Introduction: Health-related decisions made during crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, can elicit strong emotional responses, including post-decisional regret. Understanding regret as a psychological response to such decisions may inform public health strategies and support individuals’ adjustment. Aim: This study examined post-decisional regret in COVID-19 vaccination decisions and its associations with decision-making styles, conspiracy mentality, and personality traits in a Greek-speaking sample. Methods: 325 adults (83.1% vaccinated, 16.9% unvaccinated) completed an online questionnaire assessing post-decisional regret, decision-making styles, conspiracy mentality, personality traits, and demographics. A pooled hierarchical regression examined associations between demographics, vaccination status, decision-making styles, conspiracy mentality, and postdecisional regret. Personality traits were examined separately using Spearman rank-order correlations due to multicollinearity among dimensions. Results: Vaccinated individuals reported significantly higher levels of regret than unvaccinated participants. The association between dependent decisionmaking and regret differed by vaccination status, with greater reliance on others associated with greater regret only among unvaccinated participants. A marginal interaction suggested that stronger conspiracy beliefs may be associated with greater regret among vaccinated participants. Personality traits showed modest associations with regret. Among vaccinated participants, higher scores on all Big Five traits were associated with greater regret, whereas among unvaccinated participants, higher Agreeableness was associated with lower regret. Conclusions: Post-decisional regret appears to be a psychologically meaningful response to health-related decisions and is associated with individual differences in decision-making styles and belief systems. These findings suggest that emotional responses may be an important aspect of health-related decision-making.
Introduction: The high prevalence of mental health challenges in Latin America highlights the need for brief, culturally sensitive instruments capable of accurately assessing protective psychological resources, such as mindfulness. Aim: Accordingly, the present study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the abbreviated Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS-5) in four Spanish-speaking Latin American countries. Methods: A total of 2,343 adults from Peru, El Salvador, Honduras, and Mexico participated in the study, recruited through non-probabilistic snowball sampling, and completed the MAAS-5 and the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4). Results: The instrument was evaluated for its internal structure, reliability, cross-cultural equivalence, and associations with external variables using descriptive analyses, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), measurement invariance testing, psychometric network analysis, and latent correlations. CFA results supported a unidimensional structure across all countries. Measurement invariance analyses supported configural, metric, and scalar invariance across countries. Complementarily, network analysis confirmed a one-community structure, with node loadings exceeding .35 and high stability across 1,000 bootstrap samples. Within the network, items reflecting automaticity and inattention during action occupied relatively more central positions, whereas meta-oriented disengagement showed a more peripheral role. Finally, latent correlation analyses revealed strong negative associations between mindfulness and symptoms of anxiety and depression. Conclusions: Overall, the findings provide evidence for the structural validity, stability, and cross-cultural equivalence of the MAAS-5, supporting its utility as a brief and reliable measure of mindfulness in clinical, educational, and population-based research contexts. The implications for crosscultural assessment and the development of mindfulness-based interventions in Latin America are discussed.
Introduction: Family functioning is closely linked to adolescent anorexia nervosa, yet family members often differ in how they perceive family relationships and processes. Aim: To examine differences in perceived family functioning among adolescents with anorexia nervosa and their family members, and to explore associations with well-being and perceived stress. Methods: The sample included 72 Hungarian families entering family therapy (N = 243), comprising adolescents with anorexia nervosa, mothers, fathers, and siblings. Family functioning was assessed with the McMaster Family Assessment Device (FAD), well-being with the WHO Well-Being Index (WBI-5), and perceived stress with the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-4). Linear mixed models with random family intercepts were used to account for clustering within families. Results: Significant family-level clustering was found for overall family functioning and all FAD subscales. Patients reported poorer family functioning than mothers, fathers, and siblings, particularly in Communication, Behaviour Control, and General Functioning. Poorer perceived family functioning was associated with lower well-being and higher perceived stress. Family role remained a significant predictor of both outcomes. Conclusions: Family members of adolescents with anorexia nervosa differ systematically in their perceptions of family functioning, with patients reporting the greatest difficulties. These findings support the value of multi-informant assessment and suggest that discrepancies in family perceptions may
Introduction: Adolescence represents a period of physical, psychological, and social changes that shape an individual’s personality, potentially influenced by their physical appearance due to shifts in adolescent skin texture. Those with dermatosis (alteration or disease that affects the skin), face an increased risk of developing depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. Aim: To assess differences in acne-related quality of life impact among adolescents according to demographic and clinical characteristics. Methods: Cross-sectional analytical study to identify the factors associated with the consequences of acne in adolescents. A total of 3,272 adolescents aged 12–17 years participated in this study. Participants were recruited using a non-probability snowball sampling strategy and completed a self-administered questionnaire through Google Forms, which included the Cardiff Acne Disability Index. Results: Of the 3,272 participants, 60.0% (n = 1960) were female. Median age was 15 years. In terms of quality of life, 25.8% (n = 845) reported experiencing moderate to high adverse effects. Furthermore, 5.3% reported extremely low mood related to the appearance of their skin during the month preceding the survey. Multivariate analysis indicated that women were more likely to experience medium or high impacts from acne (aPR: 1.33; 95% CI [1.20–1.48]), as well as those of indigenous ethnicity (aPR: 1.36; 95% CI [1.05–1.75]) and those with facial scarring (aPR: 13.08; 95% CI [10.02–17.05]). Conclusions: Females, member of an indigenous ethnic group, individuals with facial scarring, or those with a close relative suffering from acne all suggest medium or high impact on their quality of life.
Introduction: Regulatory Mode Theory posits two orientations: locomotion, reflecting a tendency toward action and goal-directed progress, and assessment, reflecting a tendency to evaluate means and outcomes. Aim: Although previous research has linked regulatory mode to mental health indicators, the psychological processes underlying this relationship remain insufficiently explored. To our knowledge, this study is the first to examine the combined roles of locomotion, assessment, grit, and general health. Methods: A final sample of 223 university students completed an online survey including validated measures of regulatory modes, grit, and general health. Participants first answered sociodemographic questions, followed by the Italian versions of the Regulatory Mode Questionnaire, the GRIT scale, and the GHQ-12. Reliability indices for all measures were satisfactory. Moderated mediation analyses were conducted to examine whether grit mediated the association between regulatory modes and general health and whether this mediation varied as a function of locomotion and assessment levels. Results: As hypothesized, assessment showed a negative association with grit and a positive association with general health problems, whereas locomotion showed the opposite pattern. Analyses further indicated that a profile characterized by high assessment and low locomotion predicted the highest levels of general health problems. Grit significantly mediated these relationships, and individuals with higher grit scores reported higher locomotion and lower assessment. Conclusions: The findings highlight the psychological relevance of regulatory modes for mental health and identify grit as a key factor linking selfregulation to psychological well-being. We discuss the theoretical and clinical implications of these results and outline limitations and future research directions aimed at improving prevention and intervention strategies in the field of mental health.
Introduction: Parental employment, school grade, and location significantly influence learners’ mental health literacy (MHL), impacting early detection and help-seeking behaviors. Aim: This study investigates the determinants of adolescent MHL in selected secondary schools in Tshwane, South Africa. Methods: A secondary data analysis was conducted using 529 secondary school learners selected through stratified random sampling from five different schools: four in townships and one in an urban area. Ordinal logistic regression was performed to identify significant predictors of MHL, with a p-value less than .05 considered statistically significant. Results: The study findings indicated that school level factors were statistically significant. Learners attending urban schools were three times more likely to demonstrate higher mental health literacy than those attending township schools (OR = 3.03, 95% CI [2.02, 4.55], p < .001). Moreover, Grade 12 learners exhibited significantly higher odds of mental health literacy compared to those in lower grades (OR = 6.24, 95% CI [2.24, 17.39], p < .001). The effect of parental employment status was evident: learners whose parents were employed showed significantly higher odds of mental health literacy compared to learners from other parental employment categories (OR = 1.65, 95% CI [1.30, 2.09], p < .001). Conclusions: School-level factors (urban location and Grade 12) and parental employment were significant predictors, emphasizing the role of contextual and socioeconomic influences on learners’ MHL.
Introduction: Ableism refers to prejudice and discrimination against people with disabilities, often manifested in exclusionary curricula, inaccessible environments, and biased institutional policies that limit their full participation. Aim: This study examines the relationships among Positive Affect (PA), Context-Sensitive Self (CSS), and Ableism, as well as the possible moderating role of Gender in higher education. Methods: An online survey was conducted in June 2024 among Indonesian university students without disabilities (N = 409; 80.2% women; Mage = 20.05 years old). Results: Based on the results of Moderated Regression Analysis, it is known that the research model is simultaneously significant [F(5, 403) = 13.712, p < .001] with a contribution of 14.5% to the variation in Ableism scores (R² = 0.145). Partially, PA (B = 0.075, p = .007) and CSS (B = 0.308, p < .001) had a significant positive effect on Ableism. Meanwhile, the Gender variable (B = -2.979, p = .414) and both interaction effects, namely PA × Gender (p = .307) and CSS × Gender (p = .675), were not significant. These results indicate that PA and CSS can predict Ableism, and this effect is not moderated by Gender. Conclusion: Findings suggest that both PA and CSS influence ableism positively, and this effect applies equally to men and women. Results indicate the importance of emotional and cultural factors in the development of inclusive attitudes.
Introduction: Self-rated health (SRH) predicts morbidity and mortality; however, its long-term trajectories and associations with psychological wellbeing (PWB), health behaviors, and cardiovascular risk remain understudied in Central and Eastern Europe. Aim: To describe 10-year changes in cardiovascular risk, health behaviors, PWB, and SRH, and to examine how SRH relates to PWB, health behaviors, and cardiovascular risk in a non-clinical Hungarian adult sample. Methods: Adults from Budakal & aacute;sz who participated in a cardiovascular screening in 2012 were invited to follow up in 2023. The analysis included 170 participants aged 45-65 years without major cardiovascular events. SRH was assessed with a single global item. Anthropometric and laboratory measures, FINDRISK and Framingham risk scores, health behaviors, and a four-item PWB score derived from the Short Form (36) Health Survey (SF-36)were included. Non-parametric tests, independent sample t-tests, and Spearman correlations were applied. Results: Over the 10-year period, SRH showed a modest overall decline, with approximately one-quarter of participants reporting deteriorated SRH, more than half remaining stable, and a minority improving. SRH trajectories were not consistently associated with changes in PWB, cardiovascular risk, or health behaviors. Cross-sectionally, SRH was moderately correlated with PWB but only weakly related to health behaviors. Anthropometric data and cardiovascular risk scores increased, whereas fasting glucose, HbA1c%, and fruit and vegetable consumption improved, and physical activity shifted toward lower intensity. Conclusions: SRH was closely aligned with PWB over 10 years but largely decoupled from objective cardiovascular risk and health behaviors, supporting SRH as a psychologically grounded subjective health construct relevant for cardiovascular prevention.
Introduction: Self-rated health (SRH) predicts morbidity and mortality; however, its long-term trajectories and associations with psychological wellbeing (PWB), health behaviors, and cardiovascular risk remain understudied in Central and Eastern Europe. Aim: To describe 10-year changes in cardiovascular risk, health behaviors, PWB, and SRH, and to examine how SRH relates to PWB, health behaviors, and cardiovascular risk in a non-clinical Hungarian adult sample. Methods: Adults from Budakalász who participated in a cardiovascular screening in 2012 were invited to follow up in 2023. The analysis included 170 participants aged 45–65 years without major cardiovascular events. SRH was assessed with a single global item. Anthropometric and laboratory measures, FINDRISK and Framingham risk scores, health behaviors, and a fouritem PWB score derived from the Short Form (36) Health Survey (SF-36)were included. Non-parametric tests, independent sample t-tests, and Spearman correlations were applied. Results: Over the 10-year period, SRH showed a modest overall decline, with approximately one-quarter of participants reporting deteriorated SRH, more than half remaining stable, and a minority improving. SRH trajectories were not consistently associated with changes in PWB, cardiovascular risk, or health behaviors. Cross-sectionally, SRH was moderately correlated with PWB but only weakly related to health behaviors. Anthropometric data and cardiovascular risk scores increased, whereas fasting glucose, HbA1c%, and fruit and vegetable consumption improved, and physical activity shifted toward lower intensity. Conclusions: SRH was closely aligned with PWB over 10 years but largely decoupled from objective cardiovascular risk and health behaviors, supporting SRH as a psychologically grounded subjective health construct relevant for cardiovascular prevention.
Introduction: Parenting is widely recognized as a meaningful and rewarding experience, yet it also entails significant demands and stress. Major family transitions, beginning with the transition to parenthood and extending to later life changes, profoundly reshape family dynamics and are often associated with elevated parental stress. Therefore, reliable measures are essential to effectively capture the sources and effects of this stress. Aim: The current study aimed to examine parental stress in a Hungarian sample by validating the Parental Stress Scale (PASS; Berry & Jones, 1995). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 838 Hungarianspeaking parents (75.5% women; mean age = 37.50 years). Participants completed the Hungarian version of the Parental Stress Scale along with additional measures of perceived stress, depression, life satisfaction, parental resilience, and relationship satisfaction. Results: Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis with systematic model comparison supported a robust two-factor structure (Parental Stress and Parental Satisfaction) yielding a 13-item solution with acceptable fit indices. Both scales demonstrated good internal consistency. Parental stress was positively associated with perceived stress and depression, and negatively associated with life satisfaction, parental resilience, and relationship satisfaction, whereas parental satisfaction showed the opposite pattern. Higher educational attainment and a greater number of children were associated with higher parental stress, while older age and male gender were associated with lower parental satisfaction. Conclusions: The Hungarian version of the Parental Stress Scale is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing parental stress and satisfaction. It serves as a useful tool for research and intervention programs aimed at supporting parental well-being in Hungary.
Introduction: Sensory-processing sensitivity (SPS) describes how deeply and intensely individuals process various environmental stimuli. SPS, as an adult temperament trait, may influence different aspects of an individual’s life. Aim: This study explored potential mediating roles of anxiety sensitivity (AS) and emotion regulation difficulties (ERD) in the relationship between SPS and trait anxiety (TA). Methods: Participants (N = 420; 60.5% female; age range: 18–61 years) were administered the Highly Sensitive Person Scale, Trait Anxiety Inventory, Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3, and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale. Results: Results of the stepwise nested regression models indicated that SPS, AS, and ERD significantly predicted trait anxiety, with the final model explaining 54% of the variance. SPS was a significant predictor initially, but its effect became nonsignificant after AS and ERD were included, indicating a full mediation pattern. Serial multiple mediation analysis indicated that the association between SPS and trait anxiety was fully mediated by AS and ERD, with AS demonstrating a significant independent indirect effect, whereas the indirect effect of ERD alone was not statistically significant. The sequential pathway from SPS to AS to ERD to trait anxiety was statistically supported, and gender remained a significant covariate throughout. Conclusions: The findings indicate that the association between SPS and trait anxiety is fully accounted for by AS and ERD rather than by a direct relationship. These results underscore the importance of considering sequential psychological mechanisms and covariate-adjusted models when examining vulnerability to trait anxiety.
Introduction: Social support is strongly associated with positive mental health outcomes. One reason for this association is that support is able to reduce perceptions of stress. Identifying factors that influence this link may be particularly important for women given their greater incidence of anxiety and depression. Gratitude may play a key role in this context, as research suggests the benefits of support are stronger for individuals with higher levels of gratitude. Aim: The purpose of the current study was to examine whether the indirect association between social support and women’s mental health through perceived stress was moderated by gratitude. Methods: To test our research question, we conducted a cross-sectional correlational study of 278 women who completed questionnaires assessing social support, perceived stress, depression, anxiety, and gratitude. Results: Consistent with previous research, our results indicated that the association between social support and depression was partially mediated by perceived stress. In contrast, the association between support and anxiety was fully mediated by perceived stress. Furthermore, our results showed that conditional indirect effects of support on depression and anxiety through perceived stress were only significant at high levels of gratitude and not at low levels of gratitude. Conclusions: Our results add to the literature showing that gratitude strengthens the positive association between social support and mental health in women.
Introduction: Despite its importance, teacher well-being remains underexplored, particularly regarding teacher-related traits. Identifying factors that shape well-being across career stages, especially the relationship between well-being and age, is essential. Aim: The aim of the present study is to examine the association between age, a set of Dark and Light Triad traits, and female teacher well-being indicators. Methods: 1,114 female teachers (mean age = 46, SD = 9.12) completed an online, self-reported questionnaire which included the Short Dark Triad Scale, the Light Triad Scale, and the Teacher Subjective Well-being Questionnaire. Confirmatory factor analysis, Pearson’s correlation, hierarchical regression, moderation, and mediation analyses were carried out. Results: The mediation analysis showed a significant direct effect of older age on higher school connectedness (β = .11, p < .001, 95% CI [.05, .16]) and on higher teaching efficacy (β = .18, p < .001, 95% CI [.13, .23]). Age was positively associated with narcissism, which in turn enhanced both teaching efficacy and school connectedness, as well as with Faith in Humanity, which contributed to higher school connectedness. Conversely, lower levels of Humanism were associated with reduced teaching efficacy. Conclusions: The current study highlights key findings on the relationships between age, Dark Triad and Light Triad traits, and teacher well-being, showing that Narcissism (Dark Triad) and Faith in Humanity or Humanism (Light Triad) significantly mediated the associations between age and school connectedness and teaching efficacy, thereby offering insights into areas necessary to improve well-being throughout female teachers’ careers.
