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
Background
Public health issues arising from excessive online gaming have garnered significant research interest. Existing studies indicate that, within the framework of the dual-systems theory, the equilibrium between the goal–directed and habitual control systems is disrupted in patients with Internet gaming disorder (IGD). Nevertheless, the understanding of how this imbalance manifests within the brain is limited. This study aims to investigate real-time brain activity in individuals with IGD during the activation of both the goal–directed and habitual systems using electrophysiological techniques.
Methods
Twenty-four individuals with IGD and twenty-three matched recreational game users (RGUs) underwent electroencephalography (EEG) data collection while completing an outcome devaluation task. Differences between the two groups at the Fz, Cz, and Pz electrodes were compared using repeated measures ANOVA.
Results
The behavioral results revealed that the RGU group exhibited higher accuracy than the IGD group during the learning phase (t(45) = −3.08, p < 0.001, η 2 = 0.42). During the slip-of-action test, the IGD group made more action-slip responses for devalued outcomes than the RGU group (F (1,45) = 6.22, p = 0.016, η 2 = 0.12). The EEG experiment results indicated that, upon stimulus presentation during the slip-of-action test, the IGD group had significantly more negative average amplitudes at the Fz and Cz electrodes compared with the RGUs (−7.26 ± 6.28 μV; −5.18 ± 5.49 μV; F (1,40) = 5.54, p = 0.024, η 2 = 0.12; F (1,40) = 4.92, p = 0.032, η 2 = 0.11). Concurrently, the single-group analysis based on RGU revealed that habitual control appears to be associated with greater N2 and P3 amplitudes during the stimulus-locked phase.
Conclusions
The goal–directed system of individuals with IGD is impaired, manifesting in the increased cognitive resources required to activate the goal–directed system when they need to disrupt habitual responses. This suggests that the imbalance due to IGD within the dual systems may originate from an impaired goal–directed system rather than the overactivation of the habitual system.
Abstract
Background and aim
Video gaming (VG) and cannabis use are two behaviors that are particularly prevalent among adolescents and young adults, as they can both be sedentary activities that are used to help decompress. As such, this raises questions about the possible relationship between VG and cannabis use. The aim of the present review is to document the relationship between VG and cannabis use.
Methods
A scoping review identified 25 articles published between 2000 and February 2025, and presenting original findings on the relationship between VG and cannabis use.
Results
Results demonstrate that existing literature is heterogeneous in its methods and measures. Nonetheless, evidence suggests that a relationship does exist, as the majority of studies did find a positive relationship between VG and cannabis use, although several studies also found no significant relationship, and a few even found a negative relationship.
Discussion
Being a new and emerging subject, few studies exist exploring the relationship between VG and cannabis use. Thus, there is much that needs to be explored before drawing clear conclusions on what type of relationship exists between both behaviours. An inability to draw clear conclusions is, in part, due to a lack of consistency in the way both VG and cannabis use have been operationalized, and the use of convenience samples, which have created additional challenges that the field will need to address moving forward.
Abstract
Background and aims
Based on the Interaction of Person-Affect-Cognition-Execution (I-PACE) model, this study aimed to identify dynamic reconfiguration of the basal ganglia network (BGN), limbic network (LN) and frontal-parietal network (FPN) in individuals with internet gaming disorder (IGD) during a real gaming situation. This approach overcomes the indirectness of experimental task situations in previous studies, providing direct evidence for the underlying neural basis of IGD.
Methods
Thirty gamers with IGD and 37 gamers with recreational game use (RGU) were scanned during online gaming and immediate deprivation. Two coefficients (recruitment and integration) were calculated using community structure, an emerging method, to represent individual functional segregation and integration of brain networks over time, respectively.
Results
The IGD group showed greater recruitment of BGN and LN after deprivation of gaming, and greater integration between the inferior frontal gyrus in the FPN and BGN and between the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in the FPN and LN during deprivation. In contrast, the RGU group exhibited lower recruitment of BGN during deprivation than during gaming, stable recruitment of LN and stable integration between nodes in the FPN and BGN.
Conclusions
Gamers with RGU always maintain stable cognitive control and emotional regulation and could drop cravings/anticipation for continuing gaming after being interrupted gaming. However, gamers with IGD have stronger craving/anticipation and emotional responses after being interrupted gaming and insufficient control over cravings/anticipation and emotions. These findings help directly explain why gamers with IGD are addicted to gaming, despite having similar gaming experiences to those of gamers with RGU.
Abstract
The fictional story, Cornutopia, by British-Nigerian author Irenosen Okojie, offers a critical outsider's perspective on the enthusiasm surrounding psychedelic research, notably from outside the small world of psychedelic research. The protagonist, Amel Dyani, a young Black woman, participates in a psychedelic clinical trial but has a negative experience. This article aims to analyse the narrative to see what the sector can learn about minority views on psychedelic research, and what we can do to improve.
Amel's fictional experience touches on a number of issues within psychedelic clinical trials, such as bias and the vulnerability of patients under the influence of psychedelics. The protagonist comes away from the experience in a seemingly worse condition than when she started, which deviates from the often overwhelmingly positive coverage of the potential of psychedelic-assisted therapy.
A theme of mistrust of healthcare professionals permeates the prose. This is significant in light of calls for greater diversity in psychedelic clinical trials, and the hypothesised role that race may have on the set and setting of a psychedelic experience. We must consider whether this means there is potential for there to be differences in clinical outcomes between racial groups for psychedelic-assisted therapy.
On the basis of themes raised in the story recommendations are made to inform future practice, such as improving researchers' awareness of barriers to inclusion for those from ethnic minority backgrounds as well as targeted attention towards the possibility of racial differences in therapy outcomes.
Abstract
Background and aims
Problematic smartphone use (PSU) has become an important public health issue in adolescence, and it is imperative to innovate treatments to improve and prolong the effectiveness of interventions. Considering that positive psychology interventions (PPIs) are highly effective in reducing addictive behaviors in adolescents, this study aims to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention program (PREIP, 8 weeks, 1 h/week) on adolescent PSU within a positive psychology framework.
Methods
Adolescents from China were randomly assigned to the personal resources energized intervention program (PREIP) intervention group (N = 30), the CBT control group (N = 30), and the waitlist (N = 28), which were measured at baseline, post-intervention, and 2-month follow-up.
Results
Participants in the PREIP intervention group had significantly lower levels of PSU, and loneliness, and significantly higher levels of perceived social support and well-being compared to the two control groups (CBT control and waitlist). Furthermore, although participants in the CBT control group were able to significantly reduce PSU symptoms, the improvements in the PREIP group were more sustained over the follow-up period.
Discussion and conclusions
In conclusion, this study supports the positive effects of PREIP on adolescent PSU and explained the underlying mechanisms for improving positive mood, reducing loneliness, and promoting perceived social support.
Az emetofóbia kognitív pszichológiai és viselkedéses háttere
The cognitive psychological and behavioral background of emetophobia
Cikkünkben arra fókuszálunk, hogy feltérképezzük a hányásfóbia (emetofóbia) kognitív pszichológiai hátterét, valamint a releváns, védekezést szolgáló viselkedési stratégiákat (elkerülő és biztonságkereső). Az emetofóbia egy, a társadalom által kevéssé ismert és megértett specifikus fóbia, a hányingertől és a hányástól való intenzív félelem. Az emetofóbia kialakulása egy averzív kulcsélményhez köthető, amely során az érintett személyek ténylegesen megtapasztalják a hányást, vagy mások hányásának lesznek szemtanúi. Tudományos témaválasztásunkat megalapozza az a tény, hogy az emetofóbia eddig csekély figyelmet kapott a kutatási gyakorlatban. Elsőként az emetofóbia etiológiáját, valamint két viselkedéses-kognitív modellt mutatunk be. Az emetofóbia egy kevéssé kutatott terület, azonban cikkünkben bemutatjuk a kurrens, főként kognitív viselkedésterápián alapuló vizsgálatokat. Kifejtjük a komorbiditás kérdését is: az emetofóbia pontos diagnózisának meghatározása rendkívül fontos szempont, hiszen az emetofóbiában az átlagpopulációhoz képest magasabb a mentális zavarokkal való komorbiditás aránya. Részletesen kitérünk az emetofóbia kapcsán releváns undor szerepére, valamint az elkerülő és biztonságkereső viselkedések komplex mechanizmusaira. Az áttekintett kutatási eredmények alapján az emetofóbia kapcsán egy olyan komplex jelenségről beszélhetünk, amely etiológiája körül rengeteg a kérdőjel, és amely rendkívül megnehezíti és korlátozza az érintett egyének életvezetését. Tudományos összefoglalónk célja abban is rejlik, hogy az emetofóbiában szenvedő személyek számára tudományosan megalapozott információkat adjunk át az emetofóbia hátteréről; a szakemberek számára pedig elindítsunk egy tudományos diskurzust.
Abstract
Background and aim
The present study stems from the need to deepen knowledge regarding understanding the psychological mechanisms underlying Love Addiction (LA) and investigate the role of attachment style as a theoretical framework. We conducted a systematic review of the literature and a meta-analysis of the investigated topics to achieve this objective.
Method
Five databases (PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science) systematically searched for studies that analyzed the relationship between LA and attachment dimensions, published in all years until September 23, 2024.
Results
Overall, we found 27 studies; of these, we included 15 in the meta-analysis, with 3,628 participants. The analyses were conducted using the test of heterogeneity, effect dispersion, and moderator analysis (gender, age, research continent, quality of the studies, and types of attachment instruments). A significant and positive relationship (r = 0.39, p < 0 .05) was observed between Love Addiction and anxious attachment, while a significant and negative relationship was found with avoidant attachment (r = −0.09, p < 0.05).
Conclusions
The systematic review and meta-analysis provide an important starting point for understanding and operationalizing the construct. The association with attachment styles allows postulating the relational nature of Love Addiction, differentiating it from other addictions. In addition, the association with anxious and avoidant attachment shows promise in understanding Love Addict subtypes.
Abstract
Background and aims: With surges in digital technologies, concerns over adolescents' screen use have intensified. Previous studies often relied on self-reported screen time, neglecting the experiential and motivational aspects of different screen activities (e.g. social media, gaming, and smartphones), possibly leading to heterogeneous associations. This study aimed to examine whether the severity of problematic screen use, conceptualized as a continuous measure of screen-related functional impairment, plays a more central role in development than self-reported screen time or phone-checking frequency, and to explore its influence within the broader adolescent ecosystem (i.e. family conflict, peer involvement, and school participation). Methods: Cohort data were obtained from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study Release 5.1. Screen use was obtained from self-report questionnaires, capturing both activity time and functional impairments. Among cross-sectional networks derived from 9,054 youth (4,272 girls, 47.18%) at 2-year follow-up (T2, ages 11–12 years) and 4,007 youth (1,896 girls, 47.32%) at 4-year follow-up (T4, ages 13–14 years), problematic use showed higher centrality than screen time and checking behavior, owing to stronger connections with behavioral tendencies. Cross-lagged-panel-network analyses of problematic use included 3,954 youth (1,863 girls, 47.12%). Results: Problematic use exhibited high out-strength, which was associated with worsening psychopathologies and environmental conditions. Conversely, problematic use at T4 appeared less influenced by factors at T2. Conclusion: This study underscores the pivotal role of problematic screen use, which showed greater centrality and stronger predictive effects on adolescent well-being than self-reported screen time, highlighting the need for policies and interventions addressing screen-related functional impairments to promote healthier screen habits in developing youth.
Abstract
Background and aims
The shift from goal-directed to habitual control is a well-documented phenomenon in addiction research and is considered a critical factor in the development and maintenance of addictive behaviors. Whether Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) is also associated with such a shift is not yet clear. The current study investigated the imbalance between goal-directed and habitual control in individuals with IGD.
Methods
Goal-directed and habitual control, as informed by model-based (MB) and model-free (MF) learning, were assessed with a two-step sequential decision-making task during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in 33 young adults with IGD and 32 healthy controls (HCs). Self-report data regarding addictive symptoms, game craving, and impulsivity were also collected.
Results
Individuals with IGD relied more heavily on habitual control to guide subsequent choices compared to HCs. According to a hybrid reinforcement learning model, individuals with IGD also exhibited a reduced MB weight related to HCs, which was correlated with more severe addictive symptoms. fMRI results revealed that individuals with IGD showed increased MF reward prediction error (RPEMF) signals in the right triangular part of the inferior frontal gyrus (IFG). No significant group differences were found in the contrast of RPEMB maps.
Discussion and conclusions
Our study provides both behavioral and neural evidence highlighting an imbalance between goal-directed and habitual control, favoring habitual control in individuals with IGD. This imbalance is associated with the severity of addictive symptoms, suggesting an indication of habit inclination in IGD could potentially contribute to the development or maintenance of the addiction.
Abstract
The proliferation of hostile behaviors among players in online multiplayer video games has become a growing concern in recent years. Toxic behaviors negatively impact individual and team performance, diminish game enjoyment, and risk the psychological well-being of gamers. This paper overviews current scientific knowledge on the manifestations and characteristics of this phenomenon, provides a taxonomy of the various behaviors, and outlines future research directions. The authors suggest that further research needs to focus on a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying toxicity. Prevention and intervention efforts are crucial to reduce the harms associated with engagement in toxic interactions and to improve the safety and inclusivity of online gaming environments.
Abstract
Background and aims
Online shopping has become a primary form of consumption in daily life, inevitably accompanied by the emergence of problematic online shopping. Attentional bias towards online shopping cues influences individuals' online shopping behavior. This study examined attentional bias mechanisms in problematic online shoppers using two experiments.
Methods
This study combines the dot-probe task and eye-tracking technology to explore attentional bias and temporal dynamics toward shopping-related cues among problematic online shoppers. Experiment 1 recruited 84 participants to investigate attentional bias toward proximal cues, while Experiment 2 recruited 76 participants to examine attentional bias toward distal cues.
Results
The results of Experiment 1 showed that both problematic online shoppers and control individuals exhibited shorter first fixation latency, longer gaze duration, and total fixation duration toward proximal cues. And only problematic online shoppers exhibited slower first exit saccade velocity and average exit saccade velocity. The results of Experiment 2 indicated that problematic online shoppers exhibited longer gaze duration and total fixation duration, as well as faster first entry saccade velocity toward distal cues.
Discussion and conclusions
In summary, problematic online shoppers exhibit similar attentional bias toward both shopping proximal and distal cues, which are presented as the vigilance-maintenance pattern. For problematic online shoppers, distal cues have gradually acquired incentive value comparable to that of proximal cues. However, it should be noted that control individuals also exhibited attentional bias toward proximal cues.
Abstract
Background and Aims
This systematic review examines the association between psychedelic use and enhanced life purpose and meaning, as assessed by the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ) and the Purpose in Life Scale (PILS). Interest in psychedelics' therapeutic potential has grown, with some studies suggesting that these substances encourage meaningful psychological insights that contribute to well-being. This review aims to determine whether psychedelics positively impact users' sense of life purpose.
Methods
Following PRISMA guidelines, using specific search terms, a comprehensive search was conducted in databases, including PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Eligible studies were those examining psychedelics such as psilocybin, LSD, and ayahuasca and that reported results from MLQ or PILS. Studies were screened independently, and a narrative synthesis approach was adopted due to heterogeneity across designs.
Results
Seven studies met the inclusion criteria, encompassing clinical, ritualistic, and recreational settings. Overall, results indicate a generally positive association between psychedelic use and an enhanced sense of life purpose, particularly in structured clinical or ritual contexts. Recreational use produced mixed outcomes; however, intentional use combined with mindfulness practices was linked to greater life meaning.
Conclusions
Psychedelics, particularly in structured settings, may enhance life's purpose. The evidence supports moderate certainty regarding these effects, though further randomized controlled trials are needed to clarify the role of specific contextual and individual factors in moderating these outcomes. These findings suggest potential applications in clinical settings for enhancing psychospiritual well-being.
Abstract
Background
Research has shown that psychedelics may have therapeutic potential in treating mental disorders like depression and anxiety. However, the mechanisms and actions underlying their effects are still not fully understood. Similarly, while the significance of mindset and setting in shaping psychedelic experiences and therapeutic outcomes is well established, information about the influence of the body is comparatively scarce.
Aim
This paper introduces the concept of bodyset, defined as the state of the body, including both the body and brain. We suggest it as a vital element in preparing for psychedelic experiences and beyond, broadening the traditional ‘set and setting’ framework.
Methods
Through an extensive literature review, we demonstrate the likely importance of the body in wellbeing, peak performance and peak experiences.
Results
Comprehensive multidisciplinary research, particularly focusing on various biomarkers, is needed to elucidate the potential role of bodyset in the psychedelic experience and therapy outcomes, and to guide future treatment approaches for mental health disorders.
Conclusion
Our exploration of the bodyset concept emphasizes the importance of considering not only psychological and environmental factors (mindset & setting), but also the physical state of the body in preparation for psychedelic experiences and psychedelic therapy. This holistic perspective may enhance our comprehension of their effects, therapeutic potential and inform the application of other treatment modalities, such as breathwork, in mental health care.
Abstract
Background and aims
Researchers have suggested that subtypes of problematic social media use (PSMU) should be identified for purposes of prevention and intervention. However, most studies have overlooked the heterogeneous characteristics of PSMU trajectories, and no research has systematically examined which interpersonal factors could predict these trajectories. In the present study, we identified classes of developmental trajectories of PSMU and examined differences across classes in adolescents' interpersonal functioning in family, school, and peer contexts.
Methods
Participants were 357 Chinese adolescents enrolled in two middle schools in China (52.1% girls, aged 12–15 years). The students completed questionnaires in their classrooms over the course of one year in a three-wave longitudinal study.
Results
Latent growth mixture modeling (LGMM) revealed three developmental trajectory classes of PSMU based on the intercepts and slopes of PSMU scores over time: high risk-gradual increase group (37%), low risk-sharp increase group (39%), and low risk-stable group (24%). Parent-adolescent attachment (family context), teacher-student relationships (school context), and deviant peer affiliation (peer context) were associated with variations in developmental trajectories.
Conclusions
The findings can inform the design of prevention and intervention programs for specific subgroups of adolescents who show problematic social media use.
Abstract
Background and aims
Improved outcomes for substance use disorders have been described following non-clinical (“naturalistic”) psychedelic use. This exploratory study aimed to describe the naturalistic psychedelic experiences of people with substance use concerns and their reported needs and perceived utility of psychosocial support following naturalistic psychedelic use to integrate experiences and achieve positive change. We also explored preferred formats of delivery of integration support to inform future co-design processes necessary for developing new services.
Method
English-speaking participants aged ≥18 years, who were concerned about their substance use and had consumed a classical psychedelic (i.e. psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) or Ayahuasca, mescaline) at least once in the past year, were recruited online for a 10–20-minute survey. Questions explored experiences of psychedelic use and perceptions of the need for and models of integration support. Data were analysed descriptively.
Results
Of 108 participants, 94 (87.0%) thought that integration support following naturalistic psychedelic experiences would have been useful, with the majority of those interested (n = 61, 64.9%) endorsing a model of individual support, led by a psychologist (n = 63, 67.0%) or peer worker (n = 55, 58.5%) with lived experience of psychedelic use, and primarily focusing on how to apply the insights gained during the psychedelic experience into life (n = 68, 63.0%).
Discussion
In our sample of participants with substance use concerns, potential benefits of psychosocial support following naturalistic psychedelic experiences were identified. These findings could be complemented with a qualitative exploration of the desire for integration support following naturalistic psychedelic experiences.
Abstract
Background and aims
Psychedelic and MDMA-assisted psychotherapy are at the forefront of new treatment models for mental illnesses such as PTSD and depression, as well as improving well-being. Mindfulness meditation and loving-kindness meditation have also gained research traction, showing promise for enhancing emotional regulation and psychological well-being. This paper explores the therapeutic convergence of these modalities, highlighting their neurobiological, psychological, and phenomenological overlap, and suggesting potential bidirectional synergy as a foundation for psychedelic or MDMA-assisted therapy.
Methods
A narrative and theoretical review of the current literature was conducted, examining the neurobiological, psychological, and phenomenological effects of MDMA, psychedelics, and meditation. Studies focusing on their potential synergy and mechanisms of action were prioritized and used as a backing for a theoretical framework.
Results
Psychedelics may improve psychological flexibility, prosocial behaviors, empathy, and neuroplasticity. Meditation research suggests similar benefits, including enhanced decentering capacity, emotional regulation, and well-being. Both modalities influence overlapping neural circuitry, particularly the amygdala, hippocampus, and default mode network. Integrating meditation with MDMA or psychedelic-assisted therapy may stabilize insights gained during altered states of consciousness, promote sustained therapeutic benefits, and minimize distress during therapy.
Conclusions
The convergence of meditation and psychedelics or MDMA-assisted therapy is a novel and promising approach for enhancing mental health treatments. Future research should investigate structured protocols combining these modalities, focusing on optimizing “set and setting” and long-term integration practices.
Abstract
Background and aims
Sexual craving and the alleviation of negative emotions are fundamental driving forces underlying problematic pornography use (PPU). In healthy individuals, these processes can be effectively attenuated through cognitive strategies mediated by the prefrontal cortex. However, PPU is associated with impaired cognitive control functions. This study aimed to investigate whether transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) targeting the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) could enhance the regulation of craving and negative emotions in individuals at risk for PPU.
Methods
A randomized, within-subject, placebo-controlled design was used, in which 45 male individuals at risk for PPU (mean age = 20.18 years, SD = 1.03) received both active (2.5 mA for 20 min) and sham tDCS to the right DLPFC, with sessions separated by one week. During tDCS, participants at risk for PPU performed the regulation of craving (ROC) task, comparing cue-induced craving with instructed regulation, and the emotion regulation (ER) task, contrasting negative affect with instructed regulation. Subjective ratings of craving and negative emotions were collected for each trial.
Results
Our results demonstrated that individuals at risk for PPU effectively regulated their craving and negative affect when guided to use cognitive strategies. Furthermore, anodal tDCS of the right dlPFC during the craving regulation condition significantly reduced craving ratings compared to sham stimulation. However, no facilitative effect of right dlPFC anodal tDCS on ER was observed.
Discussion and conclusions
These findings highlight the potential of tDCS as a novel therapeutic intervention for individuals with PPU, offering the first experimental evidence to support its effectiveness in reducing craving.
Abstract
Background and aims
Scientific evidence for underpinning mechanisms of Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder (CSBD) is still scarce. This study explores impaired sexual delay discounting in compulsive sexual behavior (CSB) and its relationship with sexual sensation seeking (SSS) and borderline personality disorder (BPD) features in a general population sample.
Methods
Data were collected via an online survey in a German convenience sample. Participants (n = 311; 71.3% women, 27.3% men, 1.6% gender-diverse individuals) completed the Sexual Delay Discounting Task (SDT), Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder Scale-19 (CSBD-19), Sexual Sensation Seeking Scale (SSS scale), and Borderline Symptom List-23 (BSL-23).
Results
Higher CSB and SSS were linked to greater sexual delay discounting and a lower preference for condom or dental dam use, particularly in women. BPD features were associated with higher levels of CSB and SSS but did not moderate the relationship between these behaviors and sexual delay discounting. Men exhibited significantly more symptoms of CSB and SSS than women.
Discussion and Conclusions
The findings contribute to our understanding of CSB, especially in women, and suggest a relationship between sexual delay discounting, SSS and CSB. This finding suggests a need for gender-sensitive approaches and awareness of excitement seeking behavior in research and clinical interventions for CSB.
Abstract
Background and aims
Problematic social media use (PSMU), a potential behavioral addiction, has become a worldwide mental health concern. An imbalanced interaction between Pavlovian and instrumental learning systems has been proposed to be central to addiction. However, it remains unclear whether individuals with PSMU also over-rely on the Pavlovian system when flexible instrumental learning is required.
Methods
To address this question, we used an orthogonalized go/no-go task that distinguished two axes of behavioral control during associative learning: valence (reward or punishment) and action (approach or avoidance). We compared the learning performance of 33 individuals with PSMU and 32 regular social media users in this task. Moreover, latent cognitive factors involved in this task, such as learning rate and reward sensitivity, were estimated using a computational modeling approach.
Results
The PSMU group showed worse learning performance when Pavlovian and instrumental systems were incongruent in the reward, but not the punishment, domain. Computational modeling results showed a higher learning rate and lower reward sensitivity in the PSMU group than in the control group.
Conclusions
This study elucidated the computational mechanisms underlying suboptimal instrumental learning in individuals with PSMU. These findings not only highlight the potential of computational modeling to advance our understanding of PSMU, but also shed new light on the development of effective interventions for this disorder.
Abstract
Background and Aims
The evidence concerning the relationships between loneliness, gambling to escape, and problem gambling is mixed. This study aimed to investigate how loneliness relates to gambling to escape and gambling problems using a longitudinal approach.
Method
This population-based, longitudinal study included five time points, with data having been collected between April 2021 (T1) and April-May 2023 (T5). Participants were 18–75-year-old Finnish residents. Only those who had taken part in the study at each time point (T1–T5) and had gambled at least once a month at some point in the follow-up period were included in the study (n = 612; 54.58% male; Mage = 51.85 years). Loneliness was measured with the UCLA 3-Item Loneliness Scale, and gambling to escape was measured with three questions concerning negative escapism taken from the Motivations to Play Inventory. Problem gambling was measured using the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI). Random intercept cross-lagged panel modeling was used to analyze the relationships.
Results
Gambling problems predicted future loneliness on a within-person level, but loneliness did not predict future gambling problems. Also, gambling to escape predicted future gambling problems on a within-person level. On a between-person level, loneliness, gambling to escape and gambling problems were positively correlated.
Discussion and Conclusion
Gambling problems may predispose individuals to future loneliness. However, the relatively small effects observed indicate that individual differences play a significant role in this regard.
Abstract
Background
Existing research on facial emotion processing in Internet gaming disorder (IGD) has focused on single facial expression but little is known about crowd facial emotion (present multiple facial expressions simultaneously) ensemble coding. Thus, this event-related potential (ERP) study aimed to investigate temporal dynamics of crowd facial emotion ensemble coding under interference in IGD.
Methods
17 IGD and 17 control group (CG) participants completed a task of extracting mean emotion from crowd facial expressions under emotional interference while electroencephalographic activity was recorded.
Results
The N170 amplitudes elicited by crowd facial expressions in IGD were significantly smaller than in CG. Angry crowd faces evoked larger N170 amplitudes than happy crowd faces in IGD. Happy crowd faces elicited more negative early posterior negativity (EPN) amplitudes than angry crowd faces in CG, while no difference was found in IGD. In the later ensemble coding stage, we found a significant three-way interaction between the group, emotional valence and interference in the frontal negative slow wave component.
Conclusions
IGD participants exhibited weaker ensemble coding ability of crowd facial expressions. They showed an automatic processing bias towards angry crowd faces in the early stage, as well as insensitivity to happy crowd faces in the subsequent selective processing stage during mean emotion extraction. In the later stage, IGD participants failed to actively adopt appropriate cognitive strategies to inhibit interference. This study first provided electrophysiological evidence for the characteristics of crowd facial emotion ensemble coding in IGD and contributed to clarifying how IGD affects social cognition.
Az Episztemikus Bizalom, Bizalmatlanság és Hiszékenység Kérdőív (ETMCQ) magyar változata serdülő mintán
Hungarian validation of the Epistemic Trust, Mistrust and Credulity Questionnaire (ETMCQ) among adolescents
Háttér: A világban és a társadalomban való eligazodáshoz szükséges tudás megszerzésében alapvető szerepet játszik a gondviselő felé irányuló episztemikus bizalom kialakulása. A serdülőkor kiemelten fontos időszak ebből a szempontból. Célunk az episztemikus bizalom mérésére szolgáló kérdőív magyar nyelvű adaptációja volt. Módszer: A vizsgálatban kényelmi mintavétellel összesen 831 fő vett részt, kis serdülők (N = 342, Méletkor = 12,5, SD = 1,24) és serdülők (N = 489, Méletkor = 16,7, SD = 1,21), ebből 41% fiú és 59% lány. A résztvevők kitöltötték az Episztemikus Bizalom, Bizalmatlanság és Hiszékenység Kérdőív magyar változatát, a Mentalizáció Multidimenzionális Kérdőívét, a Torontói Alexitímia Skálát, a Rosenberg Önértékelés Skálát és az Általános Énhatékonyság Skálát. Ellenőriztük a kérdőív szerkezetét és megbízhatóságát, a nemi különbségeket és a pszichológiai változóval való kapcsolatát. Eredmények: Vizsgálatunk csak a 15–18 éves serdülők korosztályában erősítette meg az eredeti háromfaktoros szerkezetet, amelyet a bizalom, a bizalmatlanság és a hiszékenység skálák alkotnak, a teljes kérdőív 15 tételt tartalmaz. Az episztemikus bizalom pozitív összefüggést jelez a reflektivitással és a kapcsolati összehangoltsággal. A bizalmatlanság pozitív kapcsolata igazolódott a reflektivitással, a szegényes mentalizációval, az érzelmek azonosításának és kifejezésének nehézségével, negatív kapcsolata pedig az önértékeléssel. Az episztemikus hiszékenység az érzelmi diszkontrollal és az érzelmek azonosításának nehézségével mutat pozitív együttjárást. Az énhatékonyság elhanyagolható mértékű összefüggést mutatott a vizsgált változókkal. Következtetések: Az eredmények alapján a kérdőív alkalmas az episztemikus bizalom vizsgálatára serdülők körében.
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.
Abstract
Background and aims
Gambling disorder (GD) is a behavioral addiction often co-occurring with various mental health concerns, such as problematic pornography use (PPU). The specific impact of the co-occurrence of GD and PPU on treatment outcome remains underexplored. This study aimed to compare the treatment outcomes of individuals actively receiving treatment for GD (n = 172; 3.49% females), distinguishing between those without PPU (n = 146) and those with co-occurring GD and PPU (n = 26).
Methods
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) was administered in 16 weekly sessions, with assessments of GD severity, impulsivity, emotion regulation, psychopathology, and personality. Dropout, relapses, number of sessions attended, number of relapses, and amount of money spent during relapses were assessed as the main treatment outcomes.
Results
Patients with co-occurring GD and PPU showed greater GD severity, psychopathology, impulsivity, and difficulties in emotional regulation compared to those with GD and without PPU. Moreover, the presence of PPU appeared to be mainly associated with higher likelihood of treatment dropout, and, consequently, fewer CBT sessions attended.
Discussion and Conclusions
It is important to evaluate GD/PPU co-occurrence and strengthen the CBT approach for GD patients with PPU by using supplementary strategies to improve treatment adherence.
Entity and environment relationships in psychedelic experiences resulting from inhalation of N,N-dimethyltryptamine
DMT entities and their environments
Abstract
Aim
Gaining a more detailed understanding of the patterns of relationship of the content of psychedelic experiences can help build a deeper understanding of the nature of consciousness and assist in navigating those extraordinary experiences for therapeutic, spiritual, exploratory and creative purposes. To help achieve this goal, this study examines the patterns of relationship between Entities and Environments found in narratives of complex psychedelic experiences resulting from smoking N,N-dimethyltryptamine.
Methods
The narrative accounts examined in this study were drawn from a variety of online sites and were analyzed in order to examine the patterns of relationships between different types of Entities and Environments encountered during psychedelic experiences resulting from inhalation of N,N-dimethyltryptamine. In this study different types of Entities were identified and charted in relation to the frequency of the different Environments they appeared within.
Results
Some consistency was found in encounters described with Entities and the Environments they appeared within. Various types of Entities were encountered with greater frequency in some Environments and various Environments had unique mixtures of dominant and less common varieties of Entities.
Conclusions
This study helps advance our understanding of the subjective psychedelic experiences resulting from ingestion of DMT. It reveals some of the distinct relationships between Entities and the Environments in which they appeared and provides a framework for developing a predictive model of those relationships and the progression of those psychedelic experiences.
Abstract
Background and Aims
Digital media have become a fundamental aspect of daily life for children and adolescents, influencing cognitive, emotional, and social development. The present work explores the dual nature of digital media use, identifying both positive and negative impacts on well-being and development.
Methods
A comprehensive review of existing literature was conducted to explore the interplay between digital media use and its effects on child and adolescent well-being. The study employs the Digital Media-use Effects (d-MUsE) model to analyze psychological mechanisms and contextual factors mediating these effects.
Results
Functional media use promotes positive mental, physical, and social outcomes, while dysfunctional use is linked to negative psychological consequences, such as increased anxiety, depression, and social isolation. The proposed d-MUsE model highlights the interplay of psychological mechanisms and contextual factors—both proximal and distal—that mediate the effects of digital media on short- and long-term well-being.
Discussion
The present work endeavours to refine our existing comprehension of the intricate interplay of elements and mechanisms underpinning functional and dysfunctional employment of digital media. Prospective research trajectories, which spotlight factors that hitherto remained at the periphery of investigative scrutiny, find discourse in this synthesis.
Abstract
Background and aims
The Interaction of Person-Affect-Cognition-Execution (I-PACE) model of behavioral addictions is used relatively often as a scientific framework to specify research hypotheses and to interpret empirical findings in behavioral addiction research. There are, however, controversial interpretations in the literature regarding some specific elements of the model, which may require a more precise definition of specific constructs and processes that are central to the I-PACE model.
Methods
This is neither a comprehensive literature review nor a proposal for a new version of the I-PACE model. We aim to provide a selective, critical evaluation of some interpretations of the model and to include recent developments regarding addiction theories and controversial debates.
Results
The role of gratification and compensation and therefore positive and negative reinforcement are specified. The concepts of cue-reactivity and craving are considered in the context of desire thinking and permissive beliefs. The relationships between impulsive, habitual, and compulsive behaviors in behavioral addictions are discussed. The effects of general self-control and situation-specific executive functions are elaborated. Punishment (in)sensitivity is discussed as a further important process potentially involved in behavioral addictions. These constructs and processes (through their interactions) are considered in the context of changes over time in the course of addictive behaviors.
Conclusion
This viewpoint article aims to provide greater precision and clarity regarding some specific elements of the I-PACE model, which may help stimulate research and theory building and advance clinical care in the behavioral addiction field.
Abstract
Background and aims
Despite the inclusion of Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder (CSBD) in the ICD-11, there are many open questions on its neuronal pathogenesis, especially regarding the role of the amygdala. In this study, we aimed to further unravel this issue via a parcellation method based on Recurrence Quantification Analysis (RQA).
Methods
The RQA pipeline was applied to resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data from 45 heterosexual males with CSBD and 26 Healthy Controls. Each amygdala was divided into two subdivisions in each group. In the CSBD group, the scores of psychological questionnaires were used as covariates in a second-level seed-to-voxel connectivity analysis with the amygdala as a region of interest.
Results
Obtained parcellations revealed bilateral differences in the sizes of dorsomedial (DM) and ventrolateral (VL) amygdala between groups. Mean values of Shannon's Entropy in the left DM and right VL amygdala correlated negatively with depression level, anxiety, and impulsivity, which might represent a vulnerability to CSBD, but only the right VL was implicated in the severity of CSBD symptoms. Multiple correlations between resting-state functional connectivity of the amygdala subdivisions and CSBD severity were observed, especially between the left VL amygdala and several default mode network nodes.
Discussion and Conclusions
This is the first attempt to explore the role of the amygdala in CSBD by a parcellation method. Our results suggest the importance of the right VL amygdala in understanding the pathogenesis of the severity of CSBD symptoms, which highlights the rising need to explore the amygdala as a complex structure with diverse functions.
Abstract
Behavioral addictions share symptomatological features with substance addiction. From the associative learning perspective, these characteristics include excessive and unregulated self-administration of sensory and other reinforcers, potentially reflecting the transition from goal-directed actions (action → outcome associations) to habitual responses (stimulus → response associations). In laboratory mice, light stimulation at an optimal intensity possesses some incentive properties and a brief light pulse represents an effective reinforcer for persistent operant responding. The operant light self-administration paradigm with clearly defined sensory reinforcers and reinforcement schedules may be utilized to elucidate the general mechanisms of excessive habitual responding to seek non-drug and non-feeding cues in mice. This cross-species approach can shed light on some maladaptive habits that have emerged recently in our modern society, including digital technology-based disorders.
Abstract
Background and aims
Problematic smartphone use are prevalent worldwide, particularly among adolescents, and it is strongly linked with aggressive behavior. However, the understanding of how PSU may contribute to the emergence of aggressive behavior remains incomplete.
Methods
The purpose of this study was to examine the bidirectional links between aggressive behavior and PSU among adolescents, utilizing data from a two-wave longitudinal study (the time interval is 15 months) conducted among 2,650 students in middle and high school.
Results
The cross-lagged models revealed that: (1) PSU at Time 1 (December 12) positively predicted aggressive behavior at Time 2 (March 2023, 15 months apart) among older adolescents (15–19 years), but this was not the case for younger adolescents (11–14 years); (2) aggressive behavior at Time 1 positively predicted PSU at Time 2 for both younger and older adolescents. Our findings have identified PSU as a risk factor for aggressive behavior among older adolescents, with those perceiving higher PSU may be particularly vulnerable to developing aggressive behavior over time.
Discussion and Conclusions
These results not only enhance our understanding of the links between PSU and aggressive behavior but also provide significant theoretical perspectives for developing future prevention strategies and intervention measures to tackle aggressive behavior among adolescents.
Abstract
Background and aims
Despite a previously reported connection between compulsive sexual behaviors (CSB), such as problematic pornography use, and heightened cue-reactivity, empirical evidence of the alteration of processes responsible for increased salience attribution to erotic cues remains sparse. Drawing on similarities with addiction models, this study explores the neuronal mechanisms of CSB through the use of appetitive conditioning and extinction with erotic and monetary rewards.
Methods
Thirty-two heterosexual males struggling with CSB (age: 28.9 ± 7.1), and 31 healthy matched participants (age: 27.8 ± 5.6) underwent active appetitive conditioning and extinction tasks in fMRI. The effects of conditioning and extinction towards cues of erotic and monetary rewards were measured via self-assessment (valence and arousal rating towards cues), behavior (reaction times), and brain reactivity.
Results
In conditioning, subjective ratings increased, and reaction times were faster for both erotic and monetary cues among participants with CSB, along with altered activity in ventral striatum (vStr), dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC), and anterior orbitofrontal cortex (aOFC). In extinction, self-assessment ratings remained elevated in the CSB group for both cues in a non-reward-specific fashion, accompanied by altered activity of dACC and vStr.
Discussion and conclusions
These findings suggest enhanced incentive salience attribution to conditioned cues, highlighting a generalized motivational and value-related transfer from rewards to the cues in participants with CSB. Additionally, despite the absence of rewards, the persistence of arousal and valence towards cues underscored the maladaptive extinction process. These insights advance the understanding of CSB's neurobiological underpinnings and its relation to addiction frameworks.
Abstract
Background and Aims
The digitalization of gambling provides unprecedented opportunities for early identification of problem gambling, a well-recognized public health issue. This study aimed to advance current practices by employing advanced machine learning techniques to predict problem gambling behaviors and assess the temporal stability of these predictions.
Methods
We analyzed player account data from a major Swedish online gambling provider, covering a 4.5-year period. Feature engineering was applied to capture gambling behavior dynamics. We trained machine learning models, XGBoost, to classify players into low-risk and higher-risk categories. Temporal stability was evaluated by progressively truncating the training dataset at various time points (30, 60, and 90 days) and assessing model performance across truncations.
Results
The models demonstrated considerable predictive accuracy and temporal stability. Key features such as loss-chasing behavior and net balance trend consistently contributed to accurate predictions across all truncation periods. The model's performance evaluated on a separate holdout set, measured by metrics like F1 score and ROC AUC, remained robust, with no significant decline observed even with reduced data, supporting the feasibility of early and reliable detection.
Discussion and Conclusions
These findings indicate that machine learning can reliably predict problem gambling behaviors over time, offering a scalable alternative to traditional methods. Temporal stability highlights their potential for real-time application in gambling operators' Duty of Care. Consequently, advanced techniques could strengthen early identification and intervention strategies, potentially improving public health outcomes by preventing the escalation of harmful behaviors.
Abstract
Background
While the empirical data on the role of environmental factors in work addiction (WA) is steadily growing, little is known about the extent to which the workaholic environment contributes to the increased risk of WA and what are the relative contributions of direct supervisor's and colleagues' WA to one's own workaholism.
Methods
The Perceived Coworkers' Work Addiction Scale (PCWAS) assessing perceived direct supervisor's and colleagues' WA, defined as an addictive disorder, was administered alongside measures of WA, job stress, and job satisfaction in a total sample of 33,222 employees from 85 cultures across six continents (63.2% females, mean age 39.35 years).
Results
The PCWAS showed scalar measurement invariance between genders and job positions, and approximate measurement invariance across cultures. In most cultures, the perceived supervisor's and colleagues' WA correlated with one's own WA, job stress (positively), and job satisfaction (negatively). In structural equation models, perceived colleagues' rather than supervisor's WA was more strongly related to one's own WA and job stress in most cultures.
Discussion and conclusions
These findings suggest that the PCWAS is valid and reliable for assessing the workaholic environment, and it can be used globally to provide comparable and generalizable results. The present study is the first to show that WA may considerably depend on environmental factors in different cultures worldwide and that perceived colleagues' WA may play a particularly important role in this context. These findings may guide organizational interventions to decrease WA risks among employees and improve their well-being and productivity.
Abstract
In this article, we provide a genealogy of the concept of integration and a discussion of the multiplicity of practices it encompasses in the field of psychedelic medicine. Reflecting on our observations of psychedelic integration practices, we make three key observations. The first is that integration services tend to focus on the individual, at the expense of considering how societal factors lead to dis-ease. The second observation is that integration is increasingly rendered in formulaic checklists, at the expense of remaining an open-ended praxis, which runs the risk of emptying it of their potential to bring context-dependent change for people. Our third observation is that integration services are increasingly rendered as marketable services. Understanding how we got here and what is at stake requires a genealogical analysis of integration within the field of psychedelics. This critical review of psychedelic integration discusses the divergence between psychedelic practices in traditional or Indigenous contexts and contemporary psychedelic practices in Western industrialized, capitalist societies. We suggest that this divergence has to do with the degree to which psychedelic experiences are contiguous with everyday sociality and the cosmology that dominates in a given social context. Offering a viewpoint grounded in the Global South, our perspective aims to denaturalize some of the assumptions that prevail in research settings where highly individualized approaches and technological solutionism prevail, such as the USA or Western Europe. We highlighted the dangers of integration becoming too formulaic, commodified, and disconnected from the therapeutic or ceremonial contexts in which psychedelic experiences were carefully curated for millennia. Furthermore, we underscored the importance of critically examining the assumptions underlying the infrastructures of digital psychedelia and app-based integration practices.
Abstract
Background and aims
Despite the last decade's significant development in the scientific study of work addiction/workaholism, this area of research is still facing a fundamental challenge, namely the need for a valid and reliable measurement tool that shows cross-cultural invariance and, as such, allows for worldwide studies on this phenomenon.
Methods
An initial 16-item questionnaire, developed within an addiction framework, was administered alongside job stress, job satisfaction, and self-esteem measures in a total sample of 31,352 employees from six continents and 85 cultures (63.5% females, mean age of 39.24 years).
Results
Based on theoretical premises and psychometric testing, the International Work Addiction Scale (IWAS) was developed as a short measure representing essential features of work addiction. The seven-item version (IWAS-7), covering all seven components of work addiction, showed partial scalar invariance across 81 cultures, while the five-item version (IWAS-5) showed it across all 85 cultures. Higher levels of work addiction on both versions were associated with higher job stress, lower job satisfaction, and lower self-esteem across cultures. The optimal cut-offs for the IWAS-7 (24 points) and IWAS-5 (18 points) were established with an overall accuracy of 96% for both versions.
Discussion and conclusions
The IWAS is a valid, reliable, and short screening scale that can be used in different cultures and languages, providing comparative and generalizable results. The scale can be used globally in clinical and organizational settings, with the IWAS-5 being recommended for most practical and clinical situations. This is the first study to provide data supporting the hypothesis that work addiction is a universal phenomenon worldwide.
Abstract
This commentary explores public priorities in psychedelic research, drawing insights from extensive conversations between the author and the general public during lectures and seminars across the UK. Two primary themes emerged from this exchange: areas where further research is desired and concerns about the current direction of psychedelic research. Key topics of interest include psychedelics' effects on neurodivergent individuals, ageing, pain management, cognitive enhancement, psychosis, and interactions with the female menstrual cycle. Areas of concern pertain to the involvement of pharmaceutical companies in psychedelics research, the potential medicalisation of psychedelics, and the growing interest in psychedelic tourism. The commentary emphasises the need for a constant dialogue between scientists and the public, critical engagement with research and the integration of diverse perspectives in order to foster a broader understanding of psychedelics and their potential applications in this rapidly evolving field.
A szervezeti adaptabilitás és az otthoni munkavégzés lehetőségének hatása az észlelt stressz, magányosság és általános jóllét kapcsán
The impact of organisational adaptability and the ability to work from home on perceived stress, loneliness and general well-being
Háttér és célkitűzések: A 21. századi szervezeteket a folyamatos és rendkívül gyors változás jellemzi. A világjárvány idején a szervezeti rugalmasság kérdésköre még nagyobb prioritást élvezett, amely a szervezet működésének kulcskritériumát is jelentette egyben. A rugalmasság nemcsak a munkavégzés módjára (online, távmunka, munkaidő-kedvezmények), hanem a szervezeti tanulásra és a változásokra való fogékonyságra is kiterjed. Mindezzel szorosan összefonódva a munkavállalói egészségvédelem és a mentális jóllét is előtérbe került. A korábbi szakirodalmi eredményeket alapul véve jelen kutatás célja volt, hogy feltárjuk a szervezeti rugalmasság különböző aspektusait a munkavállalói jóllét szempontjából. A változásra és tanulásra fókuszáló szervezeti kultúrát, valamint egy rugalmas szervezeti intézkedést, a távoli munkavégzés hatásait vizsgáltuk meg részletesebben. Módszer: Kutatásunk 203 fő magyar munkavállaló bevonásával zajlott, amely során a pandémia után tapasztalt megváltozott munkavégzési sajátosságokat és a munkavállalói jóllét aspektusait vizsgáltuk. Az adatgyűjtéshez a Denison Organizational Culture Profile (OCP) adaptabilitás skáláját, valamint a munkavállalói észlelt stressz kérdőívet (PSS), a WHO általános jóllét kérdőívét (WHO10) és az UCLA Loneliness Scale (Magányosság Skála) 8 itemes verzióját használtuk. Emellett rákérdeztünk arra, hogy a kitöltő az elmúlt két hónap során milyen gyakran végezte a munkáját otthonából. Eredmények: Az adatelemzés során Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) eljárást alkalmaztunk egy elméleti modell felállítása céljából, amely a szervezeti adaptabilitás és az otthoni munkavégzés hatásainak mechanizmusait tárja fel a munkavállalói jóllét látens változói kapcsán. Ezen belül egy multigroup elemzést is végeztünk a nemi különbségek feltárására. Következtetések: A SEM elemzés során erős modellilleszkedést találtunk, illetve kimutatható volt, hogy a szervezeti adaptabilitás pozitívan hat a munkavállalói jóllétre, míg az otthoni munkavégzésnek nincsenek szignifikáns hatásai. A multigroup elemzés során feltárult az otthoni munkavégzés nőkre és férfiakra nézve eltérő hatása. Míg a nők esetében nem találtunk szignifikáns hatást (nem szignifikáns fordított korrelációt igen), addig a férfiak esetében egy közepes erősségű pozitív kapcsolat rajzolódott ki a munkavállalói jóllét kapcsán, amely eredmény illeszkedik a korábbi nemzetközi kutatások eredményeihez is.
