Australian Journal of Psychology最新文献

Objective: Intertemporal decision-making ability refers to the ability of individuals to weigh costs and benefits at different time points and make choices, which is crucial for adolescents to resist temptation, improve self-control, and prospection. However, there are rarely studies that have been conducted to directly measure the intertemporal decision-making ability of adolescents.

Method: In this study, adolescents aged 9 to 15 years old were include to finish the measurement, and the intertemporal decision-making ability scale was developed based on three neural networks of intertemporal decision-making. After conducting the exploratory factor analysis, the final scale had 14 items in three dimensions.

Results: The results showed that the intertemporal decision-making ability scale for early adolescents contains three dimensions, namely, cognitive control, reward valuation, and prospection, with a total of 14 items.

Conclusion: The intertemporal decisionmaking ability scale developed in this study can effectively assess the intertemporal decisionmaking ability for early adolescents..

Objective: The study evaluated the potential of apple aroma to alleviate physiological stress response induced by a short-term cognitive stressor. It investigated the effects of apple aroma on cardiac and peripheral autonomic nervous system activity under stressful conditions.

Methods: Within-subject experiments were conducted with 25 healthy male university students with a 30-minute calculation task under three conditions: Apple, Chamomile (CHA), and Di propylene glycol (DPG) (scentless air). The aroma administration was precisely controlled and counterbalanced. Cardiac activity on electrocardiograms and nose tip temperature were recorded throughout the experiment. A visual analog scale and a scent questionnaire were subjective measures.

Results: Apple aroma demonstrated a significantly smaller increase in heart rate (t [24] = 3.36, p = 0.008 vs. DPG, t [24] = 4.06, p = 0.001 vs. CHA), and a decrease in the high-frequency component of heart rate variability (t [24] = 2.81, p = 0.029 vs. DPG, t [24] = 3.48, p = 0.006 vs. CHA) compared to the other conditions, representing a smaller enhancement of cardiac sympathetic nervous system activity and smaller suppression of cardiac parasympathetic nervous system activity respectively.

Conclusion: Apple aroma showed efficacy in alleviating the physiological stress response in terms of cardiac activity. Apple was also considered significantly preferable and comfortable compared to the other conditions, which would be beneficial in the context of aromatherapy.

Objective: Treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is hindered by limited uptake, early drop-out and non-response. This pilot study aimed to explore the feasibility, acceptability, and usability of a mobile app as part of a blended approach to treating frontline workers experiencing PTSD.

Method: A single-group pre-post study was conducted with 10 adult frontline workers (firefighters, police, correctional workers) receiving trauma-focused cognitive-behavioural therapy for PTSD. Participants used an app (Support Base) designed to consolidate session content and encourage independent skills practice. At post-treatment, feasibility was assessed via app usage data and participant feedback, usability via the mHealth App Usability Questionnaire, and acceptability via items from the Mobile Application Rating Scale: user version.

Results: Usability ratings were above average and the app received an overall mean rating of 3.4/5. Despite generally positive attitudes towards using technology in therapy, participants had low levels of confidence/experience with wellbeing apps and almost half preferred using the standard treatment workbook. Clinicians highlighted a range of client barriers to app use, including difficulties in clinician/client collaboration. Overall, there was significant pre- to post-treatment improvement in clinical measures of PTSD and depression, but this change cannot be tied to app use.

Conclusions: Although Support Base was viewed by participants as usable and acceptable, there were feasibility issues which must be further considered in delivering this form of care. Due to the uncontrolled study design, any additive effects of the app beyond standard clinical treatment could not be assessed. The development of a more integrated blended care model is a potential avenue for future research.

Objective: There is currently a lack of intervention trials focusing on parent management strategies for Internet gaming disorder (IGD) and smartphone addiction. The aim of the current study (ACTRN12622001355763) was to examine the efficacy of the Tech Diet Parent Program (TDPP), an online parent management video program, in reducing IGD and smartphone addiction symptoms and associated developmental impacts.

Method: A total of N = 689 parent participants (with school-aged children) completed baseline measures and 153 parents provided 6-week follow-up data after completing the TDPP.

Results: Fifty-nine percent had a child at baseline with high levels of IGD and/or smartphone addiction symptoms. At 6-week follow-up 60% of children with high levels of IGD symptoms and 32% of high levels of smartphone addiction were significantly lower post-program completion. Increased levels of program dosage and compliance were found to be important factors in reductions to IGD and smartphone addiction symptoms, particularly for the high symptom sample. Higher dosage and compliance was also correlated with a significant reduction in the negative developmental impacts of screen use on the children, notably in the sub-domains of physical/social development and education.

Conclusions: These findings have implications for utilising online parent management strategies for the prevention and intervention of both IGD and smartphone addiction, either as a stand-alone intervention or in conjunction with established individual treatments like CBT.

Objective: Emotional labour is expected, especially from service sector employees, to ensure customer satisfaction and meet corporate expectations. Previous studies have mainly focused on the effects of emotional labour on employees. Few studies have examined its predictors in terms of personality traits. In the present study, the predictive levels of the Big Five and dark triad traits on emotional labour were examined possibly for the first time.

Method: Four hundred and seventy-three service sector employees participated in the research. Data were collected using an online survey comprising questions relating to the Big Five personality traits, dark triad personality traits, emotional labour and personal (demographic) information. Descriptive statistics, internal consistency test, Pearson's correlation and hierarchical regression were used to analyse the data.

Results: According to the findings, Machiavellianism was the strongest predictor of surface acting, and agreeableness was the strongest predictor of deep acting and naturally felt emotions. Narcissism was found to be a predictor of surface acting.

Conclusions: As a result of examining the Big Five and dark triad traits in predicting emotional labour styles, the fact that agreeableness predicted deep acting and naturally felt emotions suggests that agreeableness should be given closer attention in recruitment and promotion decisions, especially in the service sector.