This study integrates uncertainty-identity theory, significance quest theory, and goal systems theory to examine the influence of integrative complexity (IC) on radicalism through uncertainty tolerance as a mediator. Identity certainty and significance are conceptualized as goals, while radicalism is viewed as a means to achieve them. We test the role of intolerance of uncertainty as a mediator of the influence of IC on radicalism. A survey of 292 Muslim respondents in Indonesia revealed that IC does not have a direct effect on radicalism (p = 0.857) but exerts an indirect effect through intolerance of uncertainty (Sobel test, p = 0.015). IC negatively predicts intolerance of uncertainty (β = − 0.402; p = 0.044), and lower intolerance of uncertainty is associated with lower levels of radicalism (β = 0.110; p = 0.007). These findings highlight the critical role of tolerance of uncertainty as a mediator in the relationship between IC and radicalism. We also conducted a qualitative study by interviewing several former terrorist prisoners to gain insight into the cognitive mechanisms involved in their experiences.The results of this qualitative study confirmed the theory and findings of the quantitative study. Practically, enhancing IC and tolerance of uncertainty through education is recommended as a strategy to prevent radicalism.
Very seldom in the life of a scholar is there an opportunity to reflect on one’s writing of some 50 years past. What was communicated, what were the repercussions, and where were the blind spots? This is first to express my appreciation to Girishwar Misra, whom I have long admired and whose friendship I cherish, for inciting discussion of my Gergen (1973) essay, “Social Psychology as History.” The essay has enjoyed continuing interest and a generous number of citations over the years, and there was a certain drama that “an insider experimentalist” at the time, turned on his discipline to challenge its viability. However, there is much more to the story of the essay and its ramifications, and I am deeply indebted to the contributors of the present issue of Psychological Studies for their caring attention to these.
This special section of Psychological Studies is focused on exploring the impact of Kenneth J. Gergen’s article titled “Social Psychology as History” published in 1973 in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, and on the developments in social psychology since the article was published. Colleagues from Europe, South Africa, North America, and Asia have shared their thoughts on the diverse developments in social psychology. The eight commentaries were presented to Gergen for his views, and he shared his reflections on these commentaries. Taken together, the contributions bring into focus the significance of history in advancing social psychological discourse and deliberations.
The overuse of interactive technology, particularly for entertainment, can be detrimental to adolescent development. It is critical to understand what adolescents, and in which context, are at risk for high levels of interactive technology use for entertainment. This study investigated the effects of cumulative risk factors and risk factors in particular domains (e.g., socioeconomic, family, and parenting risk) on adolescents’ interactive technology use for entertainment and whether academic persistence moderated these effects. Two-wave survey data were collected from a nationally representative sample of 10,750 middle school students in China (54.9
Most previous research on maltreated children has concentrated on the negative symptoms they displayed during the abuse and the lifelong mental effects. This study identified positive factors that aided children in achieving functional lives. Resilience research emphasizes the significance of focusing on assets that contribute to wellbeing rather than vulnerabilities. Child abuse is a social problem in most nations. This study aimed at understanding the resilience process of children subjected to abuse from the perspectives of 16 experienced psychologists and 16 experienced social workers working at the Child Protection Services, Mauritius. The participants were interviewed using a semi-structured interview schedule via WhatsApp. Thematic analysis of the data revealed that children overcame the trauma of abuse with the help of protective factors at the individual, family, school, community, and structural levels. The findings could guide future research and policies and aid in developing therapeutical treatments by focusing on a strength-based approach for vulnerable children.
Entrepreneurship plays a critical role in generating employment and driving economic recovery from major disruptions and crises. Still, the factors influencing the entrepreneurial intention of youth are underexplored in post-pandemic research in India. Hence, the present study aims to explore the impact of psychological traits: self-efficacy, innovativeness, risk-taking propensity, need for achievement, and tolerance of ambiguity on the entrepreneurial intention of Indian engineering students and examine the moderating role of family background. The analytical strategy, based on a sample size of 220 students, includes descriptive, hierarchical multiple regression, and moderation analyses. The outcomes exhibited a significant positive relationship between psychological traits and students’ entrepreneurial intentions. Further, findings revealed that family background significantly moderates the relationship between risk-taking propensity and entrepreneurial intentions, the relationship between need for achievement and entrepreneurial intentions, and the relationship between tolerance of ambiguity and entrepreneurial intentions. However, in the case of innovativeness and self-efficacy, the moderation effect was insignificant. The study offers several theoretical and practical implications for researchers, entrepreneurship educators, practicing and potential entrepreneurs, and public policy makers accountable for developing an entrepreneurial ecosystem in the country.
Resilience is the ability to cope with stress and adversities of life. Research has demonstrated a relationship between being an orphan and its negative consequences, however fewer studies have examined the resilience of orphans and identified its mechanisms. This study aimed to examine the role of emotional intelligence in the relationship between personality traits and resilience. A cross−sectional design was employed in the research, which was conducted with 317 institutionalized orphans, ages ranging from 13 to 18 years old. NEO five−factor inventory−3 was used to assess personality traits, Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire; Adolescent Short Form scale and Connor−Davidson resilience scale were used to determine both emotional intelligence and resilience, respectively. Descriptive statistics, correlation, and process mediation were used for the analyses of the study. The results of the study revealed that emotional intelligence mediates the relationship between personality traits and resilience of orphans.
Emotional intelligence and psychological needs are considered as important psychological variables. However, no previous study has examined the relationship between these variables in relation to new emerging addictions such as Instagram addiction. Therefore, the present study was conducted to examine the relationship between basic psychological needs and Instagram addiction by examining the mediating role of emotional intelligence. Using a multistage cluster sampling method, an online survey was completed by university students in Mashhad. After deleting those with incomplete data and outliers, 640 participants remained for analysis. The results showed a negative and significant relationship between relatedness and Instagram addiction (p < 0.05), but no significant relationship was found between autonomy and competence (p > 0.05). There was a positive significant relationship between all three components of basic psychological needs and emotional intelligence (p < 0.01). There was also a negative significant relationship between emotional intelligence and Instagram addiction (p < 0.01). The results of the model also showed that all three components of basic needs had a negative significant relationship with Instagram addiction and that emotional intelligence had a mediating role (p < 0.01). The results showed that the emotional intelligence played a mediating role in the relationship between basic psychological needs and Instagram addiction. By training emotional intelligence, it is possible to enhance mental health and well-being which may help prevent addictive behaviors (such as Instagram addiction).
The study advances flow at work and self-determination literature by exploring the relationship between self-leadership and employee thriving. We examined whether the flow at work mediates the relationship between self-leadership and employee thriving. Further, the mediating role of flow at work between self-leadership and job satisfaction was also evaluated. The theoretical model was tested with cross-sectional data collected from 260 working professionals using the structural equation modeling technique. The results indicated that flow at work mediates the relationship between self-leadership and employee thriving. Additionally, results supported the hypothesized relationship between self-leadership and job satisfaction, mediated by flow at work. Our results held firm while controlling for age, tenure, and employment type for our hypothesized model. The study was one of the initial inquiries examining the role of self-determination strategies in facilitating flow at work. Further, the research reported here also examined the indirect role of self-leadership on employee thriving and job satisfaction. The research paper established strong empirical evidence on how employees can proactively enhance their learning, feel energetic, and feel contented in the workplace.
Mindful parenting supports within-family functioning, including parent–child relationships, which may promote positive child outcomes. In the present study, we examined the contributions of mindful parenting and parent–child relationships (positive and negative aspects) to children’s executive function. The study sample consisted of 354 children (192 girls) between 31 and 101 months (M = 66.65, SD = 15.88) and their parents from relatively low socioeconomic backgrounds. Parents reported mindful parenting, parent–child relationships, and children’s executive function. Findings from the structural equation model indicated that higher levels of mindful parenting and positive parent–child relationships were associated with higher levels of children’s executive function. In contrast, a negative parent–child relationship was related to lower levels of executive function. Additionally, mindful parenting was indirectly related to children’s executive function through the parent–child relationship. Findings from the current study underlined the importance of mindful parenting for both parent–child relationships and children’s executive function. In detail, parents who are better at being present with their children and utilizing mindful discipline may exhibit more warmth and supportive relationships with their children. Consequently, positive relationships could lead children to display higher cognitive abilities, including executive function.
The purpose of the present study was to assess the mediational role of fear of COVID-19 in the association of meaning of life and life expectancy with death obsession. A study of 488 Iranians using the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale, Meaning in Life Questionnaire, Hope Scale, and Death Obsession Scale found significant differences in fear of COVID-19 based on age category, but not on gender, marital status, and educational attainment. The findings showed that meaning of life did not have a significant effect (Beta = − 0.065, t = 0.991, p = 0.322) on the fear of COVID-19. Life expectancy significantly influenced (Beta = − 0.108, t = 1.991, p = 0.047) the fear of COVID-19. The meaning of life had a notable impact on death obsession (Beta = − 0.132, t = 2.089, p = 0.037), while life expectancy also showed a significant influence (Beta = − 0.225, t = 3.359, p = 0.01) on death obsession. The fear of COVID-19 greatly influenced (Beta = 0.223, t = 5.191, p = 0.001) obsession with death. The indirect impact of life meaning via fear of COVID-19 was not a significant factor (Beta = − 0.015, t = 0.970, p = 0.332) on death obsession, and the indirect effect of life expectancy through fear of COVID-19 also showed no significant effect (Beta = − 0.024, t = 1.690, p = 0.092) on death obsession.
Health psychology is an expanding field that examines multiple vantage factors influencing health and illness. While traditionally shaped by Western models, this discipline increasingly recognizes the importance of cultural diversity and context-specific approaches. This review focuses on Meena Hariharan’s Textbook of Health Psychology, which adeptly integrates Indian health philosophies with Western methodologies, offering a culturally nuanced understanding of health psychology. The textbook provides a comprehensive framework, covering topics such as positive and risky health behaviours, chronic illness, resilience, and pain management, through eleven structured chapters. Notably, it incorporates insights from Ayurveda alongside modern psychological theories, bridging Eastern and Western perspectives. The review highlights the book’s strengths in content organization, accessibility, and practical applicability for students, researchers, and practitioners, while also suggesting areas for enhancement, such as expanded discussions on psychological contributors to health conditions and emerging health issues in India. This review underscores the significance of health psychology as a multidisciplinary field within the Indian context, advocating for its role in addressing India’s diverse healthcare needs through culturally informed approaches.
Individuals often approach ethical issues from a bystander’s perspective, focusing solely on the event itself while neglecting the underlying psychological processes that drive immoral behaviors. This study examined the relationship between guilt, shame, and moral disengagement, with the aim of providing insights for how these factors may influence immoral behaviors. A sample of 477 Chinese undergraduates completed measures of guilt, shame, and moral disengagement. Results revealed a significant positive correlation between guilt and shame, with guilt negatively predicting moral disengagement. Moreover, guilt exerted a dual effect on moral disengagement: it directly reduced moral disengagement, while indirectly increasing it by positively influencing shame. This competitive mediation effect reflects the bidirectional psychological mechanism through which guilt operates in the process of moral regulation.
Relative deprivation derives from a social comparison of individuals or groups discovering that they are inferior to others. Though the link between subjective well-being and relative deprivation has been well documented, the link between some important dimensions of subjective well-being and relative deprivation has been less investigated. To investigate the inner mechanism of relative deprivation, 421 individuals were surveyed by using the Materialism Values Scale, the Personal Relative Deprivation Scale and the Subjective Well-Being Scale. The results were as follows: (1) Materialism positively predicted relative deprivation; (2) mental relaxation played a partial mediating role between materialism and relative deprivation; and (3) emotion regulation moderated the first half pathway of mental relaxation as a mediating effect. The higher the level of emotion regulation, the greater the predictive effect of materialism on mental relaxation. The results revealed a significant effect of individual materialism on relative deprivation, which has important theoretical and practical significance for reduce individual’s relative deprivation.
This study aims to develop a tool to measure planetary health responsibility and awareness, assess the core structure, and examine psychometric properties in the developed instrument. The instrument is developed and validated through a variety of techniques, including reliability and validity testing, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), item writing, and content validation. The study comprised 903 participants in all. IBM SPSS 23 was used for the EFA, and AMOS 21 was used for the CFA. The outcome was a single-factor, nine-item scale. The Cronbach alpha of the Planetary Health Responsibility and Awareness Scale (PHRAS) was found to be 0.88. The scale correlates positively with health consciousness and the new ecological paradigm, substantiating convergent validity. The PHRAS thus serves as a foundational tool for understanding individual and collective awareness of planetary health issues and informing educational initiatives and policy-making to foster sustainable practices.
The present research examined the association between the vividness about future-self (VFS) and perseverance by evaluating a moderated mediation model that explored how joyous exploration mediated the linkage between VFS and perseverance and how stress tolerance moderated this mediated relationship. Data were gathered from 302 Indian working professionals from manufacturing and service industries. PLS-SEM analysis showed that VFS has a positive impact on perseverance and joyous exploration fully mediates this relation. Furthermore, moderated mediation analysis revealed that high levels of stress tolerance weaken not only the effect of VFS on joyful exploration but also dampen the indirect effect of vividness of future-self on perseverance of efforts. These findings contribute to the understanding of the predictors of the perseverance of efforts among Indian executives through illuminating the underlying mediating and moderating factors.
The unrestricted internet access among adolescents is a growing global concern due to its association with problematic internet use (PIU), which adversely affects cognitive, emotional, and behavioural domains. This study examines the prevalence of PIU among Indian school students, its relationship with self-esteem, and the mediating role of coping strategies, alongside the influence of gender and meditation practice. Data from 1,000 participants (48.9
Volunteers can help to reduce social isolation in patients with psychosis. However, little is known about the role of patient attachment style in the relationships established between patients and volunteers. This mixed methods study, using a convergent parallel design, aimed to investigate these relationships, and whether patient attachment style affects them. The sample size for both qualitative and quantitative analysis was 34. The Scale to Assess Therapeutic Relationship (Patient and Volunteer versions) and the Revised Adult Attachment Scale were used to investigate the therapeutic relationships and attachment styles. The Spearman’s Rho test revealed a moderate positive correlation between the ratings of the therapeutic relationship of volunteers and patients (r = 0.538, p = 0.032). No significant influence was found of patient attachment style on the relationship with the volunteers [close attachment (r = 0.39, p = 0.16), dependent attachment (r = 0.12, p = 0.66), and anxious attachment (r = − 0.23, p = 0.4)]. Thematic analysis was conducted on the end of study semi-structured interviews. Seven themes were found: support in the patient-volunteer relationship, trust in the volunteer, impact of the relationship on patients and volunteers, communication between patients and volunteers, attitudes towards the relationship between patients and volunteers, traits of a secure attachment style, and traits of an insecure attachment style. No influence was found between patient attachment style and patient-volunteer relationship. Given the brief intervention, further research is required to investigate these phenomena in greater depth.
