This Book of Abstracts presents the contributions to the 6th EFPSA Scientific Conference, “Drop in the Sea of Needs: Applied Psychology in Answer to Modern-Day Challenges”, held in Gdańsk, Poland, from 8th to 11th December 2025.
The negative association between mindfulness and burnout has been extensively demonstrated in the literature, but the mechanisms of this relationship are unclear. This study examined the mediating role of seven emotion regulation strategies between dispositional mindfulness and burnout. Data were collected from a professionally diverse German population via an online survey and analysed using mediation analysis. Results showed that dispositional mindfulness was inversely related to burnout symptoms, reinforcing previous research results. Mediation analysis showed that reduced rumination and increased acceptance partially mediated this relationship. Other strategies did not significantly mediate the relationship. The findings demonstrate that acceptance and reduced rumination may act as mediating mechanisms in the relationship between mindfulness and burnout. Future research should examine whether acceptance and reduced rumination pose distinct mechanisms of action.
In this research, an intervention programme was applied to increase students’ academic and university exam self-efficacy and decrease exam anxiety. Further, the relationship between self-efficacy beliefs, exam anxiety and sense of school belongingness (SSB) was investigated. For this purpose, high-school students (N = 129) completed an 11-weeks intervention programme applied and a questionnaire including demographic information (gender, socio-economic level), academic and university exam self-efficacy, exam anxiety, and SBC was distributed before and after the intervention. The results revealed that while students’ academic and university exam self-efficacy significantly increased, their exam anxiety significantly decreased after the intervention. Further, SSB and exam anxiety found to be predictors of self-efficacy beliefs. Limitations are discussed, and suggestions for future research were offered.
The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between personality traits, self-esteem, life satisfaction, and problematic social media use (PSMU) among young adults. The research was conducted among 616 young adults (70.3% females, 22.8±3.8 years). The measures used were the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale, Self-Liking/Self-Competence Scale, Personal Wellbeing Index, International Personality Item Pool short version, and Social Media Use scale. 94% of participants used social media for more than an hour on average daily. The estimated prevalence of PSMU was 1.6%. PSMU was positively correlated with gender and neuroticism, and negatively with age, extraversion, conscientiousness, intellect, self-liking, self-competence, and life satisfaction. Younger age, female gender, higher neuroticism, and lower personal well-being were significant predictors of PSMU.
Mind perception is the ability to infer the presence of a mind in other beings or non-living things (i.e., a tree, an animal, a robot) and make judgements about what "kind" of mind that being possesses. Research has shown that there is a dimensionality to the schema of mind perception, though the number of dimensions is debated. The present study aimed to explore the dimensions via a mind perception scale that measures participants’ perceptions of mental capacities (n = 181). The data was highly suited for factor analysis, so principal axis factoring and multiple criteria were used to find the retained factors. Findings suggest a two-dimensional model of mind perception, supporting the field’s landmark study by Gray et al. (2007).
This study aims to explain a statistically significant amount of variance between the constructs manipulativeness, impulsiveness, grit, and need for cognition (NfC) within Machiavellianism and psychopathy in order to provide insights into the cognitive processes involved in distinguishing between these Dark Triad personality traits. Applying a cross-sectional design, test subjects (N = 96) self-reported using the MACH-IV, SRP-III, NFC-S, and Grit Scale for Perseverance and Passion for Long-Term Goals. Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted, and only manipulativeness was found to have predictive qualities in terms of Machiavellianism. For psychopathy, only manipulativeness and impulsiveness were found to have predictive qualities. These results concur with the findings of previous studies and serve to preliminarily eliminate predictive variables NfC and grit within Machiavellianism and psychopathy.
Self-report surveys are popular among researchers due to their convenience and, recently, the need for social distancing. However, there is concern that surveys investigating sensitive topics, such as suicide, may cause distress or harm to participants. Iatrogenic harm is any negative effect caused by an instrument, intervention, or treatment. I conducted a scoping review of the studies investigating the potential for iatrogenic harm from survey research. Thirty-seven studies were included. Results indicate that for a small subset of participants, sensitive-topics research can cause some distress. Usually, these participants also report that their participation was important and display a willingness to participate further. However, more randomised controlled trials based on power analyses and using validated psychometric outcome measures are needed.
Objective: This systematic review aims to evaluate the quality of intervention studies assessing CBT-I in adult populations with PTSD. Specifically examining overall quality, specific design elements and trends over time. Method: n > 1 studies assessing CBT-I in adult populations with PTSD were included. The Randomized Controlled Trial - Psychotherapy Quality Rating Scale (RCT-PQRS) was used to evaluate study quality. Correlations between overall study quality and publication year were calculated. Results: Nine studies were included. Overall, study quality was rated as moderate. Six design elements were not addressed adequately in most studies. No significant correlation was found. Conclusions: The evidence base is of moderate quality. However, several specific design elements limit their conclusions. Strategies to minimize limitations are discussed.
A deeper understanding and promotion of moral personality is achieved by understanding egoism better. To this end, this study investigates the associations between prosocial personality and social exchange styles based on a range of egoistic and altruistic values. The study has a descriptive-correlational design. Sampling was conducted using multi-stage cluster sampling. Data were collected using the Protocol Personality Battery, Social Exchange Styles Questionnaire, and Portrait Values Questionnaire and analysed using stepwise multiple linear regression and multi-dimensional scaling. Our findings show that conflicting predictive values in some exchange styles, which are close to the prosocial personality, could represent an egoistic-altruistic spectrum in those styles that supported the research hypothesis.
Previous studies suggest that paranormal beliefs, cognitive processes, and psychotic-like experiences are correlated. To further explore this connection, research was conducted to examine whether paranormal beliefs were correlated with, or predicted by executive functioning, metacognition, delusions, and hallucinations. A convenience sample of 180 people completed five measures- evaluating paranormal beliefs, executive functioning deficits, metacognition awareness, delusions, and hallucinations. Prior to performing correlation and multiple regression analyses, the reliability of each measure was assessed. Findings revealed the significant positive correlations of paranormal beliefs with deficits in executive functioning, delusions, and hallucinations, whilst no significant correlation was found with metacognition. Regression analysis showed that delusions and hallucinations were significant predictors of paranormal beliefs. Concerning the relevant literature, these outcomes are debated.
Intergenerational trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and their effects are familiar to millions of people around the world. Broad sociological and systemic mechanisms continue to inflict trauma and reduce community healing by usurping access to curative cultural networks. This paper evaluates research showing that traditional therapies, although relevant to some demographics, are ineffectual or harmful when wrongfully applied to underrepresented groups. Diagnostic tools are similarly narrowly effective. Symptomatology should account for cultural differences, and therapy incorporating individual cultural beliefs should be more widely implemented. When personal spirituality and culture is encouraged throughout treatment protocols, individuals more successfully reach recovery. Practitioners are most helpful to this process as they work to personally understand their patients’ culture and spirituality.
This study tested for (mis)matching effects between affective and cognitive messages promoting breaks from sitting at home (H) and work (W) and attitude basis. Working adults (n=198) were randomised into an affective or cognitive message group and completed a pre- and post-message questionnaire assessing overall, affective, and cognitive attitudes. The main outcome was change in attitudes towards breaks (H/W). Participants with weak-to-strong affective attitudes and moderate-to-strong cognitive attitudes showed greater attitude change (H) after exposure to the matching message, but not participants with weaker attitude bases. No (mis)matching effect was found for attitude change (W). This study suggests that the need to match messages to attitude basis may depend on how strong the attitude basis is and the decision-making context.
COVID-19 vaccinations are an effective countermeasure for the pandemic if a high proportion of the population is vaccinated (Lau, 2021). To reach those who do not want to be vaccinated, the investigation of their characteristics is of high importance. In the present study (N = 467), we examined COVID-19 vaccine accepting and hesitant individuals for possible differences in their Big Five personality traits and sub-facets. Vaccine accepting individuals were more agreeable than hesitant individuals. Furthermore, accepting individuals showed higher levels of altruism (a sub-facet of agreeableness) and lower levels of depression (a sub-facet of neuroticism) than hesitant individuals. No other differences were observed. Our study and previous literature suggest that personality does not impact, or only weakly impacts, the willingness to get vaccinated against COVID-19. We discuss other factors that might determine vaccine hesitancy.
Research has documented how music training boosts executive functioning and that a similar intervention called music therapy has been associated with a reduction in symptoms of Attention–Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This paper reviews the evidence on whether music training has the potential to improve two executive functions—attentional control and inhibitory control—in children with ADHD. As the research on how music training affects children with ADHD is limited, studies on the benefits of music training for similar neurodiverse conditions and the effect of music training on attention and inhibition in neurotypical individuals were reviewed. This data could act as preliminary evidence for how music training may benefit children with ADHD, but further research must involve these children to confirm that these findings apply to them.
Mild to moderate depression (MMD) is becoming a health burden due to its increasing prevalence. Current treatment options are not effective in all patients. Hence, researchers have studied herbal options. It has emerged in research that saffron can be used for the treatment of MMD due to its anti-depressant properties. This literature review focussed on the treatment of MMD by comparing saffron to placebo and current antidepressants. Overall, research has shown that saffron reduces depression rating scores, but little is known about its safety and toxicity. Thus, this literature review concluded that there is inconsistent evidence to recommend saffron for the treatment of MMD. Further research is of high clinical need to resolve the growing burden of MMD.
How do media reports about the Covid-19 pandemic influence our mood? Building on the social comparison theory, we predicted that reading negative news affecting a similar group would result in an impaired mood. In contrast, reading negative news about a dissimilar group should lead to an improved mood. To test this, 150 undergraduate students read positive or negative news about the well-being of a similar or dissimilar group during the pandemic. As predicted, a mood assimilation effect occurred for similar groups, whilst a contrast effect occurred for a dissimilar group. The findings suggest that media reports can have a strong impact on mood. The direction of these effects, however, seems to depend strongly on social comparison processes.
Background: Given the diversity that exists within youth mental health there is an ongoing concern that standardised evidence-based responses are not effectively addressing the levels of psychological distress experienced by some youth. It is becoming more evident in the use of crisis mental health services that alternative clinical pathways that consider the impact of developmental trajectories, subjective, social, and cultural beliefs on psychological distress are imperative.Aim: This mixed method review sought to find effective Personalised Interventions (PIs) within Europe and the UK that could highlight an alternative pathway for youth accessing a mental health service.Methods: Empirically supported psychological interventions tailored to a youth or youth subgroup, modified modular psychological interventions, psychological interventions to target youth environments, and qualitative research that can inform or equate to a PI were searched in two large databases and then cross synthesised.Results: 21 studies met inclusion criteria. Nine quantitative studies had attendance rates of 82-89% and significant treatment outcomes. All 12 qualitative studies showed evidence of engagement and treatment outcome themes.Conclusion: PIs in this review evidence engagement and treatment effectiveness but may be underutilised for hard to reach and culturally diverse youth in Europe and the UK.
Regulatory mode theory distinguishes between two components, or modes, of effective self-regulation: locomotion and assessment. Locomotion refers to psychological state-to-state movement. Assessment refers to goal evaluation and means of goal achievement. The primary aim of this review is to synthesize the cognitive, neural, and social aspects and underpinnings of regulatory mode theory. This review also explores implications of regulatory mode theory on well-being and decision-making within and among groups and individuals. With an integrative research approach on the mechanisms and implications of regulatory mode theory across multiple domains and levels of analysis, we suggest new research directions by exposing lapses in the literature and by providing a foundation for novel explorations of regulatory mode theory.
As ‘cognitive misers’, humans often fall prey to substitution bias, whereby a difficult problem is mentally substituted for an easier one. A quasi-experimental study was conducted to explore individual differences in vulnerability to substitution bias. Results demonstrate that studying Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects, and spending more time on the problem correlates to a reduced likelihood of substitution bias. However, there was no interaction between studying STEM and time spent solving the problem on the likelihood of substitution bias. We discuss the possibility that education-related increases in mathematical or logical thinking skills engage the effortful and slow aspects of dual-process systems of human cognition.
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