Search Results (1,414)

Background/Objectives: Excessive smartphone use has emerged as an important behavioral health concern during adolescence, a developmental period characterized by heightened psychosocial vulnerability. This study aimed to identify psychosocial and behavioral factors associated with excessive smartphone use among Korean adolescents using nationally representative data. Methods: Data were obtained from the 2024 Korean Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey (KYRBS), including 54,653 adolescents. Excessive smartphone use was operationally defined as average daily smartphone use of ≥300 min. Multivariable logistic regression was conducted to examine associated factors. An exploratory machine learning analysis using a Light Gradient Boosting Machine included 52,450 participants with complete predictor data. Results: Female sex, higher grade level, lower perceived socioeconomic status, higher perceived daily stress, higher anxiety symptoms, poorer sleep-related recovery, suicidal ideation, and more frequent vigorous physical activity were associated with higher odds of excessive smartphone use. The supplementary modeling approach showed patterns consistent with the regression findings, with grade level, socioeconomic status, and sex contributing prominently. Vigorous physical activity demonstrated a nonlinear association with predicted risk. Conclusions: Excessive smartphone use among adolescents appears to be shaped by developmental stage, socioeconomic context, and psychological vulnerability. These findings support prevention strategies that address emotional well-being and sleep health alongside broader structural and school-based approaches. Full article

Background/Objectives: Midwifery workforce sustainability faces critical challenges including high burnout and turnover rates threating the service quality and the maternal health outcomes. While self-leadership and self-compassion represent promising psychological resources, their roles relative to organizational factors remain underexplored. This study examined associations between self-leadership, self-compassion, and workforce outcomes (job satisfaction, turnover intention, performance) among Turkish midwives. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 346 midwives working in diverse healthcare settings across Turkey from May 2021 to April 2022. Data were collected through an online self-report questionnaire using validated scales for self-leadership and self-compassion as well as measures of job satisfaction, turnover intention, and job performance, and including demographic and organizational items. Descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA (with Eta-squared [η²] calculated to determine effect size), and correlation analyses were conducted, followed by hierarchical multiple regression and binary logistic regression to examine predictive relationships, with organizational factors entered before psychological resources. Results: Self-leadership and self-compassion demonstrated a moderate positive correlation (r = 0.342, p < 0.01). Self-leadership strongly predicted job performance (OR = 2.497, p = 0.001), particularly through natural reward strategies emphasizing intrinsic motivation (OR = 1.970, p < 0.001). However, neither psychological resource significantly predicted job satisfaction or turnover intention when organizational factors were included. Work schedule, healthcare setting, professional position, and income emerged as primary predictors of satisfaction and retention. Work experience predicted increased psychological distress (OR = 1.073, p = 0.003). Conclusions: Psychological resources demonstrate domain-specific effects on workforce outcomes in midwifery: self-leadership strategies strongly enhance job performance, whereas job satisfaction and turnover intention are influenced primarily by organizational conditions. These findings highlight the need for multi-level strategies to support the sustainability of the midwifery workforce. Full article

Background: Recent data show that approximately 3.8% of the global population has a diagnosis of depression. Understanding psychological risk and protective factors is crucial for improving prevention strategies and mental health interventions. Among these, worry and emotional intelligence (EI) have emerged as relevant, yet they are rarely studied together. To date, no studies that analyzed the relationship between emotional intelligence, worry, and depression have been found. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the association among EI, worry, and depression. Methods: This study included 924 participants (N = 806 non-clinical and N = 118 subclinical sample with elevated depressive symptoms), with a mean age of M = 25.55 years (SD = 11.38). A total of 118 participants (12.8%) met the criteria for clinical depression based on the BDI-II cut-off. All participants completed the Penn State Worry Questionnaire, the Beck Depression Inventory-II, and the Emotional Intelligence Scale. To examine the relationships among all variables examined, zero-order correlation coefficients were calculated. To investigate the predictive power of EI and worry on depression, Bayesian linear regression was conducted. Results: The results showed significant and positive correlations between worry and depression in both samples. EI showed significant and negative correlations with both depression and worry in both the subclinical sample with elevated depressive symptoms and the non-clinical sample. Finally, worry emerged as the strongest contributor to the somatic dimension of depression in both groups. In the subclinical sample with elevated depressive symptoms, age and Evaluation and Expression of Emotion to Self, along with worry, were the best predictors of somatic symptoms. Conclusions: Our data suggest that higher worry levels are associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms, whereas higher EI was negatively associated with depressive symptoms and may play a potential buffering role. Training programs designed to enhance EI could help mitigate the impact of negative events, improve problem-solving skills, and enhance the expression of one’s own emotions. Full article

Introduction: University students are vulnerable to psychological distress due to the academic and social demands of this life stage. Mindfulness and self-compassion are effective and adaptable strategies in an academic environment that promote emotional regulation and psychological well-being. This study aims to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the combined impact of mindfulness- and self-compassion-based interventions (MBSCIs) on psychological distress. It will also analyze their role as predictors of therapeutic change, as well as the moderating influence of sociodemographic and contextual factors. Method: We systematically searched PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and single-group pre-post trials investigating the effect of MBSCI on anxiety, depression and stress in college students. Studies were combined using the inverse variance method in a random effects model. Additional subgroup and meta-regression analyses were performed, and risk of bias was assessed. The review was pre-registered (PROSPERO registration number: CRD420251003822). Results: Our review included 49 studies with a total of 5043 participants (3721 in the intervention group, and 1322 in the control group). The results provide relevant evidence on the efficacy of MBSCI in the university population, especially in reducing symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression. The effect sizes observed were moderate-to-large for stress and small-to-moderate for anxiety and depression, supporting their clinical usefulness in university educational settings. However, these findings should be interpreted with caution, as no included study achieved low risk of bias, and heterogeneity was moderate-to-high across most outcomes. Conclusions: The results suggest that MBSCI could alleviate psychological distress in university students. However, these results are limited by some methodological issues (risk of bias, heterogeneity, lack of follow-ups, poor standardization). It would be advisable to integrate these practices into the university curriculum as workshops or complementary activities. Further studies are needed to confirm their effectiveness and explore sustained effects and differences according to individual characteristics. Full article

In recent decades, bathroom design has undergone significant changes driven by technological advances, aesthetic trends, and social transformations. Despite their relevance to daily routines and quality of life, bathrooms remain underexplored with regard to how cladding materials influence users’ psychological experience. This study aims to analyze the effects of different bathroom cladding materials on perception, emotional response, and purchase intention. An online experiment was conducted using a single-factor experimental design with five types of cladding materials (ceramic, vinyl, wood, microcement, and natural stone). A total of 58 participants evaluated five virtual bathroom stimuli through self-report measures assessing perceived well-being, perceived stress, perceived functionality, perceived aesthetic preference, perceived cost, emotional valence, and purchase intention. Data were analyzed using nonparametric statistical tests. The results revealed significant differences across all perceptual dimensions depending on the cladding material. Wood and natural stone were associated with higher levels of perceived well-being and more pleasant emotional responses, whereas microcement was linked to higher perceived stress and lower aesthetic evaluations. In addition, affective variables—particularly aesthetic preference—emerged as the strongest predictors of purchase intention. These findings highlight the importance of bathroom materiality in shaping emotional experience and decision-making processes, and emphasize the role of cladding selection in promoting psychological well-being within domestic environments. Full article

Background: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between serum neuroactive steroids (NAS) and oxytocin and craving and psychosocial functioning in men diagnosed with methamphetamine use disorder (MUD). Methods: In this observational cross-sectional study, 40 men with MUD (PG) and 41 non-substance-use-disorder controls (CG) completed measures of emotion dysregulation (DERS-16), attachment (ECR-R), aggression (BPAQ), and suicidal ideation (BSS). PG additionally completed the Substance Craving Scale (SCS) and Addiction Profile Index (API). Serum allopregnanolone (ALLO), DHEAS, testosterone, 17β-estradiol (E2), and oxytocin were assayed. Results: The results indicated that the PG exhibited significantly higher scores than the CG across all psychological measures. Robust adjusted group effects were observed for DERS-16 (Model 1: F = 35.507, p < 0.001; Model 2: F = 18.225, p < 0.001) and trait anger (Model 1: F = 41.104, p < 0.001; Model 2: F = 16.732, p < 0.001). Notably, serum levels of ALLO, DHEAS, testosterone, E2, and oxytocin did not differ significantly between groups. However, hormonal measures were strongly intercorrelated within both groups (r ≈ 0.877–0.936, all p < 0.001). In the PG, craving demonstrated positive correlations with DHEAS (r = 0.384, p = 0.014), testosterone (r = 0.415, p = 0.008), E2 (r = 0.360, p = 0.023), and oxytocin (r = 0.350, p = 0.027). A multivariable model analyzing craving was statistically significant (R² = 0.350; F(3,36) = 6.474, p = 0.001), with composite hormonal factor (B = 2.390, p = 0.016) serving as an independent predictor, while API Excluding Craving(API-EC) (p = 0.094) and DERS-16 did not emerge as a significant factor (p = 0.056). In hormone-specific models controlling for API-EC and DERS-16, DHEAS (p = 0.012), testosterone (p = 0.007), oxytocin (p = 0.023), and E2 (p = 0.023) retained significance after false discovery rate (FDR) correction; ALLO did not (p = 0.055). Conclusions: Despite the absence of significant differences in peripheral NAS and oxytocin levels between groups, men with MUD exhibited pronounced psychosocial impairments. The craving experienced during inpatient treatment was primarily elucidated by an integrated endocrine profile. These findings underscore the necessity for larger longitudinal studies incorporating repeated hormonal assessments to further explore these relationships. Full article

Framing—how issues are communicated—can influence attitudes. This study examined (1) the impact of value-framing on attitudes toward homosexuality among Turkish university students in 2012 and 2024, (2) cohort differences over time, and (3) socio-demographic predictors. Participants were 199 psychology students (161 female; M age = 21). Attitudes were most positive after equality framing, followed by neutral, then morality framing. Cohorts did not differ in overall attitudes. Morality framing led to significantly less positive views than neutral framing. Positive attitudes were associated with being female, higher parental education, and having more gay friends (for women) or lesbian friends (for men). Findings highlight the negative impact of morality framing and suggest that personal and social factors shape attitudes toward homosexuals. Full article

The transition to college can be psychologically demanding. This study examines how a more mature and consolidated academic identity (AI) is related to three types of self-regulation strategies in college students during their first semester: cognitive reappraisal (CR), self-handicapping (SH), and self-affirmation (SA). Two self-related resources, quiet ego (QE)—a compassionate, growth-oriented self-identity—and self-esteem (SE)—an individual’s global self-assessment of self-worth—were theorized as complementary, but also unique, predictors of the relationship between AI and self-regulation strategies. QE reflects a less defensive, growth/balance-oriented self-structure with implications for self-regulation and adaptive development above and beyond SE. A multiple regression model testing only indirect effects was tested using R (lavaan) in a sample of first-semester college students (N = 352). The hypothesized model fit was acceptable (with five of six indirect hypotheses supported), but a model that added a direct path from AI to SH significantly improved fit without altering the indirect effect results. AI was positively related to CR and SA via both QE and SE, with the path via SE being the strongest. AI was related to lower SH both directly and indirectly only via QE. These results support and add to the literature on the benefits of QE and SE as important yet distinct psychosocial resources for college students. Implications for strengthening QE resources in first-year students are discussed. Full article

Background: This study examined age-related differences and interrelationships among psychological symptoms, personality traits, and emotional expression styles in a community sample of 151 participants aged 10–77 years, spanning four age groups: adolescents, young adults, middle-aged adults, and older adults. Methods: Psychological symptoms were assessed using the SCL-90, personality traits using the Big Five Inventory-2 (BFI-2), and emotional expression patterns were derived from facial expression recognition via a convolutional neural network (CNN) model. Kruskal–Wallis H tests were used to examine age-related differences. K-means cluster analysis was applied to identify emotional expression patterns, and logistic regression was used to construct a mental health risk screening model. Results: The young adult group (19–35 years) achieved the highest scores on the depression (M = 1.73) and anxiety (M = 1.61) dimensions, indicating a higher level of psychological distress during this life stage. Personality traits showed a significant developmental trajectory: neuroticism decreased with age (H(3) = 17.09, p < 0.001, η² = 0.11), declining from 2.69 in the young adult group to 2.17 in the older adult group; conscientiousness increased with age (H(3) = 37.39, p < 0.001, η² = 0.24), representing the most substantial age-related effect. K-means clustering identified three distinct emotional expression patterns: Cluster 1 was characterised by happiness, Cluster 2 by anger, disgust, and fear, and Cluster 3 by neutrality, sadness, and surprise. Cluster 2 exhibited the highest scores on neuroticism, anxiety, depression, and mood swings, and scored significantly higher than the other two clusters on interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety, and hostility (p < 0.05). Mental health risk screening indicated that 26.5% of participants were classified as high-risk. Logistic regression analysis (AUC = 0.742) showed that neuroticism was the strongest predictor of elevated mental health risk (OR = 4.58), while extraversion (OR = 0.41) and conscientiousness (OR = 0.57) were significant protective factors. Conclusions: These findings provide exploratory evidence regarding age-related patterns of psychological symptoms and personality traits in a convenience sample and offer preliminary support for personality-based mental health risk screening. Notably, the SCL-90 was employed as a screening tool rather than for clinical diagnosis. Given the unequal age group sizes, particularly the small young adult subgroup, generalisability across the lifespan should not be assumed. Full article

Background/Objectives: Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are common causes of orofacial pain, but their clinical course varies, with some patients developing persistent symptoms. Evidence supports a biopsychosocial model of pain chronification, yet prognostic factors for pain persistence in TMD remain insufficiently synthesized. This systematic review aimed to identify biological, psychological, and social predictors associated with pain persistence and chronicity in painful TMD. Methods: This review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines and registered in PROSPERO (CRD420261286566). MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science were searched for studies published between January 2010 and December 2025. Eligible studies included adult patients with painful TMD and assessed baseline biopsychosocial predictors of pain persistence or chronicity at follow-up ≥ 3 months. Risk of bias was assessed using QUIPS and PROBAST. Due to heterogeneity across studies, findings were synthesized narratively. Results: Six prospective cohort studies were included, with follow-up durations ranging from 6 to 24 months. Psychological factors, particularly pain catastrophizing and depression, were associated with increased risk of pain persistence. Higher baseline pain intensity and widespread pain also showed prognostic value. Sleep-related and behavioral factors demonstrated inconsistent associations, and social predictors were rarely examined. The certainty of evidence ranged from moderate for catastrophizing and pain intensity to very low for sleep-related and occlusal factors. Conclusions: Pain persistence in TMD is influenced by multiple biopsychosocial factors. Psychological variables, especially catastrophizing and depression, appear to be the most consistent predictors, although this finding should be interpreted with caution, given the small number of included studies. These findings highlight the importance of comprehensive biopsychosocial assessment in patients with painful TMD and the need for further longitudinal research. Full article

Background/Objectives: Nomophobia, the irrational fear of being without a mobile phone, is increasingly prevalent among university students and has emerged as a concerning form of digital dependence. Among nursing students, this condition is particularly relevant due to the emotional demands and cognitive challenges of healthcare education. Nomophobia has been linked with adverse psychological outcomes, sleep disturbances, and impaired academic and clinical performance. However, existing evidence remains fragmented and lacks an integrated conceptual synthesis. This review aimed to synthesize current evidence on the prevalence, correlates, and outcomes of nomophobia among nursing students. Methods: An integrative review was conducted following Whittemore and Knafl’s methodology and PRISMA guidelines. A systematic search was performed in PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, PsycArticles, and Medline (between 2015 and 2025), supplemented by Google Scholar. Cross-sectional studies and literature focusing on nomophobia in nursing students were included. The primary studies and selected review articles were considered when no overlap with the included primary evidence was identified. Methodological quality appraisal was assessed using validated tools (QuADS and JBI). Results: Twenty-two studies were included (19 cross-sectional and 3 reviews). Four thematic areas emerged: prevalence and severity (50–90% moderate to severe); psychological correlates (anxiety, depression, stress, insomnia, alexithymia, fear of missing out); academic and cognitive outcomes (impaired performance, procrastination, reduced decision-making); and behavioural predictors (excessive smartphone use and emotional dysregulation). The Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMP-Q) was the most frequently used instrument. Conclusions: Nomophobia represents a relevant dimension of the mind–technology relationship in nursing education, with implications for students’ mental health, academic engagement, and clinical readiness. Addressing nomophobia may support healthier learning environments and contribute to the development of emotionally competent and safe future healthcare professionals. However, significant gaps remain, particularly regarding longitudinal evidence and intervention-based approaches. Full article

Artificial intelligence (AI)-mediated tools have rapidly penetrated student life and become a valuable resource for seeking help with academic assignments/tasks, psychological problems, and social interactions. This study aims to investigate the levels and associations of AI-help-seeking behavior (AI-HSB), anxiety, stress, and depression among university students in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In addition, it examines the factors associated with AI-HSB based on the selected demographic (gender, marital status, age, academic year, employment status, major, and nationality), as well as anxiety, stress, and depression. This study employed a descriptive cross-sectional design among 433 university students, who were recruited via an online Google Form between 1 October 2025 and 10 December 2025. The study utilized validated Arabic versions of the AI-HSB scale and the anxiety, stress, and depression scale. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and predictive analyses were conducted using SPSS v 25. Results indicated that students reported moderate reliance on AI-HSB despite moderate to severe levels of psychological distress, with particular emphasis on anxiety. The AI-HSB was positively associated with anxiety, stress, and depression amongst the participants. Furthermore, both depression and the students’ academic year emerged as the only significant predictors of AI-HSB, explaining a modest but meaningful proportion of variance with an exact percentage of 18.1%. AI tools may partially circumvent stigma by offering privacy and anonymity; however, cultural expectations around interpersonal support, trust, and authority may simultaneously limit students’ willingness to rely on non-human agents for emotional care. Full article

Moving beyond traditional sociodemographic models, this study investigates the psychometric drivers of lexical change. Using Swiss German as a case study, we compare historical data from the Sprachatlas der deutschen Schweiz (1939–1958) with a recent large-scale app-based survey (N = 1013) to quantify trajectories over the past century. We identify four distinct mechanisms: exogenous convergence (Schmetterling), endo-normative leveling (Rande), endogenous innovation and divergence (schlittschuhlaufen), and diachronic persistence (Stäge). For the locally rooted speakers in our dataset, structural analysis indicates that traditional variables carry less weight than expected. While age remains the primary vertical predictor, psychological factors outperform traditional variables (e.g., gender, social networks) in this environment of ubiquitous exposure. Multivariate models demonstrate that lexical choices are strongly influenced by individual disposition: traits such as agreeableness accelerate the adoption of supraregional forms, whereas a strong local identity functions as a “brake” against standardization. Ultimately, while macro-factors create the pressure for change, individual micro-factors determine whether it takes hold. A speaker’s attitude acts as a “filter” and their personality as a “gate,” deciding whether they accept or resist new forms. These findings challenge purely structural accounts, suggesting that for these locally rooter speakers, even without high physical mobility, lexical change is shaped by a psychometric architecture. Full article

Digital platforms became central to institutional participation during the COVID-19 pandemic, yet little is known about how participants experience digitally mediated decision-making processes and which conditions foster high-quality deliberation. Guided by an ecological perspective from community psychology, this study examined university staff’s experiences with platform-based participation, focusing on the relationship between online participation practices, digital empowerment, and perceived deliberative quality. In November 2021, faculty and technical/administrative staff at an Italian university (N = 673) completed an online questionnaire assessing platform use (Microsoft Teams), participation practices, perceived benefits and limitations of digital platforms, digital empowerment, and deliberative quality (critical awareness and engagement). Exploratory factor analyses supported multidimensional measures of platform perceptions and deliberative quality. Hierarchical regression analyses showed that interaction rules and perceived improvements in participation processes were the strongest predictors of deliberative quality. Platform benefits related to participatory quality were positively associated with both outcomes, while efficiency-related benefits showed a small negative association with critical awareness. Digital empowerment uniquely predicted deliberative engagement above and beyond participation practices. Overall, results suggest that deliberative quality in digital institutional settings depends more on structured interaction and empowerment-supportive conditions than on platform use frequency, with implications for designing sustainable online and hybrid participatory processes. Full article

Introduction: Lifestyle is characterized by identifiable behavioral patterns that can affect individuals’ health, and is considered one of the predominant factors for maintaining both quality of life and people’s health. This triad (lifestyle, quality of life and health) is closely associated with well-being. Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between lifestyles, well-being, and self-esteem in students who have completed secondary education and are in the process of transitioning to higher education. Methods: Data were collected using a questionnaire of sociodemographic (e.g., age, gender) and physical (e.g., BMI) variables, a Self-Esteem Scale, a Well-Being scale, and the FANTASTICO Lifestyle questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed using canonical correlation analysis and a Structural Equation Model. Results: The sample consisted of 235 students, with a mean age of 18.4 years. Canonical correlation analysis revealed that lifestyle explains 58.5% of the variance in mental health. The first (most important) canonical function (r = 0.86; p < 0.001) highlighted that the domains of introspection, sleep/stress management, and family/social support are the primary predictors of higher levels of self-esteem and psychological well-being. Structural Equation Modeling confirmed that lifestyle positively predicts psychological well-being through both direct and indirect pathways (β = 0.172; 95.0% BC CI [0.095, 0.253]). Self-esteem emerged as a significant partial mediator in this relationship, suggesting that healthy lifestyle habits reinforce the perception of personal competence, which, in turn, enhances emotional adjustment. Together, these findings validate the dynamic triad between behavior, self-perception, and well-being during the transition to higher education. Conclusions: This study shows that the transition to higher education is a pivotal period where lifestyle patterns significantly shape students’ psychological adjustment. The findings confirm that a healthy lifestyle, specifically centered on stress management, sleep, and social support, serves as a robust predictor of both self-esteem and psychological well-being. By identifying self-esteem as a key partial mediator, the results suggest that healthy habits do more than just improve physical health. Full article