ABSTRACT Our group memberships form the basis of our social identities and act as a source of wellbeing. Group membership is therefore a frontline defence to combat the growing global prevalence of loneliness. However, the efficacy of a group depends on whether it is beneficial to health and subjectively meaningful to its members. Tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPGs) may provide a medium to form meaningful groups that positively influence wellbeing to otherwise hard‐to‐reach or marginalised communities. In this vein, we recruited 305 participants from the online Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) community to investigate the impact of D&D groups on participants' social networks and wellbeing. D&D groups were rated as highly positive, supportive, and socially compatible, with significant associations with wellbeing and self‐esteem. As the first TTRPG study applying a social identity lens, our findings speak to TTRPG groups as a source of social connection associated with a broad range of psychological benefits.
ABSTRACT Returning to community life after incarceration is full of challenges most citizens never experience, such as stigma, social exclusion and structural barriers that may hinder successful community reintegration. Although difficult, stereotypes based on attitudes can be changed through community‐based educational interventions. This study examined the impact of a community‐level intervention designed to change attitudes toward and knowledge of re‐entry challenges through experiential learning from a simulated four‐week period after incarceration. Using a retrospective pretest design, data were collected following simulations conducted at a large urban university in the southeastern United States. The sample included 147 participants; most were ages 18–24 (72%), female (78.9%), White (68%) and college students (86%). Paired‐sample t ‐tests indicated statistically significant changes in 14 of 16 indicators after individuals personally experienced the simulated re‐entry process. Participants reported less concern about public safety risks, greater support for re‐entry services, more favourable attitudes toward formerly incarcerated individuals, and increased recognition of barriers to successful re‐entry. Although our conclusions are limited by the sample demographics, potentially limiting the generalizability of the results, the conclusions demonstrate the need for policies targeting community awareness and education concerning re‐entry and its challenges as a mechanism for improving understanding and reducing stereotypes and stigma.
ABSTRACT While previous research has primarily focused on prejudice and attitudes resulting from the intergroup conflict between young Greek and Turkish Cypriots, less attention has been given to the enduring psychological impact of social fragmentation and the transmission of collective memory across generations. Building on the concept of postmemory and sociological frameworks of cultural trauma, this study explores how historical narratives are transmitted through family dynamics and societal mechanisms, influencing contemporary identity formation. Using reflexive thematic analysis, we analysed semi‐structured interviews with 10 Greek Cypriots and 10 Turkish Cypriots (between the ages of 19 and 30). Based on the analysis, the themes of Fragmented Family Communication and Biased Educational System were common to both communities, whereas the theme of Sport Events and Military Service as Vectors for Normalizing Discriminatory Beliefs was identified by Greek Cypriots. The findings suggest that generational dynamics operate as an active boundary‐policing system that maintains a ‘us vs. them’ mentality. The study highlights the need for tailored community interventions to address narrative transmission mechanisms and promote historical awareness and critical thinking among the youth, aiming for intergroup reconciliation and mitigating the rigid perpetuation of the communal divide.
ABSTRACT The emergence of new masculinity types challenges traditional norms, yet their societal reception remains unclear. This research investigates how men endorsing progressive masculinity (PM) traits are perceived by society, examining potential social consequences. Across four pre‐registered experiments ( Ntotal = 1272) conducted with adults from the UK via Profilic, we compared perceptions of PM and traditional masculinity (TM) along dimensions of warmth, competence, social distance and behaviours in various scenarios (e.g., work‐related fraud, sexual harassment, support for gender equality). Results consistently showed that PM targets led to greater positive perceived behavioural intentions (e.g., supporting gender equality, positive fatherhood) compared to the TM targets, whereas TM targets were linked to higher perceptions of negative behaviours (e.g., sexual harassment). Notably, participants' gender did not significantly influence these perceptions. Finally, emotional expressivity mediated the relationship between masculinity type and all outcomes. These findings demonstrate that endorsement of PM traits is generally perceived more favourably in society than TM traits, challenging assumptions about potential social penalties for progressive masculine behaviour.
ABSTRACT The decision to become childfree is increasingly visible in contemporary society, challenging traditional norms of reproduction and parenthood. In pronatalist contexts, where parenthood is regarded as normative and desirable, childfree individuals often encounter stigma and marginalisation. This study examines how the childfree position is discursively constructed on TikTok. The dataset comprised 88 TikTok videos and 440 associated comments posted under the hashtags #childfree and #childfreebychoice. The videos were transcribed, and the resulting textual data, together with comments, were analysed using thematic discourse analysis. The resulting themes represented two subject positions occupied by childfree TikTok users in relation to people who choose to have children: the responsible childfree individual who constructs childfreedom as moral and socially conscientious; and the enlightened childfree individual who constructs childfreedom as rational and autonomous. Together, these positions reveal how TikTok functions as a space where pronatalist narratives are both reinforced and contested. The findings highlight the persistence of stigma alongside emerging counter‐discourses that legitimise and empower the childfree identity. This research demonstrates social media's role in shaping contemporary understandings of reproductive choice and belonging.
ABSTRACT This systematic literature review, following PRISMA 2020 guidelines and registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024521082), examines the relationship between gender stereotypes and professional aspirations, interests and choices, identifying mediating variables. The review was conducted in three relevant databases in the field of social psychology (Scopus, Web of Science and PsycINFO) from January 2002 (the year of theorisation of the Stereotype Content Model [Fiske et al. 2002]) to January 2024. We included quantitative empirical studies conducted on adult populations and published in peer‐reviewed journals. A total of 30 studies were finally retained for the systematic analysis, after being assessed according to the guidelines of the quality assessment tool developed by Kmet (2004). In general, the included studies provide evidence of a significant association between gender stereotypes and career‐related variables. Many different mediating variables emerged, such as career self‐efficacy, life goals, performance‐related self‐esteem, anticipated work‐related success, individuals' sense of belonging to a specific occupational field, negative emotions and lifelong learning experiences. The present review presents both theoretical and practical implications. First, it offers a comprehensive overview of the relationship between gender stereotypes and the professional domain, with patterns that appear particularly salient among women. Second, the results suggest that interventions aimed at promoting gender equality and deconstructing gender stereotypes could benefit both women and men, leading to more flexible and free career choices and increased opportunities for self‐fulfilment and well‐being in the workplace. To maximise the effectiveness of interventions, these could specifically target the mediating factors identified in the literature.
Gurkha veterans hold a celebrated yet marginalised position within the British military system, where longstanding inequalities continue to shape their post-service lives. Although Gurkha activism has become increasingly visible, little is known about how veterans themselves understand mental health within a prolonged struggle for justice. This study explores how Gurkha veterans experience and make sense of mental health through activism and justice. Using Narrative Inquiry, in-depth interviews were conducted with five Gurkha veterans involved in ongoing justice movements. Analysis generated three collective storylines: Stories of Awakening, Stories of Enduring, and Stories of Holding On. These narratives depicted distress as cumulative, moral, and intergenerational rather than as discrete episodes of trauma. Activism functioned simultaneously as an emotional burden and a source of healing, solidarity, and purpose. Spirituality, family ties, and ancestral meaning-making helped veterans maintain hope amid persistent injustice. This study provides a rare, culturally grounded psychological account of Gurkha veterans' mental health, showing how suffering and resilience are shaped by colonial histories and the emotional demands of activism. The findings highlight the need for trauma-informed support that recognises activism as a significant context for both vulnerability and wellbeing. Future research should include wider Gurkha perspectives and develop community-led approaches to justice, healing, and mental health.
Social psychology has classically attributed discrimination towards marginalized groups to explicit forms of bias and blatant ideological orientations. However, discrimination can also manifest in passive forms, such as indifference, which may be equally harmful. This study proposes and validates a new measure of ideological indifference: the Ideological Indifference Scale (IIS). We conceptualize indifference as an ideologically motivated belief system that enables individuals to maintain a psychological distance from social injustices while supporting the status quo and a conservative group identity. A total of 434 participants completed an anonymous self-report questionnaire, which included the IIS and other measures designed to assess the scale's convergent and discriminant validity. The results of exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses confirmed that ideological indifference is best represented as a unidimensional construct. The IIS shows significant correlations with other theoretically related variables, supporting its convergent and discriminant validity. On a theoretical level, ideological indifference helps explain how intergroup tensions escalate, highlighting the role of passive bystanders in enabling discrimination. Developing a valid and reliable measure of ideological indifference could enrich models of political conservatism and anti-democratic attitudes. It could also provide a foundation for exploring how indifference relates to identities, values and morality. The IIS provides an empirical foundation for designing interventions aiming to counteract social indifference.
Environmental sensitivity has been associated with adolescents' pro-environmental behaviours. However, most studies have relied on variable-centred approaches and have not adequately addressed individual differences. The present study used a person-centred approach to examine whether climate change anxiety sequentially mediates the associations between environmental sensitivity profiles and adolescents' pro-environmental behaviours, and whether environmental locus of control moderates these pathways. A sample of 2916 adolescents completed measures of environmental sensitivity, climate change anxiety, environmental locus of control and pro-environmental behaviour. Latent profile analysis identified three environmental sensitivity profiles: high (69.3%), moderate (26.2%) and low (4.4%). Results showed that environmental sensitivity profiles were more directly associated with private-domain behaviours than with public-domain behaviours. Cognitive-emotional impairment mediated the association between sensitivity profiles and private-domain behaviours. For public-domain behaviours, cognitive-emotional impairment and functional impairment formed a sequential indirect pathway linking sensitivity profiles to behavioural outcomes and environmental locus of control moderated specific pathways in this model. Overall, these findings underscore the value of a person-centred approach for clarifying heterogeneity in environmental sensitivity and the underlying psychological mechanisms. The results offer practical implications for interventions aimed at reducing maladaptive climate change anxiety and strengthening adaptive environmental locus of control to promote adolescents' pro-environmental engagement.
ABSTRACT The project aimed to use arts‐based participatory research methods to explore the barriers and enablers to inclusion in transitional spaces for sanctuary seekers. The study engaged 12 members of a predominantly white, low‐income community and eight members of the sanctuary‐seeking community. Each group engaged in creative, participatory workshops, where clothing and textiles were used to elicit conversations about home, belonging and inclusion. The research involved 10 individuals from the third sector and local government in coastal communities (North‐west, UK) in order to understand their perspectives. Conventional content analysis revealed barriers to inclusion (e.g., language, stigma, mental health, systemic discrimination and misinformation). Creative methods were a powerful catalyst for building trust, reducing isolation and enhancing cohesion. Through a socioecological lens, the study proposed pathways for co‐producing community engagement between local and refugee communities. The findings highlighted the enabling quality of co‐created narratives in building trust, fostering empathy and challenging stereotypes amongst diverse communities. This paper contends that socioecological frameworks offer a compelling bridge between social and cultural divides by exploring the influence of individual, interpersonal, institutional and community‐level dynamics of community cohesion.
Organisational justice has become a well‐established part of the scientific literature, and the links between organisational justice and workplace outcomes have been the subject of numerous studies. Whilst organisational justice is recognised as a factor contributing to well‐being and performance, injustice produces detrimental effects. The research question arises as to whether organisational justice and injustice are opposite ends of the same dimension or two distinct concepts. This scoping review aims at clarifying this issue, which is crucial for developing specific and effective interventions aimed at improving worker mental health and organisational performance. Within the 186 sources of evidence that met the inclusion criteria, 25 provide direct insights about the conceptual structure or the distinction between justice and injustice. Additionally, 86 measurement scales were identified, which offer valuable information about justice/injustice operationalisation. This work reveals a scarcity of theorical foundation and empirical evidence that would allow for a clear answer as to whether justice and injustice are or are not two distinct concepts. Given the current state of knowledge, the conceptual structure of justice and injustice remains an underexplored subject of academic debate that warrants further investigation. Please refer to the Supplementary Material section to find this article’s .
In literature, social inclusion has been addressed both as an outcome and as a process. While its multidimensionality has been widely reckoned, a unique definition or classification of the dimensions representing its indicators and of those fostering such processes is still lacking. Therefore, this scoping review addresses this gap by deepening the indicators and predictors of social inclusion processes across 44 scientific sources. Sources were retrieved from PsycINFO and Scopus; publication dates ranged from January 2011 to June 2023. The results endeavour to summarise the main indicators and predictors categorised as (a) concrete indicators, (b) psychosocial indicators, (c) psychosocial predictors and (d) concrete predictors. Based on this, a model of social inclusion processes is proposed, and the theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
This paper proposes a critical framework that merges Critical Discursive Psychology (CDP) with Guy Debord's Society of the Spectacle to explicate the discourses surrounding digital technologies. Although CDP offers an analytic lens for examining how language constructs subjectivities, identities and ideological frameworks, it has yet to fully address the logics of commodification that characterise digital capitalism, where technologies are discursively framed, commodified and consumed as images of empowerment, productivity and well‐being. Drawing on Debord's critique of mediated social relations, this paper proposes a Debord‐influenced CDP that situates discursive practices within broader economies of visibility and performance. Through this synthesis, I argue that discourses of self‐care, digital innovation, agency and autonomy function both to legitimise neoliberal ideals and to obscure structural inequalities underpinning technological development. The paper highlights how this combined framework can be employed to analyse and reveal the ideological dilemmas, subject positions and interpretative repertoires that reinforce the spectacle of digital technologies and, in doing so, it can challenge psychology's complicity in reproducing these logics. Through the integration of discursive micro‐analysis with Debord's macro‐critical lens, this approach advances a politically attuned methodology for examining the intersection of language, technology and power in contemporary digital culture.
This work examines how feminist identity influences support for collective actions that promote intergroup allyship between cis-heterosexual and LBTIQA+ women, as well as preferences for how this alliance is represented (as one-group or as a coalition). We analyse individual perceptions of both cis-heterosexual and LBTIQA+ women regarding the intergroup allyship building between these two groups. Furthermore, we analyse three underlying mechanisms of the relation between feminist identification and pro-alliance collective actions or alliance type preferences: perceived intergroup common goals, similarities, and differences. Across four correlational studies (N = 1249), feminist identification was positively associated with intentions to engage in pro-alliance collective actions in most samples. This association was mediated primarily by perceived common goals and similarities. Common goals predicted preferences for representation as a coalition, whereas perceived similarities were also related to preference for a one-group representation (for both cis-heterosexual and LBTIQA+ women). Preference for a coalition was consistently associated with stronger pro-alliance action intentions across samples (Study 1a-2b), whereas preference for a one-group representation mobilized only cis-heterosexual women (Study 1a), as well as the preference for a representation as a coalition. These results highlight the importance of feminist identification, perceived common goals and similarities of the intergroup alliance as a coalition as mechanisms to enhance cooperation between LBTIQA+ and cis-heterosexual feminist women.
ABSTRACT In an era of rising affective polarization, intellectual humility (IH)—the non‐threatening awareness of one's own intellectual fallibility—is gaining increasing importance. In light of fragmented evidence on how IH can be cultivated, we conducted a systematic review of 24 empirical studies to identify psychological competencies underlying IH and effective interventions to promote it. We identify a set of competencies and interventions, organized along a framework distinguishing between cognitive, emotional and motivational dimensions. Key competencies include cognitive flexibility, emotional resilience and sustained motivation, while key interventions involve practices like reflective writing and self‐affirmation tasks. We propose an Integrative Ecosystem Model of Intellectual Humility where IH is enacted through a core psychological process we term Regulated Self‐Awareness , a dynamic process of monitoring and regulating one's internal states in relation to an intellectual matter. This core process is supported by a set of enabling conditions consisting of cognitive flexibility, emotional resilience and sustained motivation. The model conceptualizes IH not as a single trait but as a dynamic, whole‐person capacity enacted within an ecosystem. This core argument challenges a purely cognitive view, emphasizing that without foundational emotional and motivational competencies, the process of Regulated Self‐Awareness remains superficial or is blocked by defensiveness. The model offers educators and practitioners a roadmap for designing programmes that effectively cultivate intellectual humility to address societal challenges such as affective polarization. Please refer to the section to find this article's Community and Social Impact Statement.
The 2024 UK general election heralded the first change of government for 14 years. Based on social identity theory, we tested the IDEAS model to predict why supporters of different oppositional parties rejected the party in power. Previous tests of the IDEAS model had focused on attitudinal support and intentions for specific causes such as separatism, whereas the present study addressed its capacity to explain behaviour-voting for change-regardless of the (liberal-conservative) orientation of the party that the voter supported. We predicted that the relationship between group identity, collective relative deprivation, collective efficacy and voting for change should be mediated by social change beliefs. Group identification and deprivation should also predict subjective well-being. Unlike social change beliefs, well-being should not mediate effects on voting. Using a preregistered survey of voters for the four main political parties prior to and following the election (N = 593), structural equation modelling supported most of the paths in the model. Social change beliefs mediated effects on voting intention as well as voting, whereas well-being did not. The findings extend the scope of the IDEAS model to show why diverse sets of groups may pursue a shared objective of social change and bring about social and political transformations.
This study aimed to clarify the longitudinal relationship between social interaction and cognitive function in later life. Longitudinal data were analysed from a cohort of 340 older adults across three waves (2014-2020). We employed Bayesian Cross-Lagged Panel Models (CLPM) and Random-Intercept Cross-Lagged Panel Models (RI-CLPM) to examine the reciprocal association between the Index of Social Interaction (ISI) and cognitive impairment risk. Higher social interaction at baseline (T1, 2014) predicted a lower risk of later cognitive impairment. After partitioning out trait-like differences, a robust within-person protective effect remained: a positive deviation in an individual's social interaction at baseline (relative to their own average) significantly predicted a reduced risk of later cognitive impairment. Autoregressive effects of cognitive risk were primarily driven by between-person stability. No significant cross-lagged effects were observed for changes between later timepoints, potentially reflecting the impact of advanced ageing or the COVID-19 pandemic during the final wave. Proactively increasing social engagement in the young-old stage provides a significant protective effect against cognitive decline. These findings support social prescribing as a viable non-pharmacological strategy and emphasize that interventions targeting dynamic behavioural changes may be more effective than those focusing solely on baseline social status.
Sexual assault often has significant deleterious consequences for how people see themselves and how they are perceived by others. The purpose of this study was to explore how people make sense of their (social) identity following sexual assault. We sought to represent diverse experiences of sexual assault and broaden contemporary narratives. We interviewed 25 adults who had experienced sexual violence on their experiences of identity and subsequent mental health. Reflexive thematic analysis identified four overarching themes: (1) Trauma identities as resources for self-protection and self-preservation; (2) Ongoing social isolation: Narrowing of identities; (3) Lack of coherence across dimensions of identity; (4) The power of (re)connection: Reshaping and expanding identities. Findings suggest that how people relate to their identity in the aftermath of sexual violence is functional and agentic. However, the contemporary narratives surrounding sexual assault (including ongoing stigma) can isolate people from valued supports and prevent authentic enactment of identity. Positive social connections are fundamental to preventing against distress and building a holistic sense of self in the aftermath of trauma.
Social media is a central arena where Indigenous and minority populations negotiate cultural identity, belonging and wellbeing. For young Pacific men in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ), these digital spaces intersect with long-standing cultural expectations of masculinity, creating both opportunities for connection and risks to mental health. Although Pacific communities are among the most digitally engaged in NZ, they continue to face disproportionate mental health inequities, with Pacific men particularly shaped by cultural norms of service and provision. This study explored how social media influenced expressions of masculinity and wellbeing among young Pacific men, a group largely absent from current scholarship. A qualitative, phenomenological design was employed, guided by the talanoa method as a culturally grounded and dialogical approach. Fifty Pacific males aged 18-30 were recruited through universities, churches and community groups in Auckland, New Plymouth and Dunedin. Talanoa sessions were conducted in participant-chosen settings, audio-recorded, transcribed and analysed thematically. Two key themes emerged. Digital masculinity highlighted how platforms intensified pressures of financial performance, reinforced emotional suppression and fostered comparison cultures that undermined wellbeing. Digital shame showed how gossip, cultural taboos and stereotyping extended individual actions into communal reputations, producing collective embarrassment and fractured relationships. These findings reveal that online interactions among young Pacific men are deeply relational and culturally embedded, carrying significant implications for wellbeing. The study underscores the urgent need for Pacific-led digital wellbeing initiatives that recognise masculinity as culturally situated, addressing both the possibilities and risks of social media.
Interparental conflict could lead to long-term effects on offspring, increasing the likelihood of committing intimate partner violence, such as psychological violence and digital monitoring. This study aimed to classify different interparental conflict patterns based on frequency, intensity, and threat perception and to test the association between these profiles and emotional dysregulation. Three hundred six young adults aged 23-35 (M = 27.34, SD = 3.52) in heterosexual romantic relationships participated. Data were analysed utilizing latent profile analysis (LPA) to detect patterns of interparental conflict. Subsequently, a mediation model was tested to explore how parental conflict profiles are associated with psychological violence and digital monitoring, with emotion regulation difficulties mediating the relationship. The LPA results revealed five profiles: 1. low conflict; 2. moderate conflict, high threat; 3. high frequency, low threat; 4. moderate intensity and threat, high frequency; 5. high conflict. Findings showed that, compared to Profile 3, all profiles, except Profile 5, had a significant indirect effect, via emotion regulation, on both psychological violence and digital monitoring. The study suggests strategies to enhance emotional regulation and interventions to assist parents in managing their conflicts.
