Int J Psychol
· 2025 Dec · PMID 41044894
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Academic achievement, depressive symptoms and learning difficulty have become globally important issues closely related to adolescents. However, there is currently limited understanding of the nature and direction of the...Academic achievement, depressive symptoms and learning difficulty have become globally important issues closely related to adolescents. However, there is currently limited understanding of the nature and direction of the relationship between academic achievement, depressive symptoms and learning difficulty, particularly in the context of Chinese education. Based on two-wave longitudinal survey data, this study examines the relationship between depressive symptoms, learning difficulty and academic achievement in a sample of Chinese middle school students (N = 8615). Using cross-lagged models, the results show that depressive symptoms significantly negatively predict academic achievement, and there is a significant bidirectional negative relationship between learning difficulty and academic achievement. This finding highlights the importance of low depressive symptoms and learning difficulty in predicting high academic achievement. The conclusions deepen our understanding of the relationships between these variables and provide empirical support for practical educational and psychological interventions.
Int J Psychol
· 2025 Dec · PMID 41044893
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This study investigates the connections between language acculturation, group relations, and life satisfaction among first-generation immigrants from the former Soviet Union in Israel. We operationalised language accultu...This study investigates the connections between language acculturation, group relations, and life satisfaction among first-generation immigrants from the former Soviet Union in Israel. We operationalised language acculturation as using the native (Russian) and the new (Hebrew) languages in everyday life outside of work (communicating with relatives and friends, reading, using the internet, and watching movies). We included positive (social support from immigrants and the majority) and negative (discrimination) aspects of group relations in the model. The study used a stratified sample (n = 848, 45% male, with an average time in Israel of 28 years). In general, immigrants used more Hebrew than Russian. However, usage varied across different fields: Russian was more frequently used for communicating with relatives and friends, while Hebrew was more frequently used for reading, using the internet, and watching movies. In addition, using one language conflicted with using the other. Using Hebrew was directly and indirectly (through its positive connection with social support from the majority) connected to satisfaction with life. Using Russian was associated with stronger support from immigrants but also with stronger discrimination. Using Russian was not directly or indirectly connected to satisfaction with life. The pertinence of the acculturation theory to language acculturation is discussed.
Int J Psychol
· 2025 Nov · PMID 41016859
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In everyday life, people frequently seek advice from others. The purposes of seeking advice can be twofold: first, to improve the accuracy of decisions, which is driven by accuracy motivation; and second, to establish go...In everyday life, people frequently seek advice from others. The purposes of seeking advice can be twofold: first, to improve the accuracy of decisions, which is driven by accuracy motivation; and second, to establish good relationships with the advisors, which is driven by relationship motivation. Advisors, when giving advice to others, also consider the potential motivations behind the decision makers' advice-seeking. Two studies explore how advisors give advice based on the perceived advice-seeking motivations of decision makers. The results indicate that: (1) In terms of willingness to give advice, the impact of perceived advice-seeking motivations is not significant, but a closer social distance can increase the advisors' willingness to give advice. (2) Regarding advice-giving behaviour, when advisors perceive close friends seeking advice based on relationship motivation (compared to accuracy motivation), they tend to search for more information and spend long time searching. However, when they perceive ordinary friends seeking advice driven by accuracy motivation (compared to relationship motivation), advisors exhibit greater effort in searching for information. This research can help decision makers get better advice.
Int J Psychol
· 2025 Oct · PMID 40968686
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Studies revealed that teachers frequently experience stress and a decline in job satisfaction. This meta-analysis examined the association between teacher well-being measures and self-compassion, as well as the impact of...Studies revealed that teachers frequently experience stress and a decline in job satisfaction. This meta-analysis examined the association between teacher well-being measures and self-compassion, as well as the impact of mindfulness interventions on these traits. The study synthesises data from 19 studies, encompassing a total of 4420 teachers. It reveals a significant positive correlation between teacher well-being and self-compassion. Specifically, self-compassion inversely correlates with stress levels (r = -0.49) and positively correlates with job satisfaction (r = 0.32). Furthermore, mindfulness interventions have been shown to substantially enhance both self-compassion (Cohen's d = 0.77) and mindfulness (Cohen's d = 0.78) among teachers. These findings suggest that mindfulness interventions can effectively increase self-compassion, thereby improving teacher well-being. The positive association between self-compassion and teacher well-being underscores the potential benefits of targeted interventions to enhance these traits. However, further high-quality research is necessary to optimise interventions aimed at augmenting teacher self-compassion. This is crucial for fostering greater teacher well-being and effectiveness in educational settings.
Chen R, Jin Y, Yu L
… +5 more, Tempel T, Li P, Zhang S, Li A, He W
Int J Psychol
· 2025 Oct · PMID 40965285
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Fairness is a fundamental principle in human social interactions that influences subsequent behavioural decisions. As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes more prevalent, human-computer interactions have emerged as a new...Fairness is a fundamental principle in human social interactions that influences subsequent behavioural decisions. As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes more prevalent, human-computer interactions have emerged as a new mode of social interaction. This study investigates the differences in fairness perceptions and their impact on trust decisions in human-human and human-AI contexts using a mixed experimental design of 2 (proposer identity: AI/human) × 2 (offer: fair/unfair) × 2 (trustee identity: AI/human). A total of 128 university students participated in the experimental study employing both the Ultimatum Game and the Trust Game paradigms. The results showed that participants who received fair offers had higher trust investment rates and amounts than those who received unfair offers. When offers were unfair, the AI proposer group elicited greater investment willingness, leading to higher trust investment rates than the human proposer group. Conversely, under fair conditions, participants displayed greater risk aversion towards human trustees, investing at lower rates and amounts than with AI trustees. The findings suggest that fairness perceptions in human-computer interactions have a stronger impact on trust decisions than those in human-human interactions.
Rogoza M, Marchlewska M, Molenda Z
… +2 more, Szczepańska D, Rogoza R
Int J Psychol
· 2025 Oct · PMID 40958200
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Within the current study, we address the question of whether intelligence would be negatively related to narcissistic identity with nation (i.e., belief in the nation's greatness that requires external recognition) and e...Within the current study, we address the question of whether intelligence would be negatively related to narcissistic identity with nation (i.e., belief in the nation's greatness that requires external recognition) and endorsement of conspiracy theories (i.e., the tendency to explain events through secret plots by powerful groups). We found a consistent pattern of associations using the data from two culturally different samples of Polish (N = 1143) and British (N = 388) participants. That is, we observed consistent negative relationships between intelligence and socio-psychological variables responsible for out-group derogation: national narcissism and conspiracy beliefs. Moreover, lower national narcissism partially accounted for the association between higher intelligence and lower conspiracy beliefs, which provides initial evidence that higher intelligence may be related not only to a less narcissistic identity but also to weaker endorsement of conspiracy theories. We discuss the implications for understanding the role of intelligence and national narcissism in shaping the psychological roots of susceptibility to conspiracy narratives.
Int J Psychol
· 2025 Oct · PMID 40936435
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The relationship between imaginary companions (ICs) and the development of children's theory of mind (ToM) has aroused the interest of many researchers in the area of imaginary play. This study sought to investigate the...The relationship between imaginary companions (ICs) and the development of children's theory of mind (ToM) has aroused the interest of many researchers in the area of imaginary play. This study sought to investigate the potential causal relationships between ICs and ToM and between child-IC relationship quality and ToM using a longitudinal design. The present study included 104 Chinese preschool children and ran over approximately 13 months. IC status (with and without ICs) and child-IC relationship quality (egalitarian and hierarchical) were measured twice, at 1 month and 13 months. ToM was measured only once, at 7 months. Path analysis and bootstrap analysis with offset corrections were used to explore potential causal paths. The results revealed that ICs had a positive effect on ToM, but ToM could not predict IC status. No causal relationship existed between child-IC relationship quality and ToM in children with ICs at both Time 1 and 3. Children with higher scores on receptive vocabulary were more likely to create egalitarian child-IC relationships. Future researchers could further optimise the research design and investigate the internal mechanism of the existing causal relationships.
Zhou Y, Fang S, Chen Y
… +3 more, Wu Z, Wang Y, Zhang L
Int J Psychol
· 2025 Oct · PMID 40922672
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Social hierarchy stereotypes play an important role in triggering intergroup prejudices. However, few researchers explored how people with different power and status perceive the differences in the social hierarchy stere...Social hierarchy stereotypes play an important role in triggering intergroup prejudices. However, few researchers explored how people with different power and status perceive the differences in the social hierarchy stereotypes of ingroup and outgroup. We used the probe recognition paradigm to examine the ingroup-outgroup effect of implicit social hierarchy stereotypes on warmth and competence. The results showed that the high-power groups showed an implicit ingroup preference on competence but no warmth-based bias, whereas low-power groups showed an implicit outgroup preference on competence and an implicit ingroup preference on warmth; the high-status groups showed implicit ingroup preferences on both competence and warmth, and low-status groups showed an implicit outgroup preference on competence and an implicit ingroup preference on warmth. This suggests that power and status play different roles in predicting the implicit stereotypes of warmth and competence.
Bacaro V, De Lise F, Natale V
… +2 more, Tonetti L, Crocetti E
Int J Psychol
· 2025 Oct · PMID 40922537
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Chronotype is the preference for sleep and activity timing, differentiating individuals into morning (i.e., waking and sleeping early), evening (i.e., preferring later sleep patterns) and intermediate (i.e., falling betw...Chronotype is the preference for sleep and activity timing, differentiating individuals into morning (i.e., waking and sleeping early), evening (i.e., preferring later sleep patterns) and intermediate (i.e., falling between these extremes) types. Adolescents' chronotype has been linked to school performance, but its connection to the development of their educational identity has been overlooked. A stable educational identity involves the interplay of three processes: commitment (i.e., identification with educational choices), in-depth exploration (i.e., exploring and reflecting on commitments) and reconsideration of commitment (i.e., questioning current commitments and seeking alternatives). This longitudinal study investigates whether adolescents' chronotypes can be associated with trajectories of educational identity processes and how the latter may mediate the link between adolescents' chronotypes and school performance. The study followed 1156 adolescents (M = 15.69, SD = 1.20; 51.65% females) over four assessments spanning 1 year. Multigroup analyses showed that adolescents with an evening chronotype reported lower initial levels of educational commitment and in-depth exploration, coupled with higher reconsideration of commitment than adolescents with a morning chronotype. Additionally, a mediating effect of in-depth exploration was found in the link between chronotype and school performance. This study highlights the detrimental role of evening chronotype in educational identity development.
Int J Psychol
· 2025 Oct · PMID 40920105
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The global decline in fertility rates highlights the critical need to enhance individuals' fertility intentions. Using the socio-ecological perspective, we reveal a largely overlooked yet crucial socio-ecological factor...The global decline in fertility rates highlights the critical need to enhance individuals' fertility intentions. Using the socio-ecological perspective, we reveal a largely overlooked yet crucial socio-ecological factor that influences individuals' fertility intentions. Specifically, we propose that relational mobility serves as a precursor to fertility intention. Four studies using different operationalisations of relational mobility provided convergent support for this idea. Study 1 and Study 2 indicated that relational mobility positively predicted fertility intention by separately using national representative data and a survey approach. Study 3 replicated these results in an experimental setting and demonstrated the causal effect of relational mobility on fertility intention. Study 4 further revealed that this effect was driven by perceived social resource availability. Our findings add to the literature on fertility intention and relational mobility. Moreover, policymakers can consider boosting individuals' fertility intentions by improving the relational mobility of the environment in which they reside or by activating individuals' perceptions of high relational mobility in their immediate societies.
Int J Psychol
· 2025 Oct · PMID 40898766
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In a super-aged society, issues concerning older adults are increasingly pressing. Adequate support for this demographic is essential. To achieve this, we must examine voting behaviour toward candidates who emphasise pol...In a super-aged society, issues concerning older adults are increasingly pressing. Adequate support for this demographic is essential. To achieve this, we must examine voting behaviour toward candidates who emphasise policies supporting older adults during elections and related psychological factors. In this study, we investigated the relationship between participants' ageism and their voting behaviour in a fictitious election situation, surveying Japanese university students (Preliminary Study) and a broader Japanese sample (Main Study). We controlled for participants' subjective wealth, age, gender, and whether they had a child (Main Study only). Results indicated that in both surveys, individuals with stronger ageism were less likely to vote for candidates emphasising support for older adults (Main Study: marginally significant trend). This implies that ageism might be one of the factors related to voting behaviour. The findings of this study have implications for addressing the challenges related to the distribution of resources between older and younger people.
Int J Psychol
· 2025 Oct · PMID 40891619
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Two studies are reported in this research. The aim of the studies was to determine whether children's costly sharing behaviours vary based on the individuals they interact with, who either make them laugh or teach them s...Two studies are reported in this research. The aim of the studies was to determine whether children's costly sharing behaviours vary based on the individuals they interact with, who either make them laugh or teach them something. In the first study, the data collectors (joker and teacher) interacted face-to-face with the children. It was found that girls exhibited significantly higher levels of costly sharing behaviour compared to boys. In the second study, the children watched videos of the data collectors. In the second study, fourth-grade students shared significantly more than kindergarten children. When the results of the first and second studies were compared, no changes were observed in the fourth-grade students. In the second study, kindergarteners exhibited significantly less sharing behaviour compared to the first study. Girls, who showed significantly more sharing behaviour than boys in the first study, experienced a significant decrease and shared less than boys in the second study.
Int J Psychol
· 2025 Aug · PMID 40880116
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How do we know whether psychological science generalises across groups? External validity, including the nomological network, is key for establishing the utility of psychological constructs in under-investigated populati...How do we know whether psychological science generalises across groups? External validity, including the nomological network, is key for establishing the utility of psychological constructs in under-investigated populations. We used an online, monthly longitudinal study measuring personality, social relationships and mental health. Among participants (total N = 1777; 31% retention), 73% identified as sexual and/or gender minority (SGM). Longitudinal growth parameters, rank-order stability and cross-time correlations were examined. The findings showed remarkably similar associations and rank-order stability. Mean differences measured using multiple assessments displayed a similar pattern to cross-sectional differences with slightly diminished magnitudes. These exploratory results can inform longitudinal research to be better equipped to disentangle processes that support resilience in the face of extant negative influences, address health disparities and identify associations that are more universal in the studied contexts lending support for diversifying psychological research across SGM identities.
Faleschini S, Dussault P, Vézina-Im LA
… +2 more, Thivierge AM, Van Lieshout RJ
Int J Psychol
· 2025 Aug · PMID 40879625
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Studies assessing perinatal mental health often lack a prospective pre-pregnancy assessment. Administering measures in preconception could lead to a better understanding of changes occurring over time. This study sought...Studies assessing perinatal mental health often lack a prospective pre-pregnancy assessment. Administering measures in preconception could lead to a better understanding of changes occurring over time. This study sought to examine changes in mental health during preconception and the first trimester of pregnancy. The PREGO Study (N = 411 participants) includes 393 participants with preconception mental health data; of these, 174 also had data in the first trimester of pregnancy. We assessed symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, distress and sleep health. Results of repeated measures ANOVA showed that symptoms of depression increased (F(1, 265.46) = 26.03; d adapted = 0.26) while stress (F(1, 251.24) = 5.95; d adapted = 0.12) and sleep health (F(1, 161.18) = 9.76; d adapted = 0.17) decreased from preconception to the first trimester of pregnancy. Other indicators remained stable. Our results highlight the need for mental health assessments from preconception through postpartum to better understand trajectories of perinatal mental health.
Kowalski CM, Plouffe RA, Daljeet KN
… +3 more, Johnson LK, Trahair C, Malesza M
Int J Psychol
· 2025 Oct · PMID 40879622
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This article reports on a short-term longitudinal study exploring self-reported and behavioural procrastination of 298 German university students taking a 15-week statistics course. More specifically, associations betwee...This article reports on a short-term longitudinal study exploring self-reported and behavioural procrastination of 298 German university students taking a 15-week statistics course. More specifically, associations between the Dark Triad traits and two self-report procrastination measures and one behavioural procrastination task (i.e., a comparison between actual and planned study time) were examined. Both psychopathy and narcissism were correlated with self-report and behavioural procrastination, but Machiavellianism was unrelated to either type of procrastination. Self-report and behavioural measures of procrastination were only weakly related. Our results suggest that behavioural and self-report measures of procrastination capture different aspects and processes of procrastination.
Int J Psychol
· 2025 Oct · PMID 40884152
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This study employed developmental niche frameworks to examine how adversity at the child- and parent-levels, as well as at the relational level through parental discipline strategies, was associated with refugee newcomer...This study employed developmental niche frameworks to examine how adversity at the child- and parent-levels, as well as at the relational level through parental discipline strategies, was associated with refugee newcomer children's emotion regulation. Participants were 128 Syrian newcomer children (52% girls; ages 5-15 years) and their mothers who have been resettling in Canada. Mothers and children reported adverse life experiences in an interview, and mothers reported parental discipline strategies and their children's emotion regulation via a questionnaire. Simultaneous path analyses revealed that mothers' adverse life events predicted better sadness regulation in children, while children's own adverse life events predicted poorer anger regulation. Mothers' power assertion was negatively associated with anger regulation, while love withdrawal was associated with better sadness and anger regulation. Universality and cultural specificity of the functions of maternal discipline strategies are discussed. These findings may inform the development of practices to support newcomer children and families' social-emotional wellbeing.
Lyvers M, Simpson H, O'Brien N
… +1 more, Thorberg FA
Int J Psychol
· 2025 Aug · PMID 40878893
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Previous work implicated alexithymia and reward sensitivity as risk factors for excessive internet use (internet addiction [IA]). Both personality traits have been linked to deficits of frontal lobe executive self-regula...Previous work implicated alexithymia and reward sensitivity as risk factors for excessive internet use (internet addiction [IA]). Both personality traits have been linked to deficits of frontal lobe executive self-regulation. The present study proposed that frontal dysfunction underlies the links of alexithymia and reward sensitivity with IA symptoms, while also assessing negative mood as another potential mediator. An online sample of 310 internet users aged 18-65 years completed measures of alexithymia, reward sensitivity, negative mood, and IA symptoms. The Frontal Systems Behaviour Scale (FrSBe) assessed signs of frontal dysfunction. Hierarchical regression controlling for demographic variables accounted for 52% of variance in IA symptoms; reward sensitivity, negative mood, and executive dysfunction were highly significant in the final model. Path analysis indicated that associations of alexithymia and reward sensitivity with IA symptoms were mediated by the FrSBe Executive Dysfunction subscale and negative mood. Methodological limitations and potential theoretical and clinical implications are discussed.
Int J Psychol
· 2025 Oct · PMID 40874364
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The objective of the present study was to examine the initial stages of partner selection in adulthood and assess the link between childhood interpersonal experiences with parents and the inclination toward intimacy with...The objective of the present study was to examine the initial stages of partner selection in adulthood and assess the link between childhood interpersonal experiences with parents and the inclination toward intimacy with a potential partner. To achieve this goal, we devised an experimental paradigm to explore the initial mechanisms that guide interest toward one potential partner over another. Subsequently, we conducted a study involving a cohort of young adults (N = 200; aged 18-31) who were single, aiming to investigate their inclination toward intimacy with partners characterised by different internal working models (IWMs) and to assess the correlation with the quality of parent-child relationships during childhood. Additionally, aligning with existing literature and recognising the importance of exploring the moderating effect of sex on these processes, our study included both male and female participants matched by age. The results revealed, for the first time, that the initial propensity for intimacy with a partner is influenced by the interaction of multiple factors, including the partner's internal working model, the individual's internal working model, and their biological sex. The theoretical implications of these findings were discussed.
Nisiraiou A, Bozas A, Kyrou D
… +7 more, Stavrogianni K, Vasilopoulou M, Kalomoiris GM, Tsintsifa N, Nikitara K, Koulierakis G, Karamanidou C
Int J Psychol
· 2025 Oct · PMID 40874359
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Post-traumatic growth (PTG), defined as positive psychological changes following trauma, has garnered attention in recent years within the context of cancer. This scoping review aims to synthesise and map PTG-related stu...Post-traumatic growth (PTG), defined as positive psychological changes following trauma, has garnered attention in recent years within the context of cancer. This scoping review aims to synthesise and map PTG-related studies published in the last 5 years among adult cancer populations. A comprehensive literature search identified 109 eligible studies published between 2018 and 2023, predominantly cross-sectional in design, focusing on various cancer types, with a significant proportion examining breast cancer. The findings reveal that PTG is consistently associated with cognitive, emotional, social, and health-related factors. Resilience, adaptive coping strategies (e.g., positive reappraisal, deliberate rumination, meaning-making), and social support emerged as robust positive correlates. Conversely, psychological distress (depression, anxiety, intrusive rumination) and poor physical health were generally inversely associated with PTG. Longitudinal studies, while fewer, indicated that coping strategies and social support predict PTG trajectories; PTG can, in turn, influence subsequent adaptive coping and well-being. Thirteen interventional studies were identified, with six demonstrating significant improvements in PTG in intervention groups, notably those incorporating elements like acceptance, self-compassion, deliberate rumination, meaning-making, and social support. This review underscores the complex nature of PTG, highlighting key psychosocial factors that facilitate its development in cancer survivors and suggesting promising avenues for therapeutic interventions.