In this study, we introduce a novel and robust approach for computing Generalizability Theory (GT) absolute error and related dependability indices using indicator intercepts that represent observed means within structural equation models (SEMs). We demonstrate the applicability of our method using one-, two-, and three-facet designs with self-report measures having varying numbers of scale points. Results for the indicator mean-based method align well with those obtained from the GENOVA and R gtheory packages for doing conventional GT analyses and improve upon previously suggested methods for deriving absolute error and corresponding dependability indices from SEMs when analyzing three-facet designs. We further extend our approach to derive Monte Carlo confidence intervals for all key indices and to incorporate estimation procedures that correct for scale coarseness effects commonly observed when analyzing binary or ordinal data.

Doctoral degrees include Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and other professional doctorates such as Engineering Doctorate (EngD), Doctor of Education (EdD), or Doctor of Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy). Unlike undergraduate- or postgraduate-taught students, doctoral study focuses on a single, autonomous piece of research. Research indicates a high occurrence of mental health problems in doctoral students. This paper describes the piloting and qualitative evaluation of a range of interventions designed to enhance the mental health support for doctoral students at one UK university. These interventions sought to target an array of known factors that affect the mental health of doctoral students, including individual capacity for coping with stress and social support availability.

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Structured mixture item response models (StrMixIRMs) are a special type of constrained confirmatory mixture item response theory (IRT) model for detecting latent performance differences in a measurement instrument by characteristic item groups, and classifying respondents according to these differences. In light of limited software options for estimating StrMixIRMs under existing frameworks, this paper proposes reparameterizing it as a confirmatory mixture IRT model using interaction effects between latent classes and item groups. The reparameterization allows for easier implementation of StrMixIRMs with multiple software programs that have mixture modeling capabilities, including open-source ones. This widens the accessibility to these models to a broad range of users and thus can facilitate research and applications of StrMixIRMs. This paper serves two main goals: First, we introduce StrMixIRMs, focusing on the proposed reparameterization based on interaction effects and its various extensions. Second, we illustrate use cases of this novel reparameterization within the mirt 1.41 package in R by employing two empirical datasets. Detailed R code with notes are provided for the applications along with an interpretation of the outputs.

Background: This study focused on the widely used Body Image subscale, a dimension of the Body Investment Scale developed by Orbach and Mikulincer in 1998. Specifically, we explored its psychometric properties and potential use for health promotion research among young Spanish university students. Method: A sample of 793 participants (75.28% female) aged 18–26 years (M = 20.68; SD = 2.13) completed the questionnaire and related variables. Results: A unidimensional structure was confirmed with a good fit, demonstrating gender- and age-invariance, along with robust internal consistency. The scale exhibited a significant association with self-esteem, life satisfaction, a sense of coherence, and psychological distress. Conclusions: The Body Image subscale can be considered unidimensional. The obtained factor solution provides a reliable, valid, and invariant measure across gender and age for assessing body feelings in Spanish university students. Therefore, the instrument can effectively investigate the relationship between body image and health-related behaviors. Additionally, it can serve as a valuable tool in designing effective health interventions for university students to prevent mental health conditions, such as eating disorders or suicidal behaviors.

In promoting career sustainability, psychological theories historically have informed human resource management (HRM) development—three assessment directions are among them: work-related flow, happiness promotion, and appraising PERMA (Positive Emotions, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment) factors. Csikszentmihalyi’s work-related flow represents an optimally challenging work-related process. Happiness promotion strives to maintain a pleased satisfaction with the current experience. PERMA represents measurable positive psychological factors constituting well-being. Reliable and validated, the experience of flow has been found to determine career sustainability in contrast to the more often investigated happiness ascertainment or identifying PERMA factors. Career sustainability research to inform HRM development is in its infancy. Therefore, publishers’ commitment to sustainability provides integrity. Given MDPI’s uniquely founding sustainability concern, its journal articles were searched with the keywords “flow, Csikszentmihalyi, work”, excluding those pertaining to education, health, leisure, marketing, non-workers, and spirituality, to determine the utilization of work-related flow to achieve career sustainability. Of the 628 returns, 28 reports were included for potential assessment. Current studies on Csikszentmihalyi’s work-related flow ultimately represented three results. These provide insight into successful, positive methods to develop career sustainability. Consequently, HRM is advised to investigate practices for assessing and encouraging employees’ engagement with work-related flow with the aim of ensuring career sustainability.

The holistic growth and psychological well-being of people with special needs and disabilities remain high on the priority agenda for sustainable and inclusive education. Digital well-being technologies and especially “smart technologies”, are ready to revolutionize mental health interventions by meeting trainees’ needs and providing them with more positive and transformative mental, emotional, and social experiences. Μeta-skills refer to a set of consciousness-raising competences that incorporate meta-cognitive, social–emotional, and motivational attributes, allowing individuals to intentionally achieve a state of optimal functioning. Although positive psychology and well-being technologies are considered promising intervention approaches, there is less knowledge regarding the effectiveness of such interventions among people with special needs and disabilities, especially in the crucial domain of meta-skills development. Thus, the current systematic review aims to examine positive psychology strategies as well as the synergy with well-being technologies in the development of metacognition, emotional intelligence, and motivation meta-skills in populations with special training needs and disabilities. The PRISMA methodology was utilized to answer the research questions. A total of forty-nine studies met the inclusion criteria. The results indicated that positive psychology strategies improved a wide range of meta-skills, including self-regulation, emotional control, behavioral control, inhibition control, self-awareness, intrapersonal skills, interpersonal skills, adaptation, goal setting, and self-compassion. Artificial intelligence tools, wearables, smart applications, immersive technologies (virtual and augmented reality), neurofeedback and biofeedback technologies, as well as digital games were found to effectively assist such training programs. The results of the current review may provide positive feedback in the discussion about digitally-aided mental health interventions for training the meta-skills of mental and emotional health.

This study aimed to examine whether early change in self-reported quality of life (QoL) was a predictor of outcomes in the treatment of anorexia nervosa (AN). Given suggestions that people with AN overestimate their QoL when unwell, we hypothesised that any early change in self-reported QoL, be it an early improvement or early worsening, would predict better outcomes in terms of end-of-treatment body mass index (BMI), eating disorder (ED) psychopathology, and QoL. Participants were 78 adult outpatients engaged in cognitive behaviour therapy for anorexia nervosa (CBT-AN) either with or without the embedded compulsive exercise module “compuLsive Exercise Activity TheraPy” (LEAP). Polynomial regression was utilised to examine the effects of varying combinations of baseline and 10-week self-reported physical-health-relatedr QoL (SF-12; PHRQoL subscale), mental-health-related QoL (SF-12; MHRQoL subscale), and eating-disorder-specific QoL (EDQoL; global, psychological, cognitive/physical, financial, and school/work subscales) on end-of-treatment BMI, ED psychopathology, and QoL. Greater magnitudes of early change in global EDQoL scores, both positive and negative, predicted better MHRQoL but not BMI or ED psychopathology at the end of treatment. Psychological EDQoL ratings also accounted for 38.1% of the variance in end-of-treatment ED psychopathology, although tests examining the 6ratings may be meaningful in predicting treatment outcomes. The positive impact of early worsening in QoL ratings suggests that early QoL ratings are inflated due to denial and poor insight. Clinicians should be reassured that early QoL decline does not indicate treatment failure.

The present article provides a detailed comparison of two psychological phenomena, the freezing effect and the bystander effect, across their neurobiological, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral dimensions. This study focuses on identifying and analyzing the similarities and differences between these two responses to stressful and traumatic events. While the freezing effect is characterized by an involuntary neurobiological response to immediate threats, resulting in temporary immobilization or paralysis, the bystander effect describes a cognitive and social phenomenon where individuals refrain from offering help in emergencies when others are present. The study explores affective aspects, including emotional responses and trauma-related impacts associated with both phenomena. Through a comparative analysis, this research unveils important understandings regarding the distinctions among these responses, including their triggers, underlying mechanisms, and observable behaviors. It also highlights overlapping aspects, particularly in how both phenomena can lead to inaction in critical moments. This comparative study contributes to a deeper understanding of the complex interaction between the brain, individual cognition, and social dynamics in the face of danger and stress. The findings of this research have significant implications for understanding human behavior in emergencies, offering valuable perspectives that can be applied in the domains of psychology, training for emergency response, and trauma therapy.

The need for informal caregiving has become a crucial topic for researchers and policymakers. This review explores the psychosocial impact on caregivers providing dementia care in high-income and low–middle-income Asian countries. A scoping review was undertaken following the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) protocol. A systematic search of four databases (PubMed, ProQuest, Medline, and Medline Complete) was conducted. Articles were screened following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Fourteen articles (11 cross-sectional, 1 longitudinal, 1 case-control, and 1 descriptive phenomenological study) were selected for the final analysis. The most frequently reported findings from low–middle-income countries were dementia caregivers working longer hours and experiencing financial issues, poor physical health, and lower life satisfaction, which progressively and collectively affected caregivers’ psychosocial well-being and quality of life. However, the impact was less significant in high-income Asian countries, particularly those where efforts are being made to identify the burdens associated with caring for people with dementia and providing appropriate support. This review demonstrates clear evidence that caring for people with dementia may affect informal caregivers’ quality of life, particularly in low–middle-income Asian countries. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses may be needed to confirm these findings.