Task-related effort - distinguishing boredom- and difficulty-related effort via electrodermal activity.

Psychological well-being is influenced by moral and self-regulatory processes, particularly in religious and cultural contexts. This study examined the effects of moral integrity and ego depletion on psychological well-being and tested the moderating role of ego depletion. Using a quantitative correlational design, data were collected from 247 Muslim undergraduate students of Sundanese ethnicity. Moderation analysis using a general linear model indicated that moral integrity positively predicted psychological well-being, whereas ego depletion negatively predicted psychological well-being. Although the interaction effect was relatively small, further analyses using simple slopes and the Johnson-Neyman technique revealed that ego depletion conditioned the strength of the relationship between moral integrity and psychological well-being, with stronger effects observed at higher levels of ego depletion. These findings suggest that moral integrity remains a protective factor for psychological well-being, particularly under conditions of increased self-regulatory demands. The study highlights the importance of considering self-regulatory fatigue when examining the psychological benefits of moral integrity in religious populations.

To identify latent profiles of ego depletion among older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and analyze how these profiles relate to health promotion behaviors. A cross-sectional study surveyed 220 older adults with T2DM on ego depletion and health promotion behaviors. Latent profile analysis identified distinct profiles of ego depletion, and multinomial logistic regression explored their links to health promotion behaviors. Latent profile analysis revealed three distinct profiles: high cognitive depletion, high behavioral depletion, and high emotional depletion. The high behavioral depletion profile was associated with fewer complications, more hypoglycemia, better stress management, greater enjoyment of life, and increased health responsibility. The high emotional depletion profile had lower levels of physical activity, reduced risk reduction behaviors, poorer stress management, and less adherence to a healthy diet. Tailored interventions addressing ego depletion are crucial for improving health promotion behaviors in this population.

ABSTRACT During the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals have endured significant mental strain, leading to ego depletion – a phenomenon characterized by impaired self-regulation after exerting repeated self-control. Our study aimed to examine the effect of ego depletion on risk-taking in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, which provided a naturalistic scenario for examining its role in risk-taking. Specifically, data were collected during the later phase of the pandemic in October 2022, a period characterized by recurrent lockdowns and strict campus closures in accordance with China’s pandemic control policy. The final sample consisted of 1,609 adults (69% male) who were under lockdown at the time of data collection (mean age = 22.04, SD = 5.28). We first validated the occurrence of ego depletion during the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the moderated mediation analysis revealed that self-depletion during lockdown promoted the risk-taking tendency, and this relationship was mediated by the intolerance of uncertainty. Moreover, this mediation effect was reinforced in individuals with high depletion sensitivity. This study provides strong evidence supporting the notion that ego depletion promotes risk-taking behavior.

BackgroundChronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global health threat to patients' physical and mental health. Effective self-management can slow disease progression in early stages. However, prolonged treatment often leads to ego depletion and subsequently impacts self-management. Interventions to address this issue remain underdeveloped.AimTo evaluate the effects of psychological empowerment–based motivational interviewing program on early-stage CKD patients' self-management, perceived empowerment, and ego depletion and to explore their engagement experiences and the underlying reasons for the intervention's effectiveness.MethodsThe study employed the explanatory sequential mixed methods design comprised of a randomized controlled trial and a qualitative study, which were conducted in a tertiary hospital from July 2022 to November 2023. About 70 patients with early CKD were randomly assigned to a control group (n = 35) receiving standard clinical nursing, or an intervention group receiving a 12-week nurse-led psychological empowerment–based motivational interviewing program consisting of four interview sessions and four consolidation sessions. CKD Self-Management Behavior Scale, Patient Perception of Empowerment Scale, Self-Regulation Fatigue Scale, and biochemical indicators were collected at baseline (T1), after 4 weeks of intervention (T2), immediately postintervention completion (T3), and 4 weeks after intervention completion (T4). Data were analyzed by generalized estimating equation model. Semistructured interviews were conducted with the participants in the intervention group.ResultsThe participants' mean age was 42.76 years (SD = 10.59). Compared with the control group, the intervention group had a statistically significant improvement in self-management behavior (T2: β = 18.26, T3: β = 23.73, T4: β = 23.78; p < 0.001), ego depletion (T2: β = −8.46, T3: β = −11.35, T4: β = −13.35; p < 0.001), and perceived empowerment (T2: β = 5.77, p=0.002; T3: β = 9.41, T4: β = 8.99; p < 0.001). Qualitative interviews of 14 participants indicated that the intervention could affect self-perception, improve emotion, and establish healthy behaviors, which may explain such encouraging effects.ConclusionsThe psychological empowerment–based motivational interviewing program produced immediate and delayed benefits on self-management, perceived empowerment, and ego depletion in patients with early CKD. These findings provide new strategies for chronic disease management and psychological nursing.Trial Registration: Chinese Registry of Clinical Trials: ChiCTR2200064257.

Purpose Grounded in ego depletion theory, this research aims to investigate the impact of customer mistreatment on hotel employees’ engagement in pro-environmental behavior (PEB). It additionally probes self-control depletion as a key mediating pathway and evaluates whether trait self-control (TSC) serves as a boundary condition in this process. Design/methodology/approach This research uses a mixed-method approach, incorporating both a scenario-based experimental study (Study 1) and a daily diary experience sampling study (Study 2). Findings Study 1 provides evidence that customer mistreatment undermines employees’ pro-environmental behavior by depleting their self-control resources. Study 2 confirms this in a daily work context, revealing that daily customer mistreatment depletes self-control and negatively affects daily PEB. Moreover, employees with higher TSC experience weaker effects, reducing the impact on PEB. Research limitations/implications These findings highlight the need for hotel management to implement interventions aimed at preserving employees’ self-regulatory resources. Originality/value This study extends the customer mistreatment literature by linking interpersonal stressors to PEB, thereby offering new insights into how external interpersonal pressures undermine employees’ capacity to engage in discretionary environmental initiatives in the hospitality context.

The present study employed a combination of behavioral and event-related potential (ERP) measures to investigate the effect of ego depletion on perceptual anticipation in tennis-trained undergraduates under negative emotion. The findings will provide a theoretical foundation for enhancing training efficacy in this specific population. Negative emotion was induced by film clips, while ego-depletion was elicited through a Stroop task. Perceptual anticipation was evaluated using temporally occluded tennis videos. Under negative emotion, participants exhibited shorter reaction time and higher accuracy either in the low ego-depletion state or at 160 ms after hitting the ball. Additionally, there was a shorter N2 peak latency at 160 ms after hitting the ball than at the moment of hitting the ball. The peak amplitudes of N2, P3, and LNC mean amplitude were significantly lower under the low ego-depletion state than those under the high ego-depletion state (p < 0.05). The peak amplitudes of N2 and P3 were higher at the moment of hitting the ball than at 160 ms after hitting the ball. Under negative emotion, tennis-trained undergraduates exhibited faster perceptual anticipation speed, higher accuracy, and a reduced allocation of cognitive resources in a low ego-depletion state. Compared to the moment of hitting the ball, tennis-trained undergraduates exhibited better speed-accuracy, earlier attention control, and reduced allocation of attentional and cognitive resources at 160 ms after hitting the ball. The findings suggest that tennis coaches should enhance players' emotional self-regulation skills, optimize training environments, and reduce ego depletion to improve their performance.

The tourism industry has flourished due to its positive impact on well-being. However, tourists often face choices between different goals. Conflicts among goals may negatively affect their well-being, whereas research on this negative effect remains limited. This study used three imagination-based scenario experiments to explore how goal conflict affects tourist well-being. The results show that goal conflict negatively affects tourist well-being, with ego depletion and self-regulation failure serially mediating this effect. The moderating role of mindfulness was also examined. Mindfulness weakens the effect of goal conflict on ego depletion, thereby reducing its negative impact on tourist well-being. This study helps broaden knowledge of the antecedents that may negatively affect tourist well-being. It also provides new insights for tourism management practice, helping design experiences that better support tourist well-being.

Effects of achievement goals on self-control and ego depletion

Research Aims: This study examines the influence of supervisor incivility on hotel employees’ productivity and turnover intention, and further investigates the mediating role of ego depletion in these relationships. Design/Methodology/Approach: Participants were hotel employees (N = 300) who were selected using snowball sampling. A predictive research design and partial least-squares path modelling were used to gauge the propositions of the study. Research Findings: The results indicate that supervisor incivility has a significant impact on ego depletion, employee productivity, and turnover intention. Ego depletion was found to have a substantial effect on both employee productivity and turnover intention, and served as a mediating factor between supervisor incivility and turnover intention, but not in the relationship between supervisor incivility and employee productivity. Theoretical Contribution/Originality: This study utilized the SOR model to show how rude behaviour from a boss can impact how employees work and their desire to leave the job. This occurs through a process known as ego depletion. The model helps to explain how a boss's rudeness influences employees’ decisions and actions. Managerial Implication in the South East Asian Context: The findings of this study indicate that when supervisors exhibit incivility, hotel employees may experience rising ego depletion, thus affecting productivity and leading to increased turnover intentions. Such incivility in the hotel environment can ultimately diminish the service quality and heighten guest dissatisfaction. Research Limitation &amp; Implications: This study highlights the need for organizations to foster respectful and supportive supervisor–employee relationships and to promote a positive work environment that safeguards employee well-being and enhances performance. However, the respondents were drawn exclusively from the National Capital Region of the Philippines.

The cost of pressure: Unpacking the drivers of expedient behavior through the lens of ego depletion theory and ethical work climate

ABSTRACTPeer monitoring, as a type of organizational control, is increasingly important in managing employee performance. However, extant research primarily focuses on the benefits of peer monitoring on job performance, while largely ignoring its potential negative consequences. We advance the literature to theorize and test the double‐edged effects of peer monitoring on job performance by examining its self‐regulatory consequences. Specifically, we propose that peer monitoring can simultaneously increase both work engagement and ego depletion, which in turn exert positive and negative impacts on job performance, respectively. Furthermore, we theorize that trait self‐control is a critical contingent factor that moderates both the positive and negative pathways from peer monitoring to job performance. We test our model through a two‐wave, multisource field survey study involving 203 employees and their 49 direct supervisors in China, as well as through an experimental study with 149 full‐time working employees in the United States. We find consistent evidence for the negative consequences of peer monitoring on job performance via ego depletion, while the positive pathway through work engagement is only supported by the field survey study. Furthermore, both studies show that there is a positive indirect effect of peer monitoring on job performance via work engagement when employees have lower trait self‐control and a negative indirect effect via ego depletion when employees have higher trait self‐control. Such examination helps elucidate the positive and negative effects of peer monitoring on job performance and has important theoretical and practical implications.

The effect and mechanism of physical exercise on ego depletion in college students.

The ego depletion effect posits that initial exertion of self-control impairs subsequent self-regulatory performance. Despite being examined in over 1000 independent studies and cited extensively, recent large-scale studies have questioned its validity. We propose that the replicability of ego depletion may hinge on the intensity of the manipulation. Our new paradigm, involving a demanding antisaccade task lasting for 30–40 min followed by a Go-Nogo task, was tested across 14 samples, totaling 2078 participants worldwide, both in laboratory settings and online. Results consistently demonstrated significant ego depletion effects ( d = 0.31 to 0.35) with minimal heterogeneity ( I 2 = 0). Bayesian meta-analysis further supported these findings with strong evidence (BF 10 &gt; 700). This study underscores the importance of manipulation intensity in ego depletion research and provides a reliable method for future studies. These findings have significant implications for resolving empirical controversies in ego depletion and addressing the broader replication crisis in psychology.

The Impact of Perceived Leader Narcissism on Academic Staff's Organizational Deviance: Examining the Mediating Role of Ego Depletion and the Moderating Effects of Generational Cohorts and Institutional Type in Egyptian Universities

BackgroundPrevious studies focused on the positive aspects of leisure nostalgia in relation to positive outcomes, overlooking its negative aspects and the possibility of negative effects. Based on the basic psychological needs theory and self-regulation theory, we tested whether relatedness need satisfaction and ego depletion mediated positive and negative effects of leisure nostalgia, respectively, and whether these mediation processes were moderated by self-regulatory capacity.MethodsWe collected two waves of questionnaire data with a 1-month interval from 391 university students. The instruments used in this study included demographic characteristics and questionnaires of ego depletion, leisure nostalgia, life satisfaction, relatedness need satisfaction, self-regulatory capacity. Data analysis was performed using the SPSS and Mplus.ResultsLeisure nostalgia was positively related to university student life satisfaction via higher relatedness need satisfaction (indirect effect = 0.11, 95% CI [0.052, 0.161]), and this indirect effect was stronger for students with higher vs. lower self-regulatory capacity (index = 0.03, 95% CI [0.003, 0.062]). By contrast, the mediating effect of ego depletion in the relationship between leisure nostalgia and lower life satisfaction was not significant (indirect effect = −0.01, 95% CI [−0.020, 0.011]).ConclusionsFindings from this study suggest that leisure nostalgia is a predominantly positive emotional experience that can promote university students' life satisfaction. The results have practical implications for designing programs to enhance university students' leisure nostalgia, self-regulation capacity, and life satisfaction.

BackgroundSelf-management is essential for epilepsy control, yet many patients struggle with it, partly due to ego depletion. The interaction between ego depletion and self-management remains poorly understood in this population. This study employed network analysis to examine the interplay between ego depletion and self-management in patients with epilepsy, and to compare network structures across seizure frequency groups.MethodsA total of 655 patients with epilepsy completed validated self-report measures assessing ego depletion and self-management. Symptom-level associations were examined using network analysis, focusing on central and bridging components. Network comparison tests were conducted to assess differences across seizure frequency groups.ResultsKey ego depletion symptoms such as “repeated unpleasant thoughts” and “memory difficulties” emerged as central nodes. “Urges to hit or smash things” and “uncontrollable temper” served as important bridge symptoms linking ego depletion and self-management. Among self-management dimensions, medication adherence and goal-setting were closely connected to depletion symptoms. No significant structural differences were found between patient subgroups based on seizure frequency.ConclusionBy identifying “urges to hit or smash things” and “uncontrollable temper” as central therapeutic targets, this study highlights the potential of network analysis in uncovering intervention opportunities that may be overlooked by traditional methods. Clinically, targeting these nodes through emotion regulation training could effectively disrupt the pathway to poor self-management in epilepsy patients, thereby improving both treatment adherence and overall quality of life.

As the sustained popularity of civil service careers persists, a significant number of young people from rural backgrounds have entered the civil service. However, due to differences in social status and background, rural-origin civil servants are prone to engaging in upward social comparison. This results in ego depletion and subsequently induces work withdrawal behavior, adversely affecting team harmony and sustainable development. This study empirically examines the mechanism by which upward social comparison influences work withdrawal behavior among rural-origin civil servants. The concepts of ego depletion and social mobility belief are introduced, with ego depletion further categorized into three dimensions: cognitive, emotional, and behavioral dimensions. Analysis of questionnaire data collected from 1,137 rural-origin civil servants in Jinan, Shandong Province, yielded the following findings: Upward social comparison significantly predicted work withdrawal behavior. Cognitive and emotional ego depletion positively mediated the relationship between upward social comparison and work withdrawal behavior. Furthermore, the mediating effect of emotional ego depletion was stronger than that of cognitive ego depletion. Social mobility belief negatively moderated the pathways through which upward social comparison influences cognitive ego depletion, behavioral ego depletion, and work withdrawal behavior. This research offers a new perspective for understanding the psychological mechanisms underlying work withdrawal behavior among rural-origin civil servants and provides a theoretical basis for targeted interventions.

Forward-looking questions regarding ego depletion and mental fatigue in sport psychology: Comment on Englert.

Depletion or activation? Challenging linear models of ego depletion.