Journal Description
Behavioral Sciences
Behavioral Sciences
is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal on psychology, neuroscience, cognitive science, behavioral biology and behavioral genetics published monthly online by MDPI.
- Open Access— free for readers, with article processing charges (APC) paid by authors or their institutions.
- High Visibility: indexed within Scopus, SSCI (Web of Science), PubMed, PMC, and other databases.
- Journal Rank: JCR - Q2 (Psychology, Multidisciplinary) / CiteScore - Q2 (Development)
- Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision is provided to authors approximately 21.5 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 2.6 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the second half of 2023).
- Recognition of Reviewers: reviewers who provide timely, thorough peer-review reports receive vouchers entitling them to a discount on the APC of their next publication in any MDPI journal, in appreciation of the work done.
Impact Factor:
2.6 (2022);
5-Year Impact Factor:
3.2 (2022)
Latest Articles
“Leading through Crisis”: A Systematic Review of Institutional Decision-Makers in Emergency Contexts
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 481; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060481 (registering DOI) - 6 Jun 2024
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This review aims to map studies on governmental and institutional decision-making processes in emergencies. The literature reveals various approaches used by governments in managing emergencies. Consequently, this article suggests the need for a systematic literature review to outline how institutional decision-makers operate during
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This review aims to map studies on governmental and institutional decision-making processes in emergencies. The literature reveals various approaches used by governments in managing emergencies. Consequently, this article suggests the need for a systematic literature review to outline how institutional decision-makers operate during emergencies. To achieve this goal, the most widely used databases in psychological research were consulted, with a specific focus on selecting scientific articles. Subsequently, these studies were rigorously assessed for their relevance using a structured literature selection process following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. At the conclusion of the review process, nine studies were identified, each suggesting different methods by which governments manage emergencies. This diversity arises because emergency decision-making processes must account for numerous variables that change depending on the type of crisis and the specific context. However, several critical aspects have emerged, such as the centrality of pre-disaster planning to improve intervention practices and methods, attention to information gaps that inevitably arise during an emergency, and the importance of streamlining and delegating decision-making to emergency responders in the field to counter the phenomenon of centralized decision-making that often hampers crucial interventions during emergencies.
Full article
Open AccessArticle
Patient Adherence to a Real-World Digital, Asynchronous Weight Loss Program in Australia That Combines Behavioural and GLP-1 RA Therapy: A Mixed Methods Study
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Louis Talay and Matt Vickers
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 480; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060480 (registering DOI) - 6 Jun 2024
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Increasingly large numbers of people are using digital weight loss services (DWLSs) to treat being overweight and obesity. Although it is widely agreed that digital modalities improve access to care in general, obesity stakeholders remain concerned that many DWLSs are not comprehensive or
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Increasingly large numbers of people are using digital weight loss services (DWLSs) to treat being overweight and obesity. Although it is widely agreed that digital modalities improve access to care in general, obesity stakeholders remain concerned that many DWLSs are not comprehensive or sustainable enough to deliver meaningful health outcomes. This study adopted a mixed methods approach to assess why and after how long patients tend to discontinue Australia’s largest DWLS, a program that combines behavioural and pharmacological therapy under the guidance of a multidisciplinary care team. We found that in a cohort of patients who commenced the Eucalyptus DWLS between January and June 2022 (n = 5604), the mean program adherence was 171.2 (±158.2) days. Inadequate supplying of a patient’s desired glucose-like peptide-1 receptor agonist medication was the most common reason for discontinuation (43.7%), followed by program cost (26.2%), result dissatisfaction (9.9%), and service dissatisfaction (7.2%). Statistical tests revealed that ethnicity and age both had a significant effect on patient adherence. These findings suggest that DWLSs have the potential to improve access to comprehensive, continuous obesity care, but care models need to improve upon the one observed in the Eucalyptus Australia DWLS to mitigate common real-world program attrition factors.
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The Impact of Seller Trust in a C2C Platform on Golf Club Purchase Intention and the Interaction Effect of Regulatory Focus
by
Chulhwan Choi, Inyup Lee and Hosuk Yoo
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 479; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060479 (registering DOI) - 6 Jun 2024
Abstract
(1) Background: This study aimed to investigate the influence of seller trust on the purchase intention of consumers of used golf clubs in the context of increasing C2C transactions and further explore the interaction effect of regulatory focus. (2) Methods: Data were collected
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(1) Background: This study aimed to investigate the influence of seller trust on the purchase intention of consumers of used golf clubs in the context of increasing C2C transactions and further explore the interaction effect of regulatory focus. (2) Methods: Data were collected from 200 participants who had experience purchasing golf clubs through the Carrot Market platform, employing a 2 × 2 experimental design. An independent samples t-test was utilized to examine the effect of seller trust on purchase intention, followed by a two-way analysis of variance to assess the interaction effect of regulatory focus. (3) Results: The results revealed a significant difference in purchase intention based on seller trust, with higher purchase intentions observed when seller trust was high compared to when it was low. Additionally, the interaction effect of regulatory focus was found to be significant in the impact of seller trust on golf club purchase intention. Specifically, when seller trust was high, no significant differences were observed among control focus groups. However, when seller trust was low, promotion-focused consumers exhibited higher purchase intentions than prevention-focused consumers. (4) Conclusions: These findings underscore the importance of seller trust in the context of an expanding market for online second-hand trading platforms.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Consumer Behavior in the Digital Age: An Exploration through the Lens of Behavioral Economic Psychology)
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The Effect of Coping on the Relationship between Work-Family Conflict and Stress, Anxiety, and Depression
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Cristina de Sousa, João Viseu, Ana Cristina Pimenta, Helena Vinagre, João Ferreira, Rafaela Matavelli, Helena José, Luís Sousa, Fernando Acabado Romana and Olga Valentim
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 478; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060478 (registering DOI) - 6 Jun 2024
Abstract
The challenges experienced in the context of the pandemic have required a significant reconciliation between work and family domains due to confinement and the need to spend more time at home, which may have increased the levels of stress, anxiety, and depression, making
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The challenges experienced in the context of the pandemic have required a significant reconciliation between work and family domains due to confinement and the need to spend more time at home, which may have increased the levels of stress, anxiety, and depression, making it necessary to use resilient coping strategies to overcome the difficulties felt. This study examined the effect of resilient coping on the relationship between work-family conflict and stress, anxiety, and depression in this context. Data were collected using a self-report protocol from a sample of Portuguese workers (N = 476). The results indicated that work-family conflict was positively associated with stress, anxiety, and depression. Resilient coping established a negative relationship with stress, anxiety, and depression. The moderation effect was not corroborated; it was found that in the presence of the moderating variable (resilient coping), the relationship between the variables of work-family conflict and stress, anxiety, and depression was strengthened. This study reinforces the importance of appropriate interventions in resilient coping in the work-family context, which helps control stress, anxiety, and resilience levels.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Health Psychology)
Open AccessReview
Ineffective Learning Behaviors and Their Psychological Mechanisms among Adolescents in Online Learning: A Narrative Review
by
Ji Li, Li Fang, Yu Liu, Jiayu Xie and Xiaoyu Wang
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 477; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060477 (registering DOI) - 6 Jun 2024
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During the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries and regions experienced a surge in online learning, but the public complained about and questioned its effectiveness. One of the most important reasons for this was the inadequate metacognitive abilities of adolescents. Studies in learning sciences have
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During the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries and regions experienced a surge in online learning, but the public complained about and questioned its effectiveness. One of the most important reasons for this was the inadequate metacognitive abilities of adolescents. Studies in learning sciences have identified various inefficient learning behaviors among students in online learning, including help abuse, help avoidance, and wheel spinning; all closely related to metacognition. Despite concerns about ecological validity, researchers in psychology have proposed the agenda-based regulation framework, the COPES model, and MAPS model, which may help explain the inefficient learning behaviors among adolescents in online learning. Future studies should aim to verify these theoretical frameworks within the context of online learning and elucidate the causes of inefficient learning behaviors; the design and optimization of online learning systems should be informed by theories in cognitive psychology.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social Behaviors in Childhood: Causes and Consequences)
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Examining Public Service Motivation’s Impact on Organizational Commitment: Focusing on Moderating Roles of Hygiene and Motivation Factors
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Geon Jung and Kuk-Kyoung Moon
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 476; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060476 - 5 Jun 2024
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Despite previous studies on public service motivation among public sector employees, the empirical analysis of the influential contextual conditions that moderate public service motivation’s impact on employees’ work attitudes remains inadequate. Given these limitations, this study examines public service motivation’s effects on public
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Despite previous studies on public service motivation among public sector employees, the empirical analysis of the influential contextual conditions that moderate public service motivation’s impact on employees’ work attitudes remains inadequate. Given these limitations, this study examines public service motivation’s effects on public employees’ organizational commitment and investigates how Herzberg’s hygiene and motivation factors moderate the relationship between these aspects in the context of South Korea’s central government. For this, we used the data of 1021 public employees from the Differences in the Values of Different Generations of Public Officials and Organizational Innovation Survey, which the Korea Institute of Public Administration had conducted in 2022. We analyzed the data through hierarchical multiple regression analyses, and the results indicated that public service motivation exerts a positive effect on organizational commitment. Specifically, hygiene factors weaken the positive relationship between public service motivation and organizational commitment, while motivation factors have a moderating effect that strengthens said relationship. These findings suggest that, in order to enhance organizational commitment among motivated public employees, human resource management practices should prioritize motivational factors that can enhance job content, meaning, and autonomy instead of solely focusing on providing monetary incentives or improving external conditions.
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Open AccessArticle
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Scientific Production of Physical Education Researchers: A Five-Year Follow-Up Study
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Sarah Jane Lemos de Melo, Vanderlei Porto Pinto, Emerson Sebastião, Érica de Moraes Santos Corrêa and Gustavo Christofoletti
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 475; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060475 - 5 Jun 2024
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic caused significant changes in society’s dynamics, particularly affecting the landscape of education. Research in several areas may have been affected during periods of social restrictions. This study analyzed the curricula of 558 researchers across 27 graduate programs in physical education
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The COVID-19 pandemic caused significant changes in society’s dynamics, particularly affecting the landscape of education. Research in several areas may have been affected during periods of social restrictions. This study analyzed the curricula of 558 researchers across 27 graduate programs in physical education in Brazil to investigate the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on scientific publications. Researchers’ production from 2018 to 2022 underwent a comprehensive analysis, considering the total number of publications, Qualis rank, and journal impact factor. Data were analyzed using chi-squared and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Significance was set at 5%. Overall, the analyzed researchers published a total of 17,932 manuscripts from 2018 to 2022. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a decline of 16.4% in the number of articles published (p = 0.001). This decline was similar between men and women (p = 0.603) and was associated with a worsening in Qualis rank (p = 0.001). The number of studies published in journals with impact factors was also affected (p = 0.001). The findings suggest a potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the scientific production of Brazilian researchers in the field of physical education. Funding agencies should consider the challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic before evaluating researchers and programs.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity for Psychological and Cognitive Development)
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Social Activity in Schizotypy: Measuring Frequency and Enjoyment of Social Events
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Candice C. DeBats, Danielle B. Abel, Morgan M. Sullivan, Sophia C. Koesterer, Imani S. Linton, Jessica L. Mickens, Madisen T. Russell, Lillian A. Hammer and Kyle S. Minor
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 474; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060474 - 5 Jun 2024
Abstract
Improving social functioning deficits—a core characteristic of schizophrenia-spectrum disorders—is often listed by patients as a key recovery goal. Evidence suggests that social deficits also extend to people with schizotypy, a group at heightened risk for psychotic and other psychopathological disorders. One challenge of
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Improving social functioning deficits—a core characteristic of schizophrenia-spectrum disorders—is often listed by patients as a key recovery goal. Evidence suggests that social deficits also extend to people with schizotypy, a group at heightened risk for psychotic and other psychopathological disorders. One challenge of social functioning research in schizotypy is understanding whether social deficits arise from receiving less pleasure from social activities or from participating less in high-pleasure activities. However, limited information exists on what constitutes highly pleasurable, common social activities. In this study, 357 college students rated the frequency and enjoyment of 38 social activities. Our aims were to categorize activities based on their frequency and enjoyment, and whether these correlated with validated social functioning and schizotypy measures. We found that social activities could be characterized based on their frequency and enjoyment and created a frequency–enjoyment matrix that could be useful for future studies. Activities were correlated with social functioning, generally reaching a small effect size level, with increasing frequency and enjoyment showing associations with greater social functioning. Further, negative and disorganized—but not positive—traits were associated with less engagement and pleasure. Although follow-up studies in community samples are needed, our findings have the potential to help researchers and clinicians better understand which activities participants are more likely to engage in and derive pleasure from. The findings may also illustrate the extent to which social deficits may be due to less engagement or less pleasure from social activities, as well as which aspects of schizophrenia-spectrum disorders are associated with these facets of social functioning.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prevention and Recovery in People with Schizophrenia and Related Disorders)
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Assessing the Impact of Recommendation Novelty on Older Consumers: Older Does Not Always Mean the Avoidance of Innovative Products
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Li Zhao and Bing Fu
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 473; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060473 - 5 Jun 2024
Abstract
Personalized recommendations that use digital technologies to predict user interests and preferences and give guiding conclusions have become a widely used digital marketing tool on e-commerce platforms. Given that existing consumer behavior research has not reached a consensus on the relationship between age
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Personalized recommendations that use digital technologies to predict user interests and preferences and give guiding conclusions have become a widely used digital marketing tool on e-commerce platforms. Given that existing consumer behavior research has not reached a consensus on the relationship between age and the adoption of innovative products, whether recommendation novelty can stimulate older consumers’ acceptance of innovative products remains uncertain. Grounded in the aging and social influence literature, this experimental study investigated the moderating role of individual cognitive age on the impact of recommendation novelty on consumer perceptions regarding stereotype threat and receptiveness to innovativeness. An experiment involving 239 online shoppers was conducted to investigate the experiences of cognitively younger and older adults while using low or high levels of recommendation novelty designed for this study. Results reveal the tension for older adults when using highly recommended novelty, as they perceive these to be more of a stereotype threat, but they also have a higher level of receptiveness to innovativeness. This finding is contrary to the common belief that “the older the consumer, the less receptive to innovativeness”, providing novel insight into the information systems literature. Theoretically, this research shows how increasing the level of recommended novelty affects stereotype threat and receptiveness to innovativeness (of consumers of different cognitive ages). For practitioners, the results provide important guidelines on the kind of personalized recommendations that are appropriate for consumers with different cognitive ages.
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(This article belongs to the Topic Consumer Psychology and Business Applications)
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Integrating Guilt and Shame into the Self-Concept: The Influence of Future Opportunities
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Hyeman Choi
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 472; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060472 - 3 Jun 2024
Abstract
This study explored the integration of guilt and shame experiences into the self-concept, focusing on how perceived future opportunities affect this process. The participants in Study 1 (N = 201) and Study 2 (N = 221) recalled experiences that elicited either
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This study explored the integration of guilt and shame experiences into the self-concept, focusing on how perceived future opportunities affect this process. The participants in Study 1 (N = 201) and Study 2 (N = 221) recalled experiences that elicited either guilt or shame and that they believed could occur again in the future (i.e., repeatable) or could not (i.e., non-repeatable). The results showed that when the participants viewed an event as repeatable, suggesting that future opportunities for change were possible, they were more likely to accept and integrate the experiences associated with guilt than with shame. This difference disappeared when the target event was non-repeatable, thereby providing no future opportunities for change. Study 2 further demonstrated the moderating role of future coping confidence in the relationship between the interaction effect of emotion type and event repeatability on self-integration. These findings underscore the different roles of guilt and shame in identity development and intrapersonal learning.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Influence of Social Context on Educational and Psychological/Cognitive Processes)
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Teachers’ Punishment Intensity and Student Observer Trust: A Moderated Mediation Model
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Zhen Zhang and Chunhui Qi
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 471; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060471 - 1 Jun 2024
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During social interactions, people decide whether to trust an actor based on their punitive behaviour. Several empirical studies have indicated that punishment intensity impacts observer trust, yet the underlying mechanism remains to be elucidated. This study included 242 junior high school students and
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During social interactions, people decide whether to trust an actor based on their punitive behaviour. Several empirical studies have indicated that punishment intensity impacts observer trust, yet the underlying mechanism remains to be elucidated. This study included 242 junior high school students and was conducted to investigate the relationship between teachers’ punishment intensity and levels of student bystander trust. Additionally, the mediating role of trustworthiness and the moderating role of group relationships were explored. The results showed that the relationship between punishment intensity and observer trust follows an inverted U-shaped pattern. In addition, mild punishment boosts observer trust by improving perceived trustworthiness (ability and integrity) compared to no punishment, while harsh punishment reduces observer trust more than mild punishment by diminishing perceived trustworthiness (ability, benevolence, and integrity). More importantly, group relationships positively moderate the relationship between punishment intensity and observer trust. Specifically, compared to mild or no punishment, harsh punishment decreases trustworthiness (ability, benevolence, and integrity) in close teacher–student relationships but has less impact on neutral relationships. The above findings demonstrate that guiding educators in developing appropriate disciplinary concepts contributes to enhancing student observer trust.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Behaviors in Educational Settings—2nd Edition)
Open AccessArticle
Prototype or Exemplar Representations in the 5/5 Category Learning Task
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Fang Chen, Peijuan Li, Hao Chen, Carol A. Seger and Zhiya Liu
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 470; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060470 - 31 May 2024
Abstract
Theories of category learning have typically focused on how the underlying category structure affects the category representations acquired by learners. However, there is limited research as to how other factors affect what representations are learned and utilized and how representations might change across
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Theories of category learning have typically focused on how the underlying category structure affects the category representations acquired by learners. However, there is limited research as to how other factors affect what representations are learned and utilized and how representations might change across the time course of learning. We used a novel “5/5” categorization task developed from the well-studied 5/4 task with the addition of one more stimulus to clarify an ambiguity in the 5/4 prototypes. We used multiple methods including computational modeling to identify whether participants categorized on the basis of exemplar or prototype representations. We found that, overall, for the stimuli we used (schematic robot-like stimuli), learning was best characterized by the use of prototypes. Most importantly, we found that relative use of prototype and exemplar strategies changed across learning, with use of exemplar representations decreasing and prototype representations increasing across blocks.
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Open AccessArticle
Long-Term Bridge Training Induces Functional Plasticity Changes in the Brain of Early-Adult Individuals
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Bingjie Zhao, Yan Liu, Zheng Wang, Qihan Zhang and Xuejun Bai
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 469; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060469 - 31 May 2024
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of extended bridge expertise on rapid perceptual processing and brain functional plasticity in early adulthood, utilizing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). In this investigation, we compared 6 high-level college bridge players with 25
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The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of extended bridge expertise on rapid perceptual processing and brain functional plasticity in early adulthood, utilizing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). In this investigation, we compared 6 high-level college bridge players with 25 college students lacking bridge experience, assessing their intelligence and working memory. Additionally, we scrutinized behavioral performance and whole-brain activation patterns during an image perceptual judgment task. Findings indicated significant group and interaction effects at the behavioral level. Bridge players exhibited prolonged reaction times and enhanced accuracy on card tasks. At the neural level, the activation level of bridge players in the occipital lobe exceeded that of ordinary college students, with more pronounced group effects in the motor area and inferior parietal lobule during card tasks. This implies that bridge expertise in early adulthood induces functional plasticity changes in regions associated with visual processing and automated mathematical computation.
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Open AccessArticle
Effects of Sadness and Fear on Moral Judgments in Public Emergency Events
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Mufan Zheng, Shiyao Qin and Junhua Zhao
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 468; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060468 - 31 May 2024
Abstract
With the rapid development of society and the deteriorating natural environment, there has been an increase in public emergencies. This study aimed to explore how sadness and fear in the context of public emergencies influence moral judgments. This research first induced feelings of
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With the rapid development of society and the deteriorating natural environment, there has been an increase in public emergencies. This study aimed to explore how sadness and fear in the context of public emergencies influence moral judgments. This research first induced feelings of sadness and fear by using videos about public emergencies and music, and then used moral scenarios from the CNI model (C parameter: sensitivity to consequences; N parameter: sensitivity to norms; I parameter: general preference for inaction) to assess participants’ moral thinking. In Study 1, participants were divided into a sadness group and a neutral group, while in Study 2, participants were divided into a fear group and a neutral group. During the experiment, participants were exposed to different videos related to public emergencies to induce the corresponding emotions, and emotional music was continuously played throughout the entire experiment. Participants were then asked to answer questions requiring moral judgments. The results showed that based on the CNI model, sadness induced in the context of public emergencies significantly increased the C parameter, without affecting the N or I parameters. Fear increased the I parameter, without affecting the C or I parameters. That is, sadness and fear induced in the context of a public emergency can influence moral judgments. Specifically, sadness increases individuals’ sensitivity to consequences and fear increases the general preference for inaction in moral judgments.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Picturing Morality from Multidisciplinary Perspectives—Second Edition)
Open AccessArticle
Longitudinal Association between Stressful Life Events and Suicidal Ideation in Adults with Major Depression Disorder: The Mediating Effects of Insomnia Symptoms
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Ya Chen, Xue Han, Yingchen Jiang, Yunbin Jiang, Xinyu Huang, Wanxin Wang, Lan Guo, Ruirui Xia, Yuhua Liao, Huimin Zhang, Kayla M. Teopiz, Roger S. McIntyre, Beifang Fan and Ciyong Lu
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 467; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060467 - 31 May 2024
Abstract
Stressful life events (SLEs) and suicidal ideation (SI) are prevalent in persons with major depression disorder (MDD). Less is known about the underlying role of insomnia symptoms in the association between SLEs and SI. This three-wave prospective cohort study sought to investigate the
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Stressful life events (SLEs) and suicidal ideation (SI) are prevalent in persons with major depression disorder (MDD). Less is known about the underlying role of insomnia symptoms in the association between SLEs and SI. This three-wave prospective cohort study sought to investigate the longitudinal association among SLEs, insomnia symptoms, and SI in persons with MDD. The study population included 511 persons with MDD (mean [SD] age, 28.7 [6.7] years; 67.1% were females). Generalized estimated equations (GEEs) were utilized to explore prospective association among exposure of SLEs, insomnia symptoms, and SI. Additionally, a structural equation model (SEM) was employed to estimate the longitudinal mediating effect of insomnia symptoms in the relationship between SLEs and SI. Our study demonstrated that cumulative SLEs were determined to be longitudinally associated with SI in persons with MDD. We further observed that the association between SLEs and SI was significantly mediated by insomnia symptoms. Clinicians assessing persons with MDD, especially those with the history of SLE, could carefully evaluate and promptly treat insomnia symptoms as part of personalized assessment of their depressive illness, thereby achieving early prevention and intervention for suicidal behaviors in persons with MDD.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Psychiatric, Emotional and Behavioral Disorders)
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Are We on Course Yet? Functional Behavior Assessment and Behavior Intervention Plan Technical Adequacy in Schools
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Rose Iovannone, Tobey Duble Moore, Jeffrey M. Williams, Sindy Sanchez and Nycole Kauk
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 466; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060466 - 30 May 2024
Abstract
It has been more than two decades since the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA; 1997) included language about the use of functional behavior assessments (FBAs) and behavior intervention plans (BIPs) to address the challenging behaviors of students with disabilities in schools. It
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It has been more than two decades since the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA; 1997) included language about the use of functional behavior assessments (FBAs) and behavior intervention plans (BIPs) to address the challenging behaviors of students with disabilities in schools. It has been more than ten years since three technical adequacy studies were published that evaluated school-based FBAs’ and BIPs’ inclusion of essential components and found them to be significantly lacking. The aims of this study were to expand upon the previous research by (a) establishing the psychometric properties of the FBA/BIP Technical Adequacy Evaluation Tool (TATE), (b) evaluating the technical adequacy of 135 completed FBAs and 129 BIPs from 13 school districts across a single state, and (c) comparing the findings to previous studies. The results showed that (a) the TATE has moderate but acceptable internal consistency, excellent inter-rater reliability, and good content validity, (b) the technical adequacy scores of the evaluated products ranged between 40% and 50% of the total components, and (c) most of the BIPs had similar flaws to those seen in the previous research; however, improvement was noted in the FBA components. The implications for practice and suggestions for future research are discussed.
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Open AccessArticle
Association between COVID-19 and the Risk of Vascular Dementia: A Mendelian Randomisation Study of the Potential Cognitive Sequela of COVID-19
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Qing Han, Yue Ma and Wenting Ye
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 465; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060465 - 30 May 2024
Abstract
A growing body of observational studies and Mendelian Randomisation analyses suggest an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia following COVID-19 infection. However, evidence on the potential association between COVID-19 and vascular dementia, which is plausible given the vascular complications of COVID-19 infection,
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A growing body of observational studies and Mendelian Randomisation analyses suggest an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia following COVID-19 infection. However, evidence on the potential association between COVID-19 and vascular dementia, which is plausible given the vascular complications of COVID-19 infection, is still limited. In this study, we conducted a two-sample Mendelian Randomisation analysis to examine the potential causal relationship between COVID-19 phenotypes and the risk of vascular dementia, using summary data from large-scale GWASs. The two-sample Mendelian Randomisation analysis did not detect any significant associations of COVID-19 infection, COVID-19 hospitalisation, or critical COVID-19 with the risk of vascular dementia, with weighted average β values of −0.29 (95% CI: −0.84, 0.26; p = 0.301), −0.12 (95% CI: −0.36, 0.13; p = 0.345), and −0.07 (95% CI: −0.23, 0.09; p = 0.374), respectively. Our findings do not support the hypothesis that vascular dementia is one of the long-term sequelae of COVID-19.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Psychology and Behaviors during COVID-19)
Open AccessArticle
Health Professionals’ Experiences with Health-Promoting Dialogues for Older Home-Dwellers—A Qualitative Study
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Liza Wigaard Johansen, Hilde Lausund and Nina Jøranson
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 464; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060464 - 30 May 2024
Abstract
Home-dwelling older people without healthcare services might develop vulnerability and health-related issues that should be detected proactively by service providers. Health-promoting measures directed towards the target group could facilitate living longer and better at home, as well as delay the need for healthcare
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Home-dwelling older people without healthcare services might develop vulnerability and health-related issues that should be detected proactively by service providers. Health-promoting measures directed towards the target group could facilitate living longer and better at home, as well as delay the need for healthcare services. One approach is through health-promoting dialogues between the municipality and healthcare professionals. This study aims to explore the experiences of healthcare professionals involved in health-promoting dialogues with home-dwellers aged over 75 years without health service decisions in Norway. Data were collected through three focus groups. Thematic analysis was applied to the data resulting in the emergence of one major theme, “challenging dialogues”, comprising three sub-themes: “promote the individual’s perspectives”, “uncovering vulnerability”, and “ambiguity of the dialogues”. The health-promoting dialogue uses a resource perspective for the elderly to remain independent in old age and can reveal vulnerability and underlying needs. The purpose of the dialogue appears ambiguous for the target group, which leads to unclear service expectations and frequent rejections of the offer. Nevertheless, this health-promoting service has a clear purpose of identifying and meeting the needs of the target group in a broader sense during the ageing process.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social Participation and Mental Health among Older Adults)
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The Effect of the COVID Pandemic on Clinical Psychology Research: A Bibliometric Analysis
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Jordan Anders and Michael S. Vitevitch
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 463; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060463 - 30 May 2024
Abstract
The present bibliometric analysis used traditional measures and network science techniques to examine how the COVID-19 pandemic influenced research in Clinical Psychology. Publication records from the Web of Science (WoS) were obtained for journal articles published prior to (2015 and 2018), during (2020),
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The present bibliometric analysis used traditional measures and network science techniques to examine how the COVID-19 pandemic influenced research in Clinical Psychology. Publication records from the Web of Science (WoS) were obtained for journal articles published prior to (2015 and 2018), during (2020), and at the end of the pandemic (2022) for the search terms “men and mental health” and “women and mental health”. Network analyses of author-provided keywords showed that COVID-19 co-occurred with fear, anxiety, depression, and stress for both men and women in 2020. In 2022, COVID-19 co-occurred with topics related to world-wide lockdowns (e.g., alcohol use, substance use, intimate partner violence, loneliness, physical activity), and to more fundamental topics in Clinical Psychology (e.g., eating disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder). Although the COVID pandemic was associated with several changes in the research topics that were examined in Clinical Psychology, pre-existing disparities in the amount of mental health research on men compared to women did not appear to increase (in contrast to increases associated with COVID in pre-existing gender disparities observed in other areas of society).
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Impacts of COVID-19 on Mental Health and Well-Being)
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Open AccessArticle
Effects and Side Effects in a Short Work Coaching for Participants with and without Mental Illness
by
Lilly Paulin Werk and Beate Muschalla
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 462; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14060462 - 30 May 2024
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Employees with mental illness are often the first to be unable to cope with increasingly complex psychosocial work demands. But people without mental illness can also suffer from, for example, high workload. This study compares a short coaching to stabilize work ability for
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Employees with mental illness are often the first to be unable to cope with increasingly complex psychosocial work demands. But people without mental illness can also suffer from, for example, high workload. This study compares a short coaching to stabilize work ability for employees with and without mental illness regarding coaching topics, effects on work-related resources, goal attainment, and unwanted events. Individual coaching of three sessions (problem exploration by behavior analysis, practice of new behavior, reflection) was conducted with employees from different professional fields. A medical history was taken to determine whether participants are affected by a mental disorder. All coaching was conducted by the same behavior therapist in training (L.P.W.) under the supervision of an experienced behavior therapist (B.M.). Two hundred and three coachings with three sessions were completed. In total, 103 participants did not have a mental illness (51%), and 100 participants reported a mental disorder (49%). The coaching participants with mental illness had lower initial levels of work-related capacities (more severe impairments) and coping behavior as compared to the participants without mental illness. In the pre–post comparisons, both groups achieved significant improvements in work-related coping after the coaching. There were no differences in goal attainment between both groups. While participants without mental illness reported more unwanted events in parallel to the coaching (30% reported negative developments in life), participants with mental illness reported coaching-related unwanted events (20% felt to be dependent on the coach). Coaching with an individual focus on one topic can improve work-related resources in participants with and without mental disorders. Since participants with and without mental illness experience different unwanted events in coaching, psychotherapeutic expertise is needed in order to set the right focus.
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