Journal Description
Behavioral Sciences
Behavioral Sciences
is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal on psychology, neuroscience, cognitive science, behavioral biology and behavioral genetics published monthly online by MDPI.
- Open Access— free for readers, with article processing charges (APC) paid by authors or their institutions.
- High Visibility: indexed within Scopus, SSCI (Web of Science), PubMed, PMC, and other databases.
- Journal Rank: JCR - Q2 (Psychology, Multidisciplinary) / CiteScore - Q2 (Development)
- Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision is provided to authors approximately 21.5 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 2.6 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the second half of 2023).
- Recognition of Reviewers: reviewers who provide timely, thorough peer-review reports receive vouchers entitling them to a discount on the APC of their next publication in any MDPI journal, in appreciation of the work done.
Impact Factor:
2.6 (2022);
5-Year Impact Factor:
3.2 (2022)
Latest Articles
Prototype or Exemplar Representations in the 5/5 Category Learning Task
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 470; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060470 - 31 May 2024
Abstract
Theories of category learning have typically focused on how the underlying category structure affects the category representations acquired by learners. However, there is limited research as to how other factors affect what representations are learned and utilized and how representations might change across
[...] Read more.
Theories of category learning have typically focused on how the underlying category structure affects the category representations acquired by learners. However, there is limited research as to how other factors affect what representations are learned and utilized and how representations might change across the time course of learning. We used a novel “5/5” categorization task developed from the well-studied 5/4 task with the addition of one more stimulus to clarify an ambiguity in the 5/4 prototypes. We used multiple methods including computational modeling to identify whether participants categorized on the basis of exemplar or prototype representations. We found that, overall, for the stimuli we used (schematic robot-like stimuli), learning was best characterized by the use of prototypes. Most importantly, we found that relative use of prototype and exemplar strategies changed across learning, with use of exemplar representations decreasing and prototype representations increasing across blocks.
Full article
Open AccessArticle
Long-Term Bridge Training Induces Functional Plasticity Changes in the Brain of Early-Adult Individuals
by
Bingjie Zhao, Yan Liu, Zheng Wang, Qihan Zhang and Xuejun Bai
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 469; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060469 - 31 May 2024
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of extended bridge expertise on rapid perceptual processing and brain functional plasticity in early adulthood, utilizing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). In this investigation, we compared 6 high-level college bridge players with 25
[...] Read more.
The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of extended bridge expertise on rapid perceptual processing and brain functional plasticity in early adulthood, utilizing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). In this investigation, we compared 6 high-level college bridge players with 25 college students lacking bridge experience, assessing their intelligence and working memory. Additionally, we scrutinized behavioral performance and whole-brain activation patterns during an image perceptual judgment task. Findings indicated significant group and interaction effects at the behavioral level. Bridge players exhibited prolonged reaction times and enhanced accuracy on card tasks. At the neural level, the activation level of bridge players in the occipital lobe exceeded that of ordinary college students, with more pronounced group effects in the motor area and inferior parietal lobule during card tasks. This implies that bridge expertise in early adulthood induces functional plasticity changes in regions associated with visual processing and automated mathematical computation.
Full article
Open AccessArticle
Effects of Sadness and Fear on Moral Judgments in Public Emergency Events
by
Mufan Zheng, Shiyao Qin and Junhua Zhao
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 468; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060468 - 31 May 2024
Abstract
With the rapid development of society and the deteriorating natural environment, there has been an increase in public emergencies. This study aimed to explore how sadness and fear in the context of public emergencies influence moral judgments. This research first induced feelings of
[...] Read more.
With the rapid development of society and the deteriorating natural environment, there has been an increase in public emergencies. This study aimed to explore how sadness and fear in the context of public emergencies influence moral judgments. This research first induced feelings of sadness and fear by using videos about public emergencies and music, and then used moral scenarios from the CNI model (C parameter: sensitivity to consequences; N parameter: sensitivity to norms; I parameter: general preference for inaction) to assess participants’ moral thinking. In Study 1, participants were divided into a sadness group and a neutral group, while in Study 2, participants were divided into a fear group and a neutral group. During the experiment, participants were exposed to different videos related to public emergencies to induce the corresponding emotions, and emotional music was continuously played throughout the entire experiment. Participants were then asked to answer questions requiring moral judgments. The results showed that based on the CNI model, sadness induced in the context of public emergencies significantly increased the C parameter, without affecting the N or I parameters. Fear increased the I parameter, without affecting the C or I parameters. That is, sadness and fear induced in the context of a public emergency can influence moral judgments. Specifically, sadness increases individuals’ sensitivity to consequences and fear increases the general preference for inaction in moral judgments.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Picturing Morality from Multidisciplinary Perspectives—Second Edition)
Open AccessArticle
Longitudinal Association between Stressful Life Events and Suicidal Ideation in Adults with Major Depression Disorder: The Mediating Effects of Insomnia Symptoms
by
Ya Chen, Xue Han, Yingchen Jiang, Yunbin Jiang, Xinyu Huang, Wanxin Wang, Lan Guo, Ruirui Xia, Yuhua Liao, Huimin Zhang, Kayla M. Teopiz, Roger S. McIntyre, Beifang Fan and Ciyong Lu
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 467; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060467 - 31 May 2024
Abstract
Stressful life events (SLEs) and suicidal ideation (SI) are prevalent in persons with major depression disorder (MDD). Less is known about the underlying role of insomnia symptoms in the association between SLEs and SI. This three-wave prospective cohort study sought to investigate the
[...] Read more.
Stressful life events (SLEs) and suicidal ideation (SI) are prevalent in persons with major depression disorder (MDD). Less is known about the underlying role of insomnia symptoms in the association between SLEs and SI. This three-wave prospective cohort study sought to investigate the longitudinal association among SLEs, insomnia symptoms, and SI in persons with MDD. The study population included 511 persons with MDD (mean [SD] age, 28.7 [6.7] years; 67.1% were females). Generalized estimated equations (GEEs) were utilized to explore prospective association among exposure of SLEs, insomnia symptoms, and SI. Additionally, a structural equation model (SEM) was employed to estimate the longitudinal mediating effect of insomnia symptoms in the relationship between SLEs and SI. Our study demonstrated that cumulative SLEs were determined to be longitudinally associated with SI in persons with MDD. We further observed that the association between SLEs and SI was significantly mediated by insomnia symptoms. Clinicians assessing persons with MDD, especially those with the history of SLE, could carefully evaluate and promptly treat insomnia symptoms as part of personalized assessment of their depressive illness, thereby achieving early prevention and intervention for suicidal behaviors in persons with MDD.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Psychiatric, Emotional and Behavioral Disorders)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Are We on Course Yet? Functional Behavior Assessment and Behavior Intervention Plan Technical Adequacy in Schools
by
Rose Iovannone, Tobey Duble Moore, Jeffrey M. Williams, Sindy Sanchez and Nycole Kauk
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 466; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060466 - 30 May 2024
Abstract
It has been more than two decades since the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA; 1997) included language about the use of functional behavior assessments (FBAs) and behavior intervention plans (BIPs) to address the challenging behaviors of students with disabilities in schools. It
[...] Read more.
It has been more than two decades since the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA; 1997) included language about the use of functional behavior assessments (FBAs) and behavior intervention plans (BIPs) to address the challenging behaviors of students with disabilities in schools. It has been more than ten years since three technical adequacy studies were published that evaluated school-based FBAs’ and BIPs’ inclusion of essential components and found them to be significantly lacking. The aims of this study were to expand upon the previous research by (a) establishing the psychometric properties of the FBA/BIP Technical Adequacy Evaluation Tool (TATE), (b) evaluating the technical adequacy of 135 completed FBAs and 129 BIPs from 13 school districts across a single state, and (c) comparing the findings to previous studies. The results showed that (a) the TATE has moderate but acceptable internal consistency, excellent inter-rater reliability, and good content validity, (b) the technical adequacy scores of the evaluated products ranged between 40% and 50% of the total components, and (c) most of the BIPs had similar flaws to those seen in the previous research; however, improvement was noted in the FBA components. The implications for practice and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Full article
Open AccessArticle
Association between COVID-19 and the Risk of Vascular Dementia: A Mendelian Randomisation Study of the Potential Cognitive Sequela of COVID-19
by
Qing Han, Yue Ma and Wenting Ye
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 465; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060465 - 30 May 2024
Abstract
A growing body of observational studies and Mendelian Randomisation analyses suggest an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia following COVID-19 infection. However, evidence on the potential association between COVID-19 and vascular dementia, which is plausible given the vascular complications of COVID-19 infection,
[...] Read more.
A growing body of observational studies and Mendelian Randomisation analyses suggest an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia following COVID-19 infection. However, evidence on the potential association between COVID-19 and vascular dementia, which is plausible given the vascular complications of COVID-19 infection, is still limited. In this study, we conducted a two-sample Mendelian Randomisation analysis to examine the potential causal relationship between COVID-19 phenotypes and the risk of vascular dementia, using summary data from large-scale GWASs. The two-sample Mendelian Randomisation analysis did not detect any significant associations of COVID-19 infection, COVID-19 hospitalisation, or critical COVID-19 with the risk of vascular dementia, with weighted average β values of −0.29 (95% CI: −0.84, 0.26; p = 0.301), −0.12 (95% CI: −0.36, 0.13; p = 0.345), and −0.07 (95% CI: −0.23, 0.09; p = 0.374), respectively. Our findings do not support the hypothesis that vascular dementia is one of the long-term sequelae of COVID-19.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Psychology and Behaviors during COVID-19)
Open AccessArticle
Health Professionals’ Experiences with Health-Promoting Dialogues for Older Home-Dwellers—A Qualitative Study
by
Liza Wigaard Johansen, Hilde Lausund and Nina Jøranson
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 464; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060464 - 30 May 2024
Abstract
Home-dwelling older people without healthcare services might develop vulnerability and health-related issues that should be detected proactively by service providers. Health-promoting measures directed towards the target group could facilitate living longer and better at home, as well as delay the need for healthcare
[...] Read more.
Home-dwelling older people without healthcare services might develop vulnerability and health-related issues that should be detected proactively by service providers. Health-promoting measures directed towards the target group could facilitate living longer and better at home, as well as delay the need for healthcare services. One approach is through health-promoting dialogues between the municipality and healthcare professionals. This study aims to explore the experiences of healthcare professionals involved in health-promoting dialogues with home-dwellers aged over 75 years without health service decisions in Norway. Data were collected through three focus groups. Thematic analysis was applied to the data resulting in the emergence of one major theme, “challenging dialogues”, comprising three sub-themes: “promote the individual’s perspectives”, “uncovering vulnerability”, and “ambiguity of the dialogues”. The health-promoting dialogue uses a resource perspective for the elderly to remain independent in old age and can reveal vulnerability and underlying needs. The purpose of the dialogue appears ambiguous for the target group, which leads to unclear service expectations and frequent rejections of the offer. Nevertheless, this health-promoting service has a clear purpose of identifying and meeting the needs of the target group in a broader sense during the ageing process.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social Participation and Mental Health among Older Adults)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessReview
The Effect of the COVID Pandemic on Clinical Psychology Research: A Bibliometric Analysis
by
Jordan Anders and Michael S. Vitevitch
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 463; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060463 - 30 May 2024
Abstract
The present bibliometric analysis used traditional measures and network science techniques to examine how the COVID-19 pandemic influenced research in Clinical Psychology. Publication records from the Web of Science (WoS) were obtained for journal articles published prior to (2015 and 2018), during (2020),
[...] Read more.
The present bibliometric analysis used traditional measures and network science techniques to examine how the COVID-19 pandemic influenced research in Clinical Psychology. Publication records from the Web of Science (WoS) were obtained for journal articles published prior to (2015 and 2018), during (2020), and at the end of the pandemic (2022) for the search terms “men and mental health” and “women and mental health”. Network analyses of author-provided keywords showed that COVID-19 co-occurred with fear, anxiety, depression, and stress for both men and women in 2020. In 2022, COVID-19 co-occurred with topics related to world-wide lockdowns (e.g., alcohol use, substance use, intimate partner violence, loneliness, physical activity), and to more fundamental topics in Clinical Psychology (e.g., eating disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder). Although the COVID pandemic was associated with several changes in the research topics that were examined in Clinical Psychology, pre-existing disparities in the amount of mental health research on men compared to women did not appear to increase (in contrast to increases associated with COVID in pre-existing gender disparities observed in other areas of society).
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Impacts of COVID-19 on Mental Health and Well-Being)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Effects and Side Effects in a Short Work Coaching for Participants with and without Mental Illness
by
Lilly Paulin Werk and Beate Muschalla
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 462; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060462 - 30 May 2024
Abstract
►▼
Show Figures
Employees with mental illness are often the first to be unable to cope with increasingly complex psychosocial work demands. But people without mental illness can also suffer from, for example, high workload. This study compares a short coaching to stabilize work ability for
[...] Read more.
Employees with mental illness are often the first to be unable to cope with increasingly complex psychosocial work demands. But people without mental illness can also suffer from, for example, high workload. This study compares a short coaching to stabilize work ability for employees with and without mental illness regarding coaching topics, effects on work-related resources, goal attainment, and unwanted events. Individual coaching of three sessions (problem exploration by behavior analysis, practice of new behavior, reflection) was conducted with employees from different professional fields. A medical history was taken to determine whether participants are affected by a mental disorder. All coaching was conducted by the same behavior therapist in training (L.P.W.) under the supervision of an experienced behavior therapist (B.M.). Two hundred and three coachings with three sessions were completed. In total, 103 participants did not have a mental illness (51%), and 100 participants reported a mental disorder (49%). The coaching participants with mental illness had lower initial levels of work-related capacities (more severe impairments) and coping behavior as compared to the participants without mental illness. In the pre–post comparisons, both groups achieved significant improvements in work-related coping after the coaching. There were no differences in goal attainment between both groups. While participants without mental illness reported more unwanted events in parallel to the coaching (30% reported negative developments in life), participants with mental illness reported coaching-related unwanted events (20% felt to be dependent on the coach). Coaching with an individual focus on one topic can improve work-related resources in participants with and without mental disorders. Since participants with and without mental illness experience different unwanted events in coaching, psychotherapeutic expertise is needed in order to set the right focus.
Full article
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
The Involvement of Academic and Emotional Support for Sustainable Use of MOOCs
by
Zhanni Luo and Huazhen Li
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 461; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060461 - 30 May 2024
Abstract
MOOCs, the Massive Open Online Courses, are online educational courses that offer open access to a large number of participants globally. However, online engagement during MOOC learning remains a problem, as reflected in relatively high dropout rates. This paper involves academic and emotional
[...] Read more.
MOOCs, the Massive Open Online Courses, are online educational courses that offer open access to a large number of participants globally. However, online engagement during MOOC learning remains a problem, as reflected in relatively high dropout rates. This paper involves academic and emotional support, aiming to explore whether they contribute to users’ sustainable use of the MOOC platform. A total of 410 college students learning English as a foreign language (EFL) and with MOOC learning experience participated in this study. Employing the structural equation modeling (SEM) techniques, we examined the relationships among five factors in the EFL MOOC learning context: academic support (AS), emotional support (ES), perceived usefulness (PU), perceived ease of use (PEoU), and platform reputation (PR). The results indicate that academic support influences learners’ perceptions of the usefulness and ease of use of the MOOC platform, as well as enhancing learners’ feelings of being emotionally supported. Simultaneously, platform reputation plays a crucial role in influencing learners’ perceptions of MOOC platforms. However, results suggest that emotional support does not have a statistically significant impact on the perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use of the platform in EFL MOOC learning contexts.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Behaviors in Educational Settings—2nd Edition)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessSystematic Review
How Does Individual Psychotherapy Promote Recovery for Persons with Psychosis? A Systematic Review of Qualitative Studies to Understand the Patient’s Experience
by
Laura A. Faith, Jaclyn D. Hillis-Mascia and Courtney N. Wiesepape
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 460; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060460 - 30 May 2024
Abstract
Psychotherapy for individuals with psychosis is an effective treatment that promotes recovery in various ways. While there is strong quantitative evidence across modalities, less is known from the patient’s perspective. There are many varied forms of psychotherapy, and gaining the patient’s perspective can
[...] Read more.
Psychotherapy for individuals with psychosis is an effective treatment that promotes recovery in various ways. While there is strong quantitative evidence across modalities, less is known from the patient’s perspective. There are many varied forms of psychotherapy, and gaining the patient’s perspective can improve understanding of salient elements of psychotherapy and increase engagement, ultimately improving recovery rates. The purpose of this review is to identify and integrate data from published studies of patient perspectives of psychotherapy for psychosis to understand essential elements across approaches, differences between approaches, and how psychotherapy impacts recovery. We aimed to understand further: what are the perceptions about individual psychotherapy from the perspective of individuals with psychosis? The current study was a systematic review using PRISMA guidelines of studies that included qualitative interviews with persons with experiences of psychosis who participated in psychotherapy. All three authors participated in the literature search using Pubmed, APA PsycInfo, and Psychiatry Online. We identified N = 33 studies. Studies included cognitive therapies, acceptance and mindfulness approaches, trauma therapies, metacognitive therapy, and music therapy. All studies reported participants’ perceived benefit with the therapeutic relationship as especially salient. Participants described diverse aspects of objective (e.g., symptoms, functioning) and subjective (e.g., self-experience or quality of life) recovery improvements, with perceived mechanisms of change, and with music therapy having some unique benefits. Participants also reported challenges and suggestions for improvement. Study findings highlight the salient aspects of psychotherapy identified by patients that may help therapists to individualize and improve approaches to psychotherapy when working with individuals experiencing psychosis. Overall, findings support the potential for integrative psychotherapy approaches for maximal treatment personalization.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prevention and Recovery in People with Schizophrenia and Related Disorders)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Autism Detection in Children: Integrating Machine Learning and Natural Language Processing in Narrative Analysis
by
Charalambos K. Themistocleous, Maria Andreou and Eleni Peristeri
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 459; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060459 - 29 May 2024
Abstract
Despite the consensus that early identification leads to better outcomes for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), recent research reveals that the average age of diagnosis in the Greek population is approximately six years. However, this age of diagnosis is delayed by an
[...] Read more.
Despite the consensus that early identification leads to better outcomes for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), recent research reveals that the average age of diagnosis in the Greek population is approximately six years. However, this age of diagnosis is delayed by an additional two years for families from lower-income or minority backgrounds. These disparities result in adverse impacts on intervention outcomes, which are further burdened by the often time-consuming and labor-intensive language assessments for children with ASD. There is a crucial need for tools that increase access to early assessment and diagnosis that will be rigorous and objective. The current study leverages the capabilities of artificial intelligence to develop a reliable and practical model for distinguishing children with ASD from typically-developing peers based on their narrative and vocabulary skills. We applied natural language processing-based extraction techniques to automatically acquire language features (narrative and vocabulary skills) from storytelling in 68 children with ASD and 52 typically-developing children, and then trained machine learning models on the children’s combined narrative and expressive vocabulary data to generate behavioral targets that effectively differentiate ASD from typically-developing children. According to the findings, the model could distinguish ASD from typically-developing children, achieving an accuracy of 96%. Specifically, out of the models used, hist gradient boosting and XGBoost showed slightly superior performance compared to the decision trees and gradient boosting models, particularly regarding accuracy and F1 score. These results bode well for the deployment of machine learning technology for children with ASD, especially those with limited access to early identification services.
Full article
Open AccessArticle
Building Resilience and Social–Emotional Competencies in Elementary School Students through a Short-Term Intervention Program Based on the SEE Learning Curriculum
by
Hee Jung Min, Sang-Hee Park, Seung-Hyun Lee, Bo-Hwa Lee, Mikyung Kang, Mi Ju Kwon, Myung Ju Chang, Lobsang Tenzin Negi, Tsondue Samphel and Seunghee Won
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 458; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060458 - 29 May 2024
Abstract
This study explored the positive effects of a six-week Social–Emotional and Ethical Learning® (SEE Learning) program on resilience and social and emotional competences, adapted for elementary students in Daegu, South Korea, a region strongly affected by the first outbreak of COVID-19. A
[...] Read more.
This study explored the positive effects of a six-week Social–Emotional and Ethical Learning® (SEE Learning) program on resilience and social and emotional competences, adapted for elementary students in Daegu, South Korea, a region strongly affected by the first outbreak of COVID-19. A total of 348 third- and fourth-grade students from 15 elementary schools participated, and the curriculum was tailored, emphasizing key areas such as resilience, attention, kindness, attention training, and compassion. Repeated measures analysis of variance (RMANOVA) tests showed statistically significant improvements between pre- and post-tests in resilience and its subscales, including self-efficacy, tolerance of negative affect, positive support relations, power of control, and spontaneity, as well as in social and emotional competencies, including emotional regulation, social skills, empathy, and social tendencies. Despite a lack of maintenance in all areas, at follow-up, the mean scores for self-efficacy, tolerance of negative affect, and positive support relations, as well as emotional regulation, social skills, empathy, and social tendency, remained higher than pre-test levels, suggesting some lasting benefits. The findings underscore the potential of the SEE Learning program integrated with resilience, mindfulness, compassion, and ethical practices to enhance students’ resilience and social and emotional well-being. This study contributes to the growing body of evidence supporting the use of mindfulness and compassion-based SEL programs to mitigate the adverse effects of traumatic events on children’s mental health.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trauma, Resilience and Mental Health)
Open AccessArticle
How Socially Avoidant Emerging Adults Process Social Feedback during Human-to-Human Interaction after Social Rejection: An Event-Related Potential Study
by
Yangdi Chen and Xinmei Deng
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 457; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060457 - 29 May 2024
Abstract
Social avoidance refers to active non-participation in social activities, which is detrimental to healthy interpersonal interaction for emerging adults. Social rejection is a kind of negative social evaluation from others making people feel social pain. However, how socially avoidant emerging adults process social
[...] Read more.
Social avoidance refers to active non-participation in social activities, which is detrimental to healthy interpersonal interaction for emerging adults. Social rejection is a kind of negative social evaluation from others making people feel social pain. However, how socially avoidant emerging adults process social feedback information after experiencing social rejection has received less attention. The current study aimed to explore the differences in social interaction feedback processing after social rejection between a socially avoidant group (n = 16) and a comparison group (n = 16) in a human-to-human interaction context. Computer game tasks with two types of interaction (cooperation and competition) were used to record the event-related potentials when receiving social interaction feedback in two conditions (social rejection and control condition). The results showed that (1) the socially avoidant group had lower reward positivity amplitudes than the comparison group when receiving social feedback; (2) the socially avoidant group presented larger P300 amplitudes in the social rejection condition than in the control condition, but the comparison group did not; and (3) social rejection evoked more negative N1 amplitudes in the socially avoidant and comparison groups. The findings suggest that socially avoidant emerging adults may have flaws in reward sensitivity during interpersonal interaction, and they might also exert more attentional and emotional resources to social feedback after social rejection.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Risk and Protective Factors in Social Interactions: Behavioral and Neural Evidence)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
From Struggle to Strength: Coping with Abusive Supervision in Project Teams through Proactive Behavior and Team Building
by
Qiwei Zhou, Hang Zhang, Qiong Wu, Suzana Sampaio, Anne Zouggar and Kathryn Cormican
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 456; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060456 - 29 May 2024
Abstract
While considerable attention has been devoted to positive leadership patterns in the realm of project management, the dark side of leadership has rarely been studied within project teams. To address this gap, we focus on abusive supervision in project teams and develop a
[...] Read more.
While considerable attention has been devoted to positive leadership patterns in the realm of project management, the dark side of leadership has rarely been studied within project teams. To address this gap, we focus on abusive supervision in project teams and develop a team-level moderated mediation model to examine whether, how, and when abusive supervision influences project outcomes by drawing from the Proactive Motivation Theory. Survey data were collected from 132 project teams containing 132 project managers and 392 project members using a multi-source time-lagged survey design. Our findings reveal significant negative relationships between abusive supervision and both project performance and project team creativity. Furthermore, we found that a team’s proactive behavior plays a mediating role in these relationships. More importantly, our study identifies that team building mitigates the direct negative impact of abusive supervision on proactive behavior and the indirect effects of abusive supervision on project performance and project team creativity. These findings provide valuable theoretical and managerial implications for abusive supervision and project management scholars and practitioners.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Dark Side of Leadership: Abusive Supervision Research at Team- or Cross-Level of Analysis)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Reducing Emotional Distress with Open-Label Placebos: Assessing the Role of Motor Engagement in Pill Consumption
by
Anne Schienle and Wolfgang Kogler
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 455; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060455 - 29 May 2024
Abstract
It has been posited that ingesting a pill constitutes a pivotal action that facilitates the effects of open-label placebos (OLPs: placebos honestly prescribed). In the present OLP experiment, the motor components of a placebo treatment were systematically varied. The participants (n =
[...] Read more.
It has been posited that ingesting a pill constitutes a pivotal action that facilitates the effects of open-label placebos (OLPs: placebos honestly prescribed). In the present OLP experiment, the motor components of a placebo treatment were systematically varied. The participants (n = 183) were randomly allocated to one of four groups that all viewed aversive pictures. The ‘active OLP’ group took a placebo pill with specific instructions concerning the sequence of motor actions for the intake. The ‘usual OLP’ group swallowed the pill (without specific motor instructions), while the third group received an ‘imaginary OLP’ (no pill intake). The fourth group applied cognitive reappraisal (CR; active control group) to reduce emotional distress. The participants rated their affective state as well as the efficacy and plausibility of the treatment approach. Moreover, blood pressure and pulse were recorded as indicators of bodily arousal. The four groups did not differ in their valence ratings and physiological measures. The ‘imaginary OLP’ received higher ratings for both effectiveness and plausibility than the ‘usual OLP’. CR was rated as superior relative to all OLP conditions. In conclusion, reducing emotional distress with OLPs does not necessitate the consumption of a placebo pill. In terms of acceptability and ease of implementation, CR stands as a well-established alternative.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Psychiatric, Emotional and Behavioral Disorders)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Healthily Nourished but Depleted? Is It Possible to Improve the Health of Shift Workers through Lifestyle Interventions?
by
Christine Binder-Mendl, Cem Ekmekcioglu, Wolfgang Marktl and Thorsten Schwerte
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 454; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060454 - 28 May 2024
Abstract
The relationship between diet and health is well-researched, and there is also information regarding the effects of diet on mental health. This study aimed to investigate whether motivation to optimize lifestyles without regulations or restrictions could improve the health of rotating shift workers.
[...] Read more.
The relationship between diet and health is well-researched, and there is also information regarding the effects of diet on mental health. This study aimed to investigate whether motivation to optimize lifestyles without regulations or restrictions could improve the health of rotating shift workers. In this pilot study, 18 male shift workers were randomly divided into two groups. All participants completed the Short Form Health Survey-36 questionnaire (SF-36) before the start and at the end of the study. Group I (n = 9, mean age 42 ± 6.6 y) received dietary and lifestyle information every other month for one year, and the other, Group II (n = 9 mean age 36 ± 7.3 y), one year later. All participants were motivated to follow the trained dietary recommendations and to engage in physical activity. Almost all scores had improved. Surprisingly, physical performance scores worsened, which was not expected. The impairment in mental health due to the change in ownership of the company could have been better explained. Nutritional advice over a longer period and the motivation to integrate more exercise into everyday life can potentially improve the health of rotating shift workers.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Behavior Change: Theories, Methods, and Interventions)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessBrief Report
Psychological Characteristics of Students with Passion for Studying
by
Paweł Larionow and Agnieszka Gabryś
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 453; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060453 - 28 May 2024
Abstract
Passion for studying can be considered a significant factor that promotes well-being and mental health in students. This study aimed to examine whether the psychological characteristics of students with a passion for studying differed from those of students without one. To compare these
[...] Read more.
Passion for studying can be considered a significant factor that promotes well-being and mental health in students. This study aimed to examine whether the psychological characteristics of students with a passion for studying differed from those of students without one. To compare these two groups, we used a set of different psychological variables (e.g., academic burnout and vitality), as well as integrated both person-centered (i.e., group comparison research) and variable-centered (i.e., correlational analysis) approaches. During classes, one hundred and fifty-four students from a Polish university completed a comprehensive set of short self-report questionnaires online on different psychological characteristics, including variables related to studying (i.e., passion for studying, academic burnout, and general academic self-efficacy), psychopathology symptoms, perceived stress and somatic complaints, as well as personal resources (vitality, resilience, self-esteem, and optimism). We noted multiple statistically significant differences in psychological characteristics between the two studied groups of students. Thus, harmonious passionate students tended to have more favorable psychological characteristics within variables related to studying, mental or somatic health symptoms, and personal resources compared to the non-passionate students. A harmonious passion for studying seems to have potential health-promoting and health-protecting effects, whereas a lack of passion for studying may lead to less favorable outcomes.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wellbeing and Mental Health among Students)
Open AccessReview
How to Make an Internal Team Coach: An Integration of Research
by
Gabriela Fernández Castillo, Rylee Linhardt and Eduardo Salas
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 452; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060452 - 27 May 2024
Abstract
Team coaching has been found to increase group effort, improve interpersonal processes, and increase team knowledge and learning. However, the team coaching literature is renowned for its inability to define team coaching itself—making it difficult to solidify its place in the world of
[...] Read more.
Team coaching has been found to increase group effort, improve interpersonal processes, and increase team knowledge and learning. However, the team coaching literature is renowned for its inability to define team coaching itself—making it difficult to solidify its place in the world of team science. So far, there is no consensus on what specific training would serve internal leaders best, and how they would connect to the team coaching literature. We know leadership and team training are effective in improving organizational outcomes, but the gap in the literature lies in identifying what specific competencies internal team coaches need, and what training could fulfill these. In this piece, we seek to (1) identify what competencies internal team leaders need based on the outcomes we know team coaching yields, (2) identify specific behaviors that can fulfill these competencies, and (3) integrate the literature to form an evidence-based guide on what training to provide to internal team coaches. By doing so, we hope to provide a definitive understanding of what internal team coaches need to be successful.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rethinking Leadership Development: Contributions from Theory and Research)
Open AccessArticle
Crafting a Job among Chinese Employees: The Role of Empowering Leadership and the Links to Work-Related Outcomes
by
Mengyan Chen, Yonghong Zhang, Haoyang Xu and Xiting Huang
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 451; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060451 - 27 May 2024
Abstract
►▼
Show Figures
The present study aims to examine the process through which empowering leadership shapes employees’ work engagement and in-role performance by facilitating job-crafting behaviors, specifically seeking resources, seeking challenges, and reducing demands. Based on the extensive data from 733 Chinese employees across various organizations
[...] Read more.
The present study aims to examine the process through which empowering leadership shapes employees’ work engagement and in-role performance by facilitating job-crafting behaviors, specifically seeking resources, seeking challenges, and reducing demands. Based on the extensive data from 733 Chinese employees across various organizations located predominantly in Chongqing and Xi’an, China, we carried out different types of statistical analysis such as confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM) to examine the relationships among empowering leadership, specific job-crafting behaviors, work engagement and in-role performance, test our hypothesis and our conceptual model. The results from structural equation modeling (SEM) suggested that empowering leadership was positively related to employees’ work engagement and in-role performance; empowering leadership was positively related to employees’ job crafting (seeking resources, seeking challenges and reducing demands); seeking resources, seeking challenges and reducing demands were positively related to in-role performance, and seeking challenges and reducing demands were positively related to work engagement. In the relationship between empowering leadership and in-role performance, seeking resources serves as a mediating factor. Similarly, seeking challenges mediates the association between empowering leadership and both work engagement and in-role performance. Furthermore, reducing demands mediates the links between empowering leadership and both work engagement and in-role performance. The implications of these findings are subsequently discussed.
Full article
Figure 1
Journal Menu
► ▼ Journal Menu-
- Behavioral Sciences Home
- Aims & Scope
- Editorial Board
- Reviewer Board
- Topical Advisory Panel
- Instructions for Authors
- Special Issues
- Topics
- Sections
- Article Processing Charge
- Indexing & Archiving
- Editor’s Choice Articles
- Most Cited & Viewed
- Journal Statistics
- Journal History
- Journal Awards
- Editorial Office
Journal Browser
► ▼ Journal BrowserHighly Accessed Articles
Latest Books
E-Mail Alert
News
Topics
Topic in
Behavioral Sciences, Children, Healthcare, IJERPH, Nutrients
Economics of Public Health: Assessment of Health Interventions
Topic Editors: Ce Shang, Amanda J. Quisenberry, Yingning WangDeadline: 30 June 2024
Topic in
AI, Behavioral Sciences, EJIHPE
The Future of AI and Education: Chat GPT on Learning and Teaching Behaviours
Topic Editors: Xuesong Zhai, Andreja Istenic StarcicDeadline: 19 August 2024
Topic in
Algorithms, Behavioral Sciences, Societies, Technologies
Getting Insight into How Different Chatbots Answer the Same Questions and How Reliable They Are
Topic Editors: Eugène Loos, Loredana IvanDeadline: 1 September 2024
Topic in
Behavioral Sciences, COVID, EJIHPE, Societies, IJERPH, Healthcare
Cultural Differences and Migrant Mental Health in the Age of COVID-19
Topic Editors: Vsevolod Konstantinov, Andrés Alexis Ramírez CoronelDeadline: 30 September 2024
Conferences
Special Issues
Special Issue in
Behavioral Sciences
The Effects of Sports on Individual Cognition, Motivation and Mental Health
Guest Editor: Noelia Belando-PedreñoDeadline: 5 June 2024
Special Issue in
Behavioral Sciences
The Role of Synaptic Plasticity in Animal Behavior and the Development of Psychiatric Disorders
Guest Editors: Jacopo Lamanna, Mattia FerroDeadline: 15 June 2024
Special Issue in
Behavioral Sciences
Health Behavior Change: Theories, Methods, and Interventions
Guest Editors: Martin S. Hagger, Kyra Hamilton, Susette MoyersDeadline: 30 June 2024
Special Issue in
Behavioral Sciences
Social Behaviors and Psychological Effects of Students Experiences during Social-Educative and Inclusive Interventions: Active Programs and Improvement of Health-Related Quality of Life
Guest Editors: Pedro Jesús Ruiz-Montero, María Luisa Santos-PastorDeadline: 31 July 2024