Europe’s Journal of Psychology

Academic Achievement in University Students: The Role of Perfectionism and Academic Hardiness

2024-11-29T02:15:14-08:00

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between two personality factors, namely perfectionism and academic hardiness, and academic achievement. Nine hundred sixty-six undergraduate students from diverse disciplines in Greece made up the entire sample. In addition to two self-reported questionnaires about their achievements, perfectionism, and academic toughness, they were asked to complete one demographic questionnaire. The study revealed statistically significant positive correlations between the adaptive form of perfectionism and academic achievement and negative primarily correlation between the maladaptive form of perfectionism and academic achievement. The dimensions of academic hardiness (challenge, commitment, control) were also found to be positively correlated with the students’ performance. Regarding the predictive role of these two factors for academic achievement, the results indicated that the adaptive form of perfectionism (high standards) and two dimensions of academic hardiness (challenge and commitment) are positive predictors, while the maladaptive form of perfectionism (discrepancy) is a negative predictor. Implications of the above results are discussed.

Sociodemographic Variables and Psychological Distress of Moroccan College Students

2024-11-29T02:15:15-08:00

Because college students are an important category of the population highly vulnerable to mental health problems, this study aims to investigate the sociodemographic variables associated with the increase in psychological distress levels among Moroccan college students. Participants (N = 1147; mean age 20.00, SD = 2.6; 703 females and 444 males) completed a survey, which included a sociodemographic questionnaire and the Arabic version of the Brief Symptoms Inventory (BSI). Non-parametric tests were conducted to explore the data. Non-parametric tests revealed that being female, having a physical illness, experiencing depression and anxiety, having sleep problems, and living with only their mother or with a family member other than their parents are associated with a significant increase in the level of psychological distress. In summary, specific sociodemographic factors exert a notable influence on the psychological distress levels experienced by college students. Consequently, it is imperative to intensify research endeavors aimed at delving into the intricacies of college students’ mental health and its correlated ramifications.

Relation- and Task-Oriented Roles as Antecedents of Ethical Leadership: Examining Synergistic Effects

2024-11-29T02:15:15-08:00

A growing body of literature demonstrates that ethical leadership has positive effects on employees’ work outcomes. Ethical leadership upholds the importance of “normatively appropriate conduct through personal actions and interpersonal relationships” (Brown et al., 2005, p. 120; doi:10.1016/j.obhdp.2005.03.002). However, extant empirical research does not answer the question- of how ethical leaders balance their relation maintenance (i.e., relationship-oriented role) and performance maintenance (i.e., task-oriented role) behaviors with their employees to be perceived as ethical leaders. In the present paper, drawing upon the propositions informed by opposing domains theory and related research, I theorize that leaders’ relationship-oriented and task-oriented roles create synergistic effects that predict their employees’ perceptions of ethical leadership. Results across two studies (an experiment and a correlational study involving samples from two different cultures) convergently confirmed the hypothesized relationships. I conclude by discussing several key theoretical and practical implications of these findings.

Associations Between Big-5 Personality Traits, Cognitive Ability, and Climate Beliefs and Behaviours: Results From a Longitudinal UK Birth Cohort

2024-11-29T02:15:16-08:00

Anthropogenic climate change is an existential threat to both humans and wider biodiversity. However, cumulatively, individuals’ actions can help to mitigate the impacts of climate change. Understanding the factors which shape individuals’ beliefs about climate change, and their environmental behaviours, is therefore crucial. Here, we explore whether individual differences—Big-5 personality traits and cognitive ability—are associated with climate beliefs and behaviours, using longitudinal data from a UK birth cohort study. Individual differences were measured when the participants were teenagers (aged 13 to 15 years), with climate beliefs and behaviours assessed at approximately age 30 years. These climate beliefs and behaviours included: belief that the climate is changing, concern over climate change, whether humans are to blame for climate change, whether individual actions can mitigate climate change, and whether they were undertaking a range of pro-environmental behaviours for climate reasons (e.g., reducing air travel, reducing meat/dairy consumption). Regression models were used to explore the associations between individual differences and climate belief and behaviour outcomes, adjusting for a range of relevant sociodemographic confounders. Overall, we found consistent positive associations between agreeableness, openness to experience and cognitive ability scores and environmental knowledge and action. Weaker, and more inconsistent, associations were reported for extraversion, conscientiousness and emotional stability. These results suggest that individual differences may shape an individual’s beliefs and actions regarding climate change, and potentially indicates groups where climate information campaigns could be targeted.

Couples’ Psychological Resources and Marital Satisfaction: The Mediating Role of Marital Support

2024-11-29T02:15:16-08:00

The aim of this study was to assess the interdependent relations among psychological resources, marital support, and marital satisfaction in married couples from the perspective of both dyad members, using the Actor-Partner-Interdependence-Model (APIM) approach. One hundred and fifty-one heterosexual married couples (N = 302) completed questionnaires assessing psychological resources (dispositional optimism and sense of mastery), marital support, marital satisfaction, social desirability, and demographic variables. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test a proposed mediation model adopting the dyadic approach. It was found that husbands’ and wives’ own psychological resources contributed positively to their own perceptions of marital support and that marital support mediated the effects of these resources on their own (actor–actor effect) and on their spouses’ marital satisfaction (actor–partner effect). The results highlight the important contribution of each dyad member’s own psychological resources, as well as the valuable role of perceived support as a mediator, regardless of gender. Hence, clinical practice should encourage individuals to invest in maintaining their personal assets and abilities because of their positive effect on expanding intra- and inter- processes of well-being within the marriage.

Belief Bias in Individual and Collective Reasoning

2024-11-29T02:15:17-08:00

In this paper, we investigate whether collaborative group performance is better than individual performance in solving a syllogism evaluation task. We hypothesise that collaborative group settings will outperform individual settings and that the belief bias effect will be mitigated in a group setting. Two empirical studies were conducted with Argentinian undergraduate students. Study 1 (N = 239) used a between-subjects design with two conditions: individual resolution and interactive group resolution. Overall, the group condition performed better than the individual condition, but there were no significant differences in evaluating invalid syllogisms. Study 2 (N = 115) used a within-subjects design with three conditions: individual resolution, interactive group resolution, and individual after-interactive group resolution. Overall, the group condition performed better than the individual condition, and the individual after-interactive group condition showed an increase in accurate answers compared to individual resolution. However, as observed in Study 1, the collaborative group setting did not improve the evaluation of invalid syllogisms. We propose an explanation for the group resolution of invalid believable syllogisms within the framework of the selective processing model of the belief bias. This research provides new data on the effects of collaborative settings in deductive reasoning beyond the Western Educated Industrialised Rich Democratic (WEIRD) cultures.

The Associations of Peer-Rated Popularity and Likeability With Dark Triad Personality Traits in Adolescent Groups

2024-08-30T01:36:12-07:00

One of the most significant challenges in adolescence is the pursuit of social acceptance, which can manifest in various forms, including likeability and popularity. Achieving social acceptance is associated with positive outcomes, while its absence is linked to adverse consequences. Existing research into the personality determinants impacting the ability to elicit likeability or gain popularity remains limited, primarily focusing on the influence of Big Five traits. This study aimed to explore the relationships between self-reported Dark Triad traits -encompassing Machiavellianism, subclinical psychopathy, and subclinical narcissism- and peer-rated likeability and popularity in a naturalistic high school classroom setting. The sample comprised 184 secondary students (98 females, 86 males) with an average age of 16.29 (SD = 1.36). Participants self-reported their Dark Triad traits and provided peer ratings through sociometric questions related to likeability and popularity. Our findings indicated that narcissism was significantly and positively associated with both likeability and popularity. In contrast, psychopathy and Machiavellianism exhibited minimal associations with measures of social acceptance. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of these findings.

Quality of Life and Body Dissatisfaction in Cisgender Men Reporting Sexual Attraction Toward Men or Women

2024-08-30T01:36:13-07:00

Gay men report poorer body image than straight men, but no research has examined other dimensions of sexual identity (e.g., sexual attraction). Most research also focused on clinical outcomes of body dissatisfaction rather than subclinical influences on quality of life. We examined the association between sexual attraction (i.e., attraction to men or women), body dissatisfaction and quality of life in cisgender men. We hypothesised that: 1) men attracted to men would report higher body dissatisfaction, 2) men attracted to men would report lower quality of life (i.e., psychological, physiological, social, and environmental), 3) body dissatisfaction would be negatively associated with quality of life, and finally 4) body dissatisfaction mediates the association between sexual attraction and quality of life. A cross-sectional study (86 men attracted to men and 87 men attracted to women) supported these hypotheses but showed that sexual attraction was only associated with psychological quality of life. While sexual attraction was only associated with psychological quality of life, there were indirect associations with all quality of life domains acting through body dissatisfaction. Our findings emphasise that men attracted to men are at greater risk of poor body image and that body dissatisfaction is a pervasive health problem, negatively influencing subclinical health and well-being in cisgender men. We also highlight how body dissatisfaction may be one psychological process negatively influencing the psychological quality of life in men attracted to men. More resources should be directed toward preventing body dissatisfaction, particularly in sexual minoritised men.

Growth Mindset Is Associated With Mastery Goals in Adulthood

2024-08-30T01:36:14-07:00

Growth mindsets, the belief that intelligence can grow with effort and training, have been associated with the adoption of mastery goals in children and adolescents. However, it is unknown whether these two factors are also correlated in adults. We conducted two online studies among three hundred participants to challenge this association. Results from (1) zero-order correlations, (2) structural equation modeling and (3) out-of-sample predictions converged on the finding that growth mindset was associated with the adoption of mastery goals in mathematics. This association generalized across different ways of measuring mindsets. Taken together the results provided new evidence for the idea that mindset and goal achievement are intrinsically related concepts, which remain associated across different life stages and generalize across populations.

Use It or Lose It: Facilitating the Use of Interactive Data Apps in Psychological Research Data Sharing

2024-08-30T01:36:14-07:00

The value of open research data (ORD), a key feature of open science, lies in their reuse. However, the mere online availability of ORD does not guarantee their reuse by other researchers. Specifically, previous meta-scientific research has indicated that the underutilization of ORD is related to barriers at the level of the ORD themselves, potential reusers of ORD, and the broader academic ecosystem. At the same time, sharing large datasets in an understandable and transparent format that motivates researchers to explore these datasets remains a fundamental challenge. With the present work, we propose interactive data apps (IDAs) as innovative ORD supplements that provide a means to lower barriers of ORD reuse. We demonstrate the use of two open-source Python libraries (Dash, Gradio) for IDA development using two psychological research use cases. The first use case pertains to an experimental quantitative dataset acquired in a clinical psychology setting. The second use case concerns the familiarization with data analysis workflows that are characteristic of natural language processing (NLP). For both use cases, we provide easy-to-adapt Python code that can form the basis for IDA development in similar scenarios.