Terms Of Individual Differences Research Articles

Trajectories and latent classes of school enjoyment in adolescence: Associations with peer victimization and mental health.

School enjoyment, as a measure of how much adolescents enjoy or value their school experience, has been extensively studied in Western cultures. However, our knowledge of school enjoyment, and particularly its changes and trajectories among adolescents living in non-Western cultures, is limited. The present study used 3-year longitudinal data to examine changes and trajectories in school enjoyment and their associations with social and relational factors, such as mental health problems and peer victimization, among Japanese middle school students. Participants were 281 Japanese students from two public middle schools (Time 1 Mage = 12.72, SD = .45, 50% female). Data included five time points at 6-month intervals (Grades 7-9). The growth curve model showed quadratic changes in school enjoyment overall; the mean of school enjoyment was relatively stable in Grades 7 and 8 but increased rapidly in Grade 9. In terms of individual differences in trajectories of school enjoyment, growth mixture modeling identified three distinct groups (i.e., groups of 44.8% increasing, 9.8% decreasing, and 45.4% stable). Compared to students in the other groups, students in the increasing group initially reported lower levels of mental health problems and experienced less relational and overt victimization. In contrast, the decreasing group reported higher levels of mental health problems and experienced more relational and overt victimization than the increasing group. The results inform us about the most adaptive group, which continued to show high levels of school enjoyment, and the most maladaptive group, which initially had lower levels of school enjoyment and decreased their levels over time. The latter group of students is at risk and requires immediate intervention. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Individual Differences on Wellbeing Indices during the COVID-19 Quarantine in Greece: A National Study.

The impact of COVID-19 and the associated lockdown measures on people's physical and mental wellbeing, as well as their daily lives and functioning, has been extensively studied. This study takes the approach of investigating the consequences of COVID-19 on a national scale, considering sociodemographic factors. The main objective is to make a contribution to ongoing research by specifically examining how age, gender, and marital status influence the overall impact of COVID-19 and wellbeing indicators during the second lockdown period that was implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Greek population. The study involved a sample of 16,906 individuals of all age groups in Greece who completed an online questionnaire encompassing measurements related to personal wellbeing, the presence and search for meaning in life, positive relationships, as well as symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. Additionally, to gauge the levels of the perceived COVID-19-related impact, a valid and reliable scale was developed. The results reveal that a higher perception of COVID-19 consequences is positively associated with psychological symptoms and the search for meaning in life, while being negatively correlated with personal wellbeing and the sense of meaning in life. In terms of individual differences, the findings indicate that unmarried individuals, young adults, and females tend to report higher levels of psychological symptoms, a greater search for meaning in life, and a heightened perception of COVID-19-related impact. These findings are analyzed in depth, and suggestions for potential directions for future research are put forth.

An empirical study on attitudes toward gambling when sportswashing is involved.

Sportswashing is defined as individuals, groups, companies, or countries/regimes' involvement in sports to improve their own reputation and/or to distract from or normalize wrongdoing. This cross-sectional survey is the first empirical study on sportswashing in relation to gambling. The sample consisted of United Kingdom residents who reported past 12-month gambling (N = 786, 50% women, mean age = 45.6, SD = 15.2). We investigated how many were familiar with sportswashing and their attitudes toward gambling when sportswashing is involved. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were conducted on the attitudes scale that was developed for the current study. Multiple regressions were used to examine if individual differences in terms of age, gender, personality, moral foundations, political trust and efficacy, and/or gambling risk were associated with such attitudes. Finally, we examined the percentage of people who avoid gambling on teams/events when sportswashing is involved, including group differences in avoidance and motivations for avoidance according to gambling risk. The results showed that only 32% had heard about sportswashing prior to the survey. CFA indicated that attitudes toward sportswashing and gambling as conceptualized in the scale used in the current study can broadly be categorized into two dimensions: How individuals relate to sportswashing when gambling ("self-factor") and how individuals think gambling companies and regulators should regulate sportswashing and gambling [an "external-factor," p < 0.001, CFI = 0.0.996, RMSEA = 0.090, 90% CI (0.077, 0.104)]. Multiple regressions indicated that measures of individual differences explained a significant amount of variance in self-oriented (F (17, 765) = 7.19, p < 0.001, adjusted R2 = 0.12) and external-oriented (F (17, 765) = 8.40, p < 0.001. adjusted R2 = 0.14) attitude toward gambling and sportswashing. Avoidance of betting when sportswashing is involved was reported by 43%. The proportion was lower among those with moderate gambling risk/problem gambling (35%) compared to those with no/low gambling risk (45%). It is concluded that further scale development could help elucidate individual differences in attitudes toward sportswashing and gambling. Sportswashing remains an important social issue, and the present study indicates that this has high relevance for the gambling field.

Long-term effects of experiencing childhood parental death on mental and physical health: A NESDA study.

Experiencing parental death during childhood is an adverse, potentially traumatic experience that may have substantial long-term effects on mental and physical well-being. The current study was based on data of the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety to investigate mental health (i.e., depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and suicidal ideation) and physical health outcomes (i.e., metabolic syndrome, telomere length, and perceived physical health) as well as health behaviour (i.e., smoking status, alcohol use, and physical activity) to provide more insight into the long-term outcomes after experiencing childhood parental death (CPD). For individuals who experienced CPD, we also investigated the role of loss-related factors in these associations, namely the age of the child when their parent passed away and gender of the deceased parent. Interviews and questionnaires were completed by adults between 18 and 65years; 177 participants experienced CPD (mean age=45.19, 61.6% female) and 2463 did not (mean age=41.38, 66.6% female). Results showed no overall association between the experience of CPD and mental and physical health indices and health behaviour. Within the CPD group, experiencing CPD at a younger age was related to a higher likelihood of suicidal ideation. These findings seem to illustrate a general positive adjustment with regard to long-term health functioning after experiencing such an impactful life event. Future research should focus on individual differences in terms of adaptation, especially elucidating on contextual factors after the loss, such as the kind of support that is or is not provided by the surviving parent and/or other important individuals.

Sources of individual differences in human musical activity: selected neurophysiological and developmental aspects

The article is devoted to individual differences in the field of human musical activity. Musical abilities were taken into account in terms of development, emphasizing the prenatal period of a man. The attention was paid to important aspects in further human development, taking into account heritability and the influence of the environment. They used neurophysiological indicators of changes in development that define neuroplasticity. The importance of characteristics relating to perception, musical intelligence and manual skills was also noted. It is also associated with individual differences in physical activity as a response to music or support in musical performance. The importance of own work in the development of musical abilities was also taken into account. It turns out to be equally important to emphasize the development of musical abilities within the recalling game as opposed to the improvisational one, which is correlated with the variable activation of the neurophysiological task-positive and task-negative networks. The cross-sectional approach to the problem shows the complexity of the musical activity itself which justifies the wide variance of musical abilities analyzed in terms of individual differences which underlie the neurophysiological mechanisms conditioning developmental changes and resulting from own work.

Using word embeddings to analyse audience effects and individual differences in parenting Subreddits

This paper explores how individuals’ language use in gender-specific groups (“mothers” and “fathers”) compares to their interactions when referred to as “parents.” Language adaptation based on the audience is well-documented, yet large-scale studies of naturally-occurring audience effects are rare. To address this, we investigate audience and gender effects in the context of parenting, where gender plays a significant role. We focus on interactions within Reddit, particularly in the parenting Subreddits r/Daddit, r/Mommit, and r/Parenting, which cater to distinct audiences. By analyzing user posts using word embeddings, we measure similarities between user-tokens and word-tokens, also considering differences among high and low self-monitors. Results reveal that in mixed-gender contexts, mothers and fathers exhibit similar behavior in discussing a wide range of topics, while fathers emphasize more on educational and family advice. Single-gender Subreddits see more focused discussions. Mothers in r/Mommit discuss medical care, sleep, potty training, and food, distinguishing themselves. In terms of individual differences, we found that, especially on r/Parenting, high self-monitors tend to conform more to the norms of the Subreddit by discussing more of the topics associated with the Subreddit.

How Do We Understand Artworks? Exploring the Role of Artwork Inherent Features in Art Processing

Understanding an artwork is essential for aesthetic experiences. But how does one form an understanding of art? To investigate this still poorly addressed process, we hypothesized that the easier a stimulus is processed (i.e., higher fluency), the easier it should be understood. We focused on artwork inherent features (i.e., style and content) and their interactions affect processing. Making use of the brightness–positivity association, the overall brightness of paintings (i.e., as stylistic feature) was manipulated to match their content (positive vs. negative). We hypothesized that a congruency of style and content would facilitate the processing of paintings resulting in a better understanding, but also, greater liking, and (exploratively) higher artistic value. Our data indicated no congruency effects between brightness and content, but that content alone was a strong predictor for art processing and—in an exploratory approach—highlighted the importance of individual differences in terms of art interest and knowledge in our sample.

The Effects of Organizational Stress Sources on Quality of Work and Work Peace According to Provincial Managers of the Ministry of National Education

This study aimed to examine the effects of organizational stress sources on the quality of work life and work peace, according to the provincial administrators of the Ministry of National Education. The study utilizes a qualitative case study model, aiming to examine the perspectives of provincial organization managers working in Antalya during the 2022-2023 academic year with an in-depth and holistic approach. The research study group included ten provincial organization managers working in Antalya Data were gathered using an interview form. Five semi-structured questions on the interview form were devised based on expert opinion. The data were analyzed by descriptive and content analysis. According to the research results, the participants mentioned many factors , such as individual differences in terms of lifestyles and cultural backgrounds, political pressure, or anything related to the work environment can cause organizational stress. For this reason, if it is desired to ensure work peace and increase the quality of work life, the factors that may cause organizational stress should be eliminated first. This should be the primary task of top managers or leaders and the element that needs attention.

Complexity and dynamicity of EFL learners’ multi-dimensional engagement in digital storytelling tasks: an exploratory case study

ABSTRACT Digital storytelling (DS) has increasingly been incorporated as a pedagogical tool to engage EFL learners for active language learning. However, little is known about how EFL learners make self-initiated use of multifarious resources available to them for engaging in the DS practice behaviourally, cognitively, affectively and socially. This 10-month-long study, informed by a dynamic and holistic approach, focused on an in-depth exploration of the dynamics and underpinning mechanisms of EFL learner engagement with the DS practice, as well as the alignment between their engagement and writing performance. Data were collected from multiple sources including learning journals, semi-structured interviews and DS products, and analysed using qualitative and quantitative techniques. Results revealed structural and temporal patterns regarding EFL learners’ behavioural, cognitive, social and affective DS engagement, which were found largely attributable to various individual and contextual factors. Also prominent in our observation were marked individual differences in terms of the patterns, processes and outcomes (in the form of writing development) of learners multifacetedly engaging in the DS practice. Pedagogical suggestions accommodating the dynamic, multifaceted and individual nature of learner engagement are provided for the design and implementation of DS-based tasks.

Influence of instant rice characteristics and processing conditions on starch digestibility-A review.

Instant rice is increasingly popular around the world due to its convenience, but it commonly has a high glycemic index, and a frequent consumption might contribute to the occurrence of many chronic diseases. In this review, the main factors determining starch digestibility of instant rice were comprehensively evaluated, aiming to help the rice industry develop instant rice with slow starch digestibility. Starch digestibility in instant rice can be reduced by manipulating its intrinsic and extrinsic nutrients. Processing conditions, including pre-gelatinization, storage, and reheating are also important for the starch digestibility of instant rice. Individual differences in terms of glycemic response to the same carbohydrate-based diet should be considered when knowledge is transformed from in vitro method to human conditions. This review contains important information that has the potential to reduce the starch digestibility of instant rice and improve public health.

To What Extent Can Evolutionary Theories Explain Mental Illness?

Clinical psychology, the psychiatry field, and medical conditions all tend to ignore the role of evolution in them. However, the human brain is indeed a product of natural selection. Its complexity, including both normal functions and potential dysfunctions, has developed over evolutionary time under the process of natural selection. Evolutionary psychology provides guidance for psychologists today on how to think about individual differences in terms of psychopathology. Therefore, understanding the evolutionary origin of psychiatric conditions is a crucial component of a complete understanding of psychological illnesses and their etiology. This paper explores this idea of evolution with four examples of mental illnesses, depression, postpartum depression, agoraphobia, schizophrenia and autism.

Determination of orally administered 1,8-Cineol in nasal polyp tissues from chronic rhinosinusitis patients using gas chromatography: mass spectrometry

Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is a common inflammatory disease causing considerable disease burden. The anti-inflammatory monoterpene 1,8-Cineol is a natural plant-based therapeutic agent that is well established to treat chronic and acute airway diseases. Aim of this study was to investigate whether the herbal drug 1,8-Cineol reaches the nasal tissue via the gut and the blood stream upon its oral administration. A highly sensitive gas chromatography mass spectrometry-based method with stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) for sample preparation has been developed and validated for the extraction, detection and quantification of 1,8-Cineol in tissue samples of nasal polyps from 30 CRSwNP patients. Data revealed a highly sensitive detection of 1,8-Cineol in nasal tissue samples after 14 days of oral administration of 1,8-Cineol prior to surgical treatment. There was no significant correlation between the measured 1,8-Cineol concentrations and bodyweight or BMI values of the analyzed patients, respectively. Our data indicate a systemic distribution of 1,8-Cineol in the human body after its oral administration. Individual differences in terms of metabolic characteristics and have to be further investigated. The study increases our understanding of the systemic effects of 1,8-Cineol upon its therapeutic application and benefit in patients with CRSwNP.

Impairment or difference? The case of Theory of Mind abilities and pragmatic competence in the Autism Spectrum

AbstractPsycholinguistic research on pragmatics in the neurotypical population has increasingly framed pragmatic competence and related cognitive skills in terms of individual differences, co-constructed discourse, and meaning negotiation. However, research on pragmatics in the Autism Spectrum has risen from a wide and biased view of autistic communication as fundamentally compromised and autistic pragmatic abilities as impaired. Mostly due to the impactful theory of a deficit in Theory of Mind, early research on autistic communication presumed a unitary pragmatic impairment, only to find that several pragmatic abilities seem to be “preserved.” However, the interpretation of these findings usually takes an ableist turn, as most studies subsequently suggest that surface-level performance should not be interpreted as competence, but rather as a result of “compensatory” strategies. The raising number of contributions from autistic academics and participatory research enriched the field with new perspectives focusing on differences rather than impairments and drawing hypotheses on communication difficulties between neurotypes rather than within a specific neurotype. However, such contributions are hardly ever cited in the most prominent works. In conclusion, the field would benefit from a higher level of citation of autistic-led research and from an epistemological perspective shift within the mostly neurotypical academic community.

The Development of Generativity in Middle Adulthood and the Beginning of Late Adulthood: A Longitudinal Study from Age 42 to 61

Previous studies have yielded mixed results regarding the development of generativity during adulthood. Longitudinal data were utilized to investigate the average development of generativity between the ages of 42 and 61 as well as individual differences in terms of its development. The study used data from the Jyväskylä Longitudinal Study of Personality and Social Development (JYLS) (initial N = 369). The data consisted of 291 individuals whose generativity scores, measured using the Generativity Scale, were available at age 42, 50, or 61. Rasch analysis was utilized to form a generativity measure. The development of generativity between the measurements was investigated in women and men using Bland–Altman plots and the latent change score model. The results showed that, on average, generativity decreased from age 42 to 61 in women and men; however, there were individual differences in the extent and direction of the change with age. The level of generativity at age 42 predicted the change occurring between ages 42 and 50 and ages 50 and 61. Furthermore, the change between ages 42 and 50 predicted the change occurring between ages 50 and 61. The more positive the baseline value or the earlier occurring change, the more negative the subsequent change. To conclude, despite the mean-level generativity decreases during middle and late adulthood, there was variance across individuals of the same age, who were followed for nearly two decades. The study emphasizes the importance of investigating individual differences in the development of generativity in adulthood.

Survey-Based Analysis of the Clinical Treatment Status of Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Korea.

The quality-of-life of patients with irritable bowel syndrome is low; incorrect diagnosis/treatment causes economic burden and inappropriate consumption of medical resources. This survey-based study aimed to analyze the current status of irritable bowel syndrome treatment to examine differences in doctors' perceptions of the disease, and treatment patterns. From October 2019 to February 2020, the irritable bowel syndrome and Intestinal Function Research Study Group of the Korean Society of Neurogastroenterology and Motility conducted a survey on doctors working in primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare institutions. The questionnaire included 37 items and was completed anonymously using the NAVER platform (a web-based platform), e-mails, and written forms. A total of 272 doctors responded; respondents reported using the Rome IV diagnostic criteria (amended in 2016) for diagnosing and treating irritable bowel syndrome. Several differences were noted between the primary, secondary, and tertiary physicians' groups. The rate of colonoscopy was high in tertiary healthcare institutions. During a colonoscopy, the necessity of random biopsy was higher among physicians who worked at tertiary institutions. 'The patient did not adhere to the diet' as a reason for ineffectiveness using low-fermentable oligo-, di-, and mono-saccharides, and polyols diet treatment was higher among physicians in primary/secondary institutions, and 'There are individual differences in terms of effectiveness' was higher among physicians in tertiary institutions. In irritable bowel syndrome constipation predominant subtype, the use of serotonin type 3 receptor antagonist (ramosetron) and probiotics was higher in primary/secondary institutions, while serotonin type 4 receptor agonist was used more in tertiary institutions. In irritable bowel syndrome diarrhea predominant subtype, the use of antispasmodics was higher in primary/secondary institutions, while the use of serotonin type 3 receptor antagonist (ramosetron) was higher in tertiary institutions. Notable differences were observed between physicians in primary/secondary and tertiary institiutions regarding the rate of colonoscopy, necessity of random biopsy, the reason for the ineffectiveness of low-fermentable oligo-, di-, and mono-saccharides, and polyols diet, and use of drug therapy in irritable bowel syndrome. In South Korea, irritable bowel syndrome is diagnosed and treated according to the Rome IV diagnostic criteria, revised in 2016.

Prikaz perceptivne mape lokalnih brendova vina

This paper provides an overview of the perceptual map of local wine brands in the city of Trebinje, formed from target groups belonging to the so-called Generation X and Generation Y. The aim of the study was to explore the perception of local wine brands among generations X and Y, focusing on the basis of two semantic differentials derived from four synonymous adjectives describing winery brands: ‚premium - classic,' ‚premium - modern,' ‚casual - classic,' and ‚casual - modern.' The paper highlights a significant range within each generation when it comes to wine consumption in terms of individual differences, life experiences, and context. The study draws upon the concept of brand positioning (Sushkova, Shushkin &amp; Korenkova, 2022), wine marketing concepts (Hall &amp; Mitchell, 2008), and generational market segmentation theory (Chaney, Touzani &amp; Slimane, 2017). The fundamental idea of this paper revolves around the analysis of local wine brand positioning practices. The research was conducted using the technique of perceptual mapping. The research results indicate that local wine brands that have successfully expanded their brands to markets outside the local area are perceived as ‚premium-modern', while smaller wineries are perceived as ‚classic-casual'. Furthermore, differences in wine consumption were evident between generations X and Y. Generation X constitutes a larger portion of wine connoisseurs, while generation Y leans more towards new and experimental forms of wine consumption.

Stratification mechanisms in labour market matching of migrants

AbstractI aim to challenge the standard framework in which systematic exclusion is mistakenly characterised as only a frictional phenomenon that fails to be captured in migrants’ labour market matching mechanisms. Societies organise and rank people in a hierarchical way, not only in terms of individual differences and characteristics but with respect to social groups and categories of people. These macro patterns systematically subject some migrant groups to different forms of exclusion. Social stratification, explained in terms of social identity-based institutional structures, organises labour markets into different destinations like clubs with sharply different sets of opportunities. It functions like a trap for migrants: it reinforces itself by reproducing systems of exclusion and creates dilemmas for migrants. Can migrants organise themselves to avoid such traps? I show that exclusion is endogenous to employment as a type of good in the standard goods typology. Treating different types of employment opportunities as being like clubs, I investigate how migrants join or create alternative employment clubs as a response to real or perceived exclusion from native employment clubs. If these alternative clubs are ‘sticky’ and discourage migrants from trying to join natives’ exclusive employment clubs, the trap becomes inescapable. For migrants to escape the stratification trap, employment should be seen not only as an investment but as a collective action problem structurally targeting exclusion.

Impact of Direct Interaction with Virtual Objects through Touchscreens on Enhancing Psychological Ownership and Endowment Effect

As e-shopping continues to grow, with a significant nudge from the pandemic, more research is needed to find out how we can deal with reluctance caused by people’s inability to touch online bought products. Previous studies found that psychological ownership is an important predictor of individuals’ attitudes, while the endowment effect, in particular, impacts the finalization of economic transactions. In this article, we explore the impact of direct interaction with virtual objects through touchscreens on enhancing psychological ownership and endowment effect. Moreover, we explore if the product type influences the degree of psychological ownership manifested by consumers and if the individual differences in terms of need for touch moderate the relationship between the interface and psychological ownership, respectively endowment effect. We also analyzed if virtually touching the products through a tactile interface impacts psychological ownership and endowment effect compared to the situation when the products are analyzed on a mouse interface. Results highlight that studying products on a touchscreen will not lead to an increased psychological ownership and enhanced endowment effect compared to studying them on a no-touch interface. However, participants who studied the material products on touchscreen reported a higher psychological ownership. Touchscreens lead to an enhanced perceived touch, which will trigger a higher level of psychological ownership. Comparing the impact of touch on two touchscreen devices, results showed that tablets will determine an increased psychological ownership compared to smartphones.

Stereotypes and self-reports about spatial cognition: Impact of gender and age

Cognitive stereotypes with regard to gender are prevalent, especially with regard to spatial cognition. However, literature suggests that age, rather than gender has more impact on objective spatial performance. The aim of this study was to create a detailed picture of the extent and direction of stereotypes held in general population. Individual differences in terms of age and gender, as well as age group identification and gender identification were studied in relation to the stereotypes held. In addition, self-reported performance was also considered, to compare stereotype beliefs to beliefs concerning one’s own performance. An online questionnaire was filled out by a large and heterogeneous sample of Dutch participants (N = 980). Results indicate that gender stereotypes concerning spatial abilities are clearly prevalent and held most strongly by male and young individuals. Stereotype beliefs were very similar to the patterns found for self-reported performance for gender, even though this is not supported by findings concerning objective performance. Stereotypes concerning age were largely absent. These findings indicate that the presence of stereotype beliefs and the individual differences in how strong such beliefs are should be considered in educational and clinical settings where spatial performance is evaluated.

Trajectory of quality of mother‐child interactions: Prospective links with child socioemotional functioning

AbstractResearch shows that the quality of mother‐child interactions is a robust antecedent of child socioemotional functioning. Yet, relatively little is known about the evolution of this relational quality over time, and even less about how changes in relational quality may bear on child adjustment. This study aimed to describe the trajectory of quality of mother‐child interactions between ages 2 and 7 and to investigate associations between individual differences in this trajectory and child socioemotional functioning at age 8. In a sample of 233 mother‐child dyads primarily comprised of White French‐Canadian mothers, the quality of interactions was assessed during 10‐min play sequences when children were aged 2, 4, and 7 years. Child internalizing, externalizing, and prosocial behaviors were reported by a subsample of 171 teachers at age 8. The results showed that on average, quality of mother‐child interactions decreased over time. In terms of individual differences, children who experienced a slower decrease in the quality of interactions with their mother from 2 to 7 years showed less internalizing behavior at age 8, over and above initial quality at 2 years. Children involved in higher quality interactions with their mother at 2 years showed more prosocial and less externalizing behavior at age 8, independent of the subsequent decrease in the quality of those interactions. The findings suggest that initial levels and subsequent changes in the quality of mother‐child interactions are two distinct indicators of their relationship with potentially different implications for child adjustment.