Emotional Research Articles

Studying efficacy of particular design elements in online teacher professional development courses: The case of systematizing videos for enhancing teachers’ pedagogical content knowledge

While design principles for effective teacher professional development (PD) courses have been empirically identified in comprehensive studies, they have not yet been well disentangled with respect to the contribution of specific design elements. This particularly applies for digital online PD courses and for teachers with different prior knowledge. In this paper, we investigate two design elements for the systematizing phase (videos vs. discussions) of a synchronous online PD session with regard to their differential effectiveness for teachers’ professional growth in pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) and their emotional and motivational reactions to the PD. In our focused randomized controlled trial, 102 mathematics teachers (with heterogeneous PCK) participated in 2‑hour online PD sessions on specifying, noticing, and enhancing students’ understanding of multiplication with various PD inquiry activities. In the systematization phase, teachers were randomly assigned to two treatment conditions: the video group watched a systematizing video (i.e., a video that summarizes the PCK elaborated during the session) and the discussion group had small-group discussions about individual summaries. In both groups, teachers’ reports about emotional and motivational reactions to the PD revealed similarly high values, and their PCK improved significantly from pre-test to post-test. Analyses of variance with repeated measures revealed significant differences between the treatment conditions for teachers with low prior PCK: Teachers with low prior PCK who watched the systematizing video developed their PCK significantly more than those who discussed in small groups. In this way, the study contributes to disentangling the differential effects of design elements in online PD courses for teachers with heterogeneous prior knowledge.

The experiences of grandparents involved in the home-based end-of-life care of their grandchild with cancer: A qualitative secondary data analysis

While grandparents are often a valuable resource in home-based pediatric end-of-life care, they may also experience psychological consequences when faced with their grandchild’s illness and death. In this qualitative study, we performed semi-structured interviews with seven bereaved grandparents of four children with cancer who received home-based end-of-life care and died at home at age <18. Through qualitative content analysis we identified the overarching theme: “Navigating complex and unclear roles to support the family” and five themes: (1) Providing comfort and support; (2) Balancing and adapting involvement; (3) Worrying silently; (4) Managing difficult emotions; and (5) Calling for support and understanding. The findings underline the often conflicting roles that grandparents undertake of providing support while respecting parents’ autonomy and putting aside their own emotional reactions. Involving grandparents in pediatric end-of-life care may enhance family resources, but should also consider grandparents’ perspectives and need for support.

“You are doomed!" Crisis-specific and Dynamic Use of Fear Speech in Protest and Extremist Radical Social Movements

Social media messages can elicit emotional reactions and mobilize users. Strategic utilization of emotionally charged messages, particularly those inducing fear, potentially nurtures a climate of threat and hostility online. Coined fear speech (FS), such communication deliberately portrays certain entities as imminently harmful and drives the perception of a threat, especially when the topic is already crisis-laden. Despite the notion that FS and the resulting climate of threat can serve as a justification for radical attitudes and behavior toward outgroups, research on the prevalence, nature, and context of FS is still scarce. The current paper aims to close this gap and provides a definition of FS, its theoretical foundations, and a starting point for (automatically) detecting FS on social media. The paper presents the results of a manual as well as an automated content analysis of three broadly categorized actor types within a larger radical German Telegram messaging sphere (2.9 million posts). With a rather conservative classification approach, we analyzed the prevalence and distribution of FS for more than five years in relation to six crisis-specific topics. A substantial proportion between 21% and 34% within the observed communication of radical/extremist actors was classified as FS. Additionally, the relative amount of FS was found to increase with the overall posting frequency. This underscores FS's potential as an indicator for radicalization dynamics and crisis escalation.

Differential posttraumatic stress disorder symptom cluster response to stellate ganglion block: secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial

Empirically supported treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) exist, but research suggests these therapies are less effective, acceptable, and feasible to deliver to active duty service members (SMs) compared to civilians. Stellate ganglion block (SGB) procedure, in which a local anesthetic is injected around the cervical sympathetic chain or stellate ganglion to temporarily inhibit sympathetic nervous activity, is gaining popularity as an alternative PTSD treatment in military settings. However, it is unknown whether certain PTSD symptoms are more responsive to SGB than others. The current study involved a secondary analysis of data collected from a previous randomized controlled trial of SGB compared to sham (normal saline) injection (N = 113 SMs). PTSD symptoms were assessed via clinical interview and self-report at baseline and 8 weeks post-SGB or sham. Logistic regression analyses showed that the marked alterations in arousal and reactivity PTSD symptom cluster demonstrated the greatest symptom severity reductions after SGB, relative to sham. The reexperiencing cluster also showed pronounced response to SGB in clinician-rated but not self-reported outcomes. Post-hoc item-level analyses suggested that arousal and reactivity cluster findings were driven by reductions in hypervigilance, concentration difficulties, and sleep disturbance, whereas clinician-rated reexperiencing cluster findings were driven by reductions in physiological reactions to trauma cues, emotional reactions to trauma cues, and intrusions. Our findings align with a burgeoning literature positioning SGB as a potential novel or adjunctive PTSD treatment. Results could guide future hypothesis-driven research on mediators of therapeutic change during SGB for PTSD symptoms in SMs.

An Empirical Investigation of the Three-Pathway Model and its Contribution to the Gambling Disorder Psychopathology.

Blaszczynski and Nower (2002) proposed a theoretical model that leads to problem gambling via three pathways: (1) operant conditioning; (2) emotional vulnerability; and (3) impulsivity and psychopathy. In the current investigation, we explored the relationship between these three putative causative dimensions and clinical core features of Gambling Disorder (GD): gambling craving, gambling-related cognitive distortions, gambling (wagering) behavior, and gambling severity. Data on 343 people with disordered gambling were analyzed. Measures representing the three pathways were analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA). The PCA generated three profiles. The original dimension of impulsivity/psychopathy was divided into two parts; the impulsivity-related traits were combined with symptoms of depression and anxiety to form one single component representing a volatile emotional, cognitive and behavioral style, named the Affect-instability component. The other two components were Psychopathy and Operant Behavior. Linear regression models for each PCA component found that the Affect-instability component was associated with all core features of GD, i.e., craving, cognitive distortions, gambling behavior and severity (standardized Β range: 0.298-0.448, all p < 0.001). Operant Behavior was significantly associated with gambling behavior (standardized Β=-0.137, p = 0.038) and gambling severity (standardized Β=-0.157, p = 0.006). Psychopathy was associated only with gambling cognitive distortions (standardized Β=-0.300, p < 0.001), suggesting a wider dimension of cognitive challenges in GD. An instability component encompassing emotional and cognitive dysregulation was the strongest predictor of all clinical features of GD. The correlation between operant conditioning and gambling severity suggests that behavioral conditioning plays a role in the persistence of maladaptive gambling.

Beyond physical sensations: investigating empathy and prosocial behavior in vicarious pain responders.

Empathy, the capacity to share others' emotional experiences, has been proposed as a key motivation for altruistic behavior in both humans and animals. Sharing another's emotional experience may generate a self-embodied simulation of their emotional state, fostering understanding and promoting prosocial behavior. Vicarious pain responders report sensing physical pain when observing others in pain. Whether this ability extends to emotional experiences remains unexplored. Using both questionnaires and ecologically valid behavioral tasks, we explored whether vicarious pain responders differ from nonresponders in empathic abilities and prosocial behavior. Participants watched video clips of people describing a negative emotional life event. We operationalized several empathic abilities and responses (empathic accuracy, affective synchrony, emotional reaction, and empathic motivation) based on participants' and targets' responses during and after watching the videos. Participants were also engaged in a donation task measuring tendency for prosocial behavior. Findings reveal that compared to nonresponders, vicarious pain responders exhibit enhanced empathic accuracy, intensified emotional reactions to others' emotional pain, and a greater motivation to communicate with the target. This study marks the first behavioral evidence showcasing vicarious pain responders' empathic abilities, reactions, and motivation in response to nonphysical pain of others, expanding our knowledge of this phenomenon and its association with broader empathic abilities.

“Frame, Fame and Fear Traps: The Dialectic of Counter-Terrorism Strategic Communication”

This paper explores the challenges and complexities navigated and negotiated in public facing counter-terrorism strategic communication campaigns. Informed by frame analysis of campaign assets, practitioner interviews and public focus groups, the discussion pivots around three high-profile UK public messaging campaigns. Building from Goffman’s theory of “normal appearances” and the established concept of a “frame trap”, the analysis identifies two further shaping tensions. A “fear trap” occurs when counter-terrorism messages seek to “outbid” other risks in order to capture public attention, thereby unintentionally creating the negative emotional reactions sought through acts of terrorism, or overly-reassuring messages that induce public disengagement. In contrast, a “fame trap” results from creating “too much” public awareness of terrorism, by using commercial marketing logics. In practice, frame, fame and fear traps overlap and interact across different contexts, and the analysis uses the concept of a dialectic of anomaly and normality to highlight implications for future scholarship and practice.

Evaluation of Cognition of Rural Public Space Based on Eye Tracking Analysis

Amid the current global trend toward urbanization, there is a growing need for an improved quality of life. While rural public spaces are essential components of community life, their design and planning have traditionally focused on material aspects, neglecting the spiritual well-being of rural residents. This study uses the public spaces of Huixingtou Village in Handan City, Hebei Province, China, as an example to investigate the impact of five key elements within rural public spaces (architecture, streets, greenery, nodes, and landmarks) on individual emotions and perceptions, exploring how these elements contribute to the satisfaction of individuals’ spiritual lives. Initially, we compared the disparities among these elements concerning perceptual dimensions (functionality, technology, and aesthetics) and emotional dimensions (sense of achievement, safety, and well-being). This analysis revealed significant variations in emotional and perceptual dimensions influenced by different rural public space elements. Subsequently, we examined the associations between these elements and objective physiological response data from participants, using eye-tracking technology to delve into the interplay between emotions and perceptions. The results indicate that distinct rural public space elements elicit specific emotional responses, with visual elements and features exerting a pronounced influence on emotional reactions. This in-depth analysis provides comprehensive recommendations for emotional design strategies. Ultimately, this study furnishes emotionally driven design strategies for rural public spaces based on objective data, offering practical guidance for sustainable development and the enhancement of rural public space quality. These findings have significant implications for creating more attractive, inclusive, and sustainable rural spatial environments, addressing the needs of individuals seeking a high and enhanced quality of life.

Reproductive sex ending in failure affects sexual health – A qualitative study of men and women attending a fertility clinic

ObjectiveTo explore men’s and women’s experiences regarding their history of sexual health when attending a fertility clinic. MethodsA qualitative study with semi-structured individual interviews was conducted among heterosexual males and females seeking infertility care at a public fertility clinic in Sweden in 2022–2023. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. ResultsEight males and ten females were included. The analysis resulted in an overarching theme: A change from spontaneous to scheduled intercourse affects various aspects of sexual health. In the beginning of the relationship sex had been spontaneous, joyful and satisfying. However, sex was not always unproblematic, and there had been sexual changes. Sex with a reproductive purpose was scheduled according to ovulation, leading to changes in sexual behavior. Increased erectile problems in men and decreased frequency of orgasms in women, and a lack of sexual desire in both, were experienced. Men and women felt pressured to have sex when it became a requirement. Men’s sexual and women’s reproductive failures led to negative emotional reactions, including stress, frustration, disappointment, anxiety and guilt. Sexual and reproductive problems affected the relational well-being, leading to feelings of sharing the burden but also conflicts and sexual avoidance. ConclusionsExperiencing reproductive failures, sexual problems and negative emotional reactions can affect men’s and women’s sexual health. Therefore, an implication for clinical practice among healthcare professionals during evaluation of infertility, is a need to be aware of and ask questions about sexual health after reproductive failures.

Can Brief Listening to Mozart's Music Improve Visual Working Memory? An Update on the Role of Cognitive and Emotional Factors.

The aim of this research was to enhance understanding of the relationship between brief music listening and working memory (WM) functions. The study extends a previous large-scale experiment in which the effects of brief exposure to music on verbal WM were explored. In the present second phase of the experiment, these effects were assessed for the visuospatial subcomponent of WM. For that aim, visuospatial WM was measured using the Corsi blocks task-backwards and Visual Patterns Test in a large sample of 311 young and older adults after being exposed to musical excerpts coming from different music composers (Mozart, Vivaldi, Glass). To account for possible effects of arousal, a silence condition was used. Individual preference for music excerpts and emotional reactions to each condition were also subjectively rated using the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) to account for the role of emotional reactions in shaping subsequent cognitive performance. Results showed that music affected the visuospatial sketchpad of WM. In line with the previously described Mozart effect, only Mozart's music had a significant positive impact on visuospatial WM in the two age groups, regardless of preferences, and on overall age-related WM decline in older adults. The Mozart effect was more prominent for the VPT than the Corsi task and was also expressed for the prevailing positive effect. These observations are in contrast to the selective influence of Vivaldi's music on verbal WM that was detected in our first study. Together, the results demonstrate a differential music influence on the phonological loop and on the visuospatial sketchpad. They thus contribute to the debate of whether music has the potential to affect distinct processes within working memory in an excerpt- or composer-specific manner. Also, they suggest that emotional activation and central executive attention are essentially involved in modulating the influence of music on subsequent cognition. These findings can assist in the selection of music excerpts used in cognitive rehabilitation programs that focus on visuospatial skills.

Teacher agency in the times of crisis: a situational analysis of school environment after the 2022 Russian invasion in Ukraine

From February to May 2022, the war in Ukraine prompted Poland to accommodate 3.37 million refugees from conflict zones, in addition to 850 thousand Ukrainian economic migrants already residing in the country. A substantial proportion of these refugees, primarily mothers with children, swiftly integrated into the Polish educational system, with some children commencing schooling within a week of their arrival. This influx significantly diversified the then predominantly monolingual landscape of Polish schools. Given the uniqueness of this situation and the fact that Poland has historically remained mono-national and monolingual for decades, Polish teachers suffered from a lack of preparedness, resources and expertise to effectively navigate their teaching practices in multilingual classes. To understand the specificity of this situation, taking especially into account the perspective of educators, we have designed a qualitative study drawing on focus group and individual interview reports. We were particularly interested in determining how teachers' agency was activated in times of crisis. The findings reveal how the newly-emerging linguistic and cultural heterogeneity is perceived by teachers, how it is manifested in school and home environments, and the extent to which possibilities for synergies exist between the two. The findings also highlight the fact that, despite teachers' inexperience and unpreparedness for the new educational context, they instantly responded to the challenges that emerged. This can be exemplified by teachers' collaboration in material design as well as the willingness to participate in courses sensitizing to migrant students' needs (e.g., linguistic, educational, or emotional ones).

Empathetic and Emotive Design Heuristics.

The design of user interfaces and systems that promote positive emotional interaction and reaction from end users is becoming a critical area in the design of applications and systems for use by the general population. In this paper we describe our work in the creation of a set of empathetic design heuristics that were developed from examination of the literature in this area within the context of healthcare user interface design. The heuristics and their potential application are explored.

Feelings as a currency of care: A role for agreeableness in emotional reactivity.

The personality trait of agreeableness is linked to a number of core tendencies (e.g., empathy, warmth) that operate in a feeling-based manner. Following considerations of this type, it is proposed that the motivations and characteristics of agreeable individuals, relative to disagreeable individuals, should render them more receptive to emotional events and more responsive to them for this reason. Potential links between agreeableness and emotional reactivity were assessed in two studies involving four samples (total N = 517) in which participants continuously rated their feeling states in response to a variety of affective images. Agreeableness did not predict the speed with which emotional reactions began, but agreeable individuals exhibited higher-magnitude peak intensities, regardless of whether stimuli were appetitive (pleasant) or aversive (unpleasant) in nature. The findings provide novel insights into the personality trait of agreeableness, emotional reactivity phenomena, and the dynamic processes that link agreeableness to emotion.

A study on the influence of dominant sound sources on users’ emotional perception in a pediatric dentistry clinic

IntroductionSoundscape in dental clinics has varying degrees of impact on the emotions of healthcare workers and young patients. Emotions such as restlessness, anxiety, anger, and nervousness are commonly found among dental healthcare workers. Pediatric dental clinics are an important part of dental clinics, but there is a lack of research on the soundscape within pediatric dental clinics.MethodsThis study focuses on a typical pediatric dental clinic, using a combination of field questionnaires and objective measurements. It aims to determine the impact of dominant sound sources on the emotional perception (nervousness, restlessness, anger, fear, pain) and hostile emotional responses of users in the pediatric dental clinic.ResultsIn the soundscape of pediatric dental clinics for young pediatric patients, users experience negative emotional perceptions (nervousness, restlessness, anxiety, anger, fear, and pain) and emotional responses of hostility. The dominant sound sources can be divided into two categories: dental (dental drill, air-water syringe, and saliva ejector) and nondental (children crying). Under the influence of dental dominant sound sources, there was a significant negative correlation between the emotional perceptions of healthcare workers and their negative emotional perceptions (p &amp;lt; 0.05). Conversely, for young pediatric patients aged 0–11 years, a significant positive correlation was observed between their emotional perceptions and negative emotional perceptions. The mean perceived degrees of nervousness and fear in young pediatric patients were 1.82 and 1.71 times stronger, respectively, than those observed in healthcare workers. Under the influence of non-dental dominant sound sources, the average degree of emotional perception among healthcare workers was 0.71 higher than that of young pediatric patients, and anxiety perception was significantly enhanced (p &amp;lt; 0.05). The mean degree of nervousness perception was 1 point higher in healthcare workers compared to young pediatric patients, restlessness perception was 1.1 stronger, and there was a presence of mild pain perception. In terms of demographic/social factors, age, occupation, and years of work significantly affected the perceptions of fear and restlessness among healthcare workers, while age had a significant impact on the emotional reaction of hostility in young pediatric patients.DiscussionThe results of this study indicate that the soundscape is an important factor in creating a comfortable treatment environment in pediatric dental clinics. Healthcare workers and young pediatric patients are significantly affected by the dominant sound sources in the clinic, and these effects are closely related to demographic and social factors such as age, profession, and years of experience. This finding can provide more targeted methods and strategies for the design and creation of soundscapes in dental clinics.

A network analysis of exhaustion disorder symptoms throughout treatment

BackgroundStress-induced Exhaustion Disorder (ED) is associated with work absenteeism and adverse health outcomes. Currently, little is known regarding how the symptoms of ED are interrelated and whether the patterns of symptoms influence treatment outcomes. To this end, the current study applied network analyses on ED patients participating in a multimodal intervention.MethodsThe first aim of the study was to explore the internal relationships between exhaustion symptoms and identify symptoms that were more closely related than others. A second aim was to examine whether the baseline symptom network of non-responders to treatment was more closely connected than the baseline symptom networks of responders, by comparing the sum of all absolute partial correlations in the respective groups’ symptom network. This comparison was made based on the hypothesis that a more closely connected symptom network before treatment could indicate poorer treatment outcomes. Network models were constructed based on self-rated ED symptoms in a large sample of patients (n = 915) participating in a 24-week multimodal treatment program with a 12-month follow-up.ResultsThe internal relations between self-rated exhaustion symptoms were stable over time despite markedly decreased symptom levels throughout participation in treatment. Symptoms of limited mental stamina and negative emotional reactions to demands were consistently found to be the most closely related to other ED symptoms. Meanwhile, sleep quality and irritability were weakly related to other exhaustion symptoms. The symptom network for the full sample became significantly more closely connected from baseline to the end of treatment and 12-month follow-up. The symptom network of non-responders to treatment was not found to be more closely connected than the symptom network of responders at baseline.ConclusionsThe results of the current study suggest symptoms of limited mental stamina and negative emotional reactions to demands are central ED symptoms throughout treatment, while symptoms of irritability and sleep quality seem to have a weak relation to other symptoms of ED. The implications of these findings are discussed in relation to the conceptualization, assessment, and treatment of ED.Trial registrationThe clinical trial was registered on Clinicaltrials.gov 2017-12-02 (Identifier: NCT03360136).

HR analytics and the data collection process: the role of attributions and perceived legitimacy in explaining employees’ fear of datafication

PurposeThis paper analyzes employees’ perceptions of data collection processes for human resource analytics (HRA). More specifically, we study the effect that information sharing practices have on employees’ attributions (i.e. benevolent vs malevolent) through the perceived legitimacy of data collection and monitoring processes. Moreover, we investigate whether employees’ emotional reaction (i.e. fear of datafication) depends on their perceived legitimacy and attributions.Design/methodology/approachThe research is based on a sample of 259 employees operating for an Italian consulting firm that developed and implemented HRA processes in the last 3 years. The hypothesized model has been tested using structural equation modeling (SEM) on Stata 14.FindingsThis paper demonstrates the mediating role of perceived legitimacy in the relationship between information sharing practices and employees’ benevolent and malevolent attributions about data collection and monitoring processes for HRA practices. Results also reveal that perceived legitimacy predicts employees’ fear of datafication, with benevolent attributions that partially mediate this relationship.Practical implicationsThis research indicates that employees perceive, try to make sense of and emotionally react to HRA processes. Moreover, we reveal the crucial role of information sharing practices and perceived legitimacy in determining employees’ attributions and emotional reactions to data collection and monitoring processes.Originality/valueCombining human resource (HR) attributions, HR system strength, information processing and signaling theories, this work explores employees’ perception, attributive processes and emotional reactions to data collection processes for HRA practices.

A Qualitative Study Exploring Women's Experiences of Unplanned Cesarean Surgery and Their Suggestions for Improving Care

The rate of unplanned cesarean birth is increasing and there is a growing body of evidence regarding the associated psychosocial harms. A phenomenological study exploring eight women's lived experiences of intrapartum cesarean birth in Nova Scotia was undertaken. Two groups of women were recruited, three receiving care from a midwife with transfer from a planned home birth and five women under the care of a physician. Semi-structured interviews were tape-recorded and transcribed. These data, combined with participantdiariesande-mails,wereanalyzedusingColazzi'smethod. Threemajorthemesemerged:1) Immediate and lingering emotional reactions, which were wide ranging, the majority negative, particularly fear, disappointment and self-doubt, 2) Mediating factors, most significantly, continuous contact with the baby and provider support, especially from midwives, and 3) Participant suggestions for improving care which included prenatal operating room (OR) tours, family-friendly OR policies, postnatal medical review with extended follow-up and peer support. This study adds to the already substantial evidence of associated psychosocial harms which can be mediated by concurrently reducing unnecessary cesarean surgery and implementing measures to improve the quality of cesarean care.

Tourists’ approach or avoidance reaction to crowding in wellness tourism

ABSTRACT This study explores how perceived crowding stimulates tourists’ emotional reactions and affects their experience quality as well as satisfaction. Based on Stimulus-Organism-Response theory, it examined and verified relationship between perceived crowding and tourist satisfaction with mixed-methods approach. The qualitative study was conducted to establish research model, and multigroup analysis was conducted with data collected from hot springs and coastal destinations. The results indicated that human crowding is no longer a positive signal in both sites. Experience quality mediates relationship between emotional reactions aroused by perceived crowding and tourist satisfaction. The findings deepen understanding of crowding and provide effective management strategies.

Adaptation of the Student Attitudes Toward Artificial Intelligence Scale to the Turkish Context: Validity and Reliability Study

This study aimed to adapt the Student Attitudes toward Artificial Intelligence (SATAI) Scale to the Turkish Context both at secondary and high school levels. The research was conducted with two study groups: the first group of 384 secondary school students and the second group of 295 high school students. Data were collected from these participants in the 2023–2024 academic year. The scale consists of 26 items and three factors; behavioral, affective, and cognitive, and serves the purpose of measuring the students’ attitude toward artificial intelligence. The behavioral factor assesses students’ AI-related actions while the affective factor captures their emotional reactions, and the cognitive factor, in turn, evaluates their knowledge of the topic at hand. By determining students’ attitudes about AI, this measurement guides learning processes, contributes to the development of teaching materials, and increases interest in the field of AI. Language validity, construct validity, criterion validity, conceptual and experiential equivalence, and reliability studies were carried out in the process of adapting the scale to Turkish. To ensure the language validity of the Turkish form of the scale, translation back translation technique was applied and expert opinions were sought. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was applied to test the construct validity. To test the criterion validity, the correlation between the whole scale and each sub-factor was examined. Within the scope of reliability studies, Cronbach Alpha reliability coefficients of the scale, half-test reliability, item total correlations, and item discrimination values were calculated. As a result of the research, it has been determined that the Student Attitudes toward Artificial Intelligence (SATAI) Scale Turkish Form is a valid and reliable assessment tool.

Drawing as a window to emotion with insights from tech-transformed participant images

This study delves into expressing primary emotions anger, happiness, sadness, and fear through drawings. Moving beyond the well-researched color-emotion link, it explores under-examined aspects like spatial concepts and drawing styles. Employing Python and OpenCV for objective analysis, we make a breakthrough by converting subjective perceptions into measurable data through 728 digital images from 182 university students. For the prominent color chosen for each emotion, the majority of participants chose red for anger (73.11%), yellow for happiness (17.8%), blue for sadness (51.1%), and black for fear (40.7%). Happiness led with the highest saturation (68.52%) and brightness (75.44%) percentages, while fear recorded the lowest in both categories (47.33% saturation, 48.78% brightness). Fear, however, topped in color fill percentage (35.49%), with happiness at the lowest (25.14%). Tangible imagery prevailed (71.43–83.52%), with abstract styles peaking in fear representations (28.57%). Facial expressions were a common element (41.76–49.45%). The study achieved an 81.3% predictive accuracy for anger, higher than the 71.3% overall average. Future research can build on these results by improving technological methods to quantify more aspects of drawing content. Investigating a more comprehensive array of emotions and examining factors influencing emotional drawing styles will further our understanding of visual-emotional communication.