Behavioral Sciences

The term schizotypy refers to the latent personality organization that is thought to underpin the liability to develop schizophrenia and associated disorders. Metacognition, or the ability to understand and form increasingly complex and integrated ideas of oneself, others, and one’s community, has been proposed to be an important transdiagnostic construct across schizophrenia spectrum disorders and a range of both clinical and non-clinical manifestations of schizotypy. In this paper, we review evidence that deficits in metacognition are present in individuals with relatively high levels of schizotypy and that these deficits are related to symptomology, function, and quality of life. We address the idea that decrements in metacognition may also contribute to the progression from schizotypy to more severe manifestations, while the amelioration of these deficits may enhance aspects of recovery, including the ability to form an integrated sense of self, others, and the wider world. We also review the following two recovery-oriented psychotherapies that target metacognition to promote recovery in individuals with clinical manifestations of schizotypy: Evolutionary Systems Therapy for Schizotypy (ESTS) and Metacognitive Reflection and Insight Therapy (MERIT). Full article

Global problems that have emerged in recent years have caused an increase in underemployment rates, especially in developing countries. Researchers emphasize that underemployment has as many negative consequences as unemployment on well-being. In order to examine the variables that may buffer these consequences, we draw on the Psychology of Working Theory to propose a model in which a mediating role of psychological needs and a moderating role of social support are assumed in the relationship between underemployment and job satisfaction. We collected and analyzed data from 459 Turkish employees (181 women and 278 men) and found that underemployment was negatively related to job satisfaction and that work needs satisfaction mediated the relationship between underemployment and job satisfaction. Further, social support moderated the relationship between subjective underemployment and job satisfaction, so it was insignificant when social support was higher. These findings provide researchers and practitioners with a different perspective on underemployment. Full article

Research learning engagement is the basic element of master’s students’ innovation output, and the supervisor is the first responsible body for master’s students’ cultivation. Exploring the influence of the supervisor–postgraduate relationship on master’s students’ research learning engagement, with a focus on the mediating role of academic aspiration, is of great significance for the improvement of master’s students’ cultivation quality. We surveyed 569 master’s students at a university in Wuhan, China, using 3 measurement tools: the Supervisor–Postgraduate Relationship Scale, the Research Learning Engagement Scale, and the Academic Aspirations Scale. The results showed that: (1) The supervisor–postgraduate relationship positively and significantly predicted master’s students’ research learning engagement, and academic aspiration played a fully mediating role in the process. (2) There were differences in the effects of the three dimensions of the supervisor–postgraduate relationship on master’s students’ research learning engagement, with research collaboration having the greatest total effect on the impact of master’s students’ research learning engagement. This study emphasizes the importance of the supervisor–postgraduate relationship and academic aspirations and provides some implications for improving the research learning engagement of master’s students. Full article

Most of the literature that has looked at children’s relationships with their parents in the domestic violence context has focused solely on the children’s relationship with one parent or is studied from the perspective of one parent, usually the mother. Sibling relationships in the same context are also under-studied. This paper explores in more detail the complexity of children’s relationships with their mothers, fathers, and siblings over time from the perspective of adult women and survivors of childhood domestic violence. Methods: A grounded theory methodology was used to analyse the interviews with 15 women aged twenty to forty-three years of age living in Malta. Results: the analysis showed that the domestic violence context remains significant in these important relationships for these women. The relationship with the father remains strongly influenced by the dynamics of fear, love, and retaliation, with cycles of cut-off and connection from the adult daughter’s end. The relationship with the mother is complicated—feelings of love that are seen as having been limited and complicated by betrayal if there was abuse from the mother. Similarly, for the siblings, the roles of the early family of origin remain persistent and significant. However, in some of these relationships, there has been transformation, reconciliation, and forgiveness. The article offers implications for therapeutic practice for dealing with the complexity of these relationships and ideas for future research. Full article

Danish prosecutors report exposure to negative acts from professional counterparts in courtrooms, which is associated with an increased risk of burnout. However, knowledge of the characteristics of these acts is limited. Based on existing theoretical frameworks, this study aims to characterize these negative acts. A nation-wide survey of Danish prosecutors (response rate: 81%) yielded 687 descriptions of experiences with negative acts from professional counterparts from a career perspective. These were analyzed using theory-directed content analysis based on the Stress-as-Offense-to-Self (SOS) theory by Semmer and colleagues and Cortina and colleagues’ characterization of incivility in American courtrooms. We identified a total of 15 types of behavior within the three main themes: illegitimate tasks (n = 22), illegitimate stressors (n = 68), and illegitimate behavior (n = 612). Tentative differences in the distribution of experienced negative acts from a career perspective were found for gender and seniority. Women reported negative acts more frequently than men, and assistant prosecutors reported verbal abuse more frequently than senior prosecutors, who, conversely, more often reported a perceived lack of court management. More prospective research is needed on negative acts experienced by prosecutors to assess the scope of these in Danish courtrooms and how they impact the risk of burnout. Full article

The COVID-19 pandemic brought on a marked increase in intimate partner violence (IPV) worldwide, Mexico being no exception. Factors that exacerbated gender-based violence (GBV) in the household during the pandemic include gendered loss of income, regression in access to social and legal justice resources, reversal to more traditional gender norms and roles, and increased alcoholism. While there are studies about the prevalence and determinants of IPV in rural and urban Mexico, there appears to be a lack of information regarding how these realities differed as they interacted with the compounding pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic. Stemming from 10 ethnographic interviews with women across rural and urban localities of Oaxaca, Mexico City, and Mexico State, who were recruited from NGOs providing psychological and legal services against GBV, we analyze some factors associated with the prevalence of IPV during confinement. We conclude that all women in our study experienced IPV both before and during the pandemic, with variations in IPV patterns influenced by their rural or urban residence, socio-economic status, ethnic-racial identity, and proximity to the abuser’s network. We also found that not all impacts were negative, rather COVID-19 measures had a paradoxical effect for some women where restrictions on geographical mobility and decrease in access to alcohol became pivotal protective factors. We recommend that public policymakers and civil society organizations alike pay attention to these differential challenges and benefits in their crisis responses. Full article

The aim of this paper was to analyze the acute and chronic effects of physical activity (PA) on cognition, behavior, and motor skill in youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), taking into account potential confounders. In addition, it was intended to elaborate a guide of educational applications with strategies for PA use. Studies were identified in four databases from January 2010 to June 2023. A total of 19 interventional studies met the inclusion criteria. PA programs ranged from two weeks to one year in duration, with a frequency of one to five sessions per week. More than 58% of the studies showed positive effects of PA on cognition, and 45.5% on behavior and motor skill. Moderate–vigorous PA for 15–30 min has shown acute effects on cognition, general behavior, and stereotypic/repetitive behaviors in youth with ASD. A total of 9 out of 14 studies showed chronic effects on general behavior and stereotypic behaviors, and only 6 on motor skills. Full article

This study aims to eliminate the current deficiency in the use of music in the field of special education, to increase musical activities in special education, and to present an accreditation model proposal to increase the skills of institutions, educators, and students. The research was designed with a grounded theory study pattern, one of the qualitative research methods. Data for the research were collected examining the necessary documents, and through semi-structured interviews with experts in both the field of special education and music. As a result of the interviews, it was concluded that music was used as both a goal and a tool in the education of individuals receiving special education and that different skills were developed through rhythm, melody, and lyrics. It has been revealed that individuals’ body coordination skills are improved through the rhythm in music, self-care skills are improved through melodies and lyrics, and behavioral disorders are corrected through rhythm, melodies, and lyrics. All these results led to the emergence of an accreditation model proposal to develop and rehabilitate individuals receiving special education through music. Full article

Objective: This study aims to extend the Theory of Planned Behavior with Triggers (TPBT) to improve the prediction of physical activity (PA) behavior using the TPB model. Methods: Questionnaires, including the TPB scale, PA rating scale (PARS-3), and triggers scale, were administered to 596 Chinese college students, and the data were analyzed using SPSS 23.0 and AMOS 24.0. Results: Subjective norm (SN), attitude (AT), and perceived behavioral control (PBC) all significantly and positively affected behavioral intention (BI). The path coefficient of PA behavior was significantly influenced by the interaction term of three types of triggers and BI, and the TPB with Triggers (TPBT) model improved the explanation rate of PA behavior. Conclusion: Triggers have a moderating effect on the relationship between BI and PA behavior, and the TPBT model better explains college students’ PA behavior. Among the three dimensions of triggers, people are more receptive to facilitator and signal triggers than spark triggers. This has practical implications for practitioners designing interventions to promote PA among college students. Full article

Background and Objectives: Defined by chronic pain, rheumatic diseases are often co-occurring with anxiety and depression. Among the available psychological interventions, cognitive-behavioral therapies have an already-proven efficiency in these cases. However, the need to adjust their structure became ubiquitous during the post-pandemic period. Hence, the objective of this study was to investigate the impact of a single-session, process-based cognitive-behavioral intervention for patients with rheumatic conditions within an in-patient setting. Materials and Methods: A total of 31 participants (mean age 58.9 years) completed the single-session intervention. Assessments were conducted prior to the intervention, post-intervention and after one month. Results: Pearson’s correlations, paired samples T tests and a covariance analysis based on the Linear Mixed Model were performed for exploring the relations between baseline variables and evaluating the impact of the SSI intervention. Immediately after the intervention, a significant reduction in cognitive fusion (p = 0.001, d = 1.78), experiential avoidance (p = 0.001, d = 1.4) and dysfunctional behavioral processes was observed. At the one-month evaluation, participants reported decreased pain (p = 0.001, d = 1.11), anxiety (p = 0.004, d = 0.55) and depression (p = 0.001, d = 0.72). Conclusions: The single-session, process-based approach represents a promising intervention in healthcare contexts, as an integrative part of a multimodal rehabilitation treatment in patients with rheumatic conditions. Full article

Lower limb amputation affects several parameters of a patient’s life. Family caregivers providing care for these patients experience multiple feelings and needs; knowing caregivers’ needs is essential to prepare them for this new role, as well as the health planning of this type of care. This scoping review aimed to identify and map the needs of family caregivers of people with lower limb amputations. This scoping review was conducted in accordance with the JBI methodological framework and the PRISMA-ScR reporting guidelines. A bibliographical search was carried out on the needs of family caregivers of lower limb amputees in 15 databases. Two independent reviewers extracted data using a data extraction tool developed for this scoping review. Eight studies were included in the present review (n = 6 quantitative studies; n = 2 reviews). Results indicate that family caregivers of people with lower limb amputations may experience an extensive range of needs, as follows: (i) mental health and psychological support, (ii) physical health, (iii) health and well-being, (iv) supportive care, (v) social support, and (vi) educational/informational support. The needs identified in this review can help to develop interventions and programs that provide better support during the situational transition process. Full article

Clinical High Risk for psychosis (CHR) refers to a phase of heightened risk for developing overt psychosis. CHR often emerges during adolescence or early adulthood. CHR has been identified as a group to target for intervention, with the hope that early intervention can both stave off prolonged suffering and intervene before mental health challenges become part of an individual’s identity. However, there are few treatment modalities that can address some of the specific needs of CHR. Metacognitive Reflection and Insight Therapy (MERIT) is an integrative psychotherapy that can be applied to the CHR population. MERIT offers unique advantages to working with the CHR population as it aims to improve self-direction and recovery through stimulation of metacognitive capacity, a phenomenon that has been associated with recovery. This paper explores unique aspects of the CHR population and how MERIT can address barriers to recovery for individuals experiencing psychosis-like symptoms. Several case examples and a clinical vignette using MERIT to support patients with CHR are offered to exemplify this approach. MERIT offers a way to assist persons with CHR to address barriers to their personal recovery and to develop nuanced understandings of ways to master challenges. Full article

With the increased emphasis on competition in academic settings, anxiety is becoming more common, which inevitably has some impact on students’ learning processes and results. This study aimed to explore how competition-induced anxiety influences students’ subjective cognitive load (SCL), attention levels, and test scores. We also investigated the mediating role of the behavioral inhibition system/behavioral activation system (BIS/BAS) in those factors. A total of 101 college students were recruited in Study 1 to learn from five micro-lectures from massive open online courses (MOOCs) under competitive and non-competitive conditions. The results showed that participants’ state anxiety (SA) scores were higher after the experiment, participants under the competition condition had higher test scores, and the relationship between SA/ trait anxiety (TA) and SCL could be mediated by the BIS. To obtain more objective data on learning processes (attention levels), we conducted Study 2, which collected behavioral and EEG data from 42 college students during the online learning. The results showed that the competition group had higher SA, lower attention levels, and worse test scores, and the relationship between SA/TA and attention levels could be mediated through the BIS. The present study not only expands previous research by finding that BIS functioning plays an important role in the effects of anxiety on cognitive load and attention but also offers implications for using competitive strategies to motivate students according to their aptitudes. Full article

Inhibitory control performance may differ greatly as a function of individual differences such as anxiety. Nonetheless, how cognitive control proficiency might be influenced by exposure to various environments and how anxiety traits might impact these effects remain unexplored. A cohort of thirty healthy volunteers participated in the study. Participants performed a Go/No-Go task before exposure to a ‘forest’ and ‘urban’ virtual environment, in a counterbalanced design, before repeating the GNG task. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was finally filled-in. Our findings unveiled an initial negative correlation between anxiety trait levels and GNG task performance, consistent with the established literature attributing difficulties in inhibitory functionality to anxiety. Additionally, different environmental exposures reported opposite trends. Exposure to the ‘forest’ environment distinctly improved the GNG performance in relation to anxiety traits, while the ‘urban’ setting demonstrated adverse effects on task performance. These results underscore the intricate relationship among cognitive control, environmental exposure, and trait anxiety. In particular, our findings highlight the potential of natural settings, such as forests, to mitigate the impact of anxiety on inhibition. This might have implications for interventions aimed at improving cognitive control. Full article

(1) Background: The hospitality industry is known for exposing employees to work stress, which can lead to work-related burnout and high turnover rates. This study aims to examine the relationships between work stress, work-related burnout, and turnover intention. It also explores the mediating role of work-related burnout and the moderating role of job security and financial dependence. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 494 hotel employees working in five-star hotels in Belek and Manavgat, Türkiye, using a moderated mediation research model. The study found that work stress increases work-related burnout, which in turn increases turnover intention. Additionally, work-related burnout was found to mediate the relationship between work stress and turnover intention. Furthermore, it was found that perceived job security moderates the relationship between work stress levels and work-related burnout. Additionally, the variable of financial dependence was found to moderate the relationship between employees’ levels of work-related burnout and their turnover intentions. Similarly, the study found that the financial dependence variable moderates the effect of work-related burnout on employees’ turnover intention. Additionally, the study found that employees’ perception of job security moderates the impact of work stress on work-related burnout. In conclusion, the study suggests that positive perceptions of job security can mitigate the impact of work stress on work-related burnout. Similarly, the impact of work-related burnout on turnover intention diminishes as the degree of financial dependence rises. Full article

Despite evidence of primary hypertension (PH)-associated cognitive dysfunction in pediatric, middle-aged, and older adult populations, respective data in young adults remains scarce. We aimed to define differences in cognitive performance between individuals with PH and healthy controls in early adulthood. A convenience sample of young adults (age 18–45 years) with PH and their healthy sex, age, education, and household income matched counterparts were cross-sectionally tested for verbal fluency, verbal memory, general intelligence, reaction speed, attention, visual memory, and executive functioning. Between-group differences were determined using Student’s t and Mann-Whitney U tests. Sensitivity analysis was performed by adjusting for body mass index (BMI) in analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and regression models. Thirty-three adults with PH (22, 66.7% male, median age 38.8, interquartile range (IQR) = 33.2–41.6 years) and twenty-two healthy controls (9, 40.9% male, median age 36.1, IQR = 27.5–39.8 years) completed the neuropsychological assessment. Participants with PH performed worse on computerized tasks of reaction time (median response time (Z = −2.019, p = 0.044), median time for release of response button (Z = −2.509, p = 0.012)) and sustained attention (signal detection measure, RVPA (t = 2.373, p = 0.021), false alarms ÷ (false alarms + correct rejections), RVPPFA (Z = −2.052, p = 0.040)). The group variable was not a statistically significant predictor of performance in these domains after adjustment for BMI (p > 0.05). In regression analyses, high office systolic blood pressure (oSBP) was independently associated with poor sustained attention (β_SBP(st.) = −0.283, multiple R² = 0.252 (RVPA), β_SBP(st.) = 0.551, multiple R² = 0.386 (RVPPFA)). Young adults with PH were found to perform worse in tasks of response speed and sustained attention. While the difference between neuropsychological evaluation results in PH and control groups was confounded by BMI, oSBP measures were independently related to sustained attention. The selectivity of PH-associated cognitive profile in young adults has to be confirmed in larger trials. Full article

Over the last few years, livestreaming e-commerce has shown rapid growth and has become an important form of e-commerce. However, the potential mechanisms of interpersonal interaction’s influence on purchase intention in livestreaming e-commerce have yet to be fully investigated. Based on the SOR (Stimulus-Organism-Response) framework, this study reveals the association between interpersonal interaction (consumer–anchor interaction and consumer–consumer interaction), psychological distance, consumer purchase intention, and the positive role of brand identification and time pressure in this context of influential relationships. The results of analyzing 603 questionnaires show that psychological distance between consumers and products plays a mediating role in the effect of interpersonal interaction on purchase intention. Meanwhile, this study found that consumers’ brand identification with the products in the live room was effective in enhancing the direct effect of interpersonal interaction in the model. Additionally, the time pressure associated with limited-time sales was also found to be effective in enhancing the effects of interpersonal interaction and psychological distance on purchase intention. The results of this study reveal the potential influence mechanisms of interpersonal interactions with various identities in livestreaming e-commerce, providing theoretical guidance and practical insights for practitioners in the field. Full article

Spontaneous, unwilled subjective imagery and symbols (including dreams) often emerge in psychotherapy that can appear baffling and confound interpretation. Early psychoanalytic theories seemed to diverge as often as they agreed on the meaning of such content. Nevertheless, after reviewing key findings in the empirical science of spontaneous thought as well as insights gleaned from neuroscience and especially embodied cognition, it is now possible to construct a more coherent theory of interpretation that is clinically useful. Given that thought is so thoroughly embodied, it is possible to demonstrate that universalities in human physiology yield universalities in thought. Such universalities can then be demonstrated to form a kind of biologically directed universal “code” for understanding spontaneous symbolic expressions that emerge in psychotherapy. An example is given that illustrates how this can be applied to clinical encounters. Full article

This present study explores the effect of social support on career decision-making difficulties, with the chain mediation of psychological capital and career decision-making self-efficacy. A total of 770 college students were recruited to complete the survey, which included a social support, career decision-making self-efficacy, psychological capital scale, and career decision-making difficulties scales. Significant correlations were found between social support, career decision-making difficulties, psychological capital, and career decision making self-efficacy. Path analysis indicated that the direct effect of social support on career decision-making difficulty was non-significant; social support affected career decision-making difficulties indirectly through not only the mediating effect of psychological capital but also through the chain mediation of psychological capital and career decision-making self-efficacy. Overall, the results show that social support could exert an effect on career decision-making difficulties through the mediational chains of career decision-making self-efficacy and psychological capital; the implications of this are discussed. Full article