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
The Involvement of Academic and Emotional Support for Sustainable Use of MOOCs
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 461; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060461 (registering DOI) - 30 May 2024
Abstract
MOOCs, the Massive Open Online Courses, are online educational courses that offer open access to a large number of participants globally. However, online engagement during MOOC learning remains a problem, as reflected in relatively high dropout rates. This paper involves academic and emotional
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MOOCs, the Massive Open Online Courses, are online educational courses that offer open access to a large number of participants globally. However, online engagement during MOOC learning remains a problem, as reflected in relatively high dropout rates. This paper involves academic and emotional support, aiming to explore whether they contribute to users’ sustainable use of the MOOC platform. A total of 410 college students learning English as a foreign language (EFL) and with MOOC learning experience participated in this study. Employing the structural equation modeling (SEM) techniques, we examined the relationships among five factors in the EFL MOOC learning context: academic support (AS), emotional support (ES), perceived usefulness (PU), perceived ease of use (PEoU), and platform reputation (PR). The results indicate that academic support influences learners’ perceptions of the usefulness and ease of use of the MOOC platform, as well as enhancing learners’ feelings of being emotionally supported. Simultaneously, platform reputation plays a crucial role in influencing learners’ perceptions of MOOC platforms. However, results suggest that emotional support does not have a statistically significant impact on the perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use of the platform in EFL MOOC learning contexts.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Behaviors in Educational Settings—2nd Edition)
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Open AccessSystematic Review
How Does Individual Psychotherapy Promote Recovery for Persons with Psychosis? A Systematic Review of Qualitative Studies to Understand the Patient’s Experience
by
Laura A. Faith, Jaclyn D. Hillis-Mascia and Courtney N. Wiesepape
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 460; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060460 (registering DOI) - 30 May 2024
Abstract
Psychotherapy for individuals with psychosis is an effective treatment that promotes recovery in various ways. While there is strong quantitative evidence across modalities, less is known from the patient’s perspective. There are many varied forms of psychotherapy, and gaining the patient’s perspective can
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Psychotherapy for individuals with psychosis is an effective treatment that promotes recovery in various ways. While there is strong quantitative evidence across modalities, less is known from the patient’s perspective. There are many varied forms of psychotherapy, and gaining the patient’s perspective can improve understanding of salient elements of psychotherapy and increase engagement, ultimately improving recovery rates. The purpose of this review is to identify and integrate data from published studies of patient perspectives of psychotherapy for psychosis to understand essential elements across approaches, differences between approaches, and how psychotherapy impacts recovery. We aimed to understand further: what are the perceptions about individual psychotherapy from the perspective of individuals with psychosis? The current study was a systematic review using PRISMA guidelines of studies that included qualitative interviews with persons with experiences of psychosis who participated in psychotherapy. All three authors participated in the literature search using Pubmed, APA PsycInfo, and Psychiatry Online. We identified N = 33 studies. Studies included cognitive therapies, acceptance and mindfulness approaches, trauma therapies, metacognitive therapy, and music therapy. All studies reported participants’ perceived benefit with the therapeutic relationship as especially salient. Participants described diverse aspects of objective (e.g., symptoms, functioning) and subjective (e.g., self-experience or quality of life) recovery improvements, with perceived mechanisms of change, and with music therapy having some unique benefits. Participants also reported challenges and suggestions for improvement. Study findings highlight the salient aspects of psychotherapy identified by patients that may help therapists to individualize and improve approaches to psychotherapy when working with individuals experiencing psychosis. Overall, findings support the potential for integrative psychotherapy approaches for maximal treatment personalization.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prevention and Recovery in People with Schizophrenia and Related Disorders)
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Open AccessArticle
Autism Detection in Children: Integrating Machine Learning and Natural Language Processing in Narrative Analysis
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Charalambos K. Themistocleous, Maria Andreou and Eleni Peristeri
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 459; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060459 (registering DOI) - 29 May 2024
Abstract
Despite the consensus that early identification leads to better outcomes for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), recent research reveals that the average age of diagnosis in the Greek population is approximately six years. However, this age of diagnosis is delayed by an
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Despite the consensus that early identification leads to better outcomes for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), recent research reveals that the average age of diagnosis in the Greek population is approximately six years. However, this age of diagnosis is delayed by an additional two years for families from lower-income or minority backgrounds. These disparities result in adverse impacts on intervention outcomes, which are further burdened by the often time-consuming and labor-intensive language assessments for children with ASD. There is a crucial need for tools that increase access to early assessment and diagnosis that will be rigorous and objective. The current study leverages the capabilities of artificial intelligence to develop a reliable and practical model for distinguishing children with ASD from typically-developing peers based on their narrative and vocabulary skills. We applied natural language processing-based extraction techniques to automatically acquire language features (narrative and vocabulary skills) from storytelling in 68 children with ASD and 52 typically-developing children, and then trained machine learning models on the children’s combined narrative and expressive vocabulary data to generate behavioral targets that effectively differentiate ASD from typically-developing children. According to the findings, the model could distinguish ASD from typically-developing children, achieving an accuracy of 96%. Specifically, out of the models used, hist gradient boosting and XGBoost showed slightly superior performance compared to the decision trees and gradient boosting models, particularly regarding accuracy and F1 score. These results bode well for the deployment of machine learning technology for children with ASD, especially those with limited access to early identification services.
Full article
Open AccessArticle
Building Resilience and Social–Emotional Competencies in Elementary School Students through a Short-Term Intervention Program Based on the SEE Learning Curriculum
by
Hee Jung Min, Sang-Hee Park, Seung-Hyun Lee, Bo-Hwa Lee, Mikyung Kang, Mi Ju Kwon, Myung Ju Chang, Lobsang Tenzin Negi, Tsondue Samphel and Seunghee Won
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 458; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060458 (registering DOI) - 29 May 2024
Abstract
This study explored the positive effects of a six-week Social–Emotional and Ethical Learning® (SEE Learning) program on resilience and social and emotional competences, adapted for elementary students in Daegu, South Korea, a region strongly affected by the first outbreak of COVID-19. A
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This study explored the positive effects of a six-week Social–Emotional and Ethical Learning® (SEE Learning) program on resilience and social and emotional competences, adapted for elementary students in Daegu, South Korea, a region strongly affected by the first outbreak of COVID-19. A total of 348 third- and fourth-grade students from 15 elementary schools participated, and the curriculum was tailored, emphasizing key areas such as resilience, attention, kindness, attention training, and compassion. Repeated measures analysis of variance (RMANOVA) tests showed statistically significant improvements between pre- and post-tests in resilience and its subscales, including self-efficacy, tolerance of negative affect, positive support relations, power of control, and spontaneity, as well as in social and emotional competencies, including emotional regulation, social skills, empathy, and social tendencies. Despite a lack of maintenance in all areas, at follow-up, the mean scores for self-efficacy, tolerance of negative affect, and positive support relations, as well as emotional regulation, social skills, empathy, and social tendency, remained higher than pre-test levels, suggesting some lasting benefits. The findings underscore the potential of the SEE Learning program integrated with resilience, mindfulness, compassion, and ethical practices to enhance students’ resilience and social and emotional well-being. This study contributes to the growing body of evidence supporting the use of mindfulness and compassion-based SEL programs to mitigate the adverse effects of traumatic events on children’s mental health.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trauma, Resilience and Mental Health)
Open AccessArticle
How Socially Avoidant Emerging Adults Process Social Feedback during Human-to-Human Interaction after Social Rejection: An Event-Related Potential Study
by
Yangdi Chen and Xinmei Deng
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 457; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060457 (registering DOI) - 29 May 2024
Abstract
Social avoidance refers to active non-participation in social activities, which is detrimental to healthy interpersonal interaction for emerging adults. Social rejection is a kind of negative social evaluation from others making people feel social pain. However, how socially avoidant emerging adults process social
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Social avoidance refers to active non-participation in social activities, which is detrimental to healthy interpersonal interaction for emerging adults. Social rejection is a kind of negative social evaluation from others making people feel social pain. However, how socially avoidant emerging adults process social feedback information after experiencing social rejection has received less attention. The current study aimed to explore the differences in social interaction feedback processing after social rejection between a socially avoidant group (n = 16) and a comparison group (n = 16) in a human-to-human interaction context. Computer game tasks with two types of interaction (cooperation and competition) were used to record the event-related potentials when receiving social interaction feedback in two conditions (social rejection and control condition). The results showed that (1) the socially avoidant group had lower reward positivity amplitudes than the comparison group when receiving social feedback; (2) the socially avoidant group presented larger P300 amplitudes in the social rejection condition than in the control condition, but the comparison group did not; and (3) social rejection evoked more negative N1 amplitudes in the socially avoidant and comparison groups. The findings suggest that socially avoidant emerging adults may have flaws in reward sensitivity during interpersonal interaction, and they might also exert more attentional and emotional resources to social feedback after social rejection.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Risk and Protective Factors in Social Interactions: Behavioral and Neural Evidence)
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Open AccessArticle
From Struggle to Strength: Coping with Abusive Supervision in Project Teams through Proactive Behavior and Team Building
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Qiwei Zhou, Hang Zhang, Qiong Wu, Suzana Sampaio, Anne Zouggar and Kathryn Cormican
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 456; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060456 (registering DOI) - 29 May 2024
Abstract
While considerable attention has been devoted to positive leadership patterns in the realm of project management, the dark side of leadership has rarely been studied within project teams. To address this gap, we focus on abusive supervision in project teams and develop a
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While considerable attention has been devoted to positive leadership patterns in the realm of project management, the dark side of leadership has rarely been studied within project teams. To address this gap, we focus on abusive supervision in project teams and develop a team-level moderated mediation model to examine whether, how, and when abusive supervision influences project outcomes by drawing from the Proactive Motivation Theory. Survey data were collected from 132 project teams containing 132 project managers and 392 project members using a multi-source time-lagged survey design. Our findings reveal significant negative relationships between abusive supervision and both project performance and project team creativity. Furthermore, we found that a team’s proactive behavior plays a mediating role in these relationships. More importantly, our study identifies that team building mitigates the direct negative impact of abusive supervision on proactive behavior and the indirect effects of abusive supervision on project performance and project team creativity. These findings provide valuable theoretical and managerial implications for abusive supervision and project management scholars and practitioners.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Dark Side of Leadership: Abusive Supervision Research at Team- or Cross-Level of Analysis)
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Open AccessArticle
Reducing Emotional Distress with Open-Label Placebos: Assessing the Role of Motor Engagement in Pill Consumption
by
Anne Schienle and Wolfgang Kogler
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 455; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060455 (registering DOI) - 29 May 2024
Abstract
It has been posited that ingesting a pill constitutes a pivotal action that facilitates the effects of open-label placebos (OLPs: placebos honestly prescribed). In the present OLP experiment, the motor components of a placebo treatment were systematically varied. The participants (n =
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It has been posited that ingesting a pill constitutes a pivotal action that facilitates the effects of open-label placebos (OLPs: placebos honestly prescribed). In the present OLP experiment, the motor components of a placebo treatment were systematically varied. The participants (n = 183) were randomly allocated to one of four groups that all viewed aversive pictures. The ‘active OLP’ group took a placebo pill with specific instructions concerning the sequence of motor actions for the intake. The ‘usual OLP’ group swallowed the pill (without specific motor instructions), while the third group received an ‘imaginary OLP’ (no pill intake). The fourth group applied cognitive reappraisal (CR; active control group) to reduce emotional distress. The participants rated their affective state as well as the efficacy and plausibility of the treatment approach. Moreover, blood pressure and pulse were recorded as indicators of bodily arousal. The four groups did not differ in their valence ratings and physiological measures. The ‘imaginary OLP’ received higher ratings for both effectiveness and plausibility than the ‘usual OLP’. CR was rated as superior relative to all OLP conditions. In conclusion, reducing emotional distress with OLPs does not necessitate the consumption of a placebo pill. In terms of acceptability and ease of implementation, CR stands as a well-established alternative.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Psychiatric, Emotional and Behavioral Disorders)
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Open AccessArticle
Healthily Nourished but Depleted? Is It Possible to Improve the Health of Shift Workers through Lifestyle Interventions?
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Christine Binder-Mendl, Cem Ekmekcioglu, Wolfgang Marktl and Thorsten Schwerte
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 454; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060454 - 28 May 2024
Abstract
The relationship between diet and health is well-researched, and there is also information regarding the effects of diet on mental health. This study aimed to investigate whether motivation to optimize lifestyles without regulations or restrictions could improve the health of rotating shift workers.
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The relationship between diet and health is well-researched, and there is also information regarding the effects of diet on mental health. This study aimed to investigate whether motivation to optimize lifestyles without regulations or restrictions could improve the health of rotating shift workers. In this pilot study, 18 male shift workers were randomly divided into two groups. All participants completed the Short Form Health Survey-36 questionnaire (SF-36) before the start and at the end of the study. Group I (n = 9, mean age 42 ± 6.6 y) received dietary and lifestyle information every other month for one year, and the other, Group II (n = 9 mean age 36 ± 7.3 y), one year later. All participants were motivated to follow the trained dietary recommendations and to engage in physical activity. Almost all scores had improved. Surprisingly, physical performance scores worsened, which was not expected. The impairment in mental health due to the change in ownership of the company could have been better explained. Nutritional advice over a longer period and the motivation to integrate more exercise into everyday life can potentially improve the health of rotating shift workers.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Behavior Change: Theories, Methods, and Interventions)
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Open AccessBrief Report
Psychological Characteristics of Students with Passion for Studying
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Paweł Larionow and Agnieszka Gabryś
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 453; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060453 - 28 May 2024
Abstract
Passion for studying can be considered a significant factor that promotes well-being and mental health in students. This study aimed to examine whether the psychological characteristics of students with a passion for studying differed from those of students without one. To compare these
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Passion for studying can be considered a significant factor that promotes well-being and mental health in students. This study aimed to examine whether the psychological characteristics of students with a passion for studying differed from those of students without one. To compare these two groups, we used a set of different psychological variables (e.g., academic burnout and vitality), as well as integrated both person-centered (i.e., group comparison research) and variable-centered (i.e., correlational analysis) approaches. During classes, one hundred and fifty-four students from a Polish university completed a comprehensive set of short self-report questionnaires online on different psychological characteristics, including variables related to studying (i.e., passion for studying, academic burnout, and general academic self-efficacy), psychopathology symptoms, perceived stress and somatic complaints, as well as personal resources (vitality, resilience, self-esteem, and optimism). We noted multiple statistically significant differences in psychological characteristics between the two studied groups of students. Thus, harmonious passionate students tended to have more favorable psychological characteristics within variables related to studying, mental or somatic health symptoms, and personal resources compared to the non-passionate students. A harmonious passion for studying seems to have potential health-promoting and health-protecting effects, whereas a lack of passion for studying may lead to less favorable outcomes.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wellbeing and Mental Health among Students)
Open AccessReview
How to Make an Internal Team Coach: An Integration of Research
by
Gabriela Fernández Castillo, Rylee Linhardt and Eduardo Salas
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 452; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060452 - 27 May 2024
Abstract
Team coaching has been found to increase group effort, improve interpersonal processes, and increase team knowledge and learning. However, the team coaching literature is renowned for its inability to define team coaching itself—making it difficult to solidify its place in the world of
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Team coaching has been found to increase group effort, improve interpersonal processes, and increase team knowledge and learning. However, the team coaching literature is renowned for its inability to define team coaching itself—making it difficult to solidify its place in the world of team science. So far, there is no consensus on what specific training would serve internal leaders best, and how they would connect to the team coaching literature. We know leadership and team training are effective in improving organizational outcomes, but the gap in the literature lies in identifying what specific competencies internal team coaches need, and what training could fulfill these. In this piece, we seek to (1) identify what competencies internal team leaders need based on the outcomes we know team coaching yields, (2) identify specific behaviors that can fulfill these competencies, and (3) integrate the literature to form an evidence-based guide on what training to provide to internal team coaches. By doing so, we hope to provide a definitive understanding of what internal team coaches need to be successful.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rethinking Leadership Development: Contributions from Theory and Research)
Open AccessArticle
Crafting a Job among Chinese Employees: The Role of Empowering Leadership and the Links to Work-Related Outcomes
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Mengyan Chen, Yonghong Zhang, Haoyang Xu and Xiting Huang
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 451; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060451 - 27 May 2024
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The present study aims to examine the process through which empowering leadership shapes employees’ work engagement and in-role performance by facilitating job-crafting behaviors, specifically seeking resources, seeking challenges, and reducing demands. Based on the extensive data from 733 Chinese employees across various organizations
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The present study aims to examine the process through which empowering leadership shapes employees’ work engagement and in-role performance by facilitating job-crafting behaviors, specifically seeking resources, seeking challenges, and reducing demands. Based on the extensive data from 733 Chinese employees across various organizations located predominantly in Chongqing and Xi’an, China, we carried out different types of statistical analysis such as confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM) to examine the relationships among empowering leadership, specific job-crafting behaviors, work engagement and in-role performance, test our hypothesis and our conceptual model. The results from structural equation modeling (SEM) suggested that empowering leadership was positively related to employees’ work engagement and in-role performance; empowering leadership was positively related to employees’ job crafting (seeking resources, seeking challenges and reducing demands); seeking resources, seeking challenges and reducing demands were positively related to in-role performance, and seeking challenges and reducing demands were positively related to work engagement. In the relationship between empowering leadership and in-role performance, seeking resources serves as a mediating factor. Similarly, seeking challenges mediates the association between empowering leadership and both work engagement and in-role performance. Furthermore, reducing demands mediates the links between empowering leadership and both work engagement and in-role performance. The implications of these findings are subsequently discussed.
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Open AccessArticle
Subjective Experience and Perceived Benefits in Clients with Schizophrenia Following Participation in Metacognition Reflection and Insight Therapy (MERIT)
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Noa Tsuck-Ram, Adi Moka, Adi Lavi-Rotenberg, Libby Igra and Ilanit Hasson-Ohayon
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 450; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060450 - 27 May 2024
Abstract
Schizophrenia spectrum disorders involve disturbances in the experience of the self, which are related to limited metacognitive ability. The aim of metacognition-based therapies is to improve metacognitive ability and, subsequently, self-management and recovery. Adding to the quantitative findings from a trial on the
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Schizophrenia spectrum disorders involve disturbances in the experience of the self, which are related to limited metacognitive ability. The aim of metacognition-based therapies is to improve metacognitive ability and, subsequently, self-management and recovery. Adding to the quantitative findings from a trial on the effectiveness of Metacognition Reflection and Insight Therapy (MERIT), in the current study, we report on a qualitative assessment of MERIT’s subjective perceived contribution. Twenty-seven patients with schizophrenia were interviewed after completing MERIT. Content analysis based on grounded theory was conducted by two independent raters. Most participants were satisfied with the therapy and reported improvement mainly in self-experience domains. The main contributors to perceived improvement pertained to the intervention process (e.g., therapeutic alliance and therapist interventions) as well as to the patient being an active agent of change. Perceived outcomes are particularly important among this cohort, as they often cope with limited metacognitive abilities, expressed by challenges in reflecting on themselves and others. The current study supports MERIT as a treatment that enhances positive outcomes for people with schizophrenia.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prevention and Recovery in People with Schizophrenia and Related Disorders)
Open AccessArticle
Closing the Gap: How Psychological Distance Influences Willingness to Engage in Risky COVID Behavior
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Ceridwen Williams, Paul Rauwolf, Matt Boulter and John A. Parkinson
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 449; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060449 - 27 May 2024
Abstract
Pandemics, and other risk-related contexts, require dynamic changes in behavior as situations develop. Human behavior is influenced by both explicit (cognitive) and implicit (intuitive) factors. In this study, we used psychological distance as a lens to understand what influences our decision-making with regard
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Pandemics, and other risk-related contexts, require dynamic changes in behavior as situations develop. Human behavior is influenced by both explicit (cognitive) and implicit (intuitive) factors. In this study, we used psychological distance as a lens to understand what influences our decision-making with regard to risk in the context of COVID-19. This study was based on the rationale that our relational needs are more concrete to us than the risk of the virus. First, we explored the impact of social–psychological distance on participants’ risk perceptions and behavioral willingness. As hypothesized, we found that close social relationships of agents promoted willingness to engage in risky behavior. In the second phase, we tested an intervention designed to increase the concreteness of information about virus transmission as a mechanism to mitigate the bias of social influence. We found that the concreteness intervention resulted in significantly reduced willingness to engage in risky behavior. As such, communications aimed at changing the behavior of citizens during times of increased risk or danger should consider conceptually concrete messaging when communicating complex risk, and hence may provide a valuable tool in promoting health-related behavior.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Promoting Behavioral Change to Improve Health Outcomes)
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Open AccessArticle
Psychological Benefits of Arts Participation for Emerging Adulthood: A Pathway to Flourishing
by
Jinming Fan, Xiaoli Ni, Ting Wu, Yidi Wang and Yuyan Qian
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 448; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060448 - 26 May 2024
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This study examined 430 Chinese college students’ engagement in arts activities and the psychological benefits derived from such activities. The research differentiated between various types of arts participation and ways of involvement and examined four potential positive psychological outcomes. The findings revealed correlations
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This study examined 430 Chinese college students’ engagement in arts activities and the psychological benefits derived from such activities. The research differentiated between various types of arts participation and ways of involvement and examined four potential positive psychological outcomes. The findings revealed correlations between (1) creative participation in the performing arts, ‘flow’, and aesthetic emotions; (2) consumptive participation in the visual arts and aesthetic emotions; and (3) creative participation in the literary arts and ego identity. Holistic arts participation demonstrated a significantly positive relationship with flourishing. A path analysis showed that flow experience and aesthetic emotions served as mediators in the mechanism through which holistic arts participation affected flourishing, with a chained mediation effect from flow experience to ego identity. This study confirms that arts participation is an effective pathway for individual flourishing and that more diverse and profound engagement in the arts can lead to sustained and widespread happiness.
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Open AccessArticle
Social Undermining and Promotive Voice: The Moderating Effects of Procedural Justice
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Abdulkhamid Komil ugli Fayzullaev and Soo Young Shin
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 447; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060447 - 25 May 2024
Abstract
Organizations are increasingly depending on their employees to contribute suggestions aimed at enhancing organizational processes, boosting overall efficiency, and fostering innovation. However, some factors might hinder employees from expressing their thoughts. While there is evidence suggesting an effect of supervisor social undermining behavior
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Organizations are increasingly depending on their employees to contribute suggestions aimed at enhancing organizational processes, boosting overall efficiency, and fostering innovation. However, some factors might hinder employees from expressing their thoughts. While there is evidence suggesting an effect of supervisor social undermining behavior on employee voice, the impact on innovative types of voice, specifically promotive voice, remains uncertain. This study aims to explore the association between supervisor social undermining and employee promotive voice. Moreover, this research investigates how employee perceptions of procedural justice moderate this relationship, utilizing the Conservation of Resources theory. Data were collected from 115 highly skilled employees, and hierarchical regression analysis was employed to assess the proposed hypotheses. The findings suggest that when individuals encounter social undermining behavior from their supervisor, they are less inclined to engage in promotive voice behavior. Interestingly, the results indicate that this relationship becomes stronger when individuals possess higher perceptions of procedural justice. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to investigate the impact of supervisor social undermining on promotive voice while considering procedural justice as a moderator in this relationship. The findings of this study suggest several theoretical and practical implications and provide directions for future research.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Preventing and Addressing Negative Behaviors in the Workplace)
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Open AccessSystematic Review
Effectiveness of Problem-Solving Therapy in Improving Patient Mental Health, Function, Quality of Life, and Mortality Post-Stroke: A Systematic Review
by
Ha Thi Le, Kenta Honma, Hiroki Annaka, Shunxiang Sun and Tomonori Nomura
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 446; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060446 - 25 May 2024
Abstract
Problem-solving therapy (PST) is a potential psychological intervention aimed at preventing and treating psychological issues in stroke patients, although its efficacy is not clearly established. This systematic review assessed the effectiveness of PST in improving mental health, functioning, quality of life, and mortality
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Problem-solving therapy (PST) is a potential psychological intervention aimed at preventing and treating psychological issues in stroke patients, although its efficacy is not clearly established. This systematic review assessed the effectiveness of PST in improving mental health, functioning, quality of life, and mortality in this population. Six databases were searched for literature indexed through March 2024, including the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, NeuroBITE, and OTseeker. This review (CRD42023483757) followed the PRISMA guidelines and the Cochrane Library Handbook, utilizing the RoB 2 tool and GRADE system to assess the quality of the evidence. It included eight randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 1249 patients with stroke. Among them, five RCTs showed that PST might improve depression. Additionally, individual RCTs demonstrated the efficacy of PST in addressing patient anxiety, apathy, and coping. With respect to mental health, PST might affect patient quality of life and mortality. However, the results of four RCTs demonstrated no effect of PST on patient functioning. The quality of evidence for the outcomes ranged from very low to high. PST may improve mental health, quality of life, and mortality in patients with stroke.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychological Interventions for People with a Chronic Illness and Their Families)
Open AccessArticle
Testing the Effect of Cue Consistency on the Past Behavior–Habit–Physical Activity Relationship
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Daniel J. Phipps, Martin S. Hagger, David Mejia and Kyra Hamilton
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 445; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060445 - 24 May 2024
Abstract
Behavior performed in the presence of consistent cues is a core element for successful habit development, with the repeated presence of consistent cues facilitating the activation of automatic responses in future. Yet, little is known about the effects of different cue types on
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Behavior performed in the presence of consistent cues is a core element for successful habit development, with the repeated presence of consistent cues facilitating the activation of automatic responses in future. Yet, little is known about the effects of different cue types on habit. Using a two-wave prospective PLS-SEM model with a sample of 68 undergraduate students, we assessed the mediating effects of habit on the past-behavior-to-physical-activity relationship, and how the mediating effects of habit were moderated by the consistent presence of different forms of cues. Habit mediated the effects of past behavior on physical activity, with a significantly stronger mediating effect of habit in those reporting undertaking physical activity at the same time of day, doing the same activity, and in the same mood. Consistent place, people, and part of routine did not moderate the effects of habit. The results provide formative evidence for a key assertion of the habit theory that consistent contextual and internal cues are a cornerstone of habitual development and action, but they also indicate the importance of examining different forms of cues and their impact on the formation and enaction of habits as some cues may be more relevant than others.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of Integrated Social Cognition Theories in Predicting and Changing Health Behavior)
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Open AccessArticle
The Relationship between Metacognition, Rumination, and Sleep in University Students with a Tendency toward Generalized Anxiety Disorder
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Hui Yu, Zhanbiao Shi and Mei Zhao
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 444; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060444 - 24 May 2024
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People with generalized anxiety disorder tend to have sleep problems, and studies have found correlations between metacognition, rumination, and sleep, but it is unclear how metacognition and rumination work in people with a tendency towards generalized anxiety disorder. The goal of this paper
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People with generalized anxiety disorder tend to have sleep problems, and studies have found correlations between metacognition, rumination, and sleep, but it is unclear how metacognition and rumination work in people with a tendency towards generalized anxiety disorder. The goal of this paper is to investigate the correlation between metacognition, rumination, and sleep in university students with a tendency towards generalized anxiety disorder, and the mediating role of rumination in the effect of metacognition on sleep. The Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), the Meta-Cognition Questionnaire (MCQ-30), the Ruminative Responses Scale (RRS), and the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) were used to investigate and psychometrically measure 566 university students in Anyang Normal College. The results of correlation analysis showed significant positive correlations between metacognition and sleep, ruminative thinking and sleep, and metacognition and rumination in university students with a tendency towards generalized anxiety disorder. Mediation analysis showed that rumination partially mediated the effect of metacognition on sleep, with the mediating effect accounting for 51.1% of the total effect. There is a strong correlation between metacognition, rumination, and sleep in university students with a tendency towards generalized anxiety disorder, and both metacognition and rumination can predict sleep, while metacognition can affect sleep through the mediating effect of rumination.
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Open AccessArticle
A Model of Core Emotional Needs and Toxic Experiences: Their Links with Schema Domains, Well-Being, and Ill-Being
by
John Philip Louis, George Lockwood and Karen McDonald Louis
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 443; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060443 - 24 May 2024
Abstract
This study examined the second-order schema domains of Early Maladaptive and Adaptive Schemas based on recent trends and compared them with the five theoretical second-order schema domains commonly used in schema therapy. Using six international Eastern and Western community samples—Singapore (n =
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This study examined the second-order schema domains of Early Maladaptive and Adaptive Schemas based on recent trends and compared them with the five theoretical second-order schema domains commonly used in schema therapy. Using six international Eastern and Western community samples—Singapore (n = 628), Malaysia (n = 229), USA (n = 396), South Africa (n = 390), Nigeria (n = 364), India (n = 306)—confirmatory factor analysis showed that the four second-order domains of EMSs and EASs, which ran almost parallel with each other, were the most robust models calling into question the validity of the five domain model. Given the hypothesized links between schemas and needs, these four categories of EMSs and EASs represent four categories of toxic experiences and core emotional needs, respectively. These categories were supported empirically and are useful to parents as well as to clinicians as they approach child rearing and the treatment of clients in schema therapy from the vantage point of needs. These four categories of psychological core emotional needs, as well as toxic experiences, were found, as expected, to be linked with various measures of well-being and ill-being.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychological Impact of Stress- and Trauma-Related Events in Early Years of Parenthood)
Open AccessArticle
Childhood Neglect and Loneliness: The Unique Roles of Parental Figure and Child Sex
by
Megan Ho and Julie Aitken Schermer
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 442; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060442 - 24 May 2024
Abstract
There is a well-supported link between experiences of childhood neglect and levels of loneliness in adulthood, with emotional neglect from caregivers being predictive of loneliness. However, current research has yet to explore additional, sex-linked factors that influence this relationship. This study investigates the
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There is a well-supported link between experiences of childhood neglect and levels of loneliness in adulthood, with emotional neglect from caregivers being predictive of loneliness. However, current research has yet to explore additional, sex-linked factors that influence this relationship. This study investigates the impact of different neglect types on loneliness, with a focus on the parental figure involved and the child’s sex. It was hypothesized that men who experienced emotional neglect from their fathers would score higher in loneliness compared to other parent–child combinations. The findings showed no significant differences in father–son relationships within the context of emotional neglect. However, there was a significant difference in father–son relationships in the context of supervision neglect and loneliness outcomes, relative to all other parent combinations. Consistent with existing research, emotional neglect emerged as the strongest predictor of loneliness. Additionally, sex differences were observed, with women experiencing greater levels of loneliness stemming from neglect compared to men. These findings help address the knowledge gap present in childhood neglect research, with the goal of understanding the long-term consequences of adverse childhood experiences.
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(This article belongs to the Section Developmental Psychology)
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