BACKGROUND:Sex differences in psychosis pathoetiology are insufficiently understood. This study explores how childhood adversity (CA) and coping mechanisms relate to psychosis expression (PE) across males and females in the general population. METHODS:Data from the TwinssCan project (males: n = 312; females: n = 478) were used. The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire assessed CA domains. The Utrecht Coping List assessed coping strategies. Psychosis expression was assessed using the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (CAPE). Mixed linear regression analyses examined sex-stratified associations of CAPE scores with CA, coping strategies, and their interactions. RESULTS:Emotional abuse (EA) was associated with increased total CAPE scores (T-CAPE), explaining the greatest variance among CA across sexes. Sex-specific effects showed that sexual abuse (SA) and physical abuse (PA) were linked to higher T-CAPE in females, whereas physical neglect (PN) was linked to higher T-CAPE in males. Passive-reacting was associated with increased T-CAPE, explaining the greatest variance among coping styles across both sexes. Sex-specific effects showed that, in females, seeking social support was linked to decreased T-CAPE, while emotional expression increased it. The only sex-shared interaction effect was between reassuring thoughts and emotional neglect (EN), associated with decreased T-CAPE. In females, social support (× PA/PN/EA), reassuring thoughts (× PA/PN), and palliative-reacting (× PN/PA) were associated with decreased T-CAPE, while passive-reacting (× EN) increased it. In males, avoidance (× SA/PA) and passive-reacting (× PN) were associated with increased T-CAPE. CONCLUSIONS:Sex differences in the associations of PE with CA and coping underscore the necessity for sex-specific interventions that promote adaptive coping strategies.

This longitudinal study examined bonding social capital (BSC) as a protective factor for mental well-being during midlife. It was hypothesized that BSC provides two key resources, social support (SS) and a sense of control (SoC), that support well-being during a life stage characterized by physical changes, multiple roles, and significant responsibilities. A sample of 214 Dutch adults (40–60 years, 73,8

Self-esteem and attachment are core constructs in adult relational functioning, yet their interrelations across levels of cognitive processing have remained understudied. This study investigated how explicit and implicit attachment styles relate to self-esteem in individuals seeking a romantic partner (N = 399) and in a partnered sample (N = 108). Participants completed explicit attachment and self-esteem scales, along with three single-target Implicit Association Tests (IATs) assessing implicit self-esteem and avoidant and anxious attachment styles. Regression analyses were conducted using explicit and implicit attachment as predictors of explicit and implicit self-esteem while controlling for covariates. In singles, explicit anxious attachment was negatively associated with explicit self-esteem, while implicit anxious attachment and implicit avoidant attachment were negatively associated with implicit self-esteem. No cross-level associations were found, supporting a parallel-level interpretation in which explicit and implicit variables relate primarily within, rather than across, processing levels. The same regression models applied to the partnered sample showed generally similar trends, although the associations observed in singles for explicit anxious and implicit avoidant attachment were not detected in the partnered group. The inclusion of implicit measures provides new insight into non-conscious relational insecurity, with both implicit anxious and avoidant attachment showing negative associations with implicit self-esteem.

Objective: This study evaluated the internal structure, reliability and temporal stability, as well as validity evidence based on relations with other variables of the Dutch-Translated Personal Growth Initiative Scale-II scores in a general population sample. Method: Data from 1,095 Dutch respondents were analyzed using Multidimensional Item Response Theory. Cross-sectional and longitudinal regression analyses examined associations with indicators of well-being and psychological distress. Results: Findings supported a bifactor structure comprising a general factor, one cognitive factor, and two behavioral factors. The general and cognitive factors demonstrated adequate reliability and temporal stability. The cognitive component showed the strongest unique associations with indicators of well-being and psychological distress. Intentional behavior showed smaller contributions, whereas using resources displayed limited effects. The general factor did not retain independent predictive effects. Conclusion: Scores from the Dutch PGIS-II support the interpretation of the general and cognitive dimensions; the behavioral factors require further investigation.

Background The vulnerability-stress framework guiding gene-environment interaction (GxE) research overlooks the role of positive experiences. The Differential Susceptibility (DS) model offers a broader perspective, suggesting that individuals vary in sensitivity to both negative and positive environments. This study aimed at replicating previous DS research by examining interactions between polygenic scores for environmental sensitivity (PGS-ES) and positive and negative early exposures on subclinical psychosis and internalizing psychopathology, functioning, and wellbeing.Methods The sample consisted of 638 twins from the first wave of the TwinssCan study, a general population twin cohort. PGS-ES and adversity, bullying and positive experiences in childhood were collected, along with assessments of psychotic, affective, functioning, and positive mental health. GxE interactions were tested under a competitive-confirmatory approach.Results DS effects were found for the interactions between PGS-ES and all environmental exposures on schizotypic eccentricity and functioning. Adolescents with high genetic sensitivity were rated as more eccentric and less functional under childhood adversity but were rated as less eccentric and better adjusted under childhood favorable conditions. DS also resulted from the interaction between PGS-ES and positive childhood on social coping. No significant models emerged for internalizing or wellbeing.Conclusion Findings overall supported DS, indicating that genetic sensitivity to the environment operates in a "for better and for worse" manner depending on the quality of environmental exposures. It extends initial evidence that DS applies to nonclinical psychosis expression and highlights the importance of considering the full spectrum of environmental conditions to understand both risk and opportunity factors in GxE.

The mental well-being (hereafter: MWB) of students in higher education is high on the research agenda. While substantial attention is devoted to enhancing the MWB of students, existing interventions often overlook the complex interactions among different aspects of well-being, and analyses of their dynamics remain inconsistent. Rather than conceptualizing MWB as stable and passive, this study applies a dynamic network approach by exploring the moment-to-moment interactions among MWB aspects in the daily life of higher education students. The aim was to identify structural characteristics of MWB. Using ecological momentary assessment, we collected 18,779 observations from N = 350 first- and second-year students enrolled at Dutch universities and universities of applied sciences. Over the course of one week, participants received 10 notifications per day, each prompting them to complete a 2-minute self-report assessing their momentary MWB (e.g., affect or self-esteem). To estimate the dynamic network structure, we employed linear mixed effects models in combination with permutations and Impulse Response Function analysis in R. Results suggest that the network approach uncovered the complexities of MWB and the interactions between positive and negative MWB aspects. Self-esteem, stress, and social connectedness exhibited the highest centrality, indicating that these may be especially important to students or conceptually overlap with other aspects. The Impulse Response Function further showed that a simulated temporary increase in the value of one of the aspects in the network resulted in a relatively short-lived change in other nodes, suggesting that the system is resilient to positive and negative events.

OBJECTIVE:Autistic traits (ATs) are associated with difficulties in social functioning, but their impact on the quantity and the quality of daily-life social interactions is not yet fully understood. Hereby, we examined the relationship between AT and daily-life social interactions in adolescents and young adults. METHODS:Data were derived from the TwinssCan cohort (N = 593). ATs were assessed using the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ), while the quantity and the quality of daily-life social interactions were evaluated using the Experience Sampling Methodology. Multilevel regressions were performed, with the AQ as the independent variable and each social/solitary quantity/quality variable as the dependent variable. Models were adjusted for age, sex, and general psychopathology, measured with the Symptom Checklist-90. RESULTS:No significant association was found between AQ total scores and quantity of social interactions. However, AQ total scores were significantly associated with quality of social interactions. Higher ATs were associated with an increased preference to be alone (B = 0.04, 95% CI 0.01-0.07), less pleasure while in-company (B = -0.02, 95% CI -0.04 to -0.01), less feeling of safety while in-company (B = -0.02, 95% CI -0.04 to -0.002), and less feeling of belongingness (B = -0.02, 95% CI -0.03 to -0.001). ATs were differently associated with the quality of social interactions depending on the familiarity. No significant associations were found between ATs and solitary qualities. CONCLUSIONS:Our findings highlight the importance of evaluating ATs during clinical assessments, especially in adolescents and young adults, to evaluate the impact on social interactions and the potential psychopathological consequences.

Personal Growth Initiative (PGI), a cognitive and behavioural skill set to nurture intentional growth, is perceived to be significant throughout life. Although PGI has received growing attention, findings on its psychosocial correlates remain scattered and inconsistent. This review aimed to systematically examine the associations between PGI, as a multidimensional construct, and psychosocial factors across diverse research populations. By offering a comprehensive overview, it sought to enhance the understanding of PGI within the broader context of positive psychological functioning and offer insights into the dynamics of PGI across the life course. A literature search using predefined search terms was conducted across several databases for studies with a quantitative design that employed the 16-item Personal Growth Initiative Scale-II and were published in English-language peer-reviewed journals. The Quality Assessment for Survey Studies in Psychology was adjusted to assess the quality of the included studies. A total of 49 studies examined 84 psychosocial factors, which were classified within the biopsychosocial model. Findings confirm that PGI is linked to both adaptive and maladaptive psychosocial outcomes. However, these results pertain mainly to investigations in student populations. To date, the evidence remains inconclusive due to four critical research gaps in PGI literature. Future research should therefore address these gaps by narrowing the focus on psychosocial factors, employing longitudinal study designs with more diverse research samples, and utilising a consistent measurement of PGI.

Companion animals are often assumed to benefit human emotional wellbeing, yet empirical evidence for this effect and the proposed stress-buffering mechanism underlying this effect is heterogeneous. This study examined whether momentary interaction with a companion animal is associated with pet owners' positive and negative affect in daily life, and whether these interactions buffer the affective impact of stress. We further tested whether these associations differ between interacting with dogs versus cats. Using ecological momentary assessment (EMA), 188 dog and cat owners reported their affect, stress, and interactions with their companion animals at random moments up to 10 times per day over five consecutive days. Multilevel regression analyses accounting for repeated measurements nested within individuals, including random intercepts and slopes, and controlling for age, gender, and social context, showed that pet interaction was associated with higher positive and lower negative affect, independent of species. No evidence for a stress-buffering effect was found, instead a species-specific pattern emerged for negative affect in response to event-related stress: interactions with cats amplified, rather than attenuated, the association between stress and negative affect. Overall, findings support robust momentary emotional benefits of interacting with companion animals, but do not support stress-buffering as the mechanism underlying this association. These results emphasize the importance of considering both species and situational context when examining the psychological impact of human-animal interaction.

Psychological flexibility, the capacity to remain open, present, and value-driven even in the face of distress, is increasingly recognized as a key determinant of mental health. The aim of this study was to validate the Dutch translations of the Multidimensional Psychological Flexibility Inventory (MPFI-60) and its short form (MPFI-24) and to examine the prospective relation with mental health. A community sample of Dutch-speaking adults (N=832; mean age: 55(SD:13)) completed self-report measures on psychological flexibility and mental health. Confirmatory factor analyses supported a two-factor second-order model representing psychological flexibility and inflexibility, providing a good fit for both the full and short versions. Regarding the MPFI-24 the 12-factor model had an even better fit. Internal consistency across all subscales of both instruments was good. Hierarchical regression analyses demonstrated that psychological flexibility and psychological inflexibility were prospectively associated with well-being and mental health complaints, respectively. However, when both constructs were included in the regression models, only psychological inflexibility emerged as a significant predictor of mental health complaints, including depression, anxiety and stress. The findings support the use of the Dutch MPFI as a valuable tool for assessing psychological flexibility and psychological inflexibility, with the shorter MPFI-24 offering a more practical and efficient alternative in both clinical practice and research.

Diverse dating methods, including speed dating, online dating, and matchmaking services, provide distinct environments that impact partner selection and relationship development. This study examined the role of explicit and implicit self-esteem and explicit and implicit attachment style in predicting successful relationship formation among single adults (N = 183) enrolled in a matchmaking program with personal coaching. Baseline assessments included the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the Relationship Questionnaire, and Single-Target Implicit Association Tests (IATs) to measure both explicit and implicit self-esteem and attachment. Outcome success was defined as maintaining a relationship for at least three months. The results showed that explicit anxious attachment was a significant, negative predictor of relationship formation, whereas self-esteem (both explicit and implicit) and implicit attachment did not predict relationship formation. These findings suggest that addressing attachment anxiety may improve relationship formation success, with implications for both matchmaking professionals and their clients seeking long-term partnerships.

Background Psychosis-related environmental risks in autism, along with genetic overlaps between autism and psychosis, have been well-established. However, their moderating roles in the relationship between autistic traits (ATs) and psychotic experiences (PEs) remain underexplored. Methods First-wave data from 792 twins and siblings (mean age: 17.47 +/- 3.6, 60.23% female) in the TwinssCan Project were analyzed. PEs and ATs were assessed using the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences and the Autism-Spectrum Quotient, respectively. Polygenic risk scores for schizophrenia and psychosis-associated environmental factors (ie, childhood trauma (CT), bullying, negative life events, obstetric complications, cannabis use, winter birth, and hearing impairment) were tested for their independent effects on PEs and their interaction effects with ATs in moderating the relationship between ATs and PEs using separate multilevel linear regression models with Bonferroni's correction. Results ATs, all CT subtypes, bullying, and negative life events were positively associated with PEs (all P < .004). Moderation analyses revealed that the association between ATs and PEs was amplified by emotional abuse (B:0.08, 95% CI, 0.05-0.11, P < .001), physical abuse (B:0.11, P = .001), sexual abuse (B:0.09, 95% CI, 0.03-0.15, P = .002), and physical neglect (B:0.06, 95% CI, 0.03-0.10, P = .001), emotional neglect (B:0.04, 95% CI, 0.01-0.07, P = .007), and negative life events (B:0.007, 95% CI, 0.0005-0.014, P = .04), although the latter 2 risks did not survive Bonferroni's correction. No significant main or interacting effects of genetic and other risk factors were found. Conclusions People with high ATs were more likely to have PEs when exposed to CT. Trauma screening and early interventions might be warranted in this at-risk population.

ObjectiveWhen losing weight, many individuals make healthy changes in their exercise and dietary behavior. However, maintaining these changes is often found to be challenging. To prevent individuals from lapsing, insight into predictors of lapse in exercise and dietary behavior is needed.Methods and measuresAn ecological momentary assessment (EMA) study amongst Dutch adults trying to lose weight was performed. Adults (N = 81) participated in two seven-day EMA weeks. Participants received six semi-random prompts a day, at which they indicated whether a lapse had occurred and responded to questions assessing emotional states, stress, hunger, coping self-efficacy and recovery self-efficacy. Generalized estimating equations were used to examine associations with lapse.ResultsFor exercise behavior, significant associations were observed between feeling hungry (OR = 1.14, 95% CI = 1.01-1.29) and an increased risk of lapsing, and between feeling relaxed (OR = 0.83, 95% CI = 0.72-0.95), coping self-efficacy (OR = 0.68, 95% CI = 0.62-0.75) and recovery self-efficacy (OR = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.69-0.89), and a reduced risk of lapsing. For dietary behavior, significant associations were observed between coping self-efficacy (OR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.76-0.86) and recovery self-efficacy (OR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.76-0.86), and a reduced risk of lapsing.ConclusionPractitioners and intervention programs promoting sustainable physical activity and dietary change should focus on enhancing individuals' self-efficacy, for which coping planning and cognitive restructuring could be efficacious techniques.

Previous research has linked Big Five personality traits—agreeableness, openness to experience, neuroticism, extraversion, and conscientiousness—to relationship initiation in speed dating and relationship quality in long-term relationships. However, little is known about their role in matchmaking, where a matchmaker selects potential partners based on individual preferences and guides the dating process. This study examined whether the Big Five personality traits predict relationship formation in a matchmaking context. The sample included 1704 participants (48.5% men, 51.5% women; mean age = 62.5 years) living in the Netherlands. Personality was measured at baseline using the NEO-FFI questionnaire. Relationship formation success was defined as being in a relationship for at least three months. None of the Big Five traits predicted matchmaking success. Personality traits did not significantly predict relationship success in professionally guided matchmaking, suggesting that personality may play a limited role in this particular dating context.

Psychological flexibility, the capacity to remain open, present, and value-driven even in the face of distress, is increasingly recognized as a key determinant of mental health. The aim of this study was to validate the Dutch translations of the Multidimensional Psychological Flexibility Inventory (MPFI-60) and its short form (MPFI-24) and to examine the prospective relation with mental health. A community sample of Dutch-speaking adults (N=832; mean age: 55(SD:13)) completed self-report measures on psychological flexibility and mental health. Confirmatory factor analyses supported a two-factor second-order model representing psychological flexibility and inflexibility, providing good fit for the full and short version. Internal consistency across all subscales of both instruments was good. Hierarchical regression analyses demonstrated that psychological flexibility and inflexibility were prospectively associated with well-being and mental health complaints, respectively. However, when both constructs were included in the regression models, only psychological inflexibility emerged as a significant predictor of mental health complaints, including depression, anxiety and stress. This has important implications for future research. The findings also support the use of the Dutch MPFI as a valuable tool for assessing psychological flexibility and psychological inflexibility, with the shorter MPFI-24 offering a more practical and efficient alternative in both clinical practice and research.

Students in higher education frequently report mental well-being (MWB) challenges that fluctuate throughout the day, highlighting the need to capture their momentary MWB states. However, there is no consensus on how to conceptualize or measure these states in ecological momentary assessment (EMA) studies. This scoping review aims to address this gap by examining the existing literature on students’ MWB in an EMA context. A comprehensive literature search was conducted until January 2026, and a total of 92 unique studies and 243 unique momentary MWB variables were included. The majority of variables (75%) focused on hedonic well-being, while the remainder was classified as eudaimonic well-being (e.g., social and psychological well-being) or as a combination of the two. Variables were typically assessed once daily, analyzed as single items, and inconsistently evaluated for reliability and validity. Eudaimonic variables were more often detailed and developed for the study specifically than hedonic ones. The findings reveal a dominance of hedonic measures in EMA research on students’ MWB, while momentary eudaimonic measures, though increasingly recognized, remain less common. To fully capture students’ MWB, future research should address this imbalance and include both hedonic and eudaimonic dimensions.

BACKGROUND:Psychological protective factors, such as coping styles, extraversion, and optimal parenting, may reduce the risk of psychosis. However, their role in moderating the association between autistic traits (ATs) and psychosis expression (PE) remains understudied. METHODS:This study analyzed the first-wave data from the TwinssCan Project (n = 792 twins and siblings, 60.2 % female, mean age = 17.4 ± 3.6). ATs and PE were assessed using the Autism-Spectrum Quotient and the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (CAPE), respectively. Multilevel linear regression models were used to evaluate the moderating effects of seven coping styles (active coping, avoidance, reassuring thoughts, expressing emotions, seeking social support, palliative-reacting, and passive-reacting coping), extraversion, and optimal parenting. RESULTS:Seeking social support (B[95 %CI]:-0.005[-0.009,-0.001]), reassuring thoughts (B[95 %CI]:-0.005[-0.009,-0.001]), extraversion (B[95 %CI]: -0.03[-0.04,-0.01]) and optimal parenting (B[95 %CI]: -0.02[-0.03,0]) weakened the associations between ATs and CAPE total frequency scores, suggestive of protective mechanisms, whereas passive-reacting coping (B[95 %CI]:0.007[0.004,0.010]) strengthened this, suggestive of a risk factor. Additionally, avoidance(B[95 %CI]:0.09[0.02,0.16]) emerged as a risk factor in confirmatory analyses by significantly interacting with ATs in predicting CAPE total severity scores. CONCLUSIONS:Engagement coping, extraversion, and optimal parenting may mitigate psychosis vulnerability in individuals with higher ATs, while passive-reactive coping and avoidance may heighten psychosis vulnerability. Although further research is needed, our findings provide a rationale for developing and testing targeted preventive strategies aimed at enhancing resilience in individuals with ATs.

BACKGROUND:Suicide is a major cause of death among youth. Childhood trauma (CT) has emerged as a leading environmental risk factor for suicidal ideation (SI). The present study intends to understand the association between CT and SI in a sample of twins, highlighting the relevance of CT per se, regardless of genetic vulnerability. METHODS:Data were derived from a general population young twin study, the TwinssCan project (N = 796; mean age = 17.4). Different types of CT (physical, emotional and sexual) were explored with CTQ and SI through SCL-90-R. The discordance within twin-pairs was used to dissect the genetic and CT effects in SI. RESULTS:Total CT and all subdomains were associated with an increased risk for SI. The within-pair differences analysis in monozygotic and dizygotic twins suggested that part of this association is not attributable to genetic predisposition, which points out the relevance of CT itself upon the increase of SI. This result converged with CT subdomain analyses of physical abuse and neglect. LIMITATIONS:While within-pair twin analyses control for genetic risk, additional environmental shared and individual characteristics should be controlled for (such as poverty or protective factors). More detailed information on SI would be of great interest to better capture the complexity of this construct. CONCLUSION:CT appears to be an important environmental risk factor for SI and at least partly independent of Gene-Environment correlation (rGE). This study highlights the importance of including the history of CT in psychiatric evaluations of patients. The burden of the psychosocial environment on SI could be disentangled by further research on environmental risk and protective factors.

Personal Growth Initiative (PGI), a cognitive and behavioural skill set for intentional growth, is often measured using the multidimensional Personal Growth Initiative Scale-II (PGIS-II). This systematic review examined its structural validity, reliability, measurement invariance, and construct validity. A literature search across multiple databases identified 15 studies evaluating the psychometric properties of the PGIS-II. Study quality was assessed with the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) Risk of Bias checklist (version 3.0). The specified psychometric properties were evaluated based on COSMIN criteria for good measurement properties, and a modified Grading, Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach assessed the certainty of evidence. Findings showed structural validity and internal consistency variability, with some modifications to the first-order four-factor model lacking theoretical justification. A second-order four-factor structure and a bifactor model demonstrated moderate to high-quality evidence. Test–retest reliability was confirmed only for the Chinese (moderate quality) and Turkish (low quality) versions. Measurement invariance was supported for the English and Portuguese first-order four-factor models, as well as the English bifactor model. Construct validity was examined for seven versions, yielding mixed results. While some versions may be suitable for specific contexts, inconsistencies in psychometric evidence emphasise the need to further clarify the instrument's structure and psychometric performance in diverse populations through high-quality studies. Nevertheless, based on our findings, the bifactor model appears to be the most suitable structure for the PGIS-II, as it captures both the general PGI construct and its subdimensions, at least for now.