Although empathy is generally treated as a prosocial force, research on intergroup empathy bias (IEB) shows that empathic responses are often stronger toward ingroup than outgroup members, and that such selectively distributed empathy can produce negative outcomes. To clarify how this arises, we conducted a systematic review of IEB studies focusing on how empathy is elicited and measured. Following PRISMA guidelines, we identified 120 studies across 85 articles. Neuroscientific studies were the most numerous (58% of the articles) and typically used physical pain stimuli to elicit empathy, consistently detecting IEB in neural responses but rarely in explicit ratings. Whether bias was observed in behavioral studies depended on the task. The literature is characterized by problematic assumptions of equivalence across task types, unexplored connections to related fields, and underdeveloped explanations of neural-behavioral discrepancies. We recommend critically evaluating operational definitions before discussing practical applications.
Since understanding teachers’ beliefs and motivation represents one of the key prerequisites for improving teaching and learning, this study served a twofold purpose. First, we examined the internal structure and reliability of the teacher academic optimism scale in the Serbian school context. Second, we intended to examine the measurement invariance of the academic optimism scale across teaching levels. Confirmatory factor analysis was applied to the data collected from 420 teachers employed in primary schools in Serbia using the dynamic fit index approach. We found that the three-factor measurement model has satisfactory fit indices according to both traditional and tailored cutoffs. Furthermore, all three levels of measurement invariance were empirically supported. Although all three subscales have good internal consistency, our findings suggest that the conditional reliability of sum scale scores varies. Implications for researchers and practitioners are derived from the obtained findings.
Quiet quitting in academia can damage the quality of education, research productivity, scholarly communication, faculty members’ well-being, and institutional reputation. The need for recovery through leisure plays a key role in embracing quiet quitting; however, the existing literature lacks insight into the mechanism between work-leisure conflict and quiet quitting in academia. Based on the stressor-detachment model, this study focused on the relationship between work-leisure conflict and quiet quitting. This study further investigated the mediating role of work-related affective rumination and the moderating role of servant leadership to better understand the mechanism underlying this relationship. A cross-sectional design was employed with 527 faculty members from 20 universities in Istanbul. The findings demonstrated that (1) work-leisure conflict is positively associated with work-related affective rumination and quiet quitting; (2) work-related affective rumination is positively associated with quiet quitting; (3) work-related affective rumination mediates the relationship between work-leisure conflict and quiet quitting; and (4) servant leadership does not moderate the work-leisure conflict and work-related affective rumination relationship. These findings can provide insight into developing effective strategies and practices to prevent work-leisure conflict and quiet quitting in academia
The first aim of the present study was to investigate the factor structure of the Highly Sensitive Person Scale (HSPS) in a Serbian sample. The second aim was to examine the construct validity of the HSPS by testing its relationship with the big five + 2 personality traits, and to further describe a personality profile of highly sensitive individuals. The sample consisted of 565 participants, of which 55% was from the general population and 45% were psychotherapy clients. The structure of the HSPS was examined using both confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses, with the latter yielding a three-factor solution (negative emotionality, sensory sensitivity, aesthetic sensitivity). Associations of the HSPS with personality dimensions were consistent with the results of previous studies. Apart from neuroticism, these three factors showed different associations with the big five + 2 personality dimensions. The findings are further discussed.
Scientific research and clinical experiences of psychotherapists show that early maladaptive schemas, which are known to develop as a result of negative childhood experiences, are associated with negative mental health outcomes. In this context, theoretical and practical applications on early maladaptive schemas are important for mental health. In this study, the mediating role of cognitive flexibility, coping styles, emotion regulation skills and defense mechanisms in the effect of early maladaptive schemas on psychological well-being was investigated. Young Schema Questionnaire, Defense Styles Questionnaire, Coping With Stress Scale, Cognitive Flexibility Inventory, Emotion Regulation Skills Questionnaire and Psychological Well-being Scale were used in the study. The sample group consisted of 600 young adult participants drawn from a non-clinical population using convenience sampling. The participants were 335 (55.8%) female and 265 (44.2%) male, with a mean age of 21.33 years, ranging in age from 18 to 55 years. Both single-mediator and parallel multiplemediator analysis were used. SPSS Process Macro add-in was used in the mediation analysis. Problem-focused coping, social support seeking, emotion regulation skills and cognitive flexibility were found to be statistically associated as mediators in the relationship between early maladaptive schemas and psychological well-being. The research findings suggest that maladaptive schemas formed in early childhood may be associated with psychological wellbeing through cognitive flexibility, emotion regulation skills, and coping strategies. In clinical practice, when working with early maladaptive schemas, focusing on cognitive flexibility, problem-focused coping, social support, and emotion regulation skills may be potentially beneficial in improving psychological well-being.
Autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysregulation has been widely examined in relation to various mental and physical symptoms, often revealing similar patterns. This study explored these associations within the framework of polyvagal theory using the Body Perception Questionnaire-Short Form (BPQ-SF), a widely used instrument for assessing autonomic symptoms and body awareness, not yet validated in Serbian. Accordingly, our study had two main goals: to validate the Serbian BPQ-SF and to examine whether ANS dysregulation is similarly associated with depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms, as well as with chronic physical diseases. We also validated the Body Awareness Very Short Form (BA-VSF), whose 12 items are incorporated into the BPQ-SF. In our sample (N = 795), the proposed factor structure was confirmed, with one factor for Body Awareness and two for Autonomic Symptoms (supra- and sub-diaphragmatic). Both BPQ body awareness and autonomic symptom scores were related to symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress, as well as to physical disease status; however, further analysis showed that anxiety was the only significant predictor, highlighting a particularly strong link between autonomic dysregulation and anxiety and the broader relevance of ANS dysregulation across mental and physical symptoms. Correlations with Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA) dimensions, particularly Noticing, further support conceptual overlaps in interoceptive awareness despite differences between the MAIA and polyvagal models. The BA-VSF also showed good internal consistency and produced comparable results, discussed in relation to previous findings.
This study explores the relationships between humor styles, coping strategies, and social anxiety among adolescents, with a sample of 412 high school students (222 females, 190 males). Data were collected using the Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents, Humor Styles Questionnaire, Kidcope Adolescent Version, and a Personal Information Form. Results show significant negative correlations between social anxiety and affiliative, aggressive, and selfenhancing humor styles, while a positive correlation is found with self-defeating humor. Negative and avoidant coping strategies are positively linked to social anxiety, whereas active coping shows a negative correlation. Mediation analyses reveal that affiliative and selfenhancing humor styles mediate the relationship between active coping and social anxiety, while self-defeating humor mediates the link between avoidant coping and social anxiety. On the other hand, the relationship between negative coping and social anxiety is mediated by self-defeating and aggressive humor. These findings highlight the dual role of humor as both protective and risky in adolescents’ psychological well-being, stressing the need to foster constructive humor styles and coping strategies to reduce social anxiety
Previous research using a single scenario describing an accidental event in a restaurant has shown that using an agentive (vs. nonagentive) language leads to higher assessments of blame and financial liability. This was replicated for English and only partially for Croatian. This paper extends previous findings by examining whether linguistic agentivity effects can be generalized to other situations in English and Croatian. In the first experiment, 462 participants from Croatia assessed 13 scenarios describing accidental events, each in an agentive or nonagentive version, which differed in the use of verbs: transitive in the agentive and intransitive in the nonagentive version. Participants rated the blame of the person causing the accident and the proposed punishment. Linear mixed-effects model confirmed an effect of linguistic agentivity on the perception of blame in Croatian. Analyses at the level of individual scenarios showed a significant effect of the experimental manipulation on blame in four scenarios and no effect on punishment in any of the scenarios. In the second experiment, 200 participants from the USA assessed the same 13 scenarios following the same procedure. Linear mixed-effects model again confirmed the effect of linguistic agentivity on the perception of blame in English. Analyses at the level of individual scenarios showed a significant effect of the experimental manipulation on the perception of blame in four scenarios and an effect on the assignment of punishment in two scenarios.
Many studies reported that adolescents and young adults who spent more time using social networking sites (SNS) have lower psychological well-being. There are different explanations of the negative relation between SNS use and well-being. One theoretical framework posits that SNSs engender feelings of social comparison and the fear of missing out, thereby inducing stress and frustration. Alternatively, SNS usage may simply displace other, more beneficial activities, thus contributing to a decline in overall well-being. The present study examined the effects of a period of abstinence from social networking sites (SNS). The investigation involved the study of subjective well-being, difficulties experienced during the abstinence period, activities that served as replacements for the time typically spent using SNS, and the long-term effects on the time of use of SNS. The study involved 42 university students who voluntarily accepted to abstain from using SNS for a period of seven days. Data were collected via self-report online questionnaires at three time points: before the abstinence period, during the abstinence period, and right after the abstinence period. The findings revealed that abstinence led to an enhancement in subjective well-being. The initial two days of abstinence were characterised by challenges, which subsequently diminished. The substitution of SNS usage with face-to-face interactions exhibited a favourable impact on well-being. A follow-up conducted one month after the study showed that time spent on SNS was lower compared to before the participation. The results imply that the promotion of digital detox is a potential area for future research.
Eating disorders represent a significant public health concern among adolescents, yet traditional symptom-based approaches may overlook the complex interrelationships among psychological constructs. This study employed Latent Variable Network Modeling (LVNM) to examine the network structure of eating disorder symptoms, self-related constructs, emotional eating patterns, and social appearance anxiety in 455 Turkish adolescents (61.3% female; Mage = 15.6 years). LVNM extends traditional network analysis by correcting for measurement error, providing more accurate estimates of relationships among latent constructs. Following confirmatory factor analysis to validate measurement models, latent factor scores were extracted and subjected to network estimation using the Extended Bayesian Information Criterion graphical least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (EBICglasso). Centrality analysis identified emotional eating as the most central node (strength z = 1.50), suggesting it plays a pivotal role in activating and maintaining eating disorder symptomatology. Guilt demonstrated highest betweenness centrality (18), positioning it as a key bridge connecting different symptom domains. Bridge centrality analysis revealed that social appearance anxiety (bridge strength = 0.767) served as the primary connector between social-evaluative concerns and eating pathology. Self-compassion occupied a peripheral position with predominantly protective connections (r = -.132 with social anxiety). Gender-specific networks showed similar overall structure (global strength: female = 4.144, male = 4.136), but emotional eating demonstrated higher centrality in males (1.309 vs. 1.031). The network approach reveals that addressing emotional eating may have cascading effects throughout the eating disorder symptom network, offering insights for prevention and intervention strategies among adolescents.
The Rey Auditory-Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT; Rey, 1964) is a widely used neuropsychological instrument that has not been validated in Serbia. Our aim was to examine its internal consistency, and construct validity, including convergent and discriminant validity against other cognitive variables, as well as its associations with age and education, in a cross-sectional, correlational study. Two hundred subjects from the general population in Serbia (53% women; \mathrm{M_{age}} = 43.45 years, \mathrm{SD_{age}} = 16.32) completed a battery of tests via oral examination. In addition to RAVLT, participants completed three working memory tasks: Digit Span, Digit Ordering, and Letter Memory, as well as the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test (ROCF). Participants also provided information on gender, age, education, parents’ education, household income, and any strategies used on the RAVLT. RAVLT showed good internal consistency. Its scores were negatively correlated with age (r = -.44, p < .001) and positively correlated with participants’ and their parents’ education (r = .31, p < .001). Gender differences in RAVLT performance were moderate to large, with women outperforming men. Correlations with working memory tasks were lower than expected (up to r = .33), and discriminant validity against ROCF was only established when controlling for age ( \mathrm{r_{partial}} < .15). Half of the participants reported using strategies (more frequently women), which were associated with better RAVLT performance. The RAVLT is a reliable and valid instrument, although the constructs it measures may be more complex than originally assumed. Our study also highlights the importance of strategy use in memory tests.
Epistemic trust refers to the willingness to regard communicated knowledge as reliable, relevant, and generalizable, and has been recognized as a central factor in social learning, adaptation, and vulnerability to psychopathology. The aim of this study was to validate the epistemic trust, mistrust, and credulity questionnaire (ETMCQ) in a Serbian sample and to examine its associations with sociodemographic, psychological, and social trust variables. A total of 557 adults (86% female; average age 29.9 years) completed the ETMCQ, the depression, anxiety, and stress scale (DASS-21), the De Jong Gierveld loneliness scale, as well as measures of trust in social system scale and trust in science and scientists, alongside sociodemographic data. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the original three-factor structure (trust, mistrust, credulity), with satisfactory model fit indices (CFI = .933, NFI = .901, RMSEA = .055). Subscale reliabilities ranged from acceptable to good. Epistemic trust was positively associated with financial status and trust in science, while mistrust and credulity were negatively related to financial status and age. Furthermore, mistrust and credulity correlated positively with loneliness, depression, anxiety, and stress, whereas trust correlated negatively with loneliness. No significant associations were observed between epistemic trust dimensions and trust in the social system, possibly reflecting the complex socio-political context in Serbia at the time of data collection. These findings confirm the cross-cultural validity of the ETMCQ in Serbia and highlight the importance of epistemic trust and its maladaptive variants in psychological adjustment and social adaptation.
Phubbing has emerged as a prominent behavioural addiction in today's technological world. The COVID-19 pandemic also has important effects on the increase of digital addiction and loneliness of individuals. This study examined the mediating role of loneliness in the relationship between digital game addiction and phubbing behaviours. Data were collected from 445 (47% male and 53% female) high school students (Mage = 15.42, SD = 1.12). The results of the study showed that there were significant positive relationships between digital game addiction, phubbing, and loneliness. In addition, loneliness was found to have a mediating effect on the relationship between digital game addiction and phubbing. These results show that the role of loneliness, along with digital game addiction, is important in understanding the basic dynamics of phubbing behaviour. The prevention and intervention program that reduces loneliness can be implemented to mitigate the effects of digital game addiction on phubbing.
Agentic engagement and disengagement emerged within self-determination theory to describe students? deliberate efforts to elicit teacher support. While these constructs have been studied from students? perspectives, they remain underexplored from the teacher?s viewpoint, due to absence of validated teacher measures. Thus, the aim of this study was to adapt and validate teacher versions of the Agentic Engagement Scale and the Agentic Disengagement Scale. The study utilized a sample of 205 teachers, who reported on their teaching styles and their students? agentic, behavioral and emotional (dis)engagement. The results demonstrate that the adapted teacher versions are a reliable and valid way to measure the unidimensional constructs of agentic (dis)engagement. Furthermore, they assess distinct components of (dis)engagement and have logical associations with teacher styles. The scales provide critical tools for advancing research on student agency, enabling exploration of its role in fostering supportive teaching.
Studying binge eating is profoundly important for understanding its underlying mechanisms and developing effective interventions. Its measurement for non-clinical samples holds a pivotal role. The current study aims to examine the psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the Binge Eating Scale (BES) for the first time. The study included a non-clinical sample (N = 323) consisting of participants from 18 to 61 years old. Internal consistency, construct validity, and BES association with other measures were examined. We found a high internal consistency for the single-factor structure of the BES (alpha = .84). The internal consistency was weaker for the two-factor model, including cognitive/emotional and behavioral sub-dimensions (alpha = .75 and .67, respectively). Confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) were conducted separately to test single-factor and two-factor structures of the BES. A single-factor structure measuring binge eating (BE) severity was accepted as the final version of the scale. BE was significantly related to body mass index (BMI), self-control, and body dissatisfaction in the expected directions. The current findings supported the single-factor structure. As a result, it has been shown that the Turkish version of the BES is a valid and reliable measurement tool.
This cross-sectional study examines the relationships among social media addiction, fear of missing out (FoMO), loneliness, and life satisfaction among young adults. Data were collected from 700 participants aged 18-29 years via an online survey administered between May and June 2024. Validated scales were used to assess key variables: the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale, the Fear of Missing Out Scale, the UCLA Loneliness Scale, and the Satisfaction with Life Scale. Structural Equation Modeling revealed that life satisfaction was positively associated with loneliness. Social media addiction was strongly associated with FoMO, while FoMO had an indirect negative effect on life satisfaction through social media addiction. These findings shed light on the underlying mechanisms between social media addiction, FoMO, loneliness, and life satisfaction. Such insights can provide significant implications for developing interventions (e.g., digital well-being programs) to help young adults manage their social media use more effectively. Promoting mindful and balanced social media engagement may contribute to enhancing life satisfaction and overall mental well-being.
This study explores the mediating role of ruminative identity exploration in the association between adolescent social media addiction and career decision-making difficulties. Four hundred eleven adolescents, 228 (55.5%) females and 183 (44.5%) males, participated in the study. The Social Media Addiction Scale for Adolescents, the Dimensions of Identity Development Scale, and the Career Decision-Making Difficulties Scale for High School Students were utilised to collect the study data. Data were analysed using structural equation modelling. Significance was examined by bootstrapping. The study analyses revealed that social media addiction positively predicted ruminative identity exploration and career decision-making difficulties. Also, ruminative identity exploration positively predicted career decision-making difficulties. Moreover, ruminative identity exploration mediated the relationship between social media addiction and career decision-making difficulties. This study's results suggest that adolescents' social media addiction increases decision-making difficulties via ruminative identity exploration. The results are discussed in light of the literature. Recommendations were made for practitioners and researchers.
The aim of the study was to validate the Serbian version of the Functions of Identity Scale (FIS), a measure of five functions of identity: structure, harmony, goals, future, and personal control. The sample consisted of 384 emerging adult students (78.4% female; Mage = 21.60, SDage = 2.73). Findings replicated the validity of the 15-item five-factor (structure, harmony, goals, future, personal control) model of FIS previously documented with English, Italian and Turkish language versions. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) revealed strong support for the five-factor model, compared to a single-factor model. Positive correlations between FIS dimensions and indicators of healthy psychosocial functioning and negative correlations with indicators of internalizing problems were found, as expected. FIS Serbian version is a promising tool for evaluating identity functions in emerging adults, contributing to cross-cultural validity and growing research on identity in this cultural context.
Environment-friendly behavior can offer multiple benefits in the reduction of environmental challenges and problems faced today. The present study tested several factors (i.e., values, norms, and nature relatedness) that can contribute to a better understanding of individual pro-environmental behavior (PEB). Using a convenience sample of 714 participants we tested several models to assess the effect of values (biospheric, altruistic, hedonic and egoistic) on environmental behavior, mediated by nature relatedness. Moreover, in the current research, we tested the moderating role of norms (social pro-environmental descriptive and injunctive norms and personal pro-environmental injunctive norms) in the relationship between values, nature relatedness, and pro-environmental behaviors, to assess whether personal and social norms can act as potent enhancers of environmental behaviors. The results indicate that biospheric and altruistic values contribute to nature relatedness and through it, to higher levels of pro-environmental behaviors, while self?enhancement values (i.e., hedonic, and egoistic) were not directly linked to pro-environmental behavior but were indirectly associated with it through nature relatedness. The moderated mediation analysis highlighted that the most consistent moderator was the personal pro-environmental injunctive norm. We discuss practical implications related to environmental policy-making targeting social norms depending on individual values.
Previous research of psychopathic traits in the context of life history were limited by using single-score psychopathy measures and analyzing only some aspects of human life history. In the present study, we explored the associations between triarchic psychopathy traits (Meanness, Boldness, and Disinhibition) and a large number of life history indicators (childhood environment, age of menarche and first sexual intercourse, short and long-term mating, intra-sexual competition, and reproductive motivation) using a data from a community sample (N=486). We used network analysis to estimate the associations between the variables and their centrality indices in the network. The results were mostly in line with the hypothesis that psychopathy represents a set of behavioral traits that depicts a faster pace of life. However, some differences between psychopathic traits in the life history traits also emerged, showing different associations between psychopathy traits and life history indicators, especially regarding Boldness trait. Furthermore, Boldness showed a markedly higher centrality in the network compared to other psychopathy traits. Taken together, the results suggest that Boldness has the highest adaptive potential of all psychopathy traits. The findings are implicative for understanding psychopathy's pace of life and adaptive potential of psychopathic characteristics.
