Introduction Controlled psychobiotic trials suggest fermented foods may influence mental health via the microbiota-gut-brain axis. However, whether habitual consumption of diverse fermented foods in real-world Southeast Asian settings is associated with psychological symptoms remains unclear. This study examined the association between fermented food intake and depression, anxiety, and stress among Malaysian university students. Methods A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 212 undergraduates at a public university in Malaysia. Fermented food intake, including traditional and commercial products, was assessed using a culturally adapted food frequency questionnaire and converted to servings/week. Psychological symptoms were measured using the validated Malay DASS-21. Multivariable logistic regression estimated adjusted Odds Ratios (aOR) for moderate-to-extremely severe symptoms per additional serving/week and across intake quartiles, adjusting for sociodemographic and health-related factors. Results Median fermented food intake was 2.0 servings/week. In fully adjusted models, intake was not significantly associated with moderate-to- extremely severe depression (aOR 1.04, 95% CI 0.92-1.16), anxiety (aOR 1.04, 95% CI 0.95-1.13), or stress (aOR 0.87, 95% CI 0.65-1.05). Quartile and spline analyses showed no consistent dose-response relationship. Discussion These findings suggest that typical real-world consumption of heterogeneous fermented foods may not replicate the psychobiotic effects observed in controlled intervention studies. Variability in microbial composition, modest intake levels, and non-clinical population context may limit detectable associations. Conclusion Habitual fermented food intake was not independently associated with psychological symptom severity in this Southeast Asian university sample, highlighting the need for culturally specific and mechanistically informed research in nutritional psychiatry.
Introduction/Objective Relational aggression and victimization are important forms of peer violence during adolescence. However, how these behaviors evolve over time and the specific roles of maternal versus paternal psychological control remain poorly understood. This study examined prospective reciprocal associations among perceived maternal and paternal psychological control, relational aggression, and relational victimization in a sample of Chilean adolescents. Methods This three-wave longitudinal study involved students in Grades 7-9. The study included 530 participants at Wave 1, 474 at Wave 2, and 458 at Wave 3. Full information maximum likelihood (FIML) was employed to retain all available data under the missing-at-random assumption. Baseline ages ranged from 11 to 15 years (M = 12.68, SD = 0.82). Of these, 47% identified as female, 50% as male, and 3% as another gender. Adolescents reported on perceived maternal and paternal psychological control, as well as relational aggression and victimization. A cross-lagged panel model (CLPM) was used to examine longitudinal associations. Results Results showed reciprocal prospective associations between relational victimization (RV) and relational aggression (RA), such that higher levels of one construct were associated with higher subsequent levels of the other. Paternal psychological control (PPC) was linked to higher subsequent levels of RV, and RV was also associated with a small subsequent increase in perceived PPC. Additionally, maternal psychological control (MPC) showed a negative prospective association with later victimization, although this finding should be interpreted cautiously. Discussion Peer dynamics played a central role in the longitudinal coupling between relational aggression and victimization, whereas perceived PPC showed a specific prospective association with later victimization. Conclusion Prevention efforts should address aggression and victimization jointly and incorporate parent-focused components aimed at reducing psychologically intrusive parenting practices, particularly those perceived by adolescents as PPC.
Introduction/ Objective This study aimed to translate and validate the Malay version of the Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire-7 (CFQ-7-M) among Malay-speaking, Malaysian university students. The CFQ-7 measures cognitive fusion, a key ACT process that reflects the extent to which individuals become entangled with their thoughts and treat them as literal truths, which contribute to psychological inflexibility and emotional distress. Methods The questionnaire was translated using a rigorous forward-backward protocol, followed by pilot testing. Then, a total of 220 participants completed the CFQ-7-M, the Malay Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (AAQ-II-M), and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). Internal consistency reliability, Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), convergent validity, and measurement invariance across gender were examined. Results The CFQ-7-M demonstrated excellent internal consistency (α = 0.936; ω = 0.937; GLB = 0.956). CFA supported a unidimensional structure, with strong incremental fit (CFI = 0.998, TLI = 0.997) and low residual misfit (SRMR = 0.039), although RMSEA was elevated (0.102). Standardized factor loadings were strong, ranging from 0.796 to 0.901. Convergent validity was supported by strong correlations with AAQ-II-M (Spearman ρ = 0.788; Pearson r = 0.788) and moderate-to-strong correlations with depression, anxiety, and stress (all p < 0.001). Measurement invariance across gender was also established. Discussion The findings support the cross-cultural applicability of the CFQ-7-M. However, the elevated RMSEA warrants cautious interpretation, and further validation in more diverse clinical and community samples is needed. Conclusion The CFQ-7-M is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing cognitive fusion among Malay-speaking Malaysian university students and shows potential for broader use in Malay-speaking populations.
Introduction The relationship between inflammatory markers and depression has been widely debated. C-reactive protein (CRP) is a candidate biomarker for studying such an association. We aim to measure the CRP levels of treatment-naive major depressive disorder (MDD) patients and compare them with those of previously treated MDD patients. Methods This is a cross-sectional study. We recruited 120 patients with MDD; 47 (39.2%) were medication-naïve, while 73 (60.8%) had a history of receiving medication. High-sensitivity CRP in peripheral venous blood was assessed. Subjects were assessed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID-I), the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), and the Somatic Symptom Scale-8 (SSS-8). Results Our results show a statistically significant difference between the two groups in serum CRP levels, with the drug-naïve group having a significantly lower mean CRP level than the group receiving medication. The CRP level was positively correlated with both the number of episodes ( p = 0.006) and the duration of illness ( p = 0.015) in MDD. However, it was not significantly correlated with depression severity or any of its clinical phenotypes. Discussion These findings may suggest an underlying pathology of depression that could be either related to the natural course of depressive episodes or a response to antidepressant treatments. Conclusion This study is one of the few studies to observe a significant difference in the level of CRP in treatment-naïve depressed patients in comparison to those who receive medications. Although the above data are preliminary, the significance of this finding warrants further investigation and replication.
Introduction/Objective Authentic leadership is increasingly recognized as a predictor of innovative work behavior, yet the psychological mechanisms and boundary conditions underlying this relationship remain fragmented across isolated empirical studies. This systematic review aims to synthesize the relationship between authentic leadership and innovative work behavior, identify the mediating mechanisms and moderating boundary conditions, and propose an integrative multi-theoretical framework. Methods Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a systematic search of Scopus, Web of Science, Wiley Online Library, and APA PsycNet identified 20 studies published between 2020 and 2025. Study quality was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal checklists. Narrative thematic synthesis organized findings through three complementary theoretical lenses: Social Exchange Theory, Social Identity Theory, and Person-Environment Fit Theory. Results The large majority of studies reported a significant positive association between authentic leadership and innovative work behavior. Twelve mediating variables were organized into three clusters: relational mechanisms (leader-member exchange, identification with leader, employee loyalty, employee creativity), psychological resource mechanisms (proactive personality, psychological capital, flow at work, psychological empowerment), and contextual alignment mechanisms (work engagement, innovation climate, readiness for change, work-family enrichment). Four moderating variables were identified, revealing substitution and enhancement patterns. Discussion The integrative framework demonstrates that no single theory adequately explains the relationship between authentic leadership and innovative work behavior. The predominantly cross-sectional evidence base and same-source self-report measures represent important methodological limitations that qualify the strength of causal inferences. Conclusion Authentic leadership is consistently associated with innovative work behavior through multiple complementary pathways. Future research should employ longitudinal and multi-source designs to validate the proposed framework.
