected through a panel survey by a specialized survey agency, and the data were analyzed through structural equation modeling. The results showed that the sequential dual mediation effect of eating disorder beliefs and the vulnerable child mode was significant in the relationship between maternal and paternal authoritarian parenting behaviors and eating disorders. Furthermore, the result showed a dual mediation effect of eating disorder beliefs and maladaptive schema modes (detached self-soother, helpless surrender, and eating disorder-overcontroller). In addition, differences were found between mothers and fathers in the mediating effects of eating disorder beliefs and maladaptive schema modes in the relationship between authoritarian parenting behavior and eating disorders. In conclusion, this study provides a theoretical foundation for psychotherapeutic interventions for eating disorders by identifying the role of eating disorder schema modes as a psychological mechanism through which authoritarian childhood parenting behaviors lead to eating disorders. The implications of these findings for eating disorder counseling are discussed.

Abstract: The aim of this study is to investigate how the visualizer cognitive style modulates the role of object-based attention in bindings visual working memory (VWM). We explored this question in three experiments. By using the Chinese revised version of the Object-Spatial Imagery Questionnaire, participants were divided into object visualizers (OVs) and spatial visualizers (SVs). The dual-task paradigm was adopted, participants were introduced to complete the binding VWM task, while a secondary task which consumed object-based attention was inserted. Our results showed that, compared with SVs, OVs had an advantage in maintaining bindings and had larger cost of the object-based attention. Event-related potentials results showed that for OVs, the P2 during binding VWM encoding was reduced and the late positive component (LPC) during the secondary task performing was enhanced when the object-based attention was consumed, while the P2 and the LPC were not affected for SVs. These findings suggest that the object-based attentional investment in holding bindings in VWM is modulated by the visualizer cognitive style, with OVs having a larger investment compared with SVs. The mechanism underlying this modulation is based on the allocation of on-demand resources to meet the task requirements. The theory of object-based attention in retaining bindings in VWM is further elucidated as an on-demand resources when allocating such attention.

Abstract: Background: This study aimed to understand how insomnia problems experienced by esports athletes affect their life satisfaction and to elucidate the mechanisms underlying these effects. It is thought that psychological factors such as mindfulness and loneliness may mediate the relationship between insomnia and life satisfaction. Understanding the insomnia experienced by esports athletes and reducing the effects of these problems is important to increase their performance and improve their health and well-being. Methods: The study data were obtained from 340 participants, 297 (87.4%) male and 43 (12.6%) female, with an average age of 18.90 (sd=2.35). The explored the serial mediating roles of mindfulness and loneliness between insomnia and life satisfaction in esports athletes and correlational research derived from quantitative methods. Furthermore, the convenience sampling method was chosen for data collection. Results: The findings illuminate a nuanced interplay among insomnia, mindfulness, loneliness, and life satisfaction in the context of esports athletes. Life satisfaction was found to be negatively correlated with both insomnia and loneliness, and positively correlated with mindfulness, indicating that higher levels of insomnia and loneliness are associated with lower life satisfaction, whereas greater mindfulness correlates with higher life satisfaction. Conclusions: This study focused on the psychological interaction of insomnia, mindfulness, loneliness, and life satisfaction in esports athletes. Its approach this study thus fills a significant gap in both the esports psychology literature and the practical management of esports athletes' mental health, positioning itself as a valuable resource for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers interested in the intersection of competitive sports.

Abstract: Introduction: Adolescence is a developmental period in which the risk of mental problems is high. Failure to resolve the problems encountered during this period may result in the need for psychological help. Based on the literature review, this study aimed to examine self-regulation, which has the potential to reduce adolescents' need for psychological help, and the mediation of happiness, resilience, problem solving, self-efficacy, and adjustment through this skill. Methods: In the cross-sectional correlational survey design study, 1013 adolescents (542 girls, 471 boys, mean age: 15.04±1.75 years) aged 12-19 years and studying in middle and high school in Bayburt, Turkey were reached. Seven different questionnaires, valid and reliable in adolescent groups, were used to measure the study variables. Results: Correlation results showed that all predictors were positively correlated with each other and negatively correlated with the dependent variable, the need for psychological help. After testing the assumptions, the results of the parallel mediation analysis showed that happiness, problem solving, self-efficacy, and adjustment full mediated the effect of self-regulation on the need for psychological help. Another finding is that resilience is not a predictor of psychological distress. Conclusion: The results are important because they provide insight for those working in the field of adolescent mental health in terms of understanding the factors through which self-regulation reduces the need for psychological help.

Abstract: Background/Objectives: Happiness is a main topic in psychological research, as a catalyst for transformative change, capable of inspiring growth and well-being. This study aims to identify and understand the themes that compose visual representations of happiness in adolescents, while using an innovative qualitative methodology centered on visual research. Methods: Applying the ‘draw-and-write’ technique, Portuguese adolescents were asked to ‘Draw happiness,’ generating a visual data set of 330 drawings, coined hSquares. Results: By order of prevalence, the thematic analysis identified eight key themes: ‘people,’ ‘hobbies,’ ‘love,’ ‘smile,’ ‘sports,’ ‘basic needs,’ ‘inner harmony,’ and ‘human rights and equality.’ The findings highlight the significance of social contexts, such as family and peer relationships, as central to adolescents' happiness, while also emphasizing the importance of self-selected activities. Visual representations associated with basic needs and human rights emerged as novel contributions to the literature. Differences emerged by age, with younger adolescents often depicting single themes, whereas older adolescents integrated multiple themes in their drawings. Conclusions: This study provides a visual complement to the rich textual conversation about happiness and demonstrates the potential of visual methodologies in psychological research.

Abstract: Knowledge about sleep was very limited at the time Freud elaborated his seminal work on the interpretation of dreams. He was also not interested in sleep, that considered a problem of physiology, however sleep appears to have a central role in his model, since dreaming is considered the guardian of sleep. The function of dreaming according to Freud is to protect sleep from disruption, the dream work finalized to avoid repressed stimuli interrupting the “biological” function of sleep. Before neurophysiological studies provided evidence that sleep is not a passive state, Freud also recognized sleep as an active process, human beings voluntarily withdraw their attention from the external world to actively move to sleep. Discovery of REM sleep in the fifties led psychoanalysts to see sleep as the necessary background to the occurrence of dreaming. Although Freud dismissed the clinical importance of sleep disturbances, viewing those as the somatic expression of an instinctual disturbance, which will disappear during psycho-analytic treatment, successive authors highlighted the fact that sleep disturbances might have a more specific psychic significance. The similarities between the loss of self which occurs by falling asleep and the fragmentation of the identity experienced in schizophrenia, is an interesting and yet not fully explored area of research. Thanks to Freud’s work, the desire to sleep assumes the important role of a psychological, active factor which contributes to the occurrence and function of sleep.

Abstract: Introduction: Adolescent dating violence is a public health issue with long-term implications for the emotional and psychological development of young people. Properly evaluating this issue requires instruments with solid psychometric properties. This study aims to identify and analyze the psychometric properties of the instruments used to measure perpetration and victimization in adolescent dating violence. Objective: To identify the psychometric properties of the instruments measuring perpetration and victimization in adolescent dating violence through a systematic review of the scientific literature and meta-analysis of reliability and structural validity. Methods: The study design included a systematic review of the literature and a meta-analysis. Data sources used were scientific databases such as PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Web of Science. Inclusion criteria were studies that evaluated the reliability and validity of instruments measuring adolescent dating violence, published in English and Spanish. Data analysis was performed through a meta-analysis to calculate reliability indices, such as Cronbach's alpha, and structural validity was assessed using factor analysis techniques. Results: The results showed high reliability and structural validity in the instruments measuring dating violence, with high global alpha and omega coefficients and excellent model fit indices. However, heterogeneity was significant, and lower coefficients in measuring sexual violence indicated areas for improvement. Limitations include variability between studies, possible publication biases, and a lack of detailed demographic data. Conclusion: The instruments are generally reliable and valid, but more research is needed to improve the accuracy in measuring sexual violence and to ensure generalization in diverse contexts.

Abstract: Purpose/Originality: This study introduces a novel construct, Spendception, which conceptualizes the psychological impact of digital payment systems on consumer behavior, marking a significant contribution to the field of consumer psychology and behavioral economics. Spendception reflects the reduced psychological resistance to spending when using digital payment methods, as compared to cash, due to the diminished visibility of transactions and the perceived ease of payments. This research aims to explore the role of Spendception in increasing consumer purchase behavior whereas the role of impulse buying has been observed as mediator. Method: To test the proposed model, an extensive survey has been done by collecting 1162 respondents from all walk of life to get the real picture. We employed Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) to validate the measurement of key constructs. To test the hypothetical relations among all the variables, we employed Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). Furthermore, a machine learning technique has been used to test the robustness of the model. Findings: Results shows that Spendception greatly boots the consumer purchase behavior with impulse buying partially mediates the relation. Gender was found to moderate the relationship, with female consumers being more susceptible to impulse buying caused by Spendception. The study shows that digital payment systems making buying feel less noticeable, which lead people spending more without realizing the financial impact. Theoretical Contribution: This study introduces Spendception, a novel construct that extends existing consumer behavior theories by explaining how digital payment systems reduce psychological barriers to spending. It bridges the gap between mental accounting and the pain of paying, demonstrating that the lack of immediate visibility and physicality in digital payments alters consumers’ perceptions of spending, leading to increased impulse buying and higher purchase behavior. The findings also offer actionable insights for marketers in designing targeted campaigns that leverage the psychological effects of Spendception.

Abstract:

Social desirability is a widely studied phenomenon due to its impact on the validity of self-reported data. This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Brief Social Desirability Scale (BSSD-4) in Ecuadorian youth, analyzing its reliability, factorial and convergent validity, and measurement invariance by sex, age group, and experiences of dating violence. An instrumental study was conducted with 836 participants (aged 14–26). Reliability was adequate (Ω = 0.75, α = 0.81, CR = 0.759). Confirmatory Factor Analysis showed good fit indices (CFI = 0.98, TLI = 0.97, RMSEA = 0.056, SRMR = 0.037). Convergent validity was acceptable (AVE = 0.50, VIF < 2.01). A network analysis confirmed the unidimensionality of the scale and structural differences between groups. Measurement invariance by sex and age was verified, but differences in the network structure were found based on victimization and perpetration of violence. The BSSD-4 is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing social desirability in Ecuadorian youth, useful for population studies and intergroup comparisons. Further research is recommended to explore its invariance in populations with a history of violence, as differences in scalar invariance were observed.

Abstract: This article aims to review the linguistic adaptation and psychometric validation of psychological assessment instruments through a narrative review. Linguistic adaptation involves translating and culturally adjusting instruments to fit the target population, while psychometric validation assesses reliability using indicators such as Cronbach's Alpha (α≥0.70) and McDonald's Omega (ω≥0.70). Additional reliability measures include Guttman's Lambda (λ≥ 0.70) and Composite Reliability (CR≥ 0.70). Validity is evaluated through the Average Variance Extracted (AVE≥ 0.50) and the Heterotrait-Monotrait Ratio (HTMT≤ 0.85). Model fit is assessed using indices such as CFI (≥ 0.90), TLI (≥ 0.90), NFI (≥ 0.90), NNFI (≥ 0.90), RFI (≥ 0.90), IFI (≥ 0.90), GFI (≥ 0.90), AGFI (≥ 0.90), PGFI (≥ 0.50), PNFI (≥ 0.50), PCFI (≥ 0.50), RMSEA (≤ 0.08 acceptable, ≤ 0.05), and SRMR (≤ 0.08). Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) is also employed to investigate measurement invariance, ensuring the stability of the instrument across different groups.