Current Psychology

Heidary, Sara; Hashemi, Zahra; Jamali, Seyedeh Mahboobeh; Ebrahim, Nader Ale

doi: 10.1007/s12144-023-05033-xpmid: N/A

Executive functions are a set of cognitive processes critical for psychological, social, and cognitive development which have recently received much attention. To explore more prominent keywords, countries, sources, and research clusters, bibliometric analysis is needed. This study conducts a bibliometric analysis on related documents entitled “executive function*”, adopted from Web of Science core collections. The quantitative part includes publication trends and average citations per year, top keywords, corresponding author’s country, and top journals. In the following, the qualitative analysis highlights the top 55 highly cited documents by categorizing the components of executive functions, related variables, instruments, and samples. The results show that the average citation per year related to executive functions documents has seven peaks from 1956 up to February 25, 2022. Top cited documents are mainly focused on childhood and based on 3 components of inhibition, working memory, and cognitive flexibility. This bibliometric study provides a clear perspective on the future research direction, highlighting potential opportunities and challenges in the field of executive functions.

Şen, Gamze; Barişkin, Elif

doi: 10.1007/s12144-023-04965-8pmid: N/A

Vulnerable narcissism (VN) and grandiose narcissism (GN) are characterized by different expressions of self in interpersonal relationships. This study aims to examine narcissism with its grandiose and vulnerable dimensions while considering reactions to criticism, which is a challenging interpersonal experience accompanied by the Interpersonal Circumplex Model (IPC) by “the person” and “romantic partner”. The study evaluates the dimensions of narcissism and is based on the responses of the participants and their partners (behavioral, cognitive, and emotional). The Pathological Narcissism Inventory (PNI) was administered to evaluate narcissistic characteristics. The “Criticism Story” of the Story Completion Inventory in Romantic Relationships (SCIRR) was used for criticism. The circular pattern between the responses of the participants and their partners was examined using the Interpersonal Schemas Scale (ISS). The results revealed that the vulnerable group gave more complementary responses emotionally and made more complementary predictions than the grandiose group in terms of the expected reactions from a romantic partner. The results were discussed in reference to basic motivations that serve as protection for self-esteem.

Talić, Irma; Sparfeldt, Jörn R.; Möller, Jens; Renner, Karl-Heinz; Greiff, Samuel; Niepel, Christoph

doi: 10.1007/s12144-023-04964-9pmid: N/A

The generalized internal/external frame of reference (GI/E) model assumes social and dimensional achievement comparisons to form self-perceptions. These domain-specific comparisons have been shown to shape two facets of test anxiety (i.e., worry and emotionality) both directly and indirectly through academic self-concepts. However, examinations of such domain-specific relations have rarely integrated general components, although the hierarchical nature of both test anxiety and academic self-concept is well-known. Thus, the present study implemented a nested factor modeling approach. We examined social and dimensional comparison effects on worry and emotionality as well as mediation effects of academic self-concepts in the math and verbal domains while controlling for general components. We contrasted this approach with the conventionally used first-order factor model where general components were not considered. Data from N = 348 German secondary school students (Mage = 15.3 years, Grades 9–10) were analyzed using structural equation models. Direct negative within-domain and positive cross-domain achievement-anxiety relations emerged, yet, the pattern of cross-domain relations changed across modeling approaches. Only the nested factor model showed indirect cross-domain mediation relations. Our findings suggest the importance of structural representations of hierarchical constructs. The nested factor model approach enhanced predictions within the GI/E model, particularly those related to dimensional comparisons.

Wilcox, Kenneth Tyler; Jacobucci, Ross; Dixon-Gordon, Katherine L.; Waite, Elinor E.; McCloskey, Michael S.; Ammerman, Brooke A.

doi: 10.1007/s12144-023-05056-4pmid: N/A

Interpersonal difficulties are salient among those with a history of NSSI, preceding NSSI urges and behaviors. Yet, limited research has focused on identifying which aspects of interpersonal stress may confer risk for NSSI. The current study aimed to leverage data from two samples (combined n = 206; n = 114 with NSSI history) of participant-driven interviews regarding a recent interpersonal stressor to enhance the field’s knowledge of interpersonal difficulties in relation to NSSI risk. Using topic modeling to extract thematic information, analyses identified four main topics: daily difficulties; family members; adjectives/verbal fillers; and friendship/romantic relationships. Relationships between the topics and three predictors (i.e., NSSI history, emotion dysregulation, sample) were examined. In one sample, the proportion of ‘adjectives/verbal fillers’ was greater for participants with a NSSI history and at higher levels of emotion dysregulation. Across samples, for participants with a NSSI history, ‘adjectives/verbal fillers’ and ‘friendship/romantic partners’ increased with levels of emotion dysregulation. Findings highlight a greater use of adjectives and verbal fillers among individuals with a history of NSSI and higher levels of emotion dysregulation. This pattern of language may serve as an indicator of a specific aspect of emotion regulation difficulties that confers risk for NSSI.

Sun, Qizhang; Gibbert, Michael; Hills, Thomas; Nowak, Eric

doi: 10.1007/s12144-023-05134-7pmid: N/A

Risk-taking is critical to decisions. Unfortunately, information about risk is not always available, and that the lack of information prompts people to use advice. A crucial question about using advice to deal with risk and uncertainty is how advice influences risk-taking, yet little research has investigated whether the effect of advice-following on risk-taking is unbiased. In two experimental studies in a financial investment context, we investigate whether investors are biased in following advice and how biased advice-following influences risk-taking. Furthermore, we investigate whether advice quality, decision environment, and justification moderate advice-following bias on risk-taking. We find that individual decision-makers follow advice across risk domains and advice quality when explained to the investors. However, we identify asymmetry in advice-following, with a bias for risk-seeking over risk-averse advice. This asymmetric effect is robust irrespective of the decision environment but limited to high-quality advice and explanations.

Karaçar, Yeliz; Demirkıran, Fatma

doi: 10.1007/s12144-023-05104-zpmid: N/A

To decisive the effect of a motivational interview-based self-management programme on the perception of dyspnea and self-efficacy in individual with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Our randomised controlled study was conducted in a chest diseases hospital between March and June 2018. A total of 100 COPD inpatients were screened. After 80 were randomised, a total of 78 individual were included in the study (intervention group, n = 39; control group, n = 39). The intervention was developed based on the motivational interview-based self-management programme and consisted of one face-to-face group training session, followed by three individual motivational interview sessions. Data were assessed by analysis of variance for the multiple repeated measurements, and t-test in independent groups. After the motivational interview-based self-management programme and follow-up, a statistically significant distinction was observed in the self-efficacy levels of the two groups (p < 0.05). It was determined that the mean self-efficacy scores of the patients in the intervention group were higher than those of the control group. The motivational interview-based self-management programme was effective in increasing self-efficacy in individual with COPD compared to usual nursing care. Nurses can provide appropriate training and counseling by integrating motivational interviewing into the self-management program in clinical practice.

Haghish, E. F.; Czajkowski, Nikolai

doi: 10.1007/s12144-023-05174-zpmid: N/A

We posit the hypothesis that False Positive cases (FP) in machine learning classification models of suicidal behavior are at risk of suicidal behavior and should not be seen as sheer classification error. We trained an XGBoost classification model using survey data from 173,663 Norwegian adolescents and compared the classification groups for several suicide-related mental health indicators, such as depression, anxiety, psychological distress, and non-suicidal self-harm. The results showed that as the classification is made at higher risk thresholds - corresponding to higher specificity levels - the severity of anxiety and depression symptoms of the FP and True Positive cases (TP) become significantly more similar. In addition, psychological distress and non-suicidal self-harm were found to be highly prevalent among the FP group, indicating that they are indeed at risk. These findings demonstrate that FP are a relevant risk group for potential suicide prevention programs and should not be dismissed. Although our findings support the hypothesis, we account for limitations that should be examined in future longitudinal studies. Furthermore, we elaborate on the rationale of the hypothesis, potential implications, and its applicability to other mental health outcomes.

Mehrabi, Fereshteh; Iskric, Adam; Beshai, Shadi

doi: 10.1007/s12144-023-05170-3pmid: N/A

Social rank theory posits people with depression experience feelings of inferiority in relation to others. These feelings of inferiority and their associated processes in depression bear a striking resemblance to the experience of envy; however, the direction of the association between depression and envy remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the longitudinal associations between dispositional envy and depressive symptoms over six months. Three waves of data were collected through Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) in 2018. A total of n = 644 American community adults (Mage=39.7, SD= 12.8; 41.3 % female) provided responses to study measures at baseline. We performed random-intercept cross-lagged panel models (RI-CLPM) to test the relationships between the variables. The correlations between dispositional envy and depression across three-time points were significant. The cross-lagged analyses revealed that baseline depression (T0) predicted higher dispositional envy at three months (T1), and greater envy at three months predicted higher depression at six months (T2). However, greater envy at baseline (T0) did not predict higher depression at three months later (T1), and higher depression at three months (T1) did not predict greater envy at six months (T2). These results suggest a dynamic and asymmetric relationship between envy and depression over six months. Public health interventions and policy strategies with the goal of reducing depression symptoms should consider the impact of dispositional envy and the environmental context wherein envy is likely (e.g., societal inequality). Future longitudinal studies should assess the relationships between envy and depressive symptoms, considering the potential role of social status.

Yuan, Yunyun; Liu, Bin; Liu, Pingqing; Andrianandraina, Claire Marie Cecila; Liu, Yuanyuan

doi: 10.1007/s12144-023-05073-3pmid: N/A

Combining Gen Z and millennial employee groups, the current study aims to explore the mechanism of felt responsibility for constructive change, taking charge and innovation performance based on the theory of planned behavior and proactive motivation model, and analyzes the moderating effect of creative self-efficacy in it. The results reveal a positive association between felt responsibility for constructive change and taking charge, as well as between taking charge and innovation performance, with taking charge acting as a complete mediator. Moreover, the level of creative self-efficacy influences the relationship between felt responsibility for constructive change, taking charge, and innovation performance. Specifically, employees with high levels of creative self-efficacy demonstrate an accelerated transition from felt responsibility for constructive change to taking charge, thus enhancing innovation performance. Conversely, employees with low levels of creative self-efficacy experience a hindered transformation process from felt responsibility for constructive change to taking charge. These findings contribute to our understanding of the role of responsibility awareness in fostering innovation performance, and provide theoretical and practical enlightenment for managers to effectively cultivate employees’ consciousness of responsibility for constructive change, promote active engagement in taking charge and improve innovation performance.

Rafique, Rafia; Hunt, Nigel; Kamran, Fatima; Anjum, Afifa

doi: 10.1007/s12144-023-05144-5pmid: N/A

Visible physical differences may have a variety of social and psychological effects. Complete hair loss on the scalp and body is a defining feature of the deforming disorder alopecia universalis (AU). The present study was conducted in order to gain some meaningful insights into cross cultural explanations of psychosocial consequences. The current research examined the lived experiences of males with AU in two different cultures—the United Kingdom and Pakistan. Participants from two diverse cultures were taken to compare and contrast the individual experiences in different social context. To understand the psychosocial experiences of males with AU, interpretive phenomenological analysis was used. Face to face in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with a volunteer sample of N = 12 men, n = 6 from Pakistan and n = 6 from UK having a formal diagnosis of AU. Five superordinate themes were emerged including: (1) Reactions (personal and social) (2) Impact (psychological and social) (3) Coping (cognitive and behavioral) (4) Adjustment and Rehabilitation and (5) Equilibrium /Growth (Psychological and spiritual). Men from UK tend to report stronger personal reactions. Pakistani men tend to experience social reactions such as stares, giggles and point blank questions from the public. Long term impact, coping process, adjustment and rehabilitation period reported by men with AU was quite similar across cultures. Having lived with AU for some period of time; men from UK getting more empathetic and compassionate whereas, Pakistani men developed gratitude over the years. Dermatologists must take into consideration the psychological requirements of those who have AU. Psychosocial interventions may be used to help patients by healthcare professionals, particularly psychologists. Future researches need to assess both men and women in order to address the impact of AU on people with different ages and sociodemographic backgrounds that will provide some insight into the significant effect of AU on individual’s wellbeing.