Journal Description
Behavioral Sciences
Behavioral Sciences
is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal on psychology, neuroscience, cognitive science, behavioral biology and behavioral genetics published monthly online by MDPI.
- Open Access— free for readers, with article processing charges (APC) paid by authors or their institutions.
- High Visibility: indexed within Scopus, SSCI (Web of Science), PubMed, PMC, and other databases.
- Journal Rank: JCR - Q2 (Psychology, Multidisciplinary) / CiteScore - Q2 (Development)
- Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision is provided to authors approximately 21.5 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 2.6 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the second half of 2023).
- Recognition of Reviewers: reviewers who provide timely, thorough peer-review reports receive vouchers entitling them to a discount on the APC of their next publication in any MDPI journal, in appreciation of the work done.
Impact Factor:
2.6 (2022);
5-Year Impact Factor:
3.2 (2022)
Latest Articles
Adaptation and Psychometric Properties of an Attitude toward Artificial Intelligence Scale (AIAS-4) among Peruvian Nurses
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 437; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060437 - 23 May 2024
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Background: The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into various aspects of daily life has sparked growing interest in understanding public attitudes toward this technology. Despite advancements in tools to assess these perceptions, there remains a need for culturally adapted instruments, particularly in specific
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Background: The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into various aspects of daily life has sparked growing interest in understanding public attitudes toward this technology. Despite advancements in tools to assess these perceptions, there remains a need for culturally adapted instruments, particularly in specific contexts like that of Peruvian nurses. Objective: To evaluate the psychometric properties of the AIAS-4 in a sample of Peruvian nurses. Methods: An instrumental design was employed, recruiting 200 Peruvian nurses. The Attitude toward Artificial Intelligence in Spanish (AIAS-S), a cultural and linguistic adaptation of the AIAS-4, involved data analysis using descriptive statistics, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and invariance tests. Results: The Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) confirmed a unidimensional factor structure with an excellent model fit (χ2 = 0.410, df = 1, p = 0.522, CFI = 1.00, TLI = 1.00, RMSEA = 0.00, SRMR = 0.00). The scale demonstrated high internal consistency (α = 0.94, ω = 0.91). Tests of invariance from configural to strict confirmed that the scale is stable across different demographic subgroups. Conclusions: The AIAS-S proved to be a psychometrically solid tool for assessing attitudes toward AI in the context of Peruvian nurses, providing evidence of validity, reliability, and gender invariance. This study highlights the importance of having culturally adapted instruments to explore attitudes toward emerging technologies in specific groups.
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Open AccessArticle
Interplay between Children’s Electronic Media Use and Prosocial Behavior: The Chain Mediating Role of Parent–Child Closeness and Emotion Regulation
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Xiaocen Liu, Shuliang Geng and Donghui Dou
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 436; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060436 - 23 May 2024
Abstract
In the contemporary digital milieu, children’s pervasive engagement with electronic media is ubiquitous in their daily lives, presenting complex implications for their socialization. Prosocial behavior, a cornerstone of social interaction and child development, is intricately intertwined with these digital experiences. This relation gains
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In the contemporary digital milieu, children’s pervasive engagement with electronic media is ubiquitous in their daily lives, presenting complex implications for their socialization. Prosocial behavior, a cornerstone of social interaction and child development, is intricately intertwined with these digital experiences. This relation gains further depth, considering the significant roles of parent–child relationships and emotion regulation in shaping children’s social trajectories. This study surveyed 701 families to examine the association between children’s electronic media use and prosocial behavior, specifically exploring the mediating roles of parent–child closeness and emotion regulation. Structural equation modeling was employed for the analysis. Children’s electronic media use negatively correlated with prosocial behavior, parent–child closeness, and emotion regulation. In contrast, a positive association emerged between parent–child closeness, emotion regulation, and prosocial behavior. Emotion regulation also correlated positively with prosocial behavior. Statistical analyses revealed that parent–child closeness and emotion regulation function as both individual and sequential mediators in the relation between electronic media use and prosocial behavior. The study’s analyses reveal that fostering children’s prosocial behavior in the digital era requires strong family ties, effective emotional management, and balanced digital exposure, which are pivotal for their comprehensive development.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social Behaviors in Childhood: Causes and Consequences)
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Reciprocal Relations between Cognitive Empathy and Post-Traumatic Growth in School Bullying Victims
by
Fang Liu, Bo Chen, Xinrong Liu, Yifan Zheng, Xiao Zhou and Rui Zhen
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 435; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060435 - 23 May 2024
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The association between post-traumatic growth (PTG) and cognitive empathy is well documented; however, few studies have tested the causal pathways explaining this association in school bullying victims’ later recovery and growth in the long term. This study used a longitudinal design to examine
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The association between post-traumatic growth (PTG) and cognitive empathy is well documented; however, few studies have tested the causal pathways explaining this association in school bullying victims’ later recovery and growth in the long term. This study used a longitudinal design to examine the reciprocal relations between cognitive empathy and post-traumatic growth (PTG) in school bullying victims. We screened 725 adolescents who had experienced school bullying as our final subjects out of the 2173 adolescents we surveyed over three periods (November 2019, 2020, and 2021). Controlling for gender, cross-lagged analysis revealed that both cognitive empathy at T1 and T2 predicted adolescents’ later PTG at T2 (γ = 0.096, p < 0.05) and T3 (γ = 0.085, p < 0.05), respectively, but the predictive effect across time points from PTG to cognitive empathy was not significant. The results delineated a specific directionality in the relation between cognitive empathy and PTG and suggested an important role of cognitive empathy in fostering school bullying victims’ later recovery and growth. These findings contribute to ongoing research into ways researchers and educators may help and support school bullying victims.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social Behaviors in Childhood: Causes and Consequences)
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Impact of Attachment Style and Temperament Traits on the Quality of Life of Patients with Psoriasis
by
Maria Luisa Pistorio, Tania Moretta, Maria Letizia Musumeci, Claudia Russo, Francesco Lacarrubba, Antonino Petralia, Giuseppe Micali and Concetta De Pasquale
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 434; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060434 - 22 May 2024
Abstract
Background: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with manifestations that go beyond the visual manifestation, and include psychological aspects. Some mental disorders or personality traits in psoriasis patients have also been highlighted, such as a negative or problematic attitude towards life, impulsive
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Background: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with manifestations that go beyond the visual manifestation, and include psychological aspects. Some mental disorders or personality traits in psoriasis patients have also been highlighted, such as a negative or problematic attitude towards life, impulsive or avoidant behavior, and lower satisfaction with life. The aim of our cross-sectional study was to explore the associations between adult attachment, temperament, and quality of life of patients with psoriasis. Methods: A sample of 75 patients with psoriasis was evaluated with the Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ) to study adult attachment, the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, and San Diego Auto-questionnaire (TEMPS-A) to study temperament traits, and the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) to study the impact of dermatological diseases on patients’ lives. Results: Depressive, cyclothymic, and irritable temperaments were found to be significantly positively associated with a need for approval and preoccupation with relationships subscales of the ASQ. The severity of skin disease effect on the patient’s life was higher in women than in men. Moreover, a statistically significant effect of the need for approval subscale of the ASQ was found. The positive correlation between the severity of skin disease effect on the patient’s life with a need for approval was statistically significant and stronger in women than in men. Conclusions: A better understanding of the impact of mental comorbidities on psoriasis and vice versa places an ever-greater responsibility on dermatologists involved in the management of psoriasis to recognize these problems and collaborate with psychologists and psychiatrists to help these patients.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychological Interventions for People with a Chronic Illness and Their Families)
Open AccessArticle
Internet Altruistic Behaviors in Adolescents: Roles of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Impulsiveness, and Perceived Social Support
by
Pin-Han Peng, Yi-Lung Chen, Ray C. Hsiao, Cheng-Fang Yen and Wen-Jiun Chou
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 433; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060433 - 22 May 2024
Abstract
This study examined the associations of an attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis, impulsivity, and perceived social support with Internet altruistic behaviors (IABs) in adolescents and the associations of IABs with depression, suicidality, and nonsuicidal self-injury in this group. In total, 176 adolescents aged between
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This study examined the associations of an attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis, impulsivity, and perceived social support with Internet altruistic behaviors (IABs) in adolescents and the associations of IABs with depression, suicidality, and nonsuicidal self-injury in this group. In total, 176 adolescents aged between 11 and 18 years with ADHD and 173 adolescents without ADHD (matched with the ADHD group by sex and age) participated in this study. The adolescents rated their IABs on the Internet altruistic behavior scale, impulsivity on the Barratt impulsiveness scale version 11, and perceived family and peer support on the family and social relationship domains of the Taiwanese quality of life questionnaire for adolescents. The associations of ADHD, impulsivity, and social support with IABs and the associations of IABs with depression, suicidality, and nonsuicidal self-injury were examined through multivariable linear regression analysis. The present study found that more time spent on the Internet (p < 0.001), greater perceived peer support (p < 0.001), greater impulsiveness characterized by a lack of self-control and perseverance (p < 0.001), poorer ability to plan and look ahead (p < 0.001), and an ADHD diagnosis (p = 0.003) were significantly associated with a higher level of IABs. IABs were not significantly associated with severe depression, suicidality, or nonsuicidal self-injury (all p > 0.05). The results of this study indicated that multiple individual and social factors were associated with IABs in adolescents. IABs were not significantly associated with severe depression, suicidality, or nonsuicidal self-injury in adolescents.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Emergence of Cyberpsychology as an Essential Framework for Social Science Research)
Open AccessSystematic Review
Self-Esteem and Risk Behaviours in Adolescents: A Systematic Review
by
Elena Martínez-Casanova, María del Mar Molero-Jurado and María del Carmen Pérez-Fuentes
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 432; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060432 - 22 May 2024
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Adolescence is recognised as a notoriously vulnerable period in the human life cycle. Influenced by a complex interplay of biological, psychological and social factors, adolescents show a marked propensity to engage in risk behaviours. A systematic review was conducted of studies published in
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Adolescence is recognised as a notoriously vulnerable period in the human life cycle. Influenced by a complex interplay of biological, psychological and social factors, adolescents show a marked propensity to engage in risk behaviours. A systematic review was conducted of studies published in the Web of Science, PsycInfo and MEDLINE databases over the last decade, with the aim of collecting studies on the relationship between self-esteem and risk behaviour in individuals aged 12–18 years. The aim was to confirm the role of high self-esteem as a consistent protective factor against risk behaviour. The results show that self-esteem is negatively related to risk behaviour. Our results also reflect the need for further research on how sociodemographic factors, among others, affect the relationship between self-esteem and risk behaviours. This review highlights the relevance of implementing specific educational interventions to strengthen self-esteem in adolescents, with the aim of preventing various risk behaviours that may emerge during adolescence and persist throughout life if not addressed early.
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Open AccessArticle
Effects of Developmental Timing on Cognitive and Behavioral Profiles in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: Considerations for Education
by
Nerea Felgueras, José María López-Díaz and Inmaculada Garrote
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 431; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060431 - 22 May 2024
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Associations and families demand the need to raise awareness of the implications in the cognitive and behavioral development of children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) that affect their learning and school participation. This study aims to generate a profile of executive and
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Associations and families demand the need to raise awareness of the implications in the cognitive and behavioral development of children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) that affect their learning and school participation. This study aims to generate a profile of executive and behavioral functioning in children and adolescents diagnosed with FASD. A probabilistic sampling by clusters (associations for individuals with FASD) is applied. The sample is composed of 66 families from three associations. The BRIEF-2 and SENA tests were administered to assess executive and behavioral functioning domains. Data analysis found that the executive and behavioral functioning profile of individuals with FASD varies with age, with greater impairment in middle and late adolescence. Likewise, the domain of executive functioning most affected in any of the developmental stages is working memory. Finally, cognitive impairment in the executive functioning domains has a direct impact on the social and adaptive functioning of people with FASD.
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Open AccessArticle
Familiarity Determines Whether Accent Affects Attitudes and Behaviors of the Listener
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Zenghu Cheng, Yugui She, Junjun Fu and Wenming Xu
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 430; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060430 - 22 May 2024
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Previous research found that accents cause the listener to exhibit prejudice toward the speaker. The present study tested whether the familiarity of the listener and speaker moderated this effect. Study 1 tested this question in a simulated recruit scenario and found that participants
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Previous research found that accents cause the listener to exhibit prejudice toward the speaker. The present study tested whether the familiarity of the listener and speaker moderated this effect. Study 1 tested this question in a simulated recruit scenario and found that participants were less likely to recruit candidates with an accent, but this effect existed only when the candidate was a stranger to the interviewer, not when the candidate was an acquaintance. Study 2 retested this question in a scenario of talking one-on-one and also found that the effect of accent existed only when they were strangers, not when they were acquaintances. Both studies suggested that the effect of accent on the attitude and behavior of the listener vanished when the speaker and listener were familiar with each other. This work offers insights for understanding the effect of accent on social interaction from the perspective of the familiarity of the speaker and listener and reveals the moderated role of familiarity in the dynamic of the effect of accent.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Influencing Factors of Prosociality: How Humans Cooperate with Others)
Open AccessArticle
The Effect of Corporate Social Responsibility on Workplace Safety: The Significance of Employees’ Moral Identity
by
Yunsook Hong and Taewoo Roh
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 429; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060429 - 22 May 2024
Abstract
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has gained significant attention from researchers and practitioners due to its potential impact on employee attitudes and behaviors. This study investigates the influence of CSR on employee safety behavior, examining the mediating effects of job stress and organizational identification,
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Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has gained significant attention from researchers and practitioners due to its potential impact on employee attitudes and behaviors. This study investigates the influence of CSR on employee safety behavior, examining the mediating effects of job stress and organizational identification, as well as the moderating role of moral identity. We conducted a three-wave time-lagged survey among 236 South Korean employees. Participants were recruited through a research company using stratified random sampling. Data were collected at three time points, each separated by a 4–5-week interval. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test the hypothesized relationships. The findings support all of the hypothesized relationships. CSR was positively related to safety behavior and negatively related to job stress. Job stress was negatively related to organizational identification, which in turn was positively related to safety behavior. The sequential mediation of job stress and organizational identification was significant. Moral identity moderated the relationship between CSR and job stress, such that the negative effect of CSR on job stress was stronger for employees with a high moral identity. This study contributes to the CSR literature by examining the impact of CSR on safety behavior and the underlying mechanisms and boundary conditions of this relationship. The findings suggest that organizations can promote employee safety behavior by implementing CSR initiatives, which can reduce job stress and enhance organizational identification. Organizations should also consider the role of employees’ moral identity when designing and communicating CSR initiatives.
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(This article belongs to the Topic Navigating the Crossroads of Technology and Social Responsibility of Firms)
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Open AccessReview
Self-Determination Theory and Workplace Outcomes: A Conceptual Review and Future Research Directions
by
Kaylyn McAnally and Martin S. Hagger
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 428; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060428 - 22 May 2024
Abstract
Adaptive workplace outcomes, such as employee work engagement, job performance, and satisfaction are positively associated with physical and psychological well-being, while maladaptive workplace outcomes, including work-related disengagement, dissatisfaction, stress, boredom, fatigue, and burnout, are negatively associated with well-being. Researchers have applied self-determination theory
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Adaptive workplace outcomes, such as employee work engagement, job performance, and satisfaction are positively associated with physical and psychological well-being, while maladaptive workplace outcomes, including work-related disengagement, dissatisfaction, stress, boredom, fatigue, and burnout, are negatively associated with well-being. Researchers have applied self-determination theory to identify key motivational correlates of these adaptive work-related determinants and outcomes. Research applying the theory has consistently indicated that autonomous forms of motivation and basic psychological need satisfaction are related to better employee performance, satisfaction, and engagement, while controlled forms of motivation and need frustration are associated with increased employee burnout and turnover. Forms of motivation have also been shown to mediate relations between need satisfaction and adaptive workplace outcomes. Despite support for these associations, a number of limitations in research in the field have been identified, which place limits on the inferences that can be drawn. Noted limitations encompass an over-reliance on single-occasion, correlational data; few fit-for-purpose tests of theory mechanisms; and a lack of consideration of key moderating variables. In the current conceptual review, we discuss these limitations in turn, with specific reference to examples from the extant research applying the theory in workplace contexts, and provide a series of recommendations we expect will set the agenda for future studies applying the theory in the workplace. Based on our review, we make three key recommendations: we stress the need for studies adopting experimental and longitudinal designs to permit better inferences (i.e., causal and directional), highlight the need for intervention research to explicitly test mediation effects to provide evidence for theory mechanisms, and outline some candidate moderators of theory effects, including workplace context, job type, pay structure, and causality orientations. We expect these recommendations to set an agenda for future research applying self-determination theory in workplace contexts with a view to filling the current evidence gaps and improving evidential quality.
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(This article belongs to the Section Organizational Behaviors)
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Open AccessArticle
Association between Body Mass Index and Externalizing and Internalizing Symptoms among Chinese Adolescents: Mediating Role of Traditional Bullying and Cyberbullying Victimization
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Jiajun Zhou, Qingchen Da, Linlin Xie, Yifan Jiang and Liping Li
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 427; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060427 - 22 May 2024
Abstract
Background: Externalizing problems, internalizing problems, and obesity are among the greatest challenges to adolescent health. However, the moderating and mediating mechanisms that underlie this association remain predominantly unexplored. Objectives: In this study, we examined the association between body mass index (BMI) and externalizing
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Background: Externalizing problems, internalizing problems, and obesity are among the greatest challenges to adolescent health. However, the moderating and mediating mechanisms that underlie this association remain predominantly unexplored. Objectives: In this study, we examined the association between body mass index (BMI) and externalizing and internalizing scores in adolescents, tested whether traditional bullying and cyberbullying mediated the association, and explored the moderated role of sex. Methods: The data came from 1486 adolescents from grade 7, 8, and 10 living in Shantou, China. Information on BMI, traditional bullying, and cyberbullying victimization was obtained through a self-administered questionnaire. The students’ externalizing and internalizing scores were evaluated using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Furthermore, we built two parallel mediation models with sex as a moderating variable. Results: Compared to their peers with normal weight, adolescents with increased BMI reported higher externalizing and internalizing scores. Traditional bullying and cyberbullying were both significant mediators in the two relationships. Sex moderated the pathway from BMI to cyberbullying. But sex did not moderate the relationship between BMI and traditional bullying. Conclusions: The results highlight that it is imperative for educators to identify students who are subjected to weight-based bullying and provide them with recommendations for effective coping strategies. Meanwhile, both victims of traditional bullying and those affected by cyberbullying should be the focus of prevention and intervention efforts when developing a strategy to improve levels of internalizing and externalizing symptoms among adolescents with increased BMI.
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(This article belongs to the Section Child and Adolescent Psychiatry)
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Exploring the Relationship between Turkish Mothers’ Parenting and Psychological Well-Being in Early Childhood: The Role of Child Emotion Regulation and Dysregulation
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Ceren Kılıç, Raziye Yüksel Doğan and Emine Nilgün Metin
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 426; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060426 - 21 May 2024
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Although the importance of psychological well-being in early childhood is emphasized, the number of studies conducted with children and adolescents in this field is less than those carried out with adults. The present study aimed to explore the role of child emotion regulation
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Although the importance of psychological well-being in early childhood is emphasized, the number of studies conducted with children and adolescents in this field is less than those carried out with adults. The present study aimed to explore the role of child emotion regulation in the relationship between parenting and psychological well-being among a sample of Turkish preschoolers aged 5–6. It further examines the mediating role of emotion regulation. The sample consisted of 416 mothers with children aged 5–6 (Mage = 5.38, SD = 0.48; 50% girls-boys). We collected the data using the Multidimensional Assessment of Parenting Scale (MAPS), the Emotion Regulation Checklist (ERC), and the Psychological Well-Being Scale for Children (PWBS-C). The findings revealed significant relationships among parenting practices (positive/negative), the child’s emotion regulation/dysregulation, and the child’s psychological well-being. Moreover, the findings revealed that positive parenting, directly and indirectly, affects children’s psychological well-being through children’s emotion regulation. On the other hand, findings disclosed that negative parenting has both a direct and indirect impact on children’s psychological well-being through children’s emotion regulation. Overall, the study may shed light on a possible process in which positive parenting boosts a child’s emotional regulation and psychological well-being among preschoolers.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Developmental Psychology)
Open AccessArticle
Psychometric Properties of the Performance Enhancement Attitude Scale (PEAS) for Brazilian Sports
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Renan Codonhato, Paulo Vitor Suto Aizava, Enzo Berbery and Lenamar Fiorese
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 425; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060425 - 21 May 2024
Abstract
Interest in psychosocial predictors of doping has been increasing as a way of finding new approaches to reduce the use of performance-enhancing drugs. This investigation aimed to test the psychometric properties of an instrument to assess doping attitudes in Brazilian athletes. The PEAS
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Interest in psychosocial predictors of doping has been increasing as a way of finding new approaches to reduce the use of performance-enhancing drugs. This investigation aimed to test the psychometric properties of an instrument to assess doping attitudes in Brazilian athletes. The PEAS was validated in Brazilian sports through a process of translation, back-translation and content validity assessment, presenting satisfactory evidence based on its content (CVC > 0.80). Then, 994 athletes from different sexes, types of sports and competitive levels answered the Brazilian version of the PEAS. The results showed satisfactory evidence of validity based on its response process, internal structure (X2/df = 2.04; RMSEA = 0.032 (0.026–0.038); CFI = 0.96; TLI = 0.95) and reliability (Cronbach’s α, McDonald’s ω and CR > 0.70). Network analysis was also used to further explore the PEAS’s internal structure. Overall, the results provide support for the adoption of the PEAS for Brazilian athletes and possibly other Portuguese-speaking countries.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Interdisciplinary Approaches to Sports in the 21st Century)
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Open AccessArticle
“Today, I Say It’s Mine!”: Professional Identity Construction among Jewish and Arab School Counselors Coping with CSA Disclosure in Israel
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Dafna Zinn, Efrat Lusky-Weisrose, Jordan Shaibe, Laura I. Sigad and Dafna Tener
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(5), 424; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14050424 - 20 May 2024
Abstract
School counselors play a crucial role in preventing, disclosing, and intervening in child sexual abuse cases (CSA) and in maintaining safe and protected school environments. However, research on their experiences coping with CSA remains limited. The purpose of the present study was to
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School counselors play a crucial role in preventing, disclosing, and intervening in child sexual abuse cases (CSA) and in maintaining safe and protected school environments. However, research on their experiences coping with CSA remains limited. The purpose of the present study was to describe and analyze the coping experiences of Israeli Jewish and Arab school counselors with CSA disclosure, particularly the consequences for their processes of professional identity construction (the ongoing process through which they develop and refine their sense of self in their profession). Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 Israeli Jewish and Arab school counselors working in elementary schools (grades 1–6) with significant experience in coping with CSA. Two themes surfaced, reflecting the counselors’ professional identity construction: (1) Counselors’ professional identity transformation following encounters with CSA among their students; (2) Integrating professional knowledge, attitudes, and engagement behaviors into professional identity. The findings describe a trajectory of transformation and professional development among the counselors, beginning with defining and refining their professional roles and followed by the integration of professional knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors into their professional routines. Arab counselors also highlighted specific sociocultural challenges within this process, relating to the gap between cultural values and role expectations. Implications for future research, policy, and practice are discussed.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Child Neglect and Abuse: Identification and Help-Seeking from Various Perspectives)
Open AccessArticle
The Impact of Skill Level on the Integration of Information and Post-Error Adjustment during Action Anticipation in Basketball
by
Zhefu Chen, Danlei Wang, Wenxuan Fang and Mengkai Luan
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(5), 423; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14050423 - 20 May 2024
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The present study examined the impact of skill level on the integration of contextual prior information and kinematic information alongside post-error adjustment during action anticipation in basketball. Twenty-three collegiate basketball players and twenty-three control participants engaged in anticipating as quickly and accurately as
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The present study examined the impact of skill level on the integration of contextual prior information and kinematic information alongside post-error adjustment during action anticipation in basketball. Twenty-three collegiate basketball players and twenty-three control participants engaged in anticipating as quickly and accurately as possible the outcomes of free throws, utilizing video clips depicting basketball players’ actions, both with and without contextual prior information. Anticipatory performance and the difference in anticipatory performance following errors and correct responses were analyzed based on skill level and the congruency of contextual prior information (none, congruent, and incongruent). The findings revealed that the congruency of contextual prior information significantly affects action anticipation, with skill level moderating this effect. Moreover, skill level influenced the congruency effect on accuracy discrepancies between post-error and post-correct trials during action anticipation, with controls showing greater sensitivity to previous trial performance compared to experts. These results provide further evidence for the notion that individuals employ Bayesian reliability-based strategies to integrate different information sources and underscore the role of skill level in adjusting anticipatory judgments following errors during action anticipation. These insights contribute to a deeper understanding of the cognitive and behavioral mechanisms that differentiate skill levels in action anticipation, potentially guiding the development of targeted training interventions.
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Open AccessArticle
Protective and Risk Factors for Suicidal Behaviour in Self-Declared LGBTIQ+ Adolescents
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David Sánchez-Teruel, Francisca López-Torrecillas, María Auxiliadora Robles-Bello and Nieves Valencia-Naranjo
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(5), 422; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14050422 - 18 May 2024
Abstract
Background: Adolescents who identify as sexual minorities often face social stigmatisation, which can lead to increased adversity and a higher risk of suicidal behaviours. However, there are also protective factors that may promote resilience to these risk behaviours. This study aims to identify
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Background: Adolescents who identify as sexual minorities often face social stigmatisation, which can lead to increased adversity and a higher risk of suicidal behaviours. However, there are also protective factors that may promote resilience to these risk behaviours. This study aims to identify factors that predict resilience in sexual minority adolescents with high suicidal vulnerability. Methods: The study sample comprised 78 self-reported LGBTIQ+ adolescents aged between 13 and 18 years old (M = 16.11, SD = 1.56) who had previously attempted suicide. They completed several psychosocial instruments to measure risk and protective variables related to suicidal vulnerability. Results: Entrapment was found to be the most predictive risk variable for suicide attempts. However, protective variables promoting resilience were also found, such as adequate parental communication, life satisfaction, and cognitive reframing. Discussion: The findings related to prevention of suicide attempts are discussed and we highlight the urgent need to enhance certain internal and contextual protective factors to promote resilience in the face of suicidal vulnerability in certain clinical subpopulations exposed to highly adverse situations.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Suicide Risk Assessment, Management and Prevention in Adolescents)
Open AccessArticle
Effects of Future Subjective Expectations on Cognitive Decline and Dementia among Middle-Aged and Older Adults
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Minsung Sohn, Xianhua Che and Hee-Jung Park
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(5), 421; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14050421 - 17 May 2024
Abstract
This study investigated the impact of subjective expectations of the future (e.g., income, life expectancy, and national policies) on the onset of dementia and mild cognitive impairment by sex and age in middle-aged and older adults. The Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA)
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This study investigated the impact of subjective expectations of the future (e.g., income, life expectancy, and national policies) on the onset of dementia and mild cognitive impairment by sex and age in middle-aged and older adults. The Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA) data from 2008 to 2020, comprising 4116 people above 45 years, were used. A time-series analysis and multiple panel logistic regression were conducted to highlight subjective expectation trends and their effect on dementia and mild cognitive impairment, respectively. Low subjective expectations of the future negatively affected cognitive impairment (total: odds ratio [OR] = 1.02, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.01–1.03) and dementia (total: OR = 1.05, 95% CI = 1.03–1.06), and those of national policies were the biggest risk factors for cognitive impairment (total: OR = 1.17, 95% CI = 1.12–1.22) and dementia (total: OR = 1.10, 95% CI = 1.07–1.13). Individuals about to retire and with low expectations of workability were more likely to develop cognitive impairment (total: OR = 1.03, 95% CI = 1.02–1.06). Subjective expectations of economic downturn also caused cognitive impairment, especially in women (OR = 1.04, 95% CI = 1.01–1.07) and early stage older adults (OR = 1.06, 95% CI = 1.02–1.10). Policymakers must consider the impact of changes in national policies and living environments on cognitive impairment and dementia in older adults.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wellness and Well-Being of Older People)
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Exercise Addiction and Intimate Partner Violence: The Role of Impulsivity, Self-Esteem, and Emotional Dependence
by
Leticia Olave, Itziar Iruarrizaga, Marta Herrero, Patricia Macía, Janire Momeñe, Laura Macía, José Antonio Muñiz and Ana Estevez
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(5), 420; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14050420 - 17 May 2024
Abstract
Given the scarcity of studies linking exercise addiction to intimate partner violence, the present study aims to analyze the relationship between these variables and examine the potential mediating roles of emotional dependence, impulsivity, and self-esteem. This is a non-experimental, cross-sectional correlational design study.
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Given the scarcity of studies linking exercise addiction to intimate partner violence, the present study aims to analyze the relationship between these variables and examine the potential mediating roles of emotional dependence, impulsivity, and self-esteem. This is a non-experimental, cross-sectional correlational design study. The sample comprised 887 university students (86% women, mean age 20.82 years, SD = 3.63). Elevated levels of exercise addiction were associated with increased impulsivity, emotional dependence, and exerted violence, as well as decreased self-esteem and perceived violence. Mediation models were tested, explaining 7% of the variance in received violence, 13% of the variance in exerted violence, and 6% of the variance in perceived violence. Higher levels of exercise addiction were linked to increased received and exerted violence and decreased perceived violence, attributed to the positive impact of exercise addiction on emotional dependence. This study highlights the mediating roles of self-esteem and impulsivity in the relationship between exercise addiction and partner violence. Identifying risk or vulnerability factors such as emotional dependence, impulsivity, and self-esteem related to exercise addiction and interpersonal partner violence is especially relevant for designing and implementing preventive interventions in the general young population.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effects of Sports on Individual Cognition, Motivation and Mental Health)
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“Pay Attention! Pay Attention! Pay Attention!!!”: The Pivotal Role of Educators and the Educational System as Experienced by Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse
by
Laura I. Sigad, Dafna Tener, Efrat Lusky-Weisrose, Jordan Shaibe and Carmit Katz
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(5), 419; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14050419 - 16 May 2024
Abstract
Educational institutions and educators are significant in children’s lives, and they have a crucial role in implementing policies, practices, and sexual education to enhance children’s safety. Such policies and practices should be based on the voices of CSA survivors. This study explored child
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Educational institutions and educators are significant in children’s lives, and they have a crucial role in implementing policies, practices, and sexual education to enhance children’s safety. Such policies and practices should be based on the voices of CSA survivors. This study explored child sexual abuse (CSA) survivors’ viewpoints on their past experiences with educators and the educational system. A qualitative thematic approach was used to analyze 61 written testimonies collected in 2020–2021 by the Israeli Independent Public Inquiry on CSA. Two interrelated themes arose: (1) CSA survivors’ retrospective perspectives of educators and the educational system’s responses to signs of their CSA, described as ranging from abusive to life-saving. Specifically, they shared three types of responses: (a) harmful and hurtful; (b) dismissive and ignoring; and (c) accepting and attending. (2) The second theme described the survivors’ messages to educators to promote constructive change. The survivors conveyed expectations that educators should play a central role in CSA prevention, detection, and intervention and, specifically, the need for educators to receive professional training, provide beneficial sexual education, and identify and respond to CSA. The findings promoted moving beyond individual-level interventions to focus on improving educational institutional and organizational cultures related to CSA in both national and international contexts.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Child Neglect and Abuse: Identification and Help-Seeking from Various Perspectives)
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The Way Older Childless Women Value Their Life—A Qualitative Study
by
Tom Boker Gonen, Yaacov G. Bachner and Vered Slonim-Nevo
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(5), 418; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14050418 - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Older women without children, like all older adults, evaluate their lives and face a conflict between despair and ego integrity as proposed by Erikson’s theory of development. Their uniqueness lies in their deviation from the societal norm of parenthood prevalent in pro-natalist societies
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Older women without children, like all older adults, evaluate their lives and face a conflict between despair and ego integrity as proposed by Erikson’s theory of development. Their uniqueness lies in their deviation from the societal norm of parenthood prevalent in pro-natalist societies such as Israel. This study aims to explore how older childless women evaluate their lives. Using a qualitative approach, 20 semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with women over 60 years of age who do not have children. Three main themes emerged from the participants’ responses: their experiences as women without children in a pro-natalist society, the significance of freedom in their lives, and their life experiences from conflicting perspectives—an internal and external locus of control. The study’s findings demonstrate that older childless women adeptly utilize different perspectives across various aspects of their lives, contributing to ego integrity, contrary to the prevailing societal notion that in the absence of children, women are damaged and lack identity. It is conceivable that other segments of the older adult population, diverging from mainstream societal norms, may similarly leverage these different perspectives to uphold their ego.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social Interactions and Aging)
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