Background Mental contrasting with implementation intentions (MCII) is a self-regulation strategy aimed at increasing the effectiveness of goal attainment. It is based on the generation of mental representations related to a planned activity and potential obstacles to its execution, as well as the formation of plans for overcoming these obstacles. Participants and procedure To verify the effectiveness of an online MCII intervention in increasing physical activity, two randomized controlled trials were conducted among physically active people. In both studies, indicators of physical activity, sports training self-efficacy, sport engagement, and physical activity-related positive and negative affect were assessed. Measurements were conducted at three time points: before the intervention, one week after its completion, and two weeks following the intervention. Participants were randomly assigned to either an experimental (MCII) or a control group. The final sample in Study 1 included 59 students whose goal was to increase their daily step count, and in Study 2, 112 individuals who trained at a gym and aimed to increase the amount of time spent on aerobic training. Results No statistically significant effects of the MCII online intervention were observed in either Study 1 or Study 2. The results revealed no statistically significant differences between groups, nor any pre- to post-intervention changes in the experimental group across any of the measured variables. Conclusions The findings from these two studies provide further evidence regarding the application and limitations of online MCII interventions among physically active individuals.
Background Dark Triad traits have been associated with a range of both adaptive and maladaptive outcomes. Subclinical narcissism, in particular, is associated with self-confidence and effective coping strategies that may enhance psychological functioning. Mental toughness, encompassing cognitive, emotional, and motivational processes, is a key mechanism through which personality traits may influence resilience. Participants and procedure The current study aimed to examine the relationships among Dark Triad traits, mental toughness, and resilience in a sample of 319 Serbian university students (28% male, 72% female; mean age = 22.23, SD = 2.48). Participants completed online measures of Dark Triad traits, mental toughness, and resilience via a Google Forms survey during the first half of 2025, a period of student protests and educational disruption. Mental toughness was assessed with the MTQ-18, resilience with the Resilience Scale, and Dark Triad traits with the Short Dark Triad. Results Subclinical narcissism was positively associated with both mental toughness (r = .32, p < .01) and resilience (r = .32, p < .01), while Machiavellianism and psychopathy showed no significant associations. Regression analyses indicated that only narcissism was significantly associated with both outcomes. Mediation analysis using bootstrapping indicated a significant indirect effect of narcissism on resilience through mental toughness (B = 0.17, BootSE = 0.03, 95% CI [0.12, 0.23]), suggesting that mental toughness may account for the association between narcissism and resilience. Conclusions Our findings highlight the potentially adaptive potential of subclinical narcissism. In contrast, Machiavellianism and psychopathy were not significantly associated with adaptive functioning, underscoring the differential roles of Dark Triad traits in relation to psychological outcomes. Future research should examine how these traits may interact with adaptive functioning and maladaptive outcomes.
Background People management constitutes a fundamental pillar of an organization. It is crucial for organizational success and the creation of efficient teams. The tool described here, along with its construction and psychometric properties, aims to explore aspects of management, focusing primarily on the so-called personal activity styles employed by leaders. Participants and procedure The study group consisted of 660 individuals. The mean length of work experience was over 8 years. The average number of employees reporting to the respondents was high, at nearly 294 individuals. The study was conducted at the turn of 2024/2025 and was mainly carried out on an individual basis, although some respondents completed it in groups in the training rooms of the respective organization. The entire procedure lasted approximately 20-25 minutes. Respondents were also asked to complete a short set of additional research instruments, including a demographic questionnaire, a personality-trait assessment, and a measure of social competence. Results It can be concluded that the Personal Activity Styles Questionnaire is a reliable instrument with satisfactory psychometric properties. Most of the Cronbach’s α values exceeded the recommended threshold of 0.8. Based on the consistency between the distribution of test items and the theoretical assumptions, the questionnaire demonstrated evidence of internal validity. The data confirm significant associations between the results of the PROKOS and scores on the NEO-FFI and the questionnaire. Conclusions The presented Personal Activity Styles Questionnaire is a reliable and valid tool that enables measurement of the intensity of personal activity styles, with a particular emphasis on social relations.
Background The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between personal characteristics and body mass index (BMI) and the role of problematic Instagram use and body esteem. Participants and procedure The study included 695 adolescents aged 14-18 years (526 females, M = 17.01, SD = 0.88). The following measures were used: the General Self-Esteem Scale (GSES), the Distress Scale, the Problematic Instagram Use Questionnaire, the Health Behavior Inventory, the Body Esteem Scale for Adolescents and Adults (BESAA), and body mass index (BMI). Results The results showed that problematic Instagram use mediated the relationship between distress and BMI. Additionally, body-esteem appearance and body-esteem weight mediated the relationships between distress, self-efficacy, and health behaviors and BMI. The mediating role of body-esteem attribution and problematic Instagram use was found in the relationships between distress, self-efficacy, and health behaviors and BMI. Conclusions The findings indicate that problematic Instagram use and the dimensions of body esteem play a key mediating role in the associations between distress, self-efficacy, health behaviors, and BMI. These results highlight the importance of addressing body image perceptions and social media use in interventions aimed at promoting healthy weight management and mitigating the negative impact of psychological distress on physical health. These findings can be used to develop workshops and educational programs on social networking sites for adolescents.
Background While individuals use generative artificial intelligence (GAI) to enhance their productivity, they may also develop psychological and behavioral over-reliance on these tools. Evaluating the extent of an individual’s dependence on GAI is crucial for conducting related research. Participants and procedure The research involved 627 participants. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to determine the construct validity of the scale. The results supported a structure consisting of four sub-dimensions and 19 items. The sub-dimensions are Usage Intensity, Content Dependence, Withdrawal Symptoms, and Negative Consequences. Results Confirmatory factor analysis indicated good model fit. Significant relationships were found with the GAI Dependence Scale, AI Dependence Scale (version of six items), and Behavioral Intention Scale during the analysis of the scale’s criterion validity. Cronbach’s α internal consistency, and the test-retest method were used to assess the reliability of the scale. Cronbach’s α internal consistency coefficient for the total score was found to be .92 for Sample 1 and .90 for Sample 2. Additionally, the test-retest reliability over a four-week interval yielded a coefficient of .81. Both coefficients are considered to indicate acceptable levels of reliability. Conclusions The scale is an effective and reliable tool for assessing individual dependence on GAI.
