Negative Affect Research Articles

Negative Emotional Value of Players: Exploring the Time Investment Dimension from Chinese Mobile Game Players’ Reviews

This study delved into the concept of “time investment” by examining negative comments from players. It conducted a comprehensive analysis of how time investment and external motivation influence players’ emotional experiences, drawing from self-determination theory (SDT). Nonetheless, there has been limited exploration of the origins and significance of players’ negative emotions. The study employed a mixed-methods approach. Initially, it constructed a radar chart representing time investment by analyzing textual reviews from Chinese players across six distinct mobile game types and creating thematic models with BERTopic. Subsequently, the initial machine learning results were confirmed through a questionnaire survey (n = 1028), resulting in the identification of five primary time investment dimensions: in-game experience time investment, learning time investment, social time investment, emotional time investment, and economic time investment. The study unveils the impact of external motivation on players’ emotions and assessments, all from the viewpoint of players. It also offers an expanded perspective within SDT for the exploration of external motivation. The findings present a fresh theoretical outlook and research framework for game designers and the human–computer interaction (HCI) field. Additionally, they offer new insights into the concept of time as perceived by players.

Parenting Style and Subjective Well-Being in Children and Youth: A Meta-Analysis.

Parenting styles influence child development. Some theories and numerous studies have shown a close relationship between parenting style and youths' subjective well-being; however, the results of different studies were inconsistent. Hence, our meta-analysis aimed to determine the overall relationship between positive and negative parenting styles on subjective well-being (including life satisfaction, positive and negative affect) and any moderating effects between them. After searching and screening the literature, 155 studies were included in the analysis, comprising 79,979 participants and 417 effect sizes. The results showed that positive parenting style was significantly positively associated with subjective well-being (r = .318, 95% CI = .287 to .348), life satisfaction (r = .358, 95% CI = .326 to .389), and positive affect (r = .355, 95% CI = .303 to .406), but significantly negatively associated with negative affect (r = -.153, 95% CI = -.207 to -.098). Negative parenting style was significantly negatively related to subjective well-being (r = -.173, 95% CI = -.205 to -.152), life satisfaction (r = -.144, 95% CI = -.175 to -.112), and positive affect (r = -.078, 95% CI = -.129 to -.027), but significantly positively related to negative affect (r = .204, 95% CI = .149 to .257). Moderating effect results showed that the relationship between parenting style and subjective well-being is moderated by age, gender, and cultural background. Findings highlight the benefits of positive parenting styles in promoting healthy child development and well-being.

The risk and protective factors on the mental health of healthcare workers during the lockdown period due to covid-19 pandemic

This study aimed to analyze the impact of the lockdown period due to COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health status of healthcare workers and identify the related risk factors of psychosomatic distress. We conducted an online questionnaire survey to investigate the general demographic characteristics, perceived stress level, adult attachment style (AAS), family cohesion and adaptability, social support, sleep state, emotional state, and physical health of healthcare workers during the lockdown period due to the pandemic in 2022. We compared the mental health status between doctors and nurses, and further analyzed the factors influencing sleep, emotions, physical symptoms, and severe psychosomatic distress separately. For factors that showed statistical significance in the univariate analysis, forward stepwise regression was used for logistic regression analysis to identify risk factors for the corresponding issues. A total of 622 healthcare workers participated in the survey. Among the participants, 121 (19.5%) reported sleep problems, 209 (33.6%) had negative emotional states, and 147 (23.6%) reported physical health problems. There were 48 (7.7%) healthcare workers with severe psychosomatic distress. Compared to the group of nurses, the group of doctors exhibit a higher prevalence of emotional issues, physical health problems and psychosomatic distress. Perceived stress was identified as a risk factor for sleep disturbance, while living with others during quarantine and family adaptability were identified as protective factors. Higher educational background and perceived stress were identified as risk factors for negative emotion, while subjective support was identified as a protective factor. Perceived stress and coming from a rural area were also identified as risk factors for physical health. Overall, for the comparison between the no psychosomatic distress and severe psychosomatic distress groups, perceived stress was identified as a risk factor for severe psychosomatic distress, while subjective support was identified as a protective factor. Healthcare workers’ potential mental and physical health problems are related to their educational background, family cohesion and adaptability, perceived stress and social support. This makes it clearer on how to deal with and prevent adverse consequences when facing stressful situations.

Cluster analysis of patients with alcohol use disorder featuring alexithymia, depression, and diverse drinking behavior.

This study aimed to identify subgroups of alcohol use disorder (AUD) based on a multidimensional combination of alexithymia, depression, and diverse drinking behavior. We recruited 176 patients with AUD, which were initially divided into non-alexithymic (n = 130) and alexithymic (n = 46) groups using a cutoff score of 61 on the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). Subsequently, the profiles of the two groups were compared. Thereafter, a two-stage cluster analysis using hierarchical and K-means methods was performed with the Z-scores from the TAS-20, the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology Self-Report Japanese Version, the 12-item questionnaire for quantitative assessment of depressive mixed state, and the 20-item questionnaire for drinking behavior pattern. In the first analysis, Alexithymic patients with AUD showed greater depressive symptoms and more pathological drinking behavior patterns than those without alexithymia. Cluster analysis featuring alexithymia, depression, and drinking behavior identified three subtypes: Cluster 1 (core AUD type) manifesting pathological drinking behavior highlighting automaticity; Cluster 2 (late-onset type) showing relatively late-onset alcohol use and fewer depressive symptoms or pathological drinking behavior; and Cluster 3 (alexithymic type) characterized by alexithymia, depression, and pathological drinking behavior featuring greater coping with negative affect. The multidimensional model with alexithymia, depression, and diverse drinking behavior provided possible practical classification of AUD. The alexithymic subtype may require more caution, and additional support for negative affect may be necessary due to accompanying mood problems and various maladaptive drinking behaviors.

Procrastination in the Intention–Behaviour gap: Exercise procrastination and the moderating role of emotion

Health behaviour procrastination is closely associated with the intention–behaviour gap. However, research on health behaviour procrastination has tended to focus on bedtime procrastination, with relatively few studies on exercise procrastination. This research examined the relationship between exercise procrastination and the intention–behaviour gap through three studies. Additionally, based on the temporal-affective self-regulation resource model, the moderating role of emotion as a self-regulatory resource in exercise procrastination was explored. Study 1 validated the Chinese version of the newly developed Procrastination in Exercise Scale in two Chinese adult samples (N = 2376 and N = 393). Study 2 collected two waves of data from 447 Chinese adults (Mage = 31.19) and examined the mediating role of exercise procrastination in the intention–behaviour gap. Using a sample of 453 Chinese adults (Mage = 20.39), Study 3 investigated the moderating role of positive and negative affect in the association between intention and exercise procrastination. Cross-lagged analyses revealed the predictive roles of Time 1 intention on Time 2 exercise procrastination and Time 1 exercise procrastination on Time 2 physical activity. Exercise procrastination mediated the relationship between intention and physical activity. Examining the moderating role of emotion between intention (Time 1) and exercise procrastination (Time 2), Study 3 found that negative affect buffered this association. Findings highlight the role of exercise procrastination in explaining the intention–behaviour gap and shed new light on physical activity interventions, with implications for promoting exercise behaviour.

From the COVID-19 lockdown to the new normal: Two-year changes in daily stress and positive event processes.

The emergence of the novel COVID-19 disease and the social distancing measures implemented to curb its spread affected most aspects of daily life. Past work suggests that during times of more severe stress, people respond to daily stressors with relatively higher negative affect. However, little is known about how people responded to daily stressors and positive events at different moments in time during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, we examined longitudinal changes in daily event-related affect (covariation of daily stressors or positive events with same-day affect) from Spring 2020 (wave 1) to 2022 (wave 2). The sample consisted of 324 adults aged 18-80 (mean=52years; 89% women) from the US and Canada who completed weeklong daily diaries at both waves. The results revealed improvements in affective well-being, stressor-related affect (i.e., smaller fluctuations in affect on stressor days vs. nonstressor days), and positive event-related affect (i.e., lower negative affect on days with vs. without positive events). Furthermore, as people gradually resumed their social activities from 2020 to 2022, people reported being exposed to an increased frequency of both stressors and positive events. This study highlights the potential influence of socio-historical phenomena, such as an ongoing pandemic, on the events that people encounter and how they emotionally respond to them.

Critical engagement with digital health: A socio-material analysis of physical education teachers’ digital health mind maps

Objective: This paper forms part of a DigihealthPE project in which we have been working with physical education (PE) teachers to co-create critical and embodied digital health pedagogies. As part of the project, we invited PE teachers to mind map their personal engagements with digital health technologies. We aimed to explore the potential openings and opportunities (and limitations) within these maps for critical thinking and action. Method: Data were generated during a workshop with 12 PE teachers in Scotland. Informed by new materialism, we focus on the human and non-human factors and intra-actions evident within six narrative portraits generated from teachers’ mind maps. Results: Our findings suggest that teachers were engaging complexly and extensively with digital health technologies, which we considered an opening for further critical work. Importantly, experiences of strong (negative) affect had the potential to transform engagements with digital health technologies. Conclusion: We conclude by exploring how the process of mind mapping helped us to see further opportunities for supporting teachers to engage critically with digital health technologies. We also argue that new materialist-informed critical practices in education may have transformative potential for helping teachers and pupils to engage critically with the moving body, technology and health.

Rituals of nonbelonging and their emotional toll: Encounters with the orthodox Jewish weddings and burials among generation 1.5 former Soviet Union immigrants in Israel

This article examines the encounters of Generation 1.5 Jewish immigrants from the former Soviet Union (FSU) with the Orthodox establishment within the framework of weddings and burials in Israel. These Orthodox Jewish weddings and burials are referred to here as rituals of nonbelonging and provide a lens for understanding the role of rituals in the marginalisation and exclusion of immigrants and ethnic minorities from religious and national collectives. The article argues that rituals of nonbelonging originate in the more extensive politics of nonbelonging and reflect an exclusion that provokes negative emotions among marginalised minorities due to the perceived threats to social bonds.

Adolescent Athletes with Stronger Athletic Identity Perceptions Have Weaker Fear Avoidance Perceptions During Musculoskeletal Injury Rehabilitation Return to Sports Preparation.

Adolescent athletes who sustain a musculoskeletal sports injury are at high re-injury risk. This prospective study evaluated athletic identity perception and fear avoidance perception relationships during the return to sport preparation phase of musculoskeletal injury rehabilitation. From 140 consecutive physical therapy outpatients, 50 (26 females, 24 males) adolescent athletes (mean age 16.8, range 14 to 22 y) completed the 7-item Athletic Identity Measurement Scale (AIMS), the 10-item Athletic Fear Avoidance Questionnaire (AFAQ), and the AFAQ with 2 additional movement-related fear and pain questions (AFAQ+). Correlational analysis was performed of overall AIMS and AIMS subscale scores (social identity, exclusivity, negative affectivity), with AFAQ and AFAQ+ scores (P≤0.05). Adolescent athletes were receiving treatment for musculoskeletal injuries sustained during soccer (n=10), lacrosse (n=7), baseball (n=6), basketball (n=5), volleyball (n=5), track or cross country (n=4), American football (n=4), field hockey or ice hockey (n=3), softball (n=2), tennis (n=2), and gymnastics (n=2). Lower extremity conditions included anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (n=23) or other lower extremity conditions (n=17). Upper extremity conditions included shoulder dislocation or labral repair (n=6), elbow sprain or fracture (n=3), and clavicle fracture (n=1). The AIMS score displayed moderate inverse relationships with AFAQ (r=-0.40, P=0.008) and AFAQ+ (r=-0.41, P<0.004) scores. The "social identity" AIMS subscale score displayed a moderate inverse relationship with AFAQ (r=- 0.48, P<0.001) and AFAQ+ (r=-0.46, P=0.001) scores. The "exclusivity" AIMS subscale score displayed moderate inverse relationships with AFAQ (r=-0.40, P=0.005) and AFAQ+ (r=-0.46, P=0.001) scores. The "negative affectivity" subscale did not display significant relationships with AFAQ or AFAQ+ scores. Subject age displayed moderate inverse relationships with the AIMS "social identity" (r=-0.56, P<0.001) and "exclusivity" (r=-0.42, P=0.004) subscale scores and weak direct relationships with AFAQ (r=0.30, P=0.04) and AFAQ+ (r=0.32, P=0.02) scores. Adolescent athletes with stronger athletic identity perceptions during the return to the sports preparation phase of musculoskeletal injury rehabilitation had weaker fear avoidance perceptions. As age increased from early to late adolescence, athletic identity perceptions became weaker, and fear avoidance perceptions became stronger. To decrease re-injury rates, early identification and surveillance of injured adolescent athletes with stronger, more exclusive athletic identity perceptions and weaker fear avoidance perceptions may influence rehabilitation progression and return to play decisions. Level-II, prospective cohort, correlational study.

Perezhivanie-agency dialectic: Examining Vietnamese EFL educators’ experiences and negotiation of dramatic classroom events

Tensions and conflicts are common in teachers' everyday professional lives, yet research on how these experiences influence pedagogical decisions and teacher agency remains limited. This study employs a broad sociocultural perspective, integrating cultural-historical activity theory (CHAT) and Vygotsky's concept of perezhivanie, to examine how two Vietnamese English-as-a-Foreign-Language (EFL) educators responded agentively to emotionally charged events. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and reflective journals, and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. The findings of the study illustrate that mismatches between educators' expectations and students' behaviors not only underpin educators' negative emotions and cognitive responses but also catalyze a cycle of reflection, which subsequently leads to modifications in teaching practices and strengthens educators' agency. This study underscores the complex interplay between teachers' experiences of dramatic events and their agency, highlighting the importance of equipping educators with the necessary knowledge and skills to constructively manage difficult emotions and enhance their problem-solving capabilities. This study exemplifies a critical integration through the development of Integrative Cultural-Historical Activity Theory (iCHAT), which synergistically combines elements of CHAT and Vygotsky's perezhivanie, providing a robust framework to investigate a range of complex phenomena beyond teacher agency in diverse educational and cultural contexts.

Emotional experiences and gender roles of men with fibromyalgia syndrome: a cross-cultural qualitative study.

Gender roles may impact men with fibromyalgia, causing a high number of negative emotional states and affective disorders. There are few studies that detect men's high emotional suffering. This study examined the emotional experience of men with fibromyalgia. A qualitative cross-cultural study utilized inductive thematic analysis was performed at the Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Unit Santa Maria University Hospital in Spain, the Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Clinic at Mayo Clinic in the US, and volunteers from the Winneshiek County in the US A total of 17 participants, 10 men from Spain and 7 men from the US were included. Three themes related to feelings/emotions emerged: (1) psychological level; (2) social level; and (3) physical level. Men with fibromyalgia from Spain and the US experienced many negative emotions. Men often experience negative emotions that are worsened by common misunderstandings and social biases/stigma about their condition. A proper assessment of emotions when evaluating the global health of men with fibromyalgia as well as the provision of emotional support would improve their mental health and therefore their overall physical health. Emotional management should be incorporated into all treatment protocols for fibromyalgia, especially for men given the gender stigma. Health policies designed by legislators, policymakers, and support agencies must be accompanied by education in gender role concepts to improve the emotions of men with FMS. The mass media will be essential for the disclosure of the emotional suffering of male patients so that society might better understand them.

How is teaching quality related to achievement emotions in secondary low- and high-achieving students: A cross-sectional study in Chinese mathematics classrooms.

Past studies clarified the relationship between dimensions of teaching and achievement emotions. However, more information is needed about the underlying process behind this relationship among students with different mathematical abilities. This study examined the association between students' perceived teaching quality and achievement emotions in Chinese mathematics classrooms, focusing on students with different mathematics achievements. There are 1045 secondary school students (49.1% girls; Mage = 13.90, SD = .84) from Chinese mathematics classrooms in the present study. A multi-group structural equation model was adopted to test the relationship between teaching quality and achievement emotions between low- and high-achieving students. Control-value appraisals mediated in teacher support and achievement emotions in both student groups. At the same time, control-value appraisals failed to mediate cognitive activation and achievement emotions in low-achieving students, while the mediating effect of control-value appraisals was identified in high-achieving students. Besides, classroom management was related to achievement emotions via academic value only in low-achieving students. In contrast, it was related to achievement emotions via control-value appraisals in high-achieving students. The results clarified the mediation roles of control-value appraisals in teaching quality and achievement emotions in students with low- and high-achieving achievements. Similarities and differences were also identified between the two student groups. Teacher support was beneficial to students' positive emotions while classroom management helped to lessen students' negative emotions. High-achieving students benefited more from activating teaching compared with low-achieving students.

Factors associated with antiretroviral treatment adherence among people living with HIV in Guangdong Province, China: a cross sectional analysis

BackgroundUnderstanding factors associated with antiretroviral treatment (ART) adherence is crucial for ART success among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in the “test and treat” era. Multiple psychosocial factors tend to coexist and have a syndemic effect on ART adherence. We aimed to explore factors associated with ART adherence and the syndemic effect of multiple psychosocial factors on ART adherence among PLHIV newly starting ART in Guangdong Province, China.MethodsNewly diagnosed PLHIV from six cities in Guangdong Province were recruited between May 2018 and June 2019, and then followed up from May 2019 to August 2020. Baseline and follow-up data were collected from a questionnaire and the national HIV surveillance system, the follow-up data of which were analyzed in this study. A Center for Adherence Support Evaluation (CASE) index > 10 points was defined as optimal ART adherence, which was measured via participants’ self-reported adherence during follow-up survey. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with ART adherence. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and multi-order latent variable structural equation modeling (SEM) were performed to explore the syndemic effect of multiple psychosocial factors on ART adherence.ResultsA total of 734 (68.53%) follow-up participants were finally included in this study among the 1071 baseline participants, of whom 91.28% (670/734) had self-reported optimal ART adherence. Unemployment (aOR = 1.75, 95%CI: 1.01–3.02), no medication reminder (aOR = 2.28, 95%CI: 1.09–4.74), low medication self-efficacy (aOR = 2.28, 95%CI: 1.27–4.10), low social cohesion (aOR = 1.82, 95%CI: 1.03–3.19), no social participation (aOR = 5.65, 95%CI: 1.71–18.63), and ART side effects (aOR = 0.46, 95%CI: 0.26–0.81) were barriers to optimal ART adherence. The EFA and second-order latent variable SEM showed a linear relationship (standardized coefficient = 0.43, P < 0.001) between ART adherence and the latent psychosocial (syndemic) factor, which consisted of the three latent factors of medication beliefs and self-efficacy (standardized coefficient = 0.65, P < 0.001), supportive environment (standardized coefficient = 0.50, P < 0.001), and negative emotions (standardized coefficient=-0.38, P < 0.01). The latent factors of medication beliefs and self-efficacy, supportive environment, and negative emotions explained 42.3%, 25.3%, and 14.1% of the variance in the latent psychosocial factor, respectively.ConclusionsAbout nine out of ten PLHIV on ART in Guangdong Province self-reported optimal ART adherence. However, more efforts should be made to address barriers to optimal ART adherence.

'Role Model Moments' and 'Troll Model Moments' in Surgical Residency: How Do They Influence Professional Identity Formation?

Role models are powerful contributors to residents' professional identity formation (PIF) by exhibiting the values and attributes of the community. While substantial knowledge on different attributes of role models exists, little is known about their influence on residents' PIF. The aim of this study was to explore surgical residents' experiences with role models and to understand how these contribute to residents' PIF. Adopting a social constructivist paradigm, the authors used a grounded theory approach to develop an explanatory model for residents' experiences with role models regarding PIF. Fourteen surgical residents participated in individual interviews. The authors iteratively performed data collection and analysis, and applied constant comparison to identify relevant themes. Role model behavior is highly situation dependent. Therefore, residents learn through specific 'role model moments'. These moments arise when residents (1) feel positive about a moment, e.g. "inspiration", (2) have a sense of involvement, and (3) identify with their role model. Negative role model moments ('troll model moments') are dominated by negative emotions and residents reject the modeled behavior. Residents learn through observation, reflection and adapting modeled behavior. As a result, residents negotiate their values, strengthen attributes, and learn to make choices on the individual path of becoming a surgeon. The authors suggest a nuance in the discussion on role modelling: from 'learning from role models' to 'learning from role model moments'. It is expected that residents' PIF will benefit from this approach since contextual factors and individual needs are emphasized. Residents need to develop antennae for both role model moments and troll model moments and acquire the skills to learn from them. Role model moments and troll model moments are strong catalysts of PIF as residents follow in the footsteps of their role models, yet learn to go their own way.

Psychosocial factors related to dropout in substance use disorder inpatient treatment: a longitudinal study

Background: Substance use disorder (SUD) is associated with psychological, biological, and social problems. To date, existing treatments have a high dropout rate. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the psychosocial factors related to dropout from prolonged inpatient treatment due to SUD. Methods: A nine-week longitudinal follow-up study of 148 adult men inpatient for treatment for SUD. Psychosocial measures, aspects related to treatment, substance use, and sociodemographic data were collected using self-completed questionnaires. The main outcome was treatment dropout nine weeks after initial contact. Binomial logistic regression was used to evaluate the association of variables with dropout. Results: Prolonged inpatient treatment dropout was related to anxiety, depression, stress, self-judgment, expression of anger, positive and negative affect, negative urgency, lack of perseverance, and impulsivity, but not to sociodemographic characteristics or characteristics related to the substances consumed and the history of use. Conclusion: Psychological factors, such as negative emotional states and impulsivity, were the main predictors of dropout. These results highlight the relevance of emotional management skills to a male population in preventing the treatment dropout associated with SUD.

Information Asymmetry and Investor's Financial Behavior: A Mediation of Perceived Risk and Perceived Failure

This study aims to investigate the influence of information asymmetry on the financial behavior of investors in the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), utilizing the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and Information Asymmetry. Additionally, the study explores the mediating role of Perceived Risk (PR) and Perceived Failure (PF) in the relationship between information asymmetry and negative affect (NA). The present study used a quantitative research methodology and a cross-sectional research design to gather data at a single point in time. The random sampling technique is employed. The researchers adopt a five-point Likert scale to collect data from the participants. The acquired data is evaluated using this study's smart partial least squares (PLS 3) method. Smart (PLS 3) allows us to break down the analysis into two primary sections. In the first section, we evaluate the measuring framework. The second section involves a structural model evaluation. This survey received 151 responses from PSX investors. A direct relationship was observed between knowledge asymmetry, perceived risk, and perceived failure. A pessimistic attitude exhibits a negative correlation with one's financial behavior. The study's results supported that investors' behavior in the financial markets could be significantly limited by information asymmetry and its various aspects. Finally, the study concludes with a discussion of its limits, recommendations for further investigation, and theoretical, methodological, and practical consequences.

Hybrid Natural Language Processing Model for Sentiment Analysis during Natural Crisis

This paper introduces a novel natural language processing (NLP) model as an original approach to sentiment analysis, with a focus on understanding emotional responses during major disasters or conflicts. The model was created specifically for Croatian and is based on unigrams, but it can be used with any language that supports the n-gram model and expanded to multiple word sequences. The presented model generates a sentiment score aligned with discrete and dimensional emotion models, reliability metrics, and individual word scores using affective datasets Extended ANEW and NRC WordEmotion Association Lexicon. The sentiment analysis model incorporates different methodologies, including lexicon-based, machine learning, and hybrid approaches. The process of preprocessing includes translation, lemmatization, and data refinement, utilized automated translation services as well as the CLARIN Knowledge Centre for South Slavic languages (CLASSLA) library, with a particular emphasis on diacritical mark correction and tokenization. The presented model was experimentally evaluated on three simultaneous major natural crises that recently affected Croatia. The study’s findings reveal a significant shift in emotional dimensions during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly a decrease in valence, arousal, and dominance, which corresponded with the two-month recovery period. Furthermore, the 2020 Croatian earthquakes elicited a wide range of negative discrete emotions, including anger, fear, and sadness, with the recuperation period much longer than in the case of COVID-19. This study represents an advancement in sentiment analysis, particularly in linguistically specific contexts, and provides insights into the emotional landscape shaped by major societal events.

A cross-sectional study on adult lifestyle habits during the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 has spread and developed into a pandemic disease, forcing countries to impose challenging protocols and lockdowns. This study assessed shopping, food consumption behavior, and feelings in Jordan and several Arab countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional web-based survey among the Middle East population was conducted using an online questionnaire between July and September 2022. Participants were requested to answer a standardized and validated structured questionnaire. Demographic information, shopping behavior information, and mental health data were requested. A total of 542 respondents were included in the study. During COVID-19 quarantine, participants (68.6%) reported decreased shopping frequency and buying more food than usual (37.5%). Cereals and legumes were the primary food types stored by participants (76.9%). Multiple logistic regression revealed the age of the participant as a significant factor affecting storing of food (being ≤ 25 years old (OR = 0.456, p value = 0.038)). 75.7% of female participants eat less frequently in restaurants than usual. In contrast, among males, 48.5% reported that they eat at restaurants less frequently than usual. The country of residency and gender were the significant factors affecting negative feelings and emotions. Participants in countries other than Jordan had a higher negative feeling score (Beta = 0.086, p value = 0.042). Furthermore, females had a higher negative feeling score (Beta = -0.128, p value = 0.003) as the negative feelings score for females was 3.58 (SD = 5.443). On the other hand, it was 2.10 (SD = 5.091) for males. The COVID-19 pandemic has altered Jordanians' attitudes, shopping, and food consumption habits. Although positive behaviors have improved, such as shopping less frequently, eating home-cooked meals, and dining with family, frequent snacking and food storage have increased. Finally, public awareness of shopping and food consumption habits should be promoted.

Assessing Human Reactions in a Virtual Crowd Based on Crowd Disposition, Perceived Agency, and User Traits

Immersive virtual environments populated by real and virtual humans provide valuable insights into human decision-making processes under controlled conditions. Existing literature indicates elevated comfort, higher presence, and a more positive user experience when virtual humans exhibit rich behaviors. Based on this knowledge, we conducted a web-based, interactive study, in which participants were embodied within a virtual crowd with complex behaviors driven by an underlying psychological model. While participants interacted with a group of autonomous humanoid agents in a shopping scenario similar to Black Friday, the platform recorded their non-verbal behaviors. In this independent-subjects study, we investigated behavioral and emotional variances across participants with diverse backgrounds focusing on two conditions: perceived agency and the crowd’s emotional disposition. For perceived agency, one group of participants was told that the other crowd members were avatars controlled by humans, whereas another group was told that they were artificial agents. For emotional disposition, the crowd behaved either in a docile or hostile manner. The results suggest that the crowd’s disposition and specific participant traits significantly affected certain emotions and behaviors. For instance, participants collected fewer items and reported a higher increase of negative emotions when placed in a hostile crowd. However, perceived agency did not yield any statistically significant effects.

КОГНИТИВНЫЙ НЕОАССОЦИАНИЗМ:РОЛЬ ОТРИЦАТЕЛЬНЫХ ЭМОЦИЙ

The relevance of the topic “Cognitive neo-associationism: the role of negative emotions” is that, despite the time, the question of aggression and the way to calm down still stands and has not been completely resolved due to the fact that it is impossible to completely select an individual plan for combating aggression. Methods with elements of art, relaxation exercises and even sports were used as the main solutions to the problem. In the aspect of cognitive assessment, basic and suprabasic emotions are considered. If basic emotions are triggered by innate triggers, then supra-basic ones are triggered by those acquired during the life of a particular person. Superbasic or socialized emotions most often have a cognitive nature of origin and their appearance in the psyche. Such emotions are conscious in nature, since they appear upon the fact of a cognitive assessment of the stimulus; in turn, the appearance of basic emotions based on innate stimuli is most often not realized by a person. The purpose of the study was to overcome constructs in the scientific literature about the dominance of cognitive mechanisms of the origin of emotions. The object of the study was emotions and the nature of their origin. The subject of the study was a critique of the cognitive approach to the origin of emotions and the substantiation of the importance of the biological approach, where an important role is given to the innate and genetic mechanisms of the appearance of emotions. The methodological basis of the study was the analysis of scientific research on the problem of the nature and appearance of basic emotions in the psyche.