Psychological Reports[JOURNAL]
Sun
200 papers
Exploring Attitudes Toward Transgender Individuals: The Prediction of Transphobia and Gender-Bashing in Adults.
Dueñas JM, Sánchez-Valiente D, Morales-Vives F
Psychol Rep · 2026 Feb · PMID 41622109 · Publisher ↗
Because transphobia has a negative impact on the mental and physical health of its victims, most studies of transphobia have focused on the victims rather than the people who perpetuate it. In light of this, the present...
Because transphobia has a negative impact on the mental and physical health of its victims, most studies of transphobia have focused on the victims rather than the people who perpetuate it. In light of this, the present study analyzes the significance of various sociodemographic characteristics in perpetrators of transphobia/genderism and gender bashing. It also aims to determine the role of decision-making styles, religiosity, empathy, verbal and physical aggressiveness, anger, and hostility in predicting transphobia/genderism and gender bashing. The sample consisted of 333 adults (69.1% women) between 18 and 65 years of age from Spain. The results reveal a greater presence of transphobia in males and heterosexuals, although age and political ideology do not seem to play a major role. Furthermore, the main predictors of transphobia are religiosity, physical aggressiveness, verbal aggressiveness, and affective empathy, while the main predictors of gender bashing are transphobia and physical aggressiveness. These results confirm the importance of religiosity and aggressiveness in explaining discrimination and harassment towards trans people; consequently, the study concludes by asserting that tackling both aspects is key to the prevention of transphobia and gender bashing.
Smartphone and Social Network Addiction, Physical Activity, and Self-Esteem Among Spanish Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Study of Associations and Gender Differences.
Carril-Valdó JJ, Rodríguez-Castaño A, Lavín-Pérez AM … +4 more , Bauer R, Fernández-Sánchez J, García-Ortiz C, Collado-Mateo D
Psychol Rep · 2026 Jan · PMID 41618872 · Publisher ↗
Smartphone addiction (SA) and social network addiction (SNA) have emerged as growing public health concerns, as they may negatively affect well-being, physical activity (PA) behavior and self-esteem. The aim of this stud...
Smartphone addiction (SA) and social network addiction (SNA) have emerged as growing public health concerns, as they may negatively affect well-being, physical activity (PA) behavior and self-esteem. The aim of this study was to analyze the associations of SA and SNA with PA and self-esteem in adolescents. Additionally, it was intended to examine differences in these digital addictions by self-esteem levels and gender. A cross-sectional, comparative, and correlational study was conducted in seven secondary schools, involving 562 students (47.98% boys, 49.29% girls) aged 14 to 18 years. Participants completed a set of questionnaires, including the Smartphone Addiction Scale, the Social Media Addiction Scale, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES). The results showed that SA was inversely correlated with PA ( = 0.009), whereas SNA was only correlated with moderate-intensity PA ( = 0.026). Adolescents with low and moderate self-esteem reported higher levels of SA and SNA, as well as lower levels of PA compared to those with high self-esteem. In addition, boys showed lower levels of SA and SNA, higher PA levels ( < 0.001), and better self-esteem than girls ( < 0.001). In conclusion, the present study suggests that SA and SNA may be negatively associated with both PA and self-esteem, with girls appearing more vulnerable to these digital addictions. These findings may provide insights for intervention strategies aimed at improving adolescent well-being and emphasize the need to focus such interventions on promoting self-esteem and reducing excessive use of digital services.
Associations of Early School Grades With Temperament in Two Cultures Show New Subtleties.
Trofimova I, Zvereva N, Zvereva M … +1 more , Sergienko A
Psychol Rep · 2026 Jan · PMID 41616762 · Publisher ↗
It has long been recognized that temperament contributes to different abilities of people to succeed in school. The earlier studies identified a consistent association of higher school achievements with temperament trait...
It has long been recognized that temperament contributes to different abilities of people to succeed in school. The earlier studies identified a consistent association of higher school achievements with temperament traits related to sustained attention, intelligence and positive emotionality. This study used two cultural samples and the neuroscience-based temperament test (Structure of Temperament Questionnaire-Compact, STQ-77-C3), to examine the associations between temperament and 2nd and 3rd years school grades in more detail. The results showed that estimated grades in Canadian sample ( = 180, M/F = 95/85) and documented grades in eight subjects in Russian sample ( = 109, M/F = 51/58) supported the earlier findings of positive associations between the grades and temperament traits related to sustained attention and intelligence. However, our results showed a much more differentiated pattern of temperament-grades associations. Contrarily to expectations, the Satisfaction scale measuring emotional valence showed no significant (at 0.01) effects in both samples. The Neuroticism scale measuring dispositional behavioural alertness and avoidance of uncertainty negatively correlated with the grades in Mathematics and Science/Environment in both samples but not with other school subjects. Social Tempo had high correlations with documented grades across all subjects, whereas Social Endurance had a significant correlation only with Art in the sample that used documented grades. There was also a differential pattern of temperament-grades associations for Sensation Seeking versus Probabilistic Processing scales. Our results, therefore, highlight the benefits of using the STQ-77-C3 (text provided in this paper) for a subtle differentiation of children's temperament profiles, to ensure a personalized approach in educational settings.
Beyond the Likes: Investigating the Role of Social Comparison, Fear of Missing Out, and Depression in the Link between Multidimensional Facebook Use Intensity and Problematic Facebook Use.
Park HJ
Psychol Rep · 2026 Jan · PMID 41591965 · Publisher ↗
This study investigated strategies to address problematic Facebook use (PFU) among Korean university students by examining the associations between multidimensional Facebook use intensity, social comparison, fear of miss...
This study investigated strategies to address problematic Facebook use (PFU) among Korean university students by examining the associations between multidimensional Facebook use intensity, social comparison, fear of missing out (FoMO), depression, and PFU. Data were collected from 423 active Facebook users, mainly undergraduate students, between February 1 and 28, 2023. Participants were voluntarily recruited through student's union. Although overall Facebook use among college-aged students has declined, these participants continued to use the platform for academic announcements, club activities, and student group communications, supporting their relevance as a study sample. Results indicated that higher multidimensional Facebook use intensity was associated with greater PFU. This pattern was observed alongside factors such as lower self-regulation and specific Facebook design features, which were linked to more intensive platform engagement. Mediation analyses suggested that higher Facebook use intensity was associated with increased social comparison, FoMO, and depressive symptoms, each of which correlated with higher PFU. Sequential mediation analysis further indicated that multidimensional Facebook use intensity may be connected to PFU through these psychological factors. These findings point to specific intervention strategies, such as promoting self-regulation skills, providing educational programs that raise awareness of the psychological effects of social comparison and FoMO, and encouraging the use of platform tools to monitor and limit excessive engagement. Such strategies may help university students engage with Facebook more mindfully, potentially reducing the negative psychological consequences of intensive social media use.
Assessing Core Beliefs in Adolescence: Psychometric Validation of the Negative Core Beliefs Inventory (NCBI).
Lemos Couto IS, Hemanny C, Reis DL … +3 more , Osmo F, Pires PP, de Oliveira IR
Psychol Rep · 2026 Jan · PMID 41589520 · Publisher ↗
Core beliefs, per Beck's cognitive theory, are fundamental views of self and others that shape emotion. Although the Negative Core Beliefs Inventory (NCBI) is validated in adults, evidence in adolescents-a key period for...
Core beliefs, per Beck's cognitive theory, are fundamental views of self and others that shape emotion. Although the Negative Core Beliefs Inventory (NCBI) is validated in adults, evidence in adolescents-a key period for belief formation-remains limited. Validate the NCBI for adolescents by testing factorial structure, reliability, and validity. 146 students (12-17) in Salvador, Brazil, completed the NCBI plus anxiety, depression, and life satisfaction measures. Analyses included expert content review, EFA/CFA, graded response and generalized partial credit IRT models, and EBICglasso network modeling. CFA supported the two-factor solution with acceptable fit (CFI = .89; RMSEA = .056). Internal consistency was good (most ω > .70); nCB-O ω = .87 and overall nCB-S ω = .93, but helplessness/vulnerability was lower (ω = .64). IRT indicated adequate discrimination for most items and greater information at higher trait levels; nCB-S9 performed poorly. Networks showed expected associations with anxiety, depression, and life satisfaction, supporting concurrent validity. The NCBI appears suitable for assessing negative core beliefs in adolescents and may aid early identification and intervention. Targeted refinement-particularly of nCB-S9 and the helplessness/vulnerability subscale-could strengthen psychometrics for this population. Broader samples and longitudinal designs are warranted to confirm stability and predictive validity.
Decision-Making Styles and Intolerance of Uncertainty.
Valentin S, White C
Psychol Rep · 2026 Jan · PMID 41572888 · Publisher ↗
Intolerance of uncertainty plays a significant role in decision-making by shaping how individuals perceive, interpret, and react to uncertain situations. Consequently, this research seeks to explore the relationship betw...
Intolerance of uncertainty plays a significant role in decision-making by shaping how individuals perceive, interpret, and react to uncertain situations. Consequently, this research seeks to explore the relationship between the five decision-making styles and intolerance of uncertainty. To conduct this study, we utilized the General Decision-Making Style Scale (GDMS) and the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (IUS). A total of 131 participants were recruited from a university and other locations through SONA, a software program that helps universities manage research study participation, and social media platforms. The analysis of decision-making styles using a correlogram revealed significant correlations among them, indicating that these styles are not entirely independent. Intuitive decision-making correlated positively with both rational and spontaneous decision-making styles, while dependent decision-making was correlated positively with avoidant decision-making, which also correlated with spontaneous decision-making. These interconnections were accounted for in the regression analyses, ensuring that the relationship of intolerance of uncertainty in each decision-making style was assessed separately. The findings showed that individuals with higher intolerance of uncertainty were more likely to adopt an avoidant decision-making style and less likely to use a rational approach. Additionally, individuals who consider uncertainty "unfair" were more inclined toward dependent and avoidant decision-making styles. Moreover, the findings of this study can help individuals gain insight into their decision-making style and intolerance of uncertainty, enhancing self-awareness and enabling them to recognize their responses to ambiguity while developing strategies for more effective decision-making.
Repayment Expectation is Associated With Korean Middle School Male-identified Adolescents' Drinking Indirectly via Parental Psychological Control, Whereas Indebtedness is not.
Choe SY, Schoppe-Sullivan SJ, Lee KU
Psychol Rep · 2026 Jan · PMID 41572873 · Publisher ↗
We examined whether the cultural values of indebtedness and repayment expectation as two facets of reciprocity were indirectly associated with adolescents' drinking via parental psychological control (PPC) in Korean cult...
We examined whether the cultural values of indebtedness and repayment expectation as two facets of reciprocity were indirectly associated with adolescents' drinking via parental psychological control (PPC) in Korean culture. Korean adolescents ( = 354, 13-16 years old, and 207 female-identified) attending a middle school in Seoul participated in an innovative online survey using a slider (0-100). Measures included the Indebtedness and Repayment Expectation Scale developed for this study, an established scale of PPC, and drinking frequency in the past year. Latent variable Structural Equation Models revealed that repayment expectation-expecting others to repay favors-was significantly positively associated with PPC among male-identified adolescents. PPC was in turn significantly positively associated with drinking frequency. Female-identified adolescents felt more controlled by their primary caregivers than did male-identified adolescents, whereas multiple group analyses showed that the strength of the association between reciprocity facets and PPC was larger for male-identified adolescents than female-identified adolescents. These results suggest that both repayment expectation and PPC may be risk factors for Korean middle school adolescents' drinking. Our results highlight potential cultural and familial risk factors for Korean adolescents' drinking and may guide prevention efforts focusing on reducing repayment expectation and PPC in order to reduce adolescents' drinking.
Measuring Self-Control Beliefs: A Multidimensional and Domain-Specific Perspective.
Bwalya A, Koi P, Rabagliati H … +1 more , Chevalier N
Psychol Rep · 2026 Jan · PMID 41547571 · Publisher ↗
Self-control allows people to align their behaviour with intention in the face of a motivational conflict. Lay beliefs about self-control are associated with self-control performance. However, previous research has focus...
Self-control allows people to align their behaviour with intention in the face of a motivational conflict. Lay beliefs about self-control are associated with self-control performance. However, previous research has focused on whether self-control is seen as a limited resource in the short term and mostly ignored beliefs about whether self-control is malleable in the long term. We examined these two aspects of lay beliefs in two preregistered questionnaire studies with adult UK participants (n = 182, n = 199). In both studies, beliefs about the limitedness and malleability of self-control were relatively independent of each other. Moreover, limitedness beliefs varied depending on the self-control domain. Self-control beliefs were related to but relatively distinct from self-esteem, self-efficacy, and trait self-control. Beliefs about the malleability of self-control were moderately associated with beliefs about the malleability of overall personality, but not with beliefs about intelligence. Our results support a multidimensional and domain-specific approach when measuring self-control beliefs.
Problematic Gaming Behavior Among Adolescents in Bangladesh.
Begum M, Mamun MA, ALmerab MM … +3 more , Servidio R, Soraci P, Al-Mamun F
Psychol Rep · 2026 Jan · PMID 41545007 · Publisher ↗
With the increasing accessibility of digital technologies, problematic gaming behaviors, including Gaming Disorder (GD) and Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD), have become growing public health concern among adolescents. The...
With the increasing accessibility of digital technologies, problematic gaming behaviors, including Gaming Disorder (GD) and Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD), have become growing public health concern among adolescents. These behaviors are shaped by a complex interplay of demographic, psychosocial, and environmental factors. This study examined the prevalence and correlates of GD and IGD among school-going adolescents in Bangladesh. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in the Kurigram district using stratified cluster sampling. A total of 1097 participants were assessed for GD and 1053 for IGD using the Gaming Disorder Test (GDT-4) and Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short Form (IGDS9-SF), respectively. Analyses were performed using SPSS version 27.0. The mean GD score was 6.14 ± 2.77, and the mean IGD score was 10.68 ± 4.38. Significant group differences in gaming scores were found by gender, age, substance use history, parental supervision, parent-child understanding, bullying, truancy, loneliness, and screen time. Multiple linear regression revealed that male gender, substance use, poor parental monitoring, poor parent-child relationships, bullying, loneliness, and daily internet use were significantly associated with gaming scores. The regression models explained a modest but meaningful proportion of variance (adjusted R = 0.111 for GD; adjusted R = 0.123 for IGD), indicating that additional unmeasured factors may contribute to gaming-related problems. These findings highlight the multifactorial nature of problematic gaming and highlight the need for multi-level interventions targeting family dynamics, digital behavior regulation, and peer interactions. Tailored prevention strategies addressing these modifiable risk factors may help mitigate gaming-related harms and promote healthier digital use among adolescents, particularly in low-resource settings.
How Does Coaching Leadership Influence Technical Workers' Taking Charge Behavior? A Job Demands -Resources Perspective.
Wang Y, Yu X, Zhang H … +1 more , Yan X
Psychol Rep · 2026 Jan · PMID 41544619 · Publisher ↗
In a time of rapid technological change, enhancing technical workers' taking charge behavior is critical for improving organizational competitiveness and sustainability. Drawing on the job demands-resources (JD-R) model,...
In a time of rapid technological change, enhancing technical workers' taking charge behavior is critical for improving organizational competitiveness and sustainability. Drawing on the job demands-resources (JD-R) model, we developed and tested a model to examine the positive impact of coaching leadership on employees' taking charge behavior. We conducted a multi-wave, multi-source survey study among technical workers in a large Chinese innovative manufacturing company, and finally collected data from 351 leader-employee dyads. The results show that coaching leadership promotes technical workers' taking charge behavior by enhancing their task crafting. In addition, task difficulty positively moderates the effect of coaching leadership on task crafting, thereby increasing taking charge behaviors among technical workers. Both theoretical and practical implications are discussed in the study.
Optimism Mediates the Association Between Flow Experience and Psychological Well-Being: A Systematic Review of Recent Evidence.
Agarwal A, Demkhosei Vaiphei S, Khongsai L
Psychol Rep · 2026 Jan · PMID 41528755 · Publisher ↗
Researchers have found that psychological well-being is independently correlated with both optimism and flow. Although the flow-optimism-well-being structure has been studied empirically, there hasn't been much concentra...
Researchers have found that psychological well-being is independently correlated with both optimism and flow. Although the flow-optimism-well-being structure has been studied empirically, there hasn't been much concentrated synthesis on optimism's particular mediating mechanism. This review conducts a thorough analysis of peer-reviewed research on optimism as a specific mediator between flow and psychological health in adults between the ages of 18 and 65. PRISMA 2020 guidelines were adhered to in this systematic review. To find studies published between 2015 and 2025, six databases were searched: PsycINFO, Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and ERIC. The following criteria must be met for inclusion: statistical mediation analysis of optimism between flow and well-being, adult samples, empirical research, and English language proficiency. To evaluate quality, the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) was employed. All of the updated inclusion criteria were met by three studies. However, generalizability is constrained by measurement and design heterogeneity. With indirect effects ranging from .15 to.23, these studies consistently showed that optimism serves as a mediator in the relationship between flow and psychological well-being particularly. Although the majority of the included studies used cross-sectional designs, the evidence was especially strong in longitudinal and daily diary designs. Hence, the review reveals a consistent but moderate mediation effect where optimism acts as a significant psychological mechanism through which flow experiences enhance well-being.
Perceived Gains and Losses, Perceived Constraints in Control, and Goal Orientation in Adulthood.
Gong X, Freund AM
Psychol Rep · 2026 Jan · PMID 41528335 · Publisher ↗
This study investigated how perceived gains and losses relate to goal orientation (striving for gains, maintenance, or loss avoidance) in adulthood and examined the role of control beliefs (measured as perceived constrai...
This study investigated how perceived gains and losses relate to goal orientation (striving for gains, maintenance, or loss avoidance) in adulthood and examined the role of control beliefs (measured as perceived constraints in control) as a potential mediator. Data were collected from 404 US adults (18-78 years; 51.0% female) via an online survey measuring these variables in four life domains (happiness, physical fitness, life experiences, and monetary savings). Multilevel path analysis was applied to analyze the data. Regarding direct and total effects, perceived gains positively related to all three types of goal orientation, while perceived losses positively related to loss-avoidance orientation only. Regarding indirect effects, both perceived gains (contrary to our expectation) and losses positively related to perceived constraints in control, and such constraints negatively related to gain orientation and positively related to maintenance/loss-avoidance orientation. These pairwise associations were strong enough to partially account for the relationship between perceived gains/losses and goal orientation, consistent with mediation models with perceived constraints in control as potential mediators. However, alternative explanations cannot be excluded due to the cross-sectional nature of the study. Age moderated the relationships of perceived gains/losses with perceived constraints in control, but not with goal orientation. Most of these relationships exhibited minimal variation across life domains. Overall, this study replicates previous research on the links between gains/losses and goal orientation in a cross-sectional adult sample. It also provides initial evidence for the potential mediating role of control beliefs in these links.
The Bandura's Self-Efficacy for Self-Regulated Learning Scale: A Reliability Generalization Meta-Analysis.
Yildirim O, Bilican Demir S
Psychol Rep · 2026 Jan · PMID 41526188 · Publisher ↗
The reliability of test scores is not a fixed property of an instrument but may vary across populations and testing conditions. Evaluating how a scale performs across different samples is essential for understanding the...
The reliability of test scores is not a fixed property of an instrument but may vary across populations and testing conditions. Evaluating how a scale performs across different samples is essential for understanding the extent of measurement error and generalizing psychometric properties. In the present study, Bandura's Self-Efficacy for Self-Regulated Learning Scale (SESRLS) was examined using a reliability generalization meta-analysis to assess the generalizability of Cronbach's alpha across studies. A random-effects model was employed to compute the pooled mean reliability coefficient. In addition, meta-regression was conducted to investigate the impact of study characteristics-both substantive and methodological-on reliability. Moderator variables included categorical factors (age group, mode of administration, test language, region, item type) and continuous variables (mean age, age standard deviation, percentage of females, sample size, number of response options, and number of items). The analysis synthesized 78 alpha coefficients derived from a total sample of 32,116 participants. Bonett's transformation was applied to stabilize sampling variances associated with bounded reliability estimates. Results revealed that mean raw alpha was .85 (95% CI [.837-.857]) and pooled mean alpha was .869 (95% CI [.857-.884]) for transformed scores. Substantial heterogeneity was detected (I = 97.6%). Of all moderators examined, only test language significantly predicted reliability coefficients (β = -0.221, p = .047), with slightly higher values reported in non-English versions. No other moderator variables were found to exert a significant influence. These findings support the generalizability of the SESRLS's reliability estimates across diverse demographic and methodological contexts, while highlighting the need to consider the rigor and quality of the adaptation process in reliability reporting.
Personal and Collective Memories and Future Thoughts: A Laboratory Study of Episodic and Non-Episodic Detail.
Cheriet N, Öner S, Watson L … +1 more , Cole S
Psychol Rep · 2026 Jan · PMID 41525666 · Publisher ↗
Self-based mental time travel - the ability to remember past events and imagine future events on a personal timeline - is well-characterized in cognitive science. A similar, but less-understood, ability is that of collec...
Self-based mental time travel - the ability to remember past events and imagine future events on a personal timeline - is well-characterized in cognitive science. A similar, but less-understood, ability is that of collective memory and collective future thinking, termed collective mental time travel (CMTT). To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the episodic richness of collective memory and future thoughts using an in-person laboratory paradigm. In two studies (UK and Turkey), we examined the effect of Event Type (collective, personal; between-groups) and Temporal Orientation (past, future; within-groups) on quantities of episodic and non-episodic details. Results show that personal events contained more episodic detail compared to collective events, and past events were associated with more episodic detail than future events. The distinction between personal and collective events was more pronounced in the UK than in Turkish sample, hinting at an influence of cross-cultural context on the episodicity of collective memories and future thoughts. Additionally, we observed a relationship between the episodicity of the past and the future exclusively in the UK population and for personal events, partially supporting the constructive episodic simulation hypothesis. These findings initiate a deeper understanding of the underlying cognitive processes that enable humans to engage in collective mental time travel.
The Effects of Incidental Empathy on Outgroup Perception.
Baeli V, Marchese M, Russo A … +2 more , Zammitti A, Hichy Z
Psychol Rep · 2026 Jan · PMID 41512297 · Publisher ↗
Integral empathy (that stems from and is intrinsic to the outgroup) has been extensively studied in intergroup relations. In contrast, incidental empathy (that stems from factors unrelated and is extrinsic to the outgrou...
Integral empathy (that stems from and is intrinsic to the outgroup) has been extensively studied in intergroup relations. In contrast, incidental empathy (that stems from factors unrelated and is extrinsic to the outgroup) still needs to be explored. In Study 1, we tested the effects of incidental empathy on outgroup perception, while in Study 2, we verified if the effects of incidental empathy on outgroup perception may be due to integral empathy felt toward it. Results show that evoking incidental empathy improves outgroup perception, which is perceived as more competent and sociable. Moreover, the positive effects of incidental empathy are partially due to the integral empathy felt toward the outgroup.
Emotion Shapes False Memory: Experimental Evidences From Recall and Recognition Tests.
Joshi G, Rathore T, Belal R … +1 more , Verma K
Psychol Rep · 2026 Jan · PMID 41511864 · Publisher ↗
In everyday situations, individuals encounter emotionally demanding or challenging situations that are remembered and subsequently retrieved in similar emotional contexts. Consequently, although emotion is unavoidable in...
In everyday situations, individuals encounter emotionally demanding or challenging situations that are remembered and subsequently retrieved in similar emotional contexts. Consequently, although emotion is unavoidable in everyday life, specific situations can enhance its impact, leading to serious consequences. The primary objective of this study is to investigate the false memories produced by two types of tests (recall and recognition) utilizing Deese-Roediger-McDermott (DRM) lists of emotional valences (negative, positive, or neutral). Sixty-six healthy participants were presented with four lists of emotional valences (positive, negative, or neutral), each containing ten words, and were instructed to retrieve them through recall and recognition tests. The percentage proportion of false memories to true memories was assessed by the number of critical lures and true target words recalled and recognized. A mixed factorial analysis of variance (ANOVA) was employed to examine the differences in emotional valence between recall and recognition for studied and critical lure words. The main effect of test type [ = 6.49, = .013, = .09] and emotional valence [ = 3.32, = .04, = .09] was found to be significant for critical lure words. However, the interaction between test types and emotional valence was non-significant [F = 1.38, p = .25, η = .04] for critical lure words. The current study concludes that recognition tests may reveal greater susceptibility to emotional false memories than recall tests. Moreover, emotional valence independently affects false memory performance, particularly for negative content. There was no significant interaction between test type and valence, indicating that test type and emotional valence may independently contribute to the formation of false memories rather than affecting each other.
High Trait Procrastination Predicts Increased Goal Anxiety Despite Invariance in Simulation of Goal Achievement.
Clayton McClure JH, Sayan S, Anderson RJ
Psychol Rep · 2026 Jan · PMID 41506618 · Publisher ↗
Procrastination is a self-regulatory failure in which important tasks are delayed despite the knowledge that this is unhelpful; episodic future thinking is the process of constructing detailed mental simulations of possi...
Procrastination is a self-regulatory failure in which important tasks are delayed despite the knowledge that this is unhelpful; episodic future thinking is the process of constructing detailed mental simulations of possible future events. High trait procrastination has been linked to reduced sensory-perceptual detail when simulating future events based on experimenter prompts, yet it remains unclear if this extends to events reflecting achievement of one's personal goals. The present investigation aimed to establish the relations between trait procrastination and attributes of short-term (<1 month) and long-term (>6 months) personal goals and goal achievement simulations. High procrastination was expected to predict high self-reported likelihood of goal avoidance, especially for long-term goals (due to associated delay sensitivity); reduced sensory-perceptual detail in achievement simulations; and heightened anticipatory anxiety when contemplating goal failure. Multilevel models controlling for other goal attributes showed a positive predictive effect of procrastination on avoidance likelihood for long- and short-term goals; no effects on sensory-perceptual detail of achievement simulations; and a positive predictive effect on anticipatory anxiety which was most pronounced for short-term goals. Exploratory analyses further showed that neither goal importance nor achievement simulation characteristics (autonoetic consciousness, anticipated emotions) were sensitive to procrastination levels. These findings suggest that a tendency to procrastinate, though disruptive, does not imply deficits in goal setting; and further, that its effects on future simulation may not extend to personally important goal-related events. Finally, results on anticipatory anxiety highlight a potential mechanism by which high procrastinators are drawn into focussing on short-term goals at the expense of more important long-term priorities.
Antifragility and Growth Through Adversity: A Scoping Review.
Holton N, Cottin M, Wright A … +3 more , Mannino M, Antonio DS, Bigliassi M
Psychol Rep · 2026 Jan · PMID 41499166 · Publisher ↗
Antifragility challenges conventional thinking by proposing that adversity is not merely to be survived but actively used to promote growth. This scoping review synthesizes 18 emerging research studies focused on antifra...
Antifragility challenges conventional thinking by proposing that adversity is not merely to be survived but actively used to promote growth. This scoping review synthesizes 18 emerging research studies focused on antifragility in human systems across disciplines, distinguishing antifragility from resilience and robustness and highlighting key empirical gaps, particularly in psychological research. During the screening process, articles were categorized as human or non-human systems. Non-human systems ( = 29; e.g., robotics, logistics, information systems, urban planning, artificial intelligence) were excluded from synthesis to align with the review's focus on human domains (e.g., psychology, leadership, coaching, health). Drawing from biology, psychology, and organizational studies, the review summarizes applications in mental health, performance, and quality of life. Findings emphasize the proactive nature of antifragility, in which stressors are intentionally engaged to strengthen capabilities. Biological concepts like hormesis and psychological frameworks such as post-traumatic growth align with mechanisms relevant to growth through adversity. Yet empirical studies remain scarce, underscoring the need for robust measurement tools and longitudinal designs. Future directions include refining antifragility as a state, trait, or process, developing dose-specific models, and exploring biopsychosocial correlates. Embracing antifragility could transform how individuals and systems confront challenge, not by resisting breakdown, but by evolving beyond it.
Psychological Aspects of Optimising IT Specialists' Professional Self-Realisation Through Participation in Coaching Programmes.
Zelenin V
Psychol Rep · 2026 Jan · PMID 41494037 · Publisher ↗
The aim of the study was to examine the role of coaching programmes in the professional development of IT specialists in Ukraine and abroad. The methodology involved a sample of 163 IT professionals from Ukraine, both re...
The aim of the study was to examine the role of coaching programmes in the professional development of IT specialists in Ukraine and abroad. The methodology involved a sample of 163 IT professionals from Ukraine, both residing within the country and abroad. An assessment and comparison of the psychological aspects of IT specialists' professional self-realisation was conducted for two periods: prior to the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine (2015-2022) and after its onset (2022-2024), using the following instruments: the PERMA-Profiler Measure, the Self-Actualisation Test, the Worldview Plasticity Questionnaire, and the "Mental Health Stability" Questionnaire. The tools employed to study self-realisation among IT professionals revealed that, prior to the full-scale invasion, these specialists exhibited high levels of life satisfaction, emotional stability, and harmonious social relationships. They felt confident in their achievements and life purpose, and maintained a sense of belonging to social groups, which sustained their professional engagement. Before the full-scale the Russo-Ukrainian war, the level of self-actualisation among IT specialists was high, with 73% of participants demonstrating a high level of life purpose and 70% showing a high level of readiness for change. Following the onset of the war, specialists who remained in Ukraine exhibited a marked decline in self-actualisation indicators - particularly, the proportion of individuals with high levels of positive self-esteem decreased from 65% to 39%. The data indicate a reduction in life satisfaction, the quality of interpersonal relationships, and confidence in one's worldview. A noticeable decline was also observed in social engagement, along with challenges in maintaining a sense of life control and existential meaning. Conversely, among those specialists who relocated abroad, self-actualisation in certain areas even increased: the proportion of individuals with a high level of life purpose rose from 41% to 50%, potentially indicating successful adaptation to new environments. Coaching programmes emerged as an effective tool for supporting professional self-realisation under such conditions. They assist IT specialists in adapting to change, reducing stress levels, strengthening emotional resilience, and restoring a sense of confidence. These programmes foster time management skills, the formation of long-term goals, and balance between work and personal life. Particularly valuable is participation in group coaching sessions, where specialists can receive social support and exchange experiences.
The Psychological Cost of Rigidity: Exploring the Mediation of Psychological Inflexibility Between Personality and Prefrontal Functioning.
Batallas D, López-Guerra V, Jiménez M … +2 more , Hidalgo V, Salvador A
Psychol Rep · 2026 Jan · PMID 41494024 · Publisher ↗
Young individuals often experience executive functioning challenges, such as attentional lapses, impulsivity, and poor self-regulation, which may indicate underlying prefrontal dysfunction and contribute to stress and em...
Young individuals often experience executive functioning challenges, such as attentional lapses, impulsivity, and poor self-regulation, which may indicate underlying prefrontal dysfunction and contribute to stress and emotional dysregulation. Research suggests that specific personality traits, particularly harm avoidance and self-directedness, are closely related to these executive difficulties. Harm avoidance refers to a temperament trait characterized by excessive worry, fear, and avoidance of uncertainty, whereas self-directedness reflects a character trait involving goal orientation, self-control, and responsibility. However, the mechanisms linking these traits to executive functioning remain insufficiently understood. Psychological inflexibility, defined as a rigid and avoidance-based response to internal distress, has been proposed as a transdiagnostic process that may explain this link. This study investigates the mediating role of psychological inflexibility in the link between harm avoidance and self-directedness with prefrontal dysfunction in 501 young adults (56.69% male, M = 21.00 years, SD = 2.62). Participants completed self-report measures on personality traits, psychological inflexibility and prefrontal symptomatology. Mediation analyses using PROCESS Macro (model 4) showed that harm avoidance positively predicted psychological inflexibility (path a: = 0.50, < .001), which in turn predicted greater prefrontal symptomatology (path b: = 0.45, < .001). Conversely, self-directedness negatively predicted psychological inflexibility (path a: = -0.54, < .001), which was associated with lower prefrontal symptomatology (path b: β = 0.40, < .001). Indirect effects were significant for both harm avoidance ( = 0.23, 95% CI [0.17, 0.29]) and self-directedness ( = -0.21, 95% CI [-0.27, -0.16]), indicating partial mediation. Overall, these findings highlight that psychological inflexibility serves as a key mechanism linking personality dispositions to executive and emotional self-regulation in young adults. Interventions aimed at increasing psychological flexibility may enhance adaptive functioning and resilience during this developmental period.
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