Scandinavian journal of psychology最新文献

Long-distance romantic relationships have become an increasingly common type of relationship. Especially among emerging adults, the preference for such relationships is increasing. This situation reveals the importance of analyzing how long-distance relationships are maintained and the quality that individuals perceive from these relationships. The study group of this research consists of emerging adults who have been in a long-distance romantic relationship for at least 6 months. The study examined the relationships between relationship maintenance behaviors, dyadic trust and relationship quality. The findings obtained using a serial mediation model show that relationship maintenance behaviors predict relationship quality both directly and indirectly through dyadic trust. In particular, openness and positivity play important roles in the formation of trust, which in turn increases overall relationship quality. The results emphasize that adaptive communication and relationship maintenance behaviors play a critical role in overcoming the difficulties encountered in long-distance relationships. The findings are discussed within the framework of family systems theory and the impact of stressors on the system and the role of effective relationship maintenance behaviors in maintaining relational balance and functioning are discussed. Finally, implications for practice and future research in the field of relationship counseling are discussed.

The negative relationship between math anxiety and mathematics performance is well established. However, factors such as how math anxiety is operationalized, the specific mathematical domain, gender, and cultural context may influence this relationship. Still, these factors have not been considered together and the results in primary school students have been inconsistent. Thus, this study aimed to investigate how math anxiety is related to arithmetic fluency and number processing in fourth-grade students across three cultural contexts (Finnish- and Swedish-speaking students from Finland and Swedish-speaking students from Sweden). In addition, we investigated the dimensionality of math anxiety (i.e., cognitive and affective dimensions) and gender differences in the level of and relations between math anxiety and mathematics performance. The sample included 1022 fourth-grade students (52.6% girls) from Finland and Sweden. The participants completed a survey measuring their math anxiety and a mathematics performance test (arithmetic fluency and number processing). Confirmatory factor analysis supported a two-dimensional math anxiety construct for the Finnish-speaking sample and a unidimensional math anxiety construct for the Swedish-speaking samples. The negative math anxiety-performance relationship was demonstrated in each sample, showing a slightly stronger association for arithmetic fluency than number processing. On average girls experienced higher levels of math anxiety and boys had better arithmetic fluency. The negative relationship between math anxiety and mathematics performance, especially for number processing, was stronger for boys. The results highlight the relationships between math anxiety and mathematics performance in fourth-grade students in Finland and Sweden. More research considering cultural (e.g., language) and gender differences is needed.

Mental illness can affect activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, and recreational activities of daily living (RADL, e.g., sports, hobbies). RADL can have positive effects on psychological well-being, and can therefore also intentionally be used to improve one's well-being (IRADL, intentional recreational activities of daily living). In a German representative and a convenience sample, 2522 participants and 213 patients were asked about their use of IRADL. The psychosomatic patients were asked pre and post a 5-week stay in a psychosomatic hospital. More than half of the participants in the representative study, 2/3 of the pretreatment, and over 91% of the posttreatment psychosomatic sample indicated at least one recreational activity that they use to deliberately improve psychological well-being. Most people in the general public use recreational activities in a well-being-promoting manner. Psychosomatic patients use this option more frequently. Psychosomatic treatment helps to increase the motivation to use recreational activities.

To further investigate the heterogeneity of adolescents' social anxiety, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among 6540 Chinese adolescents aged 11 to 19 years (3294 boys). Latent profile analysis and network analysis were adopted to identify subgroups based on social anxiety symptoms and further reveal core features of each group. Results showed that four subgroups were identified: "Profile 1 (n = 1,768, 26.8%): the low group with diffuse social anxiety"; "Profile 2 (n = 1,202, 18.7%): the moderate group with cognitive disturbance"; "Profile 3 (n = 1995, 30.6%): the moderate group with difficulties in new situations"; and "Profile 4: high group with diffuse social anxiety". Multiple logistic regression analyses showed significant age and gender differences across the four profiles. Network analyses revealed that, with regard to standardized strength indices of SAS-A symptoms, generally, symptoms F4 "worry that others don't like me", and F6 "feel that others make fun of me" emerged as central symptoms across the four networks. Network 4 showed a higher average predictability of all nodes, indicating a greater resistance to intervention. Network comparison tests indicated that there were significant differences regarding network structures in all pairs of networks except for Network 1 versus 2. All pairs of networks differed significantly in network strengths except for Network 2 versus 3, particularly revealing the "essence" and "manifestation" of adolescents' social anxiety. The findings help understand adolescents' social anxiety symptoms and the interactions of symptoms, potentially providing novel perspectives and approaches for the prevention and treatment of adolescents' social anxiety.

Contributions suggest that deontological guilt, as opposed to altruistic guilt, is involved in obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms. However, the variables explaining this link have been insufficiently explored despite studies suggesting the role of not-just-right experiences (NJREs) and disgust sensitivity (DS). This study provides data testing the mediational role of these variables in the pathways linking deontological guilt to OC symptoms. We administered self-report questionnaires to a sample of 189 adults (25 males; M_age = 29.72, SD_age = 4.93) measuring OC symptoms, two dimensions of deontological guilt, as well as NJREs and DS. Path analyses were performed to test the hypotheses. We found that both deontological and altruistic dimensions of guilt were linked to OC-related variables. Also, NJREs and DS were differently associated with OC symptoms and mediated specific pathways between deontological guilt and different OC symptoms. Deontological guilt accounts for OC symptoms, supporting the theoretical model. NJREs and DS are associated with OC symptoms and deontological guilt but play different roles according to the type of OC symptoms. Results partially support previous studies and extend the knowledge of the complex interplay between variables underlying OC symptoms in the general population.

Personality traits (e.g., the Big Five) shape human behavior, decision-making, and life outcomes. Evidence from various countries suggests that these traits are not randomly distributed but follow systematic regional patterns, fueling interest in their geographical variation. We analyze N = 22,225 geo-coded personality assessments, aggregated at regional levels. Using Hot Spot analysis (Getis-Ord Gi), we identify spatial clusters of personality traits and test their associations with health and well-being indicators at the regional level. Even though Sweden has a reputation for equality, our analysis reveals notable spatial differences in personality composition. The data reveal overlapping geographical clustering in Extraversion, Conscientiousness, and Emotional Stability (i.e., low Neuroticism), traits that are established predictors of better psychological functioning. These traits co-occur at relatively higher levels in southern Sweden, particularly in the Scania region, whereas they co-occur at relatively lower levels in parts of central Sweden. These patterns are descriptively supported by municipal-level correlations with health and well-being variables, although the associations are not uniform across all measures. In view of these results, we reflect on how these clusters may connect to long-standing regional histories, including industrial legacies. Such interpretations remain speculative, and we outline a future research agenda to further investigate the causes and consequences of regional personality variation, as well as its possible societal implications.

To communicate effectively about risk and uncertainty we need to understand how phrases that describe the probability of an event are understood. Phrases may refer to higher or lower probabilities; they may communicate a precise or a rough estimate, and there may be more or less agreement on the interpretation of the phrase. Previous research has provided taxonomies for how phrases refer to different ranges of quantified probabilities. Our online survey (N = 537) showed that 22 Norwegian probability phrases were interpreted to refer to roughly the same probabilities as their English counterparts. In accordance with preregistered hypotheses, the phrases that were expected to express higher probabilities were assigned higher point estimates of interpretation (H1). The phrases that were expected to be less precise were assigned wider ranges of possible interpretation (H2). In addition to presenting the phrases alone, our study also presented the phrases as part of positive or negative clinical framing. This manipulation led to medium-sized effects that phrases were assigned lower probabilities both when they were used in positive (H3a) and in negative frames (H3b). The current study suggests a taxonomy for how the probability of an event is expressed in Norwegian. This may be relevant for high-stakes settings where it is important to communicate effectively and accurately about risk.

Athlete burnout is increasingly reported as impacting esports players' wellbeing and performance. This study examined the psychometric properties of the Athlete Burnout Scale (ABO-S) in esports. The ABO-S assesses three burnout dimensions: physical exhaustion, reduced sense of accomplishment, and negative feelings toward sport. The study focused on item discrimination and difficulty parameters to establish optimal raw cut-off scores indicating levels of burnout risk. Participants were 453 adult esports players proficient in English, ranked in the top 40% of one of seven major esports. The sample included 372 males, 74 females, and seven nonbinary participants from 66 countries. Item Response Theory was used to assess the ABO-S's psychometric properties. The GRM provided a superior fit, with all but one item showing sufficient discrimination and difficulty levels. Items reflecting weariness, lacking energy, and physical exhaustion demonstrated high levels of information and reliability across a range of burnout levels. A provisional diagnostic cut-off score of ≥ 63 (+2 SD) was established, identifying 2% of participants at high burnout risk. Additional raw score thresholds of ≥ 47 (+0.5 SD) and 52 (+1 SD) were also identified. The ABO-S is a robust instrument for assessing burnout in esports players, with specific items effectively identifying varying levels of burnout. The establishment of cut-off scores aids in identifying players at high risk of burnout, contributing to better support and intervention strategies in the esports community. These findings further the understanding of burnout in esports, highlighting the scale's utility in monitoring and addressing player wellbeing.

Although the relationship between personality and aspects of emotional experience have been investigated from a variety of different perspectives, little research has been conducted on personality traits and the affect intensity of autobiographical memories (AMs). To fill this gap, the present study examined the association of the Big Five personality traits with the positive and negative affect intensity of positive and negative AMs using multilevel multiple regression. Participants (N = 1275; 18-53 years) completed the short form of the Big Five Inventory (BFI-K) and reported AMs of three positive and three negative events. Next, participants rated the negative and positive affect intensity of each event separately on a 7-point Likert scale. Neuroticism was associated with less positive and more negative affect intensity of both positive and negative AMs. Extraversion showed the opposite pattern with respect to positive AMs, and agreeableness with respect to negative AMs and the negative affect intensity of positive AMs. Openness was associated with a higher positive affect intensity of positive AMs and conscientiousness with a higher positive affect intensity of negative AMs. Results are discussed in relation to previous empirical evidence and theoretical considerations of the associations. The present study extends previous research by demonstrating that all Big Five traits relate to the affect intensity of individuals' AMs.

This study developed and validated the Fears Towards Generative Artificial Intelligence scale, a novel instrument assessing individuals' concerns about emerging generative AI technologies, which are increasingly integrated into daily life. Drawing on qualitative data from three focus groups and subsequent quantitative validation with 303 participants, we initially derived 37 items that captured diverse fears, including concerns about job displacement, social inequalities, and loss of human autonomy commonly associated with generative AI systems. Exploratory factor analyses supported a unidimensional structure of the scale, demonstrating strong reliability and content validity. Regression models revealed that negative attitudes towards AI and perceived threats to employment were key predictors of heightened fear, while greater usage and familiarity were linked to reduced fear. We also present a short 4-item version of the scale generated by a genetic algorithm and tested with 101 new participants, which presents good psychometric properties. The FTGAI scale addresses a critical measurement gap and offers a comprehensive tool for researchers and policymakers seeking to understand and mitigate fears towards generative AI's growing societal impact.