Psychology Hub

The idea of Self in young adults with psychological difficulties and uncertainty in the phase of the psychosocial transition to the university context: a study with Self Characterization Analysis technique in a Counselling workshop

Monica Mollo, Giulia Savarese, Luna Carpinelli, Nadia Pecoraro, Daniela D'Elia — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The entry of students into the world of the university coincides with what in the literature is called "psycho-social transitions", described not rarely, in the psychological field, as stressful and uncertainty, events, to the point of making the person more psychologically vulnerable. In order to evaluate the transition process, we used the mixed quantitative-qualitative method in pre/post-intervention modalities of the counseling workshop in which n° 6 students (mean age=22.83, SD=1.47) who requested psychological support from the University Counselling Centre participated. The Symptom Check-List-90-R and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale were used to assess the psychopathological framework, while Self-characterisation was used to investigate the constructs of the Self. The psychopathology indexes present a general altered state in PRE-phase: GSI=59.67±11.37, PSDI=62±9.25, PST=54.67±12.97. On the other hand, in the post-intervention phase of the counseling laboratory, it is possible to note a scaling down of this alteration, and, in fact, the scores of the clinical scales are within the normative range. Furthermore, as far as self-esteem is concerned, it can be verified that the average score in the PRE-phase is 13 (SD=1.73) recording low self-esteem, while in the POST-phase a strengthening of the dimension under analysis is recorded as the average score is 21 (SD=2.82). Empowering one's interpersonal resources means being able to adopt a new perspective by nurturing a greater sense of self-efficacy, from 'I am as I think others see me' to 'I am in relation to my feelings, others, my history, my projects', which highlights a different way of constructing the 'Self-Image'.

Coping strategies of COVID-19's infected patients: Insight from Indonesian cases

Fitri Abidin, Riestyane, Joeri Tijdink — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The COVID-19 pandemic has ravaged many aspects of daily life that induced prolonged mental health problems in individuals. The mental and physical distress felt by affected individuals emphasizes the need for effective coping strategies to cope with this mental burden. Therefore, the present study aims to:(1)explore the coping strategies infected individuals used during the infection period; (2)examine whether there are different coping strategies associated with gender, physical fragility (e.g. pregnant women and the elderly), and specific isolation characteristics.An online survey was administered in February 2021 to a convenience sample recruited through social media platforms. It consisted of self-reported infected individuals practicing self-isolation or being isolated in hospitals. 304 respondents aged 15 – 68 (mean=31.90, SD=10.04) participated in this study. The Brief COPE Inventory was distributed with general demographic questions. In general, the results showed that all participants used adaptive strategies more frequently than maladaptive ones. Among the adaptive coping strategies, acceptance and religious are the most frequently used coping strategies. However, the participants who had physical fragility and were in isolation used all adaptive coping strategies equally. Of all maladaptive strategies, self-distraction was consistently the most frequently used by all participants. Meanwhile, the participants who had physical fragility and were in isolation also employ venting and self-blaming in addition to self-distraction.These results emphasize that people infected by COVID-19 can cope positively in situation, but additional support for people who have physical fragility and are in isolation (at home or in a hospital) is still needed.

Self-disgust and Self-forgiveness: The Mediating Roles of Trait and State Guilt, Internal and External Shame, Empathic Concern, and Personal Distress

Ebru Taysí, Fatíh Orçan — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Self-disgust and self-forgiveness would superficially appear to correlate negatively, but their empirical relationship has not yet been closely analyzed. Here, two studies of undergraduate students are reported that explore this relationship through a new model combining the emotional determinants of self-forgiveness and a biopsychosocial approach to shame. Study 1 (N = 290) investigates whether this relationship is mediated by internal and external shame, empathic concern, or personal distress. In Study 2 (N = 278), trait and state guilt are added to the first model of self-forgiveness. Structural equation modeling reveals that self-disgust and self-forgiveness are related to one another, but their association is mediated by external and internal shame and personal distress. Internal shame is also found to mediate the relationship between self-disgust and self-forgiveness alone, while trait and state guilt do not mediate this relationship. A new model is presented with these new findings, and implications are discussed.

Self-control and Problematic Behaviours among Incarcerated Juveniles: Coping Strategies as a Mediator

Xi Yao Teoh, Poh Chua Siah, Pit Wan Pung, Gan Su Wan — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Problematic behaviour among juveniles has long been a concern for the general public on a worldwide basis. 4,833 juveniles offences were reported in 2019, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia. This study aims to examine the association between self-control, coping strategies and juvenile problematic behaviours by using coping strategies as mediators. This cross-sectional quantitative study included 229 juveniles from six juvenile rehabilitation residential institutions, also known as Sekolah Tunas Bakti in Malaysia (86.9% male and 13.1% female).A Malay version of the Self-Control Scale (Grasmick et al., 1993), The Brief-COPE Scale (Muhamad Saiful, 2011) and the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (Goodman, 1997) were used to examine the relationships among self-control, coping strategies and juvenile problematic behaviours. The key findings revealed that dysfunctional coping strategies mediates the association between self-control and juvenile problematic behaviours since the relationship between self-control and juvenile problematic behaviours has been widely researched in past studies. Using coping strategies as mediators, this findings supporting the notion of Gallagher's Personality-Coping-Outcome Theory. To the extent of practical contribution, the Malaysian government and Sekolah Tunas Bakti may employ the study's findings to create effective prevention or intervention initiatives that could eventually lower the number of juvenile criminal conducts.

Exploring the Role of Assessment Regulatory Mode in COVID-19 Traumatic Stress: Negative Agency as a Mediator

Calogero Lo Destro — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

COVID-19 has had a profound impact on global mental health. The pervasive sense of worry, uncertainty, and distress engendered by the crisis has been instrumental in escalating the prevalence of anxiety, depression, and a wide range of psychiatric disorders. The principal objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between assessment regulatory mode, sense of negative agency, and COVID-19 stress traumatic symptoms. The study incorporated a cohort of 297 participants who completed a series of measures evaluating assessment regulatory mode, perception of negative agency, and the extent of COVID-19 stress traumatic symptoms. Corroborating our hypotheses, the empirical data revealed that individuals’ assessment regulatory mode significantly and positively predicted COVID-19 stress symptoms. Additionally, the construct of negative agency was identified as a mediating factor elucidating the relationship between assessment regulatory mode and the symptomatic expressions of COVID-19 related stress. The findings of this research emphasize the critical importance of concurrently examining assessment orientation and negative agency to predict COVID-19-related stress, suggesting strategic interventions targeting these elements may offer considerable benefits.

Daily Work Engagement as a Mediator in the Relationship Between Self-Efficacy and Supervisory Support Toward Daily Performance

Rostiana, Monika Dwi Kristiani — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Research on the dynamic nature of work engagement and performance remains limited. This study aims to explore the impact of work engagement on performance through daily measurements over three weeks. Additionally, it strives to determine the role of supervisory support and self-efficacy in the dynamic interplay between work engagement and performance. This quantitative research employs a field experiment method involving 103 sales professionals in a multinational company over three working weeks. The analysis utilizes the Linear Growth Model approach, and mediation analysis is conducted using Mplus software. The findings reveal that work engagement consistently demonstrates measured outcomes each week over the three weeks, while performance consistently declines. Self-efficacy and supervisory support are shown to contribute significantly to work engagement. Furthermore, work engagement is confirmed as a mediator between the roles of self-efficacy and supervisory support with performance. However, this mediating relationship only emerges during the 1^stand 2^nd week measurements.

Exploring the relationship Between Cognitive Distortions and Cognitive Failure in College Students

Tarik Mohamed Abdelrheem — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This study aims to investigate the relationship between cognitive distortions and cognitive failures among college students. The primary objective is to examine the direct relationship between cognitive distortions and cognitive failures among college students. Additionally, the study seeks to explore the predictive power of cognitive distortion sub-components in relation to cognitive failure and its components. Furthermore, the study aims to examine whether there are differences in cognitive distortions and failures based on sex and major. Data were collected from a sample of 486 college students, including 240 males.

The findings reveal a direct effect between cognitive distortions and cognitive failures, as illustrated by SEM. Some of the factors related to cognitive distortions significantly contribute to predicting cognitive failure components and the total score. Moreover, differences in cognitive failures were observed based on students' majors.

In conclusion, this study demonstrates a strong correlation between cognitive distortions and cognitive failures, with cognitive distortions directly affecting cognitive failures. These findings highlight the significance of addressing cognitive distortions in academic settings, with customized treatments potentially offering ways to reduce cognitive errors and enhance students' overall cognitive performance.

Dark necessities: The influence of the dark triad, costs, and benefits on bribery intention

Laura Bartz — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Research shows positive relationships between the dark triad and corruption intention. However, it remains open, whether dark personalities align their behavior according to a cost-benefit analysis. This study examines whether high benefits of bribery strengthen the positive impact of the sub-facets of the dark triad (i.e., Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy) on bribe-taking intention, whether high costs of bribery buffer positive effects of the dark triad on bribe-taking intention, and whether positive effects of high benefits are buffered by high costs. Relationships are tested in an experimental vignette study (N = 164).

Results show that all three sub-facets of the dark triad are positively related to bribe-taking intention. Moreover, high costs weaken the positive effects of high benefits on bribe-taking intention. Most importantly, while narcissistic and psychopathic individuals feel particularly inclined to engage in bribery when benefits are high, dark individuals are not deterred by high costs. Findings imply that corruption arises from a complex interplay between personality and cost-benefit analyses. Important implications for corruption prevention are derived.

The impact of natural virtual environments on perceived restorativeness and individual restoration

Elena Grossi, Silvia Marocco — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The literature has long demonstrated the restorative value of natural environments. However, access to these types of environments can often be limited to individuals, for various reasons. In this sense, Virtual Reality (VR) can be a useful tool to promote individual recovery through virtual simulation of natural physical environments. Indeed, it has been shown that nature in VR has regenerative potential comparable to that of physical nature. However, research on the effectiveness of VR nature scenarios remains mixed, necessitating further studies on their validation in terms of restorativeness. The purpose of this systematic review, therefore, was to analyze the current state of the literature on the impact of natural virtual environments on perceived environmental restorativeness and individual restoration, considering the types of natural virtual environments used, the varieties of interventions implemented in these studies and the forms of assessment proposed, and evaluating the final results. It emerges how, over the years, the regenerative potential of various virtual natural environments has been validated. Similarly, different forms of intervention are functional in promoting restoration, although they are little varied concerning the physical location and movement ability of participants during the VR experience. Thus, these findings can be useful for future research on this topic and for the optimization of VR interventions for individual psychological well-being.