Psychological Reports

Undergraduate statistics in psychology is an important, often challenging, course for students. The focus in psychology tends to be on hypothesis tests, such as t tests and analysis of variance. While adequate for some questions, there are many other topics we might include that could improve that data analytic abilities of students and improve psychological science in the long run. Topics such as generalized linear modeling, multilevel modeling, Bayesian statistics, model building and comparison, and causal analysis, could be introduced in an undergraduate psychological statistics course. For each topic, I discuss their importance and provide sources for instructor’s continuing education. These topics would give students greater flexibility in analyzing data, allow them to conduct more meaningful analyses, allow them to understand more modern data analytic approaches, and potentially help the field of psychology in the long run, by being one part of the strategy to address the reproducibility problem.

Background The COVID-19 pandemic poses a challenge to individuals' mental health. People worldwide are experiencing increased stress, negative affect, and posttraumatic stress symptoms, which may lead to eating problems. The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of the perceived severity of COVID-19 on eating problems and the mediating effects of stress/negative affect/posttraumatic stress symptoms both at the personal level and interpersonal level. Methods: During the COVID-19 outbreak, a total of 108 college students were recruited to report their perceived severity of COVID-19, stress, negative affect, posttraumatic stress symptoms, and eating problems three times a day for seven consecutive days using Ecological Momentary Assessment. Results: State perceived severity of COVID-19 predicted fewer subsequent eating problems in daily life at the personal level. Both state negative affect and posttraumatic stress symptoms were positively associated with eating problems in daily life. At the interpersonal level, trait-like perceived severity of COVID-19, stress, negative affect, and posttraumatic stress symptoms were positively associated with overall eating problems. There were no mediating effects of stress/negative affect/posttraumatic stress symptoms on the relations between perceived severity of COVID-19 and eating problems at the personal/interpersonal level. Conclusions: The perceived severity of COVID-19, stress, negative affect, and posttraumatic stress symptoms might increase the risk of eating problems.

Insomnia can be a serious problem diminishing quality of life for Veterans and military populations with and without posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Sleep disturbances are one of the symptoms of PTSD but even after evidence-based PTSD treatments, insomnia symptoms often remain. The primary approaches for treating insomnia are cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) and pharmacotherapy. However, each of these treatments has drawbacks. Complementary and Integrative Health (CIH) approaches such as mindfulness meditation, mantram meditation, yoga, and tai chi may provide alternative treatments for insomnia in military populations. This paper provides a brief review of studies on CIH interventions for sleep disturbances in Veterans. It also proposes possible mechanisms by which CIH practices may be effective, including increasing hippocampal volume and gamma-aminobutyric acid acid (GABA). Finally, the acceptability of CIH approaches among Veterans is discussed.

Young adults spend a good deal of time using social network sites (SNSs), and the consequences of this activity have come under considerable scrutiny in research. There is some evidence that SNSs offer a context for young adults to engage in self-disclosure, and that such behavior may contribute to their development. In the current study, self-disclosure motivations were explored as a moderator of the relationship between SNS time use and indicators of adjustment. It was hypothesized that the relationships between SNS time use and three indicators of young adult adjustment (belonging, self-concept clarity, and flourishing) would be moderated by self-disclosure motivations. Data were collected using a cross-sectional survey of 524 young adults aged 17–25 years (Mean age = 19.75; SD = 2.16) who used at least one social network site daily (Mean hours of daily use = 3.25; SD = 1.67). The relationships between SNS time use and both belonging and flourishing were moderated by self-disclosure motivations. Specifically, when participants were low or moderately motivated to self-disclose (for relationship maintenance or self-presentation purposes) SNS time use was negatively related to belonging and flourishing. Whereas when participants were highly motivated to self-disclose there was no significant relationship between SNS time use and belonging and SNS time use and flourishing. Additionally, there was no significant moderation of the relationship between SNS time use and self-concept clarity. Based on these findings, we recommend that in order for young adults to reap potential benefits of spending time online they should endeavor to use SNSs for purposes that promote positive self and relational development.

Mental health is a core component of overall wellbeing and can contribute to positive functioning and purpose in life. Mental health is purportedly related to the constructs of generalised self-efficacy (GSE) and health locus of control (LOC). Most research, however, has explored GSE and LOC and their relationship with psychopathology, or defined mental health as a lack of psychopathology indicators. This contradicts the two continua model of mental health, as it does not incorporate positive mental functioning. The current study sought to re-examine the relationship between health LOC, GSE, and mental health, whilst controlling for potential confounding factors. It was anticipated that health LOC and GSE would predict mental health. A sample of 224 adults completed an online survey comprised of validated psychometric tools scales. Regression analyses were conducted to determine whether health LOC and GSE predicted mental health, after controlling for self-esteem, social support, and coping. Results indicated that GSE was a significant unique positive predictor of mental health. Health locus of control was not a significant predictor of mental health. Limitations were present, including a cross-sectional research design and use of convenience sampling. This study builds upon existing research in providing a better understanding of contributors to mental health, which may assist in the development of evidence-based mental health promotion interventions.

The study aims at understanding the relationships between the fear of COVID-19 and perceived stress, wellbeing, and life satisfaction. The study also analyses the role of gender on the relationship of fear of COVID-19 with these study variables. For this, a cross-sectional study was conducted among 1125 participants in India, comprising 638 men and 487 women. Structural equation model was used to analyse the data. It was found that the fear of COVID-19 is positively related to perceived stress and negatively related to wellbeing and life satisfaction. It was also found that, these relationships are stronger among women than among men. The study shows the importance of psychiatric assessment during pandemic times and alerts policy makers and society in general, to take measures for ensuring mental health among people during times of crisis. Future studies can include longitudinal research for a comprehensive understanding of the psychological impacts of the pandemic.

The current research tested the hypothesis that an increase in perceived disease vulnerability would create more feelings of disgust and a reduced willingness to help persons with dissimilar attitudes. To test these hypotheses, two studies were performed. In the first study, 173 university undergraduates indicated their willingness to help a target person who held similar or dissimilar attitudes. Then the participants’ feelings of disgust about helping, and perceived vulnerability to disease were measured. In the second study, 127 university undergraduates read materials designed to make a disease threat or a non-disease threat salient then indicated their willingness to help a target person with similar or dissimilar attitudes. As predicted a concern about disease and attitude similarity interacted to influence willingness to help and this effect was mediated by feelings of disgust.

The relation between spirituality and health has been argued for decades. The study aimed to ascertain the extent and nature of the relationship between spirituality quantified in terms of Spiritual Intelligence (SI) and distress in ascetics. Sixty-three Hindu ascetics aged 31.3 ± 6.6 years were sampled from Patanjali Yogpeeth, India. Participants’ distress and spiritual levels were measured by using the Cornell Medical Index Health Questionnaires (CMHIQs) and Spiritual Intelligence Self-Report Inventory-24 (SISRI-24), respectively. Multiple regression analyses showed an insignificant negative relationship between SI and distress implying SI as a predictor of psychosomatic health.

The prevalence of nomophobia is growing among adolescents. This study aimed to disentangle the relationship between nomophobia, the fear of missing out, time spent on the phone, sex, and social alienation. Participants, who were 595 students (313 females and 282 males) attending high school during the 2019–2020 academic year, filled out personal information forms and a series of scales involving nomophobia, the fear of missing out, and social alienation. Then, data were analyzed through a moderated mediation analysis. The results showed that the bivariate correlation was significant but not the direct effect of gender on nomophobia; still, other direct effects were significant. The partial indirect effect of the fear of missing out on nomophobia was only significant for females when social alienation was controlled for. In the model where nomophobia was the outcome model, the power values for the time spent on the phone and its interaction with sex were low but high for other factors. Furthermore, the effect size was small for the model where the mediator was the outcome and high for the model that had nomophobia as the outcome. Thus, it is crucial to consider that the motives underlying the fear of missing out and nomophobia differ between the sexes in planning interventions.

Surface acting—the management of emotional displays as part of a nurse’s work role—is increasingly getting scholars’ attention in organizational behavior. Previous research focused on the relationship between surface acting and outcomes (such as psychological well-being) on the basis of resource-centric theories, ignoring the subjective stance of surface acting provider. According to self-determination theory, surface acting affects an individual’s well-being through stimulating autonomous or controlled work motivation. Taking nurses as the subjects, the current study proposed that surface acting would affect job satisfaction and further psychological well-being through nurses’ controlled work motivation, and work and family support would moderate the above relationships in diverse directions. An online survey of n = 342 nurses working at a hospital in central China was conducted, evaluating surface acting, job satisfaction, psychological well-being, workplace support, and family support. Results indicated that surface acting negatively influenced nurses’ psychological well-being through job satisfaction. In addition, the results highlighted the two-faced aspect of social support, in which work support positively moderated the relationships between surface acting, job satisfaction, and psychological well-being, while family support intensified the abovementioned relationships negatively. These findings have important implications for surface acting, social support research, and managerial practices.

Studies have shown strong associations between burnout and depression and burnout and anxiety but their exact interrelationships still remain unclear. Few studies have examined the psychosocial mechanisms that might underlie these two relationships. Non-work social factors such as perceived family support can affect mental health. The present study investigated the distinctiveness and the reciprocal associations between burnout and depression, and burnout and anxiety by collecting data twice over an 8 month interval. Perceived family support was examined as a mediating and a moderating factor underlying the two relationships. The Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey, the Hospital Depression and Anxiety Scale, and the Julkunen Family Support Scale were administered to employees of the general working population (N = 52). First, our results revealed moderate associations between burnout and depression, and burnout and anxiety, supporting the distinctiveness of burnout from the two psychological phenomena. Second, the exhaustion and cynicism burnout dimensions showed reciprocal associations with depression. Moreover, anxiety was found to be a consequence of cynicism while it presented reciprocal associations with the exhaustion dimension of burnout. Perceived family support did not mediate the burnout-depression and burnout-anxiety relationships. However, it moderated the depression-exhaustion relationship in a direction opposite from our hypothesis.

Research on college student stress has typically focused on institutions where the student population is predominately White and continuing-generation. This study explored student stress in a unique context—a public regional university where the majority of students are Latinx, first-generation (FGCS), and of low socioeconomic status (SES). Of the 355 participants in the study, 72.4% self-identified as Latinx and 59.7% were FGCS. Additionally, on a subjective scale of socioeconomic status (1 = lowest, 10 = highest), the mean response was 5.76 (SD = 1.56). Participants (18 years old or older) who were enrolled in a first-year seminar course were recruited for this study. Through an online survey during Fall 2018, first-year students reported levels of perceived and experienced stress related to academic, economic, intrapersonal, and interpersonal concerns. Results of regression analyses indicated that most types of stress were predicted by students’ Latinx identity status and SES; FGCS status did not significantly predict stress. These findings highlight the need to explore solutions to address stress for Latinx and/or low SES students. Additionally, the study underscores the necessity of conducting research at educational institutions in which Latinx, FGC, and low SES students comprise the majority of the student body.

Neuroticism has been linked to an increased likelihood of cognitive failures, including episodes of inattentiveness, forgetfulness, or accidents causing difficulties in successfully executing everyday tasks and impacting health and quality of life. Cognitive failures associated with trait neuroticism can prompt some negative psychological outcomes and risky behaviors. Accumulating evidence shows that augmenting mindfulness can benefit cognitive health and general well-being. However, little is known regarding potential cognitive-behavioral pathways through which individual differences in trait neuroticism could influence the propensity to cognitive failures. Using a sample of 1003 undergraduate college students (females: n = 779) consisting of self-reported questionnaire data, we conducted correlational and mediational analyses to investigate the interrelationship between neuroticism, mindfulness, and cognitive failures. Higher neuroticism scores (females: r = −0.388, males: r = −0.390) and higher cognitive failures scores (females: r = −0.339, males: r = −0.407, p < .001) were significantly correlated with lower self-reported mindfulness scores. Mindfulness significantly mediated the relationship between neuroticism and cognitive failures (β = 0.50, 95%, CI: 0.37, 0.65). These findings indicate that higher mindfulness may help ameliorate negative effects of neuroticism on everyday cognitive failures. Future research will determine how college students may benefit from positive impact of mindfulness to improve their psychological and physical health.

Following preventive measures is crucial for slowing the rate of COVID-19 spread. To date, most research has focused on the role of individual differences and personality in compliance with preventive measures to COVID-19. Building on findings that interpersonal touch instills a feeling of security, we propose that interpersonal touching behavior, an underexplored factor tied to social interaction, leads to more breaches of coronavirus restrictions by inducing security feelings. In a lab experiment (Experiment 1) and a field study (Experiment 2), we demonstrated that a female experimenter’s fleeting and comforting pat on the shoulder made people less willing to abide by preventive measures in their self-report and actual behavior. Further, we excluded a potential alternative explanation that touch intervention by the experimenter presents the defiance of COVID-19 rules because the effect cannot be observed when the touch consists of a handshake rather than a comforting pat on the shoulder (Experiment 3). Finally, consistent with our theoretical perspective, the results revealed that sense of security mediated the effect of interpersonal touch on violation of instructions to follow coronavirus precautions. Taken together, interpersonal touch not only enhances trust and security, but also can push people away from health guidelines.

This study aims to test the mediating role of relationship satisfaction and perceived romantic relationship quality in the relationship between partner phubbing and life satisfaction. The study included a total of 308 participants, 243 women (78.9%) and 65 men (21.1%). The participants’ age ranged from 18 to 60 (mean = 31.10; SD = 7.93). Data were collected through the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), the Relationship Assessment Scale (RAS), the Perceived Romantic Relationship Quality Scale (PRRQS), and the Partner Phubbing Scale (PPS). Descriptive statistics of the data were calculated, and the relationships between the variables were analyzed using the Pearson correlation coefficient (r). Mediation analyses were performed using structural equation modeling. Structural equation analysis indicated that partner phubbing negatively predicted relationship satisfaction and perceived romantic relationship quality. In addition, relationship satisfaction and perceived romantic relationship quality positively predicted life satisfaction. The correlation analysis performed before the mediation analysis indicated no significant relationships between partner phubbing and life satisfaction. However, the results of structural equation analysis and bootstrapping showed that perceived romantic relationship quality and relationship satisfaction had a fully mediating role in the relationship between partner phubbing and life satisfaction. The results of the bootstrap analysis indicate that partner phubbing had a significant indirect effect on life satisfaction through perceived romantic relationship quality and relationship satisfaction. These results reveal that relationship satisfaction and perceived romantic relationship quality decrease in individuals who are exposed to partner phubbing behaviors, and that decreased relationship satisfaction and romantic relationship quality harm life satisfaction.

Since listening and speaking are two integral skills for effective second language (L2) communication, enhancing learners’ motivation to listen to and speak in the target language will engage them in the learning process, eventually leading to improvements in these two skills. Yet despite its importance, L2 listening and speaking motivation is underexplored in the current literature. Drawing on self-determination theory, this study adapted, validated, and administered one L2 listening motivation scale and one L2 speaking motivation scale to 863 undergraduate students from different regions of China. Correlation analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and inferential statistical analyses (e.g., ANOVA) were used to compute the data. The results revealed that the learners were both intrinsically and extrinsically motivated to listen to and speak in English. A strong association between L2 listening motivation and speaking motivation was observed. Furthermore, gender, geographical, and disciplinary differences were found in the two kinds of motivation, and overseas experience also affected the learners’ motivation. The results provide insights into L2 learner motivation in specific linguistic domains and yield pedagogical implications for L2 teaching and learning.

The Miranda warning was drafted in order to inform people of their rights upon arrest in an easy to understand manner. However, to understand the warning a person needs a high school level reading comprehension (which is above the level of most offenders). Among these offenders, deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) individuals are particularly prone to misinterpreting the Miranda warning due to language barriers with law enforcement and below average English literacy compared to hearing individuals. Two studies were performed. The first compared Miranda warning comprehension between hearing and DHH participants, and it was found that DHH participants showed overall lower comprehension. The second study, consisting only of DHH participants, compared the effectiveness of four different presentations of the Miranda warning: signed in American Sign Language (ASL), signed in Signed Exact English (SEE), oral presentation, and written presentation. The written presentation demonstrated the lowest comprehension scores while the other three methods showed no significant difference in comprehension. The results suggest that the Miranda warning is best administered to DHH individuals with the assistance of a certified sign language interpreter. Limitations of the sample and directions for future research are discussed.

The rate of value decadence and degeneration of moral value as it applies to work ethic amongst teachers is worrisome, especially in Nigeria. This value decadence amongst Nigerian teachers could have been triggered off as a result of their false perceptions in placing demands. This study therefore investigated the effect of rational emotive occupational intervention on the perceptions of work value and ethical practices amongst teachers in primary schools in Nigeria. Randomized group control intervention was adopted with 168 primary school teachers selected as participants for this study. The participants were allocated to (treatment group: n = 84) and (waitlisted control group: n = 84). The participants in the treatment group received a 12-week program of activities (REBOI) whereas the waitlisted group received the conventional means of counseling. The results showed that rational emotive behavioural occupational intervention was significant in the work values of primary school teachers in Nigeria as measured by the Organizational Values Scale . Rational emotive occupational intervention was significant in the ethical sensitivity of primary school teachers in Nigeria as measured by the Ethical Sensitivity Scale. It was also found that rational emotive behavioral occupational intervention has significant long-term effects on work value and ethical practices among primary school teachers in Nigeria as measured by the Organizational Values Scale, Ethical Sensitivity Scale. Therefore, we conclude that rational emotive behavioral occupational intervention is effective in changing the false perceptions of work value and ethical practices among primary school teachers in Nigeria.

A current trend in organizational job design is to provide employees increased autonomy to enhance their performance. Using the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) theory as a working framework, the present study proposes proactive vitality management and work engagement as sequential mediators of this relationship. Thus, we test a parsimonious model that encompasses both individual strategies (i.e., proactive vitality management) and affective-cognitive (i.e., work engagement) factors as explanatory mechanisms in the link between autonomy and performance. Data from 256 Romanian employees were gathered and analyzed via structural equation modeling. The results provided support to our model. Specifically, we found proactive vitality management and work engagement to fully mediate the relationship between autonomy and performance. As such, our model validates the theoretical assumption of the JD-R theory that employees who engage in individual strategies (i.e., proactive vitality management) can capitalize on existing job resources (i.e., autonomy) to increase their well-being (i.e., work engagement) and performance. Furthermore, by identifying proactive vitality management as a mediator in the relationship between autonomy and performance, we provide practitioners with a set of proactive behaviors that can complement resource-replenishing activities (e.g., coffee break) in securing and sustaining high energy levels at work.

This manuscript aims to present a novel behavioral impulsivity test ImGo, which is suitable for impulsivity assessment in the general population. A series of three studies was conducted to validate its psychometric qualities. In Study 1 we describe the principles of ImGo and verify its test-retest and split-half reliability and its convergent validity with an impulsivity self-report scale and Stop Signal test. In Study 2 we re-analyze the convergent validity of ImGo with a Stop Signal test and examine the potential relationship between ImGo and oculomotor inhibition measured by an Anti-Saccades test. In Study 3 we present a robust research with a large sample size and investigate the discriminant validity of ImGo with tests of other related cognitive and executive processes. Backed by our findings from these studies we can safely claim ImGo is a powerful tool with a good level of reliability (both test-retest and split-half) and validity (convergent and discriminant). Its potential lies in its use in diagnostic and research practice of experts from various countries as the test has already been translated to 9 languages so far. The open-source Hypothesis platform, on which the ImGo test is running, provides the option of both individual and group testing in laboratory conditions as well as remotely through an internet browser.

A revised version of the Multicultural Ideology Scale (rMCI) is currently being developed to measure endorsement of multiculturalism in different cultural contexts. This study, which is part of a wider cross-cultural research project, presents the first assessment of the rMCI scale in the German language. The measure aims to cover several attitudinal dimensions of multiculturalism, relevant to the integration of different ethnocultural groups: Cultural Maintenance, Equity/Inclusion, Social interaction, Essentialistic Boundaries, Extent of Differences, and Consequences of Diversity. Two independent datasets were acquired from Germany (N = 382) and Luxembourg (N = 148) to estimate the factor structure of the rMCI using different confirmatory factor analysis techniques. The findings suggest that a four-factor solution, including Cultural Maintenance, Equity/Inclusion, Social interaction, and Consequences of Diversity, was the best fit for the data. Most of these subscales demonstrated adequate psychometric properties (internal consistency, convergent, and discriminant validity). The four-factor model of the rMCI was partially invariant across the two ethnic groups and full measurement invariance was established across gender.

While there has been research focused on interpersonal relationships and their impact on stress and well-being, no instrument has been developed to comprehensively evaluate interpersonal stressors. This research sought to develop and validate an Interpersonal Stressors Scale (ISS) for Chinese college students through three studies. Focus groups were used to generate the initial item pool (Study 1). Then two large samples (N₁ = 511; N₂ = 330) were collected to explore the factor structure of the ISS and subsequently examine its reliability and validity estimates (study 2 and 3). Initial results indicated a model with 27 items and five first-order factors (interaction difficulty, behaving as expected, social criticism, relationship maintenance, and indebtedness avoidance) as well as two second-order factors (self-imposed stressors and other-imposed stressors) with strong psychometric properties. Criterion-related validity estimates indicated these two kinds of stressors were both associated with stress while having different relationships with general anxiety, depression, social anxiety, interpersonal satisfaction, and self-efficacy in social interactions. The nature and function of the structure for the ISS were discussed as well as the practical and research implications.

The aim of the article is to present a description of the psychometric properties of the Polish adaptation of the Movie Consumption Questionnaires (MCQ) – Immersion and MCQ – Experience. The instrument, created by Fornerino, Helme-Guizon and Gotteland (2008) allows measuring movie consumption in terms of immersion, the intensity of emotions and the intensity of social interactions during the screening. The Polish adaptation of the tool involved two stages, whose participants were movie-goers attending screening events at a cinema (N=577). The factor structure of the adapted instrument strongly resembles that obtained in the original study (RMSEA<0.08, CFI>0.95, SRNR<0.08) and has demonstrated very good internal consistency (α>0.8, ω>0.8). Criterion validity was also verified through the use of questionnaires that examine the following: affect – PANAS-X (Fajkowska & Marszał-Wiśniewska, 2009), emotionality – HEXACO (Szarota et al., 2007) and mindfulness – Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (Skala Świadomej Obecności; Radoń, 2014). Results of the analyses suggest that the adapted scales may be used as satisfactory tools for measuring movie consumption. By the same token, they may be useful in further psychological exploration of the movie screening phenomenon, with particular regard to immersion, emotional reactions and social interactions of the viewer.