Backgrounds: The Fading Affect Bias (FAB) is the faster fading of unpleasant than pleasant affect for autobiographical event memories, which is positively and negatively related to adaptive (e.g., grit) and non-adaptive measures (e.g., depression), respectively. In contrast to the reasonable expectation that maladaptive alcohol consumption should negatively predict the FAB, no such overall relation was found in the only study to examine it. Instead, alcohol consumption positively predicted the FAB for alcohol events and negatively predicted it for non-alcohol events. We used an online procedure during the Coronavirus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic to test if the relation between alcohol and FAB would differ across event type. We also tested if continuous variables other than alcohol consumption would combine with event type to predict the FAB. Methods: A retrospective memory study was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, asking participants to provide an initial and current affect rating ranging from −3 (unpleasant) to +3 (pleasant) for pleasant and unpleasant events involving and not involving alcohol. Results: We replicated past research, finding that FAB was positively predicted by adaptive measures (e.g., rehearsal, positive affect from the Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS), spirituality, positive religious coping, religiosity, Brief Cope, and grit) and negatively predicted by non-adaptive measures (negative religious coping and negative PANAS). Importantly, the FAB was positively predicted by non-adaptive alcohol measures. Furthermore, FAB was larger for alcohol than non-alcohol events at low spirituality, positive PANAS, and positive religious coping for non-alcohol events, and the FAB was larger for non-alcohol events than alcohol events at high spirituality, positive PANAS, and positive religious coping. Talking and thinking rehearsals mediated these complex effects. Conclusions: The positive relations between alcohol consumption and the FAB and the fact that alcohol consumption and event type did not combine to predict the FAB contradict the findings in the seminal study examining these relations. Therefore, the relation between the FAB and alcohol seems to have changed since 2013, and this change may have been produced by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Background: Large-scale earthquakes may substantially affect university students’ psychological functioning, motivation, and overall well-being. Understanding these multidimensional psychosocial processes is essential for developing effective post-disaster mental health and physical activity interventions. This study examined psychological well-being, post-earthquake trauma symptoms, recreational sport well-being, and sport motivation among university students studying in Türkiye’s earthquake-affected region. In addition, demographic and contextual factors were explored to better understand psychosocial differences in post-disaster adaptation. Methods: A cross-sectional design was employed with 651 sport sciences students from two universities located in the 2023 earthquake zone. Data were collected using an online questionnaire including the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS), Post-Earthquake Trauma Assessment Scale (PETAS), Recreational Sport Well-Being Scale (RSWBS), and Sport Motivation Scale–6 (SMS-6). Group comparisons and associations were examined using nonparametric tests and Spearman correlations. Additional multivariate regression, mediation, and moderation analyses were conducted to clarify relationships among key variables. Results: Female students reported significantly higher trauma-related symptoms, whereas male students demonstrated higher psychological well-being (p = 0.047, r = 0.077). Higher income and advanced academic year were associated with higher well-being and recreational well-being scores (η2 = 0.014–0.028). Trauma symptoms were negatively associated with well-being indicators, while psychological and recreational well-being showed positive correlations (p < 0.001). Multivariate analyses indicated that emotional restriction and behavioral problems were the strongest negative predictors of well-being. Conclusion: The findings suggest that post-disaster psychosocial functioning among university students reflects a multidimensional structure in which trauma symptoms, well-being, motivation, and recreational engagement coexist in meaningful associations. Emotional processes, behavioral functioning, and socioeconomic resources appear particularly relevant for understanding well-being differences, supporting the importance of multidimensional, resource-sensitive post-disaster interventions in university settings.
Background: Mental health disorders are a major global burden, highlighting the need for effective non-pharmacological interventions. Physical activity has emerged as a promising strategy for improving mental health outcomes. This systematic review examined the effects of structured physical activity and exercise interventions on mental health outcomes, addressing the growing need for effective non-pharmacological strategies for mental health promotion. Methods: The review followed PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Searches were conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and PsycINFO for studies published between 2017 and December 2025. Study selection was based on the PICOS framework. Thirteen studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the qualitative synthesis. Methodological quality was assessed using the PEDro scale. Results: Included studies involved clinical and non-clinical populations across various age groups. Structured exercise interventions (aerobic, resistance, or combined) were associated with reductions in depressive and anxiety symptoms, as well the improvements in psychological well-being and stress-related outcomes. Across the included studies, interventions of moderate-to-vigorous intensity performed two to five times per week over periods ranging from 6 to 24 weeks appeared to demonstrate the most consistent benefits. However, this observation is based on qualitative comparison of the included studies rather than a formal meta-analytic dose–response analysis. PEDro scores ranged from 4 to 8, indicating moderate to high methodological quality. Conclusions: Structured exercise interventions appear to be a promising and feasible approach for improving mental health outcomes across diverse populations. However, due to heterogeneity in study designs and outcome measures, the findings should be interpreted with caution, and further high-quality research is needed.
Background: Despite growing concerns about the mental health of professional military personnel, little is known about protective factors for mental health among military officers and non-commissioned officers (NCOs). The present study aimed to examine the differential and interaction effects of extrinsic and intrinsic protective factors on depression and mental well-being among Korean professional military personnel. Methods: A total of 500 Korean officers and NCOs completed a self-administered questionnaire that assessed extrinsic factors (salary satisfaction, work environment satisfaction), intrinsic factors (occupational calling, positive appraisals of military service), and the two mental health outcomes. Results: Hierarchical regression revealed that higher work environment satisfaction was independently associated with lower depression (t = −2.54, p < 0.05), while salary satisfaction was positively related to mental well-being (t = 2.58, p < 0.05). Intrinsic factors were more robust predictors; higher occupational calling and positive appraisals were significantly associated with lower depression (t = −2.33, p < 0.05 and t = −6.05, p < 0.001, respectively) and higher well-being (t = 10.52 and t = 7.16, p < 0.001, respectively). Moderation analyses further demonstrated that salary satisfaction statistically but marginally amplified the protective effects of intrinsic factors on mental health. These results underscore the importance of simultaneously considering both external and internal factors when promoting mental health among professional military personnel. Conclusions: The findings demonstrate that while both extrinsic and intrinsic factors are essential, intrinsic resources including occupational calling and positive appraisals serve as more robust and consistent primary buffers against psychological distress. Extrinsic rewards like salary satisfaction can play a synergistic role in amplifying the protective effects of these internal motivators. Therefore, the mental health of professional military personnel is best maintained through a holistic strategy that prioritizes cultivating internal resilience and an organizational culture centered on finding profound meaning and value in service.
Background: Literature suggests that physical activity has a preventive effect on depressive symptoms, yet the association between the intensity of physical activity (a core element of physical activity) and depressive symptoms remains unclear. This study explores this association between physical activity intensity and depressive symptoms in college students. Methods: Using a cohort study design, a 3-year follow-up survey was conducted from 2017–2020 among 1415 college students (1108 females, 78.3%; 307 males, 21.7%) from Shenyang Normal University from 2017 to 2020. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF) and Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) were used to evaluate the physical activity intensity and depressive symptoms of these students. Logistic regression was then used to analyze the association between physical activity intensity and depressive symptoms. Results: The analysis showed that, compared with participants with lower levels of low-intensity physical activity, those with higher levels had a 61.7% (OR = 0.38, 95% CI: 0.28–0.52, p < 0.001) lower incidence of depressive symptoms in full-adjusted model. Similarly, moderate-intensity physical activity also appeared to reduce the incidence of depressive symptoms by approximately 20% (OR = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.59–1.08, p = 0.14) in the full-adjusted model. Conversely, increased vigorous-intensity physical activity was associated with a 50.4% (OR = 1.50, 95% CI: 1.12–2.02, p = 0.007) higher risk of depressive symptoms. Conclusions: Physical activity intensity is closely related to depressive symptoms, and higher levels of low- to moderate-intensity physical activity are associated with a lower incidence of depressive symptoms. This study controls for baseline depressive symptoms status and multiple confounding factors, and is the first to clarify the potential positive association between vigorous-intensity physical activity and depressive symptoms in Chinese college students. Further research is needed to reveal the causal relationship and the internal mechanism.
Objectives: Teachers’ well-being significantly impacts schools, educators, and students. Many negative effects of low well-being are widely recognised, with stress and burnout linked to attrition and teacher shortages globally. In Portugal, a country with a severe lack of teachers, attention to teacher well-being is crucial for the long-term sustainability of the profession. This study aims to understand teachers’ professional well-being. Specifically, it seeks to (1) clarify well-being, the sense of belonging, and autonomy within the school community and (2) explore how teachers perceive the values and behaviours of schools that prioritise well-being. Methods: A descriptive qualitative study was conducted with 22 teachers who had taught for at least 15 years in Portuguese public middle and secondary schools. Individual in-depth interviews via Zoom were carried out using a semi-structured interview protocol, and the data were analysed using qualitative thematic analysis. Results: The analysis identified three interrelated dimensions of teachers’ professional well-being: learning and development, underscoring the significance of ongoing professional growth and reflective engagement; inclusivity, reflecting experiences of belonging, equity, and supportive collegial relationships; and psychological safety, denoting trust, open communication, and a lack of fear of judgment. Conclusions: The findings conclude that teachers’ professional well-being rests on the dynamic integration of learning and development, inclusivity, and psychological safety. These dimensions together define the essential conditions under which teachers experience growth, the sense of belonging, and emotional balance within their professional contexts.
