Browse Our Latest Psychology and Behavioral Science Journals
Psychological journals are peer-reviewed, interdisciplinary journals that publish original work in some areas of psychology. The most common publications include cognitive, health and clinical psychology, applied, developmental, biological, social, experimental, and educational psychology, and psychoanalysis.
Behavioral Sciences
Abstract
Psychedelic treatments like MDMA can sometimes have side effects which persist despite management with Western medical approaches. In what follows, we present a case study of an individual who suffered from insomnia, anxiety, tinnitus, and more for months following MDMA therapy. Ultimately, her symptoms responded to management within the Traditional Chinese Medicine framework. We present this case in detail, and argue that psychedelic management, especially in the integration phase, can benefit from the incorporation of techniques which engage with energies that Western medicine do not address.
Abstract
Aim
Exercise addiction is a compulsive need to engage in physical activity despite potential negative consequences. This study aims to analyze adolescents' psychosocial health in relation to the risk of exercise addiction, focusing on competition levels, sport types, gender, and age.
Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted with 7,596 participants (44.2% girls) aged 11–19. Data on physical activity (PAQ-C and PAQ-A), sleep quality (PSQI), anxiety (SAS), depression symptoms (BDI-II), eating disorders (EDI-3), and health-related quality of life (KIDSCREEN-52) were collected via validated questionnaires. The prevalence of exercise addiction risk (EAI) was assessed, and differences based on competition level, sport type, gender, and age were analyzed. Gamma GLMs factors-adjusted were used for statistical comparisons.
Results
6.4% of adolescents in non-competitive sports and 15.6% in competitive sports showed a risk of exercise addiction. The risk was higher in boys, but the difference diminished at higher competition levels. The risk of addiction increased notably in late adolescence. Competitive athletes, especially at high levels, were at greater risk compared to noncompetitive athletes. Those in individual sports were at higher risk than those in team sports. Adolescents at risk of exercise addiction reported poorer mental health, including sleep quality (β = 1.62, p < 0.001), anxiety (β = 3.58, p < 0.001), depression (β = 2.283, p < 0.001), and eating disorders (β = 3.101, p < 0.001).
Conclusions
Exercise addiction is a significant concern among adolescents, especially in competitive and individual sports. It is associated with poorer mental health outcomes, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to reduce the risk of addiction and promote holistic health in adolescent athletes.
A Sternberg-féle Szerelem Kérdőív rövid változata (STLS-15)
Hungarian version of Short Triangular Love Scale (TLS-15)
Elméleti háttér: A szerelem világszerte ismert jelenség, amely hatással van az emberi élet számos aspektusára, különösen a romantikus partner kiválasztására, a vele való kapcsolat kialakítására és fenntartására. A szerelmi élmény tesztelésére szolgáló egyik legnépszerűbb eszköz Sternberg 45 tételes kérdőíve (STLS-45), amely három szerelmi komponenst mér: intimitást, szenvedélyt és elköteleződést. A tudományos konszenzus elérése, az eredmények megbízhatóságának, összehasonlíthatóságának és általánosíthatóságának javítása érdekében Kowal és munkatársai (2022) létrehozták a kérdőív rövid változatát (STLS-15). A kutatás célja: A kutatás célja az STLS-15 magyar változatának elkészítése, pszichometriai ellenőrzése és validálása volt. Módszer: Három online mintát használtunk. Az elsőn (1305 fő, 739 nő, 566 férfi) ellenőriztük a hármas faktorszerkezetet. A másodikon (465 fő, 319 nő, 146 férfi), amely az előző minta egy része volt, a Kapcsolati Elégedettség Kérdőív (RAS-H), a Páros Megküzdés Kérdőív (DCI-H) és a Szexuális Motiváció Kérdőív (YSEX?-HSF) alkalmazásával validáltuk az STLS-15-öt. E két minta az STLS-45 korábbi elemzéséből származik. Az ezekben szereplő 9 pontos válaszskálákat 5 pontossá transzformáltunk. A harmadik mintán (532 fő, 442 nő, 90 férfi) 5 pontos STLS-15-öt használtunk, újra ellenőriztük a faktorszerkezetet. Eredmények: A faktorelemzés megmutatta, hogy az STLS-15 magyar tételei ugyanolyan hármas szerkezetbe illeszkednek, mint a nemzetközi változatban. Az STLS-15 mindhárom skálája pozitív irányú, közepes erősségű korrelációt mutat a DCI-H összesített skáláival, valamint a RAS-H-val, és alacsony vagy értelmezhetetlenül alacsony korrelációt mutat a YSEX?-HSF-val. Következtetések: A Sternberg-féle Szerelem Kérdőív rövid magyar változata (STLS-15) az eredetivel megegyező faktorszerkezetű, magas belső megbízhatósági mutatókkal rendelkező valid eszköz, amely kiválóan alkalmas a magyar nyelvű kutatásokban a szerelem mérésére.
Abstract
Background and Aims
There is growing evidence regarding the overlap between trading behaviors and gambling. However, problematic trading behaviors are often assessed using gambling-related instruments, which may not fully capture the nuances of trading. The present study developed and evaluated the psychometric properties of the Trading Disorder Scale (TDS), grounded in in the research criteria proposed by Guglielmo et al. (2016), based on DSM-5 criteria for gambling disorder and internet gaming disorder.
Methods
A cross-sectional survey was administered to 403 Spanish amateur traders. The TDS was tested for reliability, validity, and factorial structure. Latent class analysis (LCA) was used to identify patterns of disordered trading.
Results
EFA and CFA supported a one-factor solution for the TDS, which showed strong internal consistency (ω u-cat = 0.938, KR-20 = 0.877). The scale showed good concurrent validity with PGSI (r = 0.559) and good convergent validity with trading-related variables. LCA identified three classes: non-disordered trading (72.2%), at-risk trading (17.6%), and disordered trading (10.2%). Individuals in the disordered trading group scored higher on TDS, traded more frequently, monitored markets more intensively, and exhibited higher rates of problem gambling (PGSI≥5), impulsivity, and substance use. Guglielmo's cut-off point (≥5 criteria) effectively differentiated individuals with disordered trading behaviors from those at-risk and those without disordered trading.
Conclusions
The TDS is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing disordered trading among amateur investors. Further research is needed to explore the scale's predictive validity.
A magyar Versenyszorongás Skála (CSAI-2HR) validitás- és reliabilitásvizsgálata, valamint standard értékeinek meghatározása
Validity, reliability and standardization of the Hungarian Competitive Anxiety Scale-2 (CSAI-2HR)
Háttér és célkitűzések: A sportpszichológia egyik leggyakrabban kutatott jelensége a versenyszorongás, amely nemcsak a tudományos kutatásokban, hanem a gyakorlati munkában is gyakran megjelenő pszichológiai probléma. A legnépszerűbb elméleti teória ezen a területen a multidimenzionális szorongás modell, amely a versenyszorongás három komponensét emeli ki: kognitív szorongás, szomatikus szorongás és önbizalom. Korábban már lefordították és adaptálták magyar nyelvre a versenyszorongás mérésére alkalmas Versenyszorongás Skálát (CSAI; Competitive State Anxiety Scale), amelyben már akkor is felhívták a figyelmet a szerzők bizonyos tételek nem megfelelő illeszkedésére. Következésképpen jelen tanulmány célja megvizsgálni a magyar nyelvre adaptált CSAI-2H pszichometriai jellemzőit, tehát érvényességét, megbízhatóságát és standard értékeit. Módszer: Kutatásunkban 407 sportoló vett részt: amatőr és profi, egyéni és csapatsportolók egyaránt megtalálhatók a mintában. Tanulmányunkban a magyar nyelvre adaptált 27 tételes Versenyszorongás Skálát (CSAI-2H) használtuk. A validitás feltárásához megerősítő faktorelemzést alkalmaztunk, a reliabilitást belső konzisztencia és teszt-reteszt elemzésekkel vizsgáltuk, valamint különbségvizsgálatok segítségével elemeztük az esetleges életkori és nemi különbségeket a három skála esetében. Eredmények: Az eredeti 27 tételes CSAI-2H illeszkedési mutatói nem mutatnak megfelelő értékeket a mintánkon, ezért 9 item kizárása mellett döntöttünk. A skálánként 3–3 tétel kizárása után a megerősítő faktorelemzés eredményei elérik a validitáshoz szükséges szintet. A módosított magyar Versenyszorongás Skála belső konzisztenciája és teszt-reteszt eredményei megerősítik a mérőeszköz reliabilitását, továbbá eredményeink alapján meghatározhatók a skálák standard értékei, ahol fontos figyelembe venni a nemek és életkorok közötti különbségeket. Következtetések: Összességében eredményeink alapján kijelenthető, hogy sikerült egy olyan módosított Versenyszorongás Skálát létrehozni, amely megfelelő pszichometriai jellemzőket mutat magyar mintán, tehát egyaránt alkalmas a tudományos kutatásokban és a gyakorlati munkában való felhasználásra.
Abstract
Background and Aims
Recent taxonomies propose that pornography-related problems may arise from problematic pornography use (PPU) and/or moral incongruence (MI). Although religiosity is often viewed as a key factor in MI, religious-based MI has not yet been explicitly examined within these taxonomies, which we address herein.
Methods
Using latent profile analysis of self-report data obtained, we examined distinct and overlapping profiles of PPU and religiosity-based MI in two online samples of male pornography users from the United States (N = 1,356, M age = 36.86, SD = 11.26) and United Kingdom (N = 944, M age = 38.69, SD = 12.26).
Results
Three classes (15–25% of each sample) showed elevated PPU and/or religiosity-based MI: ‘At risk for religiosity-based MI’ (4–8%), ‘At risk for PPU’ (6–10%), and ‘At risk for co-occurring PPU and religiosity-based MI’ (6–8%). Unlike the two groups with elevated PPU, the group with religious-based MI group did not report heightened psychological distress or treatment-seeking tendencies. Respondents were otherwise classified as “not at risk” (40–47%) “low risk” (27–28%), or moderate-severity PPU (14%, Sample 2 only).
Discussion and Conclusions
Although the observed heterogeneity validates a taxonomy of PPU and religiosity-based MI, our findings challenge the assumption of elevated psychological distress and treatment-seeking tendencies among individuals with religiosity-based MI. Future research should further examine the clinical relevance of religiosity-based MI and extend these findings to broader (e.g., clinical, culturally diverse) samples.
Abstract
Introduction
Problematic pornography use (PPU) affects some individuals, causing distress and impaired functioning, and while psychotherapy is considered a first-line intervention, its efficacy remains understudied and unknown to many therapists. This review aimed to comprehensively synthesize the available evidence on psychotherapy for PPU and related problems (i.e., craving).
Methods
For this meta-analytic systematic review, we conducted a systematic literature search, followed by study selection, coding, and data extraction. We then meta-analyzed the resulting studies using a random-effects model with subgroup analyses, meta-regressions, and risk of bias assessments.
Results
20 studies with 2,021 participants met the inclusion criteria. Most studies included cognitive behavioral therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy interventions. Participants receiving psychotherapy improved significantly more than controls on PPU, frequency/duration of pornography use, and sexual compulsivity, with large effect sizes, that were small for craving. Within-subject effects were also large and stable at follow-up. In addition, single-case designs meta-analyses showed clinically significant reductions in PPU, craving, and frequency/duration. We identified moderate effects for related depression symptoms. Most subgroup and meta-regression analyses adjusting for treatment and sample characteristics were not significant.
Discussion
These results supports the efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy in treating PPU and related problems. This has relevant implications for clinical practice (e.g., treating these problems with evidence-based interventions). However, these findings are limited by methodological issues, including the high risk of bias identified. To address these limitations, future research should use more rigorous methods (e.g., randomized controlled trials) and include more diverse groups.
Abstract
Background and aims
Problematic mobile phone use can disrupt social interaction and well-being, potentially influencing cognitive processes. This study investigated whether mobile phone use problem severity is associated with alterations in the topological organization of brain networks.
Methods
Rs-fMRI and DTI data were collected from 81 healthy participants. Graph theory analyses were applied. The Mobile Phone Problem Use Scale-10 (MPPUS-10) was used to assess mobile phone use problem severity. Correlation analyses were conducted between each graph metric and questionnaire scores.
Results
MPPUS-10 scores correlated with global fMRI metrics: higher scores linked to longer shortest path length (reduced integration) and lower global efficiency (reduced information transfer). Conversely, higher MPPUS-10 scores were correlated with a greater clustering coefficient and higher local efficiency, which reflect increased local connectivity. Furthermore, higher MPPUS-10 scores were associated with a higher sigma value from DTI, indicating altered structural network properties. Some specific brain regions also showed significant correlations with MPPUS-10 scores.
Discussion and conclusion
These findings indicate that higher mobile phone use problem severity is associated with decreased integration and increased segregation of functional networks, alongside enhanced small-worldness in structural networks. Reduced integration aligns with addiction theories suggesting digital overload worsens network dysfunction, disrupting brain connectivity. Additionally, higher severity was correlated with altered connectivity in multiple regions, such as the precentral gyrus, supplementary motor area, and postcentral gyrus. These regions are associated with motor control, sensorimotor processing, and memory function. Further research is needed to explore whether these findings reflect shifts in the integration and integrity of brain information-processing modules.
