Stressful life events (SLEs) are known to be associated with an increased prevalence of common mental disorders (CMDs), but the potential moderating role of psychological well-being has not been comprehensively studied. In total, 6194 adults aged 18-75 years were interviewed for the third Netherlands Mental Health Survey and Incidence Study (NEMESIS-3). Assessments included the adapted Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI v3.0) to determine DSM-5 mood, anxiety and substance use disorders, Brugha's List of Threatening Experiences for SLEs, and Brief INSPIRE-O for psychological well-being. Logistic regressions tested associations between having experienced at least two SLEs and the different CMDs and additive interactions with psychological well-being. Having experienced ≥ 2 SLEs in the last year was associated with a higher prevalence of all CMDs in the last year, with adjusted odds ratios ranging from 1.71 (95% CI: 1.39; 2.10) for substance use disorders to 3.43 (95% CI: 2.73; 4.30) for mood disorders. The interaction effect of ≥ 2 SLEs and low psychological well-being was statistically significant for any CMD (RERI = 5.64, 95% CI: 3.18; 8.10), mood disorder (RERI = 23.09, 95% CI: 10.10; 36.10) and anxiety disorder (RERI = 3.45, 95% CI: 1.27; 5.63), but not for substance use disorder (RERI = 0.21, 95% CI: -1.38; 1.80). The joint presence of ≥ 2 SLEs and poor psychological well-being was associated with a higher prevalence of mood and anxiety disorders than would be expected from the sum of their individual associations. Promoting psychological well-being may be a fruitful public mental health strategy to increase resilience against SLEs.

To further investigate the heterogeneity of adolescents' social anxiety, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among 6540 Chinese adolescents aged 11 to 19 years (3294 boys). Latent profile analysis and network analysis were adopted to identify subgroups based on social anxiety symptoms and further reveal core features of each group. Results showed that four subgroups were identified: "Profile 1 (n = 1,768, 26.8%): the low group with diffuse social anxiety"; "Profile 2 (n = 1,202, 18.7%): the moderate group with cognitive disturbance"; "Profile 3 (n = 1995, 30.6%): the moderate group with difficulties in new situations"; and "Profile 4: high group with diffuse social anxiety". Multiple logistic regression analyses showed significant age and gender differences across the four profiles. Network analyses revealed that, with regard to standardized strength indices of SAS-A symptoms, generally, symptoms F4 "worry that others don't like me", and F6 "feel that others make fun of me" emerged as central symptoms across the four networks. Network 4 showed a higher average predictability of all nodes, indicating a greater resistance to intervention. Network comparison tests indicated that there were significant differences regarding network structures in all pairs of networks except for Network 1 versus 2. All pairs of networks differed significantly in network strengths except for Network 2 versus 3, particularly revealing the "essence" and "manifestation" of adolescents' social anxiety. The findings help understand adolescents' social anxiety symptoms and the interactions of symptoms, potentially providing novel perspectives and approaches for the prevention and treatment of adolescents' social anxiety.

Mental illness can affect activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, and recreational activities of daily living (RADL, e.g., sports, hobbies). RADL can have positive effects on psychological well-being, and can therefore also intentionally be used to improve one's well-being (IRADL, intentional recreational activities of daily living). In a German representative and a convenience sample, 2522 participants and 213 patients were asked about their use of IRADL. The psychosomatic patients were asked pre and post a 5-week stay in a psychosomatic hospital. More than half of the participants in the representative study, 2/3 of the pretreatment, and over 91% of the posttreatment psychosomatic sample indicated at least one recreational activity that they use to deliberately improve psychological well-being. Most people in the general public use recreational activities in a well-being-promoting manner. Psychosomatic patients use this option more frequently. Psychosomatic treatment helps to increase the motivation to use recreational activities.

The negative relationship between math anxiety and mathematics performance is well established. However, factors such as how math anxiety is operationalized, the specific mathematical domain, gender, and cultural context may influence this relationship. Still, these factors have not been considered together and the results in primary school students have been inconsistent. Thus, this study aimed to investigate how math anxiety is related to arithmetic fluency and number processing in fourth-grade students across three cultural contexts (Finnish- and Swedish-speaking students from Finland and Swedish-speaking students from Sweden). In addition, we investigated the dimensionality of math anxiety (i.e., cognitive and affective dimensions) and gender differences in the level of and relations between math anxiety and mathematics performance. The sample included 1022 fourth-grade students (52.6% girls) from Finland and Sweden. The participants completed a survey measuring their math anxiety and a mathematics performance test (arithmetic fluency and number processing). Confirmatory factor analysis supported a two-dimensional math anxiety construct for the Finnish-speaking sample and a unidimensional math anxiety construct for the Swedish-speaking samples. The negative math anxiety-performance relationship was demonstrated in each sample, showing a slightly stronger association for arithmetic fluency than number processing. On average girls experienced higher levels of math anxiety and boys had better arithmetic fluency. The negative relationship between math anxiety and mathematics performance, especially for number processing, was stronger for boys. The results highlight the relationships between math anxiety and mathematics performance in fourth-grade students in Finland and Sweden. More research considering cultural (e.g., language) and gender differences is needed.

Long-distance romantic relationships have become an increasingly common type of relationship. Especially among emerging adults, the preference for such relationships is increasing. This situation reveals the importance of analyzing how long-distance relationships are maintained and the quality that individuals perceive from these relationships. The study group of this research consists of emerging adults who have been in a long-distance romantic relationship for at least 6 months. The study examined the relationships between relationship maintenance behaviors, dyadic trust and relationship quality. The findings obtained using a serial mediation model show that relationship maintenance behaviors predict relationship quality both directly and indirectly through dyadic trust. In particular, openness and positivity play important roles in the formation of trust, which in turn increases overall relationship quality. The results emphasize that adaptive communication and relationship maintenance behaviors play a critical role in overcoming the difficulties encountered in long-distance relationships. The findings are discussed within the framework of family systems theory and the impact of stressors on the system and the role of effective relationship maintenance behaviors in maintaining relational balance and functioning are discussed. Finally, implications for practice and future research in the field of relationship counseling are discussed.

This study aims to analyze the participatory profile of women and men, and to explore to what extent gender may moderate the associations between intrapersonal variables and social participation, considering also the potential socialization effects of university experiences. Two studies are presented. Study 1 analyzed 3856 university students who had completed at least the first year of their undergraduate degree. Study 2 analyzed 1061 young people who had just started their university studies. Both used online questionnaires to evaluate social participation and the intrapersonal variables internal efficacy, moral obligation, self-concept and social norms. The results indicated that women and men exhibited largely similar participatory profiles across both samples, although women reported higher levels in most of the behaviors examined. Moreover, the findings suggest that the moderating role of gender is not fixed but varies according to developmental stage and the socialization processes occurring within the university context. This underscores the importance of viewing gender not merely as a descriptive characteristic, but as a dynamic factor shaping the psychosocial processes underpinning youth participation. Such insights can inform the design of targeted interventions aimed at promoting more equitable participation and fostering critical reflection on the role of universities in strengthening civic engagement among young people.

The relation between sleep and irritable affect has been studied extensively. However, whether this relation is bidirectional remains unclear. Furthermore, less is still known about associations between sleep and interpersonal behaviors and perceptions during social interactions. The current study examined bidirectional within-person relations between actigraphy-based sleep, and irritable affect, quarrelsome behavior, and agreeable perceptions of others assessed using event-contingent recording of social interactions in a sample of n = 50 participants during either 20 or 40 days. We found that after a night of worse sleep than usual, participants reported more anger and frustration the next day (-0.12, p ≤ 0.01). The reverse was not found. There were no direct associations between sleep and quarrelsome behavior or between sleep and agreeable perceptions. However, worse sleep than usual was indirectly related to more quarrelsome behavior (-0.05, p ≤ 0.001) and less agreeable perceptions (0.06, p ≤ 0.001); that is, via increased irritable affect. These mediation effects imply that poor sleep may impair the quality of one's social interactions. Therefore, targeting sleep could be a means to improve personal and professional relationships.

To communicate effectively about risk and uncertainty we need to understand how phrases that describe the probability of an event are understood. Phrases may refer to higher or lower probabilities; they may communicate a precise or a rough estimate, and there may be more or less agreement on the interpretation of the phrase. Previous research has provided taxonomies for how phrases refer to different ranges of quantified probabilities. Our online survey (N = 537) showed that 22 Norwegian probability phrases were interpreted to refer to roughly the same probabilities as their English counterparts. In accordance with preregistered hypotheses, the phrases that were expected to express higher probabilities were assigned higher point estimates of interpretation (H1). The phrases that were expected to be less precise were assigned wider ranges of possible interpretation (H2). In addition to presenting the phrases alone, our study also presented the phrases as part of positive or negative clinical framing. This manipulation led to medium-sized effects that phrases were assigned lower probabilities both when they were used in positive (H3a) and in negative frames (H3b). The current study suggests a taxonomy for how the probability of an event is expressed in Norwegian. This may be relevant for high-stakes settings where it is important to communicate effectively and accurately about risk.

Previous research has shown that shyness is a risk factor for poor socio-emotional outcomes, although not all shy adults develop these problematic behaviors. Emotional intelligence (EI) may be one explanatory factor that helps facilitate adaptive social behaviors and buffers against developing internalizing behaviors in some shy individuals. Accordingly, this study investigated whether EI moderated the relation between shyness and social approach (i.e., sociability) and avoidance (i.e., internalizing behaviors) behaviors in emerging adulthood. Participants were 523 young adults (M = 18.65 years, SD = 0.90, 19.3% male) who completed online questionnaires related to shyness, EI, sociability, and internalizing behaviors. We found that the EI subfactor Others' Emotion Appraisal (OEA) moderated a negative relation between shyness and sociability. Specifically, shy women with higher OEA reported higher levels of sociability than those with lower levels of OEA. Notably, this effect was not observed in men. As well, contrary to our expectation, EI had no moderating effect on the relation between shyness and internalizing behaviors. Findings indicate that the ability to perceive others' emotions may help shy women navigate social situations more effectively. Moreover, they challenge the idea that EI uniformly moderates the effects of shyness, instead highlighting the different pathways through which specific emotional competencies interact with personality and sex.

Online body shaming is common in adolescence and linked to a range of maladaptive outcomes. This study examined whether discrete cognitive-emotional responses to online body shaming are differentially associated with somatization, escaping behavior, eating-disorder behaviors, and substance use, and whether these associations vary by age or sex. In a cross-sectional, school-based survey, 2441 Czech adolescents (11-17 years) who reported online body shaming were analyzed. Cognitive-emotional responses were grouped into five categories (forceful, passive, uncontrollable emotions; negative thoughts; self-harm ideation). Behavioral outcomes were grouped into four categories (somatization, escaping behavior, eating-disorder behaviors, substance use). Multivariable logistic regressions estimated associations between emotions and behaviors; moderation by age (11-14 vs. 15-17) and sex was probed via z-tests on log-odds ratios. Two consistent patterns emerged. (1) Uncontrollable and forceful emotions were associated with higher odds of somatization and escaping behavior. (2) Self-harm ideation and negative thoughts were associated with higher odds of eating-disorder behaviors and substance use. Model fits were significant across outcomes. Associations were broadly similar across ages and sexes; formal comparisons detected no systematic moderation by age or sex. Distinct emotional reactions to online body shaming map onto specific maladaptive behavior risks in adolescents, largely independent of age and sex. Screening for high-arousal dysregulation (e.g., uncontrollable or forceful emotions) and self-focused despair (negative thoughts, self-harm ideation) may help schools and clinicians flag youth at risk for somatic complaints, withdrawal, disordered eating, or substance use. Findings reflect associations from cross-sectional data and should be tested longitudinally.

Frontline police officers frequently face ambiguous and high-pressure situations requiring rapid decision-making under uncertainty. Traditional police training often emphasizes procedural and tactical skills, neglecting cognitive competencies such as situational awareness (SA) and shared mental models (SMM). This study investigates whether a brief, theoretically grounded decision-making training program can enhance SA and team behavior among regular and SWAT-type police officers during simulated arrest scenarios. A quasi-experimental 2 × 2 factorial design was employed, involving 166 police officers (category 3: SWAT-type; category 4: regular patrol). Participants were assigned to either a training group (n = 54) or a control group (n = 112). The training program consisted of three modules focusing on decision-making frameworks, scenario-based exercises, and group debriefings. SA was measured using the Situational Awareness Rating Scale (SARS), and team behavior was assessed by subject matter experts during ambiguous and non-ambiguous simulated scenarios. Statistical analyses included factorial ANOVAs and planned comparisons. Trained officers demonstrated significantly higher SA scores than untrained controls (F(1, 162) = 12.587, p < 0.000). SWAT-type officers outperformed regular officers in SA and team behavior across scenarios. A training effect on team behavior was observed only among regular officers in the ambiguous scenario (F(1, 81) = 6.66, p < 0.012). No training effect was found in the non-ambiguous scenario. Effect sizes ranged from small to medium, with the strongest impact observed in SA and ambiguous decision-making. Brief decision-making training improved SA across both officer categories and enhanced team behavior in ambiguous scenarios for regular officers. These findings support the integration of scenario-based, cognitively focused training in police education to better prepare officers for complex operational environments.

This study aimed to expand knowledge on the roles of psychological inflexibility and school friendship closeness in adolescents' loneliness during the transition to upper secondary education. The participants were 885 Finnish adolescents (mean age = 15.74, SD = 0.37, 56% girls). Loneliness was measured twice: in Grade 9 and at the beginning of upper secondary school in 10th grade. Psychological inflexibility and the closeness of friendships in school were measured in Grade 9. Results showed that a high level of psychological inflexibility in Grade 9 was associated with higher loneliness at the beginning of upper secondary education and increased loneliness during the educational transition. Furthermore, girls' (but not boys') friendship closeness in school partly mediated the association between psychological inflexibility and loneliness. The results suggested that psychological inflexibility is a social risk factor for loneliness among adolescents transitioning to upper secondary school. Enhancing psychological flexibility skills could thus make an important contribution to the promotion of adolescent peer relationships and prevention of loneliness.

Digital platforms have grown in popularity among children, leading to increased screen time and new challenges for parents. Parents are often left in a void of overwhelming pressure and responsibility, tasked with managing children's screen use while navigating the complexities of balancing digital activities with other aspects of their children's well-being. This study examines how children's screen use functions as both a daily and persistent stressor for some parents and investigates the ways in which emotion-focused coping strategies are employed to manage the emotional strain arising from screen-related parenting practices. Between October and December 2021, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 parents of 10-11-year-old children. The interviews were analyzed using abductive analysis, iteratively moving between empirical data and theory. The findings illustrate how parents employed emotion-focused coping strategies both in relation to the general presence of screens in their child's everyday life and in response to specific content the child engaged with. Strategies such as positive reappraisal were used to reframe the presence and content of digital activities as beneficial or valuable, helping parents manage emotional distress and maintain family harmony. This study highlights how some parents perceive children's screen use as an unchangeable reality, leading them to rely on emotion-focused coping strategies rather than pursuing change. Supporting parents in developing self-efficacy may help foster more constructive, mutually beneficial family dialogue, ultimately ensuring the health and well-being of children, parents and the family unit.

Because of the limited success at fostering sustained weight loss through behavioral changes, surgical and pharmaceutical interventions are increasingly relied upon. Better accommodating key constructs within health behavior-change theory might be necessary for improving success through behavioral means. Women with obesity (N = 73) participated in a 6-month theory-informed and community-based weight-loss program. They demonstrated significant within-group improvements in self-regulation and self-efficacy related to exercise and eating, dietary behaviors, cardiovascular exercise, and weight over 12 months. Paths from early changes in self-regulation, to early changes in behavior, to longer-term changes in self-efficacy and further behavioral changes were significant for both cardiovascular exercise and dietary behavior changes. Similar paths, but initiating from self-efficacy change, were not significant. Reductions in weight over both 6 months (-6.0%) and 12 months (-5.5%) were significantly predicted by the changes in cardiovascular exercise and dietary behaviors. Findings suggested that an initial emphasis on self-regulatory skill development will promote self-efficacy and weight-loss behaviors.

This study's primary aim was to evaluate the efficacy of an internet-based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (IACT) program modified to include interoceptive exposure for treating panic disorder with or without concurrent agoraphobia. Its secondary aim was to examine whether therapist- and client-rated working alliances were related to treatment outcomes. This randomized controlled trial included 79 participants, assigned to either a treatment group (n = 40) or a waitlist control group (n = 39) over 10 weeks. The study investigated the effects on panic disorder and quality of life, as well as the relationship between working alliances (rated by therapists and clients) and treatment outcomes. At post-treatment, there was a significant between-group treatment effect on panic disorder symptoms, with an observed effect size of d = 0.92. The model-predicted effect size based on the multilevel model was d = 0.86. Furthermore, 43% of participants no longer met the diagnostic criteria. Participants with concurrent agoraphobia exhibited higher initial panic symptom scores and were less likely to be diagnosis-free post-treatment. However, they still experienced significant and large treatment effects, with an observed effect size d = 1.22 and d = 0,99. There was no significant between-group difference in quality-of-life measurements. The therapist-rated working alliance was associated with treatment outcome, but no significant relationship was found for the client-rated alliance. Overall, the study suggests that interoceptive exposure-modified IACT is an effective treatment for panic disorder and shows promise for patients with concurrent agoraphobia.

Personality traits (e.g., the Big Five) shape human behavior, decision-making, and life outcomes. Evidence from various countries suggests that these traits are not randomly distributed but follow systematic regional patterns, fueling interest in their geographical variation. We analyze N = 22,225 geo-coded personality assessments, aggregated at regional levels. Using Hot Spot analysis (Getis-Ord Gi), we identify spatial clusters of personality traits and test their associations with health and well-being indicators at the regional level. Even though Sweden has a reputation for equality, our analysis reveals notable spatial differences in personality composition. The data reveal overlapping geographical clustering in Extraversion, Conscientiousness, and Emotional Stability (i.e., low Neuroticism), traits that are established predictors of better psychological functioning. These traits co-occur at relatively higher levels in southern Sweden, particularly in the Scania region, whereas they co-occur at relatively lower levels in parts of central Sweden. These patterns are descriptively supported by municipal-level correlations with health and well-being variables, although the associations are not uniform across all measures. In view of these results, we reflect on how these clusters may connect to long-standing regional histories, including industrial legacies. Such interpretations remain speculative, and we outline a future research agenda to further investigate the causes and consequences of regional personality variation, as well as its possible societal implications.

To investigate longitudinal relationships among psychological stress, inflammation biomarkers, and cognitive function over a 9-year period using data from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was conducted on MIDUS Wave 2 data (M2, N = 790), incorporating biomarkers of stress (cortisol, norepinephrine, epinephrine, dopamine), inflammation (interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, soluble ICAM-1), and cognition (episodic memory, executive function), with follow-up cognitive outcomes from MIDUS Wave 3 (M3). Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) assessed measurement validity, and key SEM assumptions were tested. CFA indicated acceptable model fit. SEM revealed significant cross-sectional associations among stress, inflammation, and cognitive variables at baseline. Baseline cognitive function strongly predicted follow-up cognition 9 years later, indicating high longitudinal stability. However, stress and inflammation biomarkers from M2 did not directly predict M3 cognition. Indirect effects emerged: M2 cognition influenced both M3 executive function and episodic memory through M3 global cognition. Multi-group analysis showed no gender-based differences in model paths. Stress and inflammation biomarkers were associated with cognition cross-sectionally but showed no direct long-term effects. Findings highlight the relative stability and predictive continuity of midlife cognition rather than substantial mean-level change, underscoring midlife as a critical window for sustaining cognitive health.

Contributions suggest that deontological guilt, as opposed to altruistic guilt, is involved in obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms. However, the variables explaining this link have been insufficiently explored despite studies suggesting the role of not-just-right experiences (NJREs) and disgust sensitivity (DS). This study provides data testing the mediational role of these variables in the pathways linking deontological guilt to OC symptoms. We administered self-report questionnaires to a sample of 189 adults (25 males; M = 29.72, SD = 4.93) measuring OC symptoms, two dimensions of deontological guilt, as well as NJREs and DS. Path analyses were performed to test the hypotheses. We found that both deontological and altruistic dimensions of guilt were linked to OC-related variables. Also, NJREs and DS were differently associated with OC symptoms and mediated specific pathways between deontological guilt and different OC symptoms. Deontological guilt accounts for OC symptoms, supporting the theoretical model. NJREs and DS are associated with OC symptoms and deontological guilt but play different roles according to the type of OC symptoms. Results partially support previous studies and extend the knowledge of the complex interplay between variables underlying OC symptoms in the general population.

Environmental decisions are often framed as win-lose trade-offs between nature and humanity, where gains for the environment are considered losses for humanity, and vice-versa. These zero-sum beliefs regarding the relationship between nature and humanity (ZSB-NH) may have implications for life satisfaction, given that zero-sum beliefs in human relationships are known to negatively impact life satisfaction. Furthermore, several related constructs overlap with both ZSB-NH and life satisfaction. This study predicted that ZSB-NH would negatively predict life satisfaction and would do so after also accounting for related constructs. Australian adults (N = 363, 59% female, M = 60.86) completed an online survey containing measures of ZSB-NH, zero-sum beliefs in human relations, connectedness to nature, connectedness to humanity, nature exposure, demographics, and life satisfaction. Unexpectedly, ZSB-NH was found to be a nonsignificant predictor of life satisfaction when considered alone. When accounting for the related constructs, ZSB-NH emerged as a significant positive predictor of life satisfaction (β = 0.15, p = 0.01), with the bivariate effects of connectedness to nature and to humanity diminishing. Additional analyses revealed connectedness to humanity and nature exposure, but not connectedness to nature, were suppressing the bivariate relationship between ZSB-NH and life satisfaction. Overall, the study concludes that holding zero-sum beliefs about the human nature relationship may not be inherently detrimental to life satisfaction, and may in fact enhance it; however, promoting these beliefs may come with negative consequences for prosocial or pro-environmental behaviors. As such, researchers, practitioners, and policymakers alike should consider developing strategies which address this, ensuring that interventions effectively promote life satisfaction in the context of social and environmental decision-making.

This article presents an empirical model examining the explanatory relationship between three constructs: populism, conspiracy beliefs, and extremist attitudes-defined as attitudes of rejection and destruction toward democratic systems, manifested through violent acts, and even terrorism. The research was conducted in an emerging economy country, using a representative sample of 400 citizens in full exercise of their civil rights. Data were analyzed using correlational analysis and a mediation model to test the influence of populist attitudes on extremist attitudes, mediated by conspiracy beliefs. Findings indicate that populist attitudes influence extremist attitudes, mediated by conspiracy beliefs. This suggests that individuals with populist attitudes are more prone to general extremism, amplified by conspiracy theories. An increase in populist attitudes may heighten inclinations toward violent extremism. Additionally, populist attitudes were found to explain both right- and left-wing radicalism, mediated by conspiracy beliefs. However, contrary to findings in Europe and the United States, populism exhibited a highly significant relationship with left-wing radicalism in this context. The study concludes that populism poses a greater risk than traditional ideologized radicalisms due to its ability to directly influence extremist attitudes, potentially translating into violent and even terrorist behaviors. This finding underscores the urgency of addressing populism as a sociopolitical phenomenon capable of exacerbating extremist dynamics in contemporary contexts.

This is a cross-sectional study investigating the validity of the Dimensional Clinical Personality Inventory 2 (IDCP-2) as a tool for assessing HiTOP spectra. In Study 1, a nonclinical sample of 1659 Brazilian participants (65.4% females, with ages ranging from 18 to 70 years) was utilized to evaluate the internal structure of the IDCP-2 and its alignment with the HiTOP framework, according to four experts' independent ratings. Given the disparities in expert ratings regarding the conscientiousness scales of IDCP-2, we conducted exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) to identify the optimal placement for the anankastia factor within our model. Study 2 involved 641 nonclinical participants (87.17% females, with ages ranging from 18 to 82 years) and examined the external validity of the IDCP-2 factors that are shown to be representative of the HiTOP spectra by correlating its scales with the PID5BF + M domains. The findings indicate the IDCP-2's robust internal consistency and factorial validity as a tool for assessing the HiTOP spectra and confirming its external validity based on the significant moderate to high correlations with the PID5BF + M domain. Additionally, our results suggest anankastia to be a separate sixth factor within the HiTOP framework. These results underscore the IDCP-2's value in capturing a wide range of pathological traits, contributing to a more nuanced understanding of personality and psychopathology. Future research should focus on further validating the IDCP-2 in clinically diverse populations, to enhance its clinical applicability according to global healthcare developments, and to support the broader implementation of the HiTOP model globally.

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) presents challenges that both influence and are influenced by the child's environment. While non-pharmacological interventions exist for youth and parents, brief and accessible programmes that also engage the wider social network are lacking. This study evaluated the feasibility of the psychoeducational programme SKILLS for the child's Social Network (SKILLS-SN), focusing on implementation, acceptability, and preliminary outcomes. One hundred participants-including parents, grandparents, stepparents, and others in the child's network-attended the two-session intervention at two sites, online or in person. Following the intervention, demographic data and satisfaction ratings were collected. Participants also completed pre- and post-ratings of perceptions of the youth's ADHD, treatment, and challenges. Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively and with non-parametric tests; an open-ended response regarding opinions about SKILLS-SN was analyzed with qualitative content analysis. Attendance was high, with over 97% completing both sessions; 17% of participants were non-parents. Most rated SKILLS-SN as good or excellent, and 99% would recommend it to others. Increased knowledge about ADHD was most valued. No significant changes were observed in participants' attitudes towards ADHD or treatment. The qualitative analysis identified three themes: programme strengths (e.g., useful as basic training), suggestions for improvement (e.g., more discussion time), and experienced impact (e.g., increased knowledge). SKILLS-SN appears to be a feasible and acceptable brief psychoeducational programme for the child's social network. Future work should enhance participant interaction, broaden inclusion to school personnel and other key individuals, and further evaluate effectiveness and long-term outcomes.

Experience plays a role in belief development. We present a method to evaluate the experiential basis of a belief and investigate whether belief-change interventions are more effective if the qualities of an intervention experience more closely match the experience that might have led to the belief. Psychology department research pool participants (total N = 1102) were in either a read-only or experience-based intervention for three beliefs: that they can detect stares from unseen others, that pyramids have remarkable powers of preservation, and that pyramids produce concentration benefits for people meditating under them. Stare detection and pyramid effects on concentration were diagnosed as experience-based beliefs and were both more strongly affected by experience-based interventions. Pyramid preservation power did not have the properties of an experience-based belief, and intervention type had no effect on that belief. Potential improvements in evaluating experience and implications for more consequential belief change research are discussed.

Policies and legislation regarding paternity leave influence parental roles and the division of household and childcare responsibilities. However, the impact of paternity leave, particularly how it is shared between parents, on fathers' long-term involvement in childcare remains insufficiently understood. This study aimed to examine how fathers' absolute and relative paternity leave durations predict their long-term involvement in childcare. A sample of 985 first-time fathers was assessed using online surveys when their children were 10 months, 19 months, and 4 years old. Two key predictors were analyzed: absolute leave duration (total weeks) and the relative distribution of leave between fathers and mothers. Multiple regression analyses controlled for relevant confounders. Fathers' absolute and relative leave durations were modestly associated with higher involvement in childcare at 10 months (non-linear effects). Relative leave was positively associated with involvement at 19 months (linear effect). No significant associations were observed at 4 years. Fathers who shared leave more equally with their partner were also more equally engaged in subsequent childcare early (10 months) and persisting into toddlerhood (19 months), with a larger association observed at 10 months among fathers with shorter leave duration. These findings support theoretical frameworks of "father transformation" and "couples' bargaining" and underscore the potential of non-transferable paternity leave policies to promote more equitable caregiving roles.

Athlete burnout is increasingly reported as impacting esports players' wellbeing and performance. This study examined the psychometric properties of the Athlete Burnout Scale (ABO-S) in esports. The ABO-S assesses three burnout dimensions: physical exhaustion, reduced sense of accomplishment, and negative feelings toward sport. The study focused on item discrimination and difficulty parameters to establish optimal raw cut-off scores indicating levels of burnout risk. Participants were 453 adult esports players proficient in English, ranked in the top 40% of one of seven major esports. The sample included 372 males, 74 females, and seven nonbinary participants from 66 countries. Item Response Theory was used to assess the ABO-S's psychometric properties. The GRM provided a superior fit, with all but one item showing sufficient discrimination and difficulty levels. Items reflecting weariness, lacking energy, and physical exhaustion demonstrated high levels of information and reliability across a range of burnout levels. A provisional diagnostic cut-off score of ≥ 63 (+2 SD) was established, identifying 2% of participants at high burnout risk. Additional raw score thresholds of ≥ 47 (+0.5 SD) and 52 (+1 SD) were also identified. The ABO-S is a robust instrument for assessing burnout in esports players, with specific items effectively identifying varying levels of burnout. The establishment of cut-off scores aids in identifying players at high risk of burnout, contributing to better support and intervention strategies in the esports community. These findings further the understanding of burnout in esports, highlighting the scale's utility in monitoring and addressing player wellbeing.

This study developed and validated the Fears Towards Generative Artificial Intelligence scale, a novel instrument assessing individuals' concerns about emerging generative AI technologies, which are increasingly integrated into daily life. Drawing on qualitative data from three focus groups and subsequent quantitative validation with 303 participants, we initially derived 37 items that captured diverse fears, including concerns about job displacement, social inequalities, and loss of human autonomy commonly associated with generative AI systems. Exploratory factor analyses supported a unidimensional structure of the scale, demonstrating strong reliability and content validity. Regression models revealed that negative attitudes towards AI and perceived threats to employment were key predictors of heightened fear, while greater usage and familiarity were linked to reduced fear. We also present a short 4-item version of the scale generated by a genetic algorithm and tested with 101 new participants, which presents good psychometric properties. The FTGAI scale addresses a critical measurement gap and offers a comprehensive tool for researchers and policymakers seeking to understand and mitigate fears towards generative AI's growing societal impact.

Although the relationship between personality and aspects of emotional experience have been investigated from a variety of different perspectives, little research has been conducted on personality traits and the affect intensity of autobiographical memories (AMs). To fill this gap, the present study examined the association of the Big Five personality traits with the positive and negative affect intensity of positive and negative AMs using multilevel multiple regression. Participants (N = 1275; 18-53 years) completed the short form of the Big Five Inventory (BFI-K) and reported AMs of three positive and three negative events. Next, participants rated the negative and positive affect intensity of each event separately on a 7-point Likert scale. Neuroticism was associated with less positive and more negative affect intensity of both positive and negative AMs. Extraversion showed the opposite pattern with respect to positive AMs, and agreeableness with respect to negative AMs and the negative affect intensity of positive AMs. Openness was associated with a higher positive affect intensity of positive AMs and conscientiousness with a higher positive affect intensity of negative AMs. Results are discussed in relation to previous empirical evidence and theoretical considerations of the associations. The present study extends previous research by demonstrating that all Big Five traits relate to the affect intensity of individuals' AMs.

This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties and acceptability of the Vancouver Index of Acculturation (VIA) in a sample of UK-based East-Asian adults. Although widely used in cross-cultural research, relatively few studies have assessed the factor structure, validity, and user acceptability of the VIA in non-North American samples. A total of 236 East-Asian participants (mean age = 26.8, 47.06% female) completed the 20-item VIA and demographic questions. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted using AMOS with maximum likelihood estimation and robust standard errors. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) using principal axis factoring and varimax rotation was also performed. Internal consistency, convergent and discriminant validity, and acceptability were evaluated. CFA showed poor model fit for the original two-factor VIA structure: χ(169) = 367.12, p < 0.001; CFI = 0.84; RMSEA = 0.089. The Mainstream factor showed weak and mostly nonsignificant loadings, while the Heritage factor demonstrated strong loadings. Internal consistency was high for Heritage (α = 0.91) and acceptable for Mainstream (α = 0.81). EFA supported a refined 17-item two-factor model, excluding three low-loading Mainstream items. Discriminant validity was supported, but convergent validity was only partially established. Acceptability data indicated that while most items were well received, several were perceived as culturally ambiguous. Findings support the VIA's bidimensional structure but suggest that cross-cultural adaptation may be needed to improve measurement accuracy in UK-based East Asian populations. The study highlights the importance of further validation in culturally diverse samples.

Mother-infant bonding develops when the mother is emotionally and physically present in her infant's life, offering affection and manifesting nurturing behaviors. However, this process may be disrupted by factors such as postpartum depression symptoms or other dysfunctional parenting behaviors (e.g., emotional unavailability or excessive maternal smartphone use), both of which can reduce maternal availability. While researchers have widely explored mother-infant bonding disorders, there has been little research investigating its associations with parenting behavior, such as phubbing, particularly in the context of postpartum depression symptoms. The current study aimed to (1) explore associations between postpartum depression symptoms, parental phubbing, and mother-infant bonding disorder, and (2) explore the possible mediating role of parental phubbing on the link between postpartum depression symptomatology and maternal-infant bonding disorder. Using a cross-sectional web-based survey, we included 488 adult women (M age = 30 years, SD = 4.76) who had an infant aged between 0 weeks and 12 months of age (M age = 175.98 days, SD = 105.34). They completed self-report questionnaires assessing mother-infant bonding (the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire), parental phubbing (the Distraction in Social Relations and Use of Parent Technology), and postpartum depression symptoms (the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale). Current postpartum depression symptomatology was 56.1%, 12.1% scored above the bonding disorder cut-off, and 4.1% had severe bonding disorder. Higher levels of postpartum depression symptoms were correlated with higher parental phubbing and impaired bonding. Parental phubbing partially mediates the relationship between postpartum depression symptoms and maternal-infant bonding disorder. Our findings provide a new mediation model for the association between postpartum depression symptoms and mother-infant bonding disorder. Considering the growing prevalence of mobile device use and the potential risks underscored in this study, parenting, educational, and behavioral programs may benefit from incorporating specific strategies and information to enhance parental knowledge and interpersonal competency. These preventive intervention strategies may have the potential to be particularly beneficial for mothers at heightened risk for postpartum depression.

Although overparenting in adolescence is generally linked to poorer adolescent outcomes, the underlying psychological mechanisms have been less studied. Data from N = 691 Slovak adolescents (M = 15.4 SD = 0.71; 51% girls) were used to examine the role of basic psychological needs (BPN) satisfaction and frustration in the link between overparenting and adolescent internalizing and externalizing symptoms in two separate mother/father SEM models. BPN mediated the association between overparenting and adolescent psychological functioning, with some differences depending on the parent and adolescent gender. Specifically, BPN satisfaction mediated the link between overparenting and externalizing problems, while BPN frustration mediated the link between overparenting and internalizing problems. Understanding how these mechanisms operate differently in relation to internalizing and externalizing problems can inform targeted interventions.