Frontiers in Psychology | New and Recent Articles

IntroductionThis study investigated the mechanisms underlying mental health risks among lesbian/gay (LG) and bisexual university students in China, focusing on the roles of sexual identity centrality, identity uncertainty, and interpersonal discrimination in depressive symptoms.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted with 363 university students (142 LG students and 221 bisexual). Group dif…

BackgroundAlthough the benefits of physical exercise for students’ physical and mental health have been widely recognized, studies that systematically investigate the overall effects of physical exercise on students’ academic burnout and academic achievement remain insufficient. Most existing research focuses on a single dimension, lacking systematic integration and quantitative synthesis.Objecti…

IntroductionMusic preferences can be influenced by a variety of factors, including feelings of environmental threat. The COVID-19 pandemic caused increased levels of stress and fear, which led to many behavioral changes in people’s everyday lives as they adjusted to the health crisis. For those more affected by the threat of the pandemic, music preferences may have changed, providing a unique opp…

Despite the increasing attention given to project-based STEAM education in early childhood settings, empirical evidence regarding its effects on the creative potential of very young children remains limited, particularly in comparison with traditional theme-based curricula. This pilot study employed a 1-year quasi-experimental design to examine the differential impacts of these two curricular app…

IntroductionLarge-scale geopolitical crises may generate psychological distress beyond populations directly exposed to violence, particularly through uncertainty, perceived lack of control, and indirect exposure to threatening information.ObjectiveTo determine the association between country of residence and perceived stress related to the Russia–Ukraine war among adults from nine Latin American …

BackgroundSocial self-efficacy (SSE) is a key cognitive-motivational construct predicting social adjustment and mental health. However, existing SSE scales were developed in Western individualistic cultures, neglecting collectivistic characteristics (e.g., relational harmony, emotional restraint) and online social contexts. This study developed and validated a culturally adapted multidimensional …

BackgroundComputational thinking is a key higher-order cognitive skill in adolescence, extending beyond computer science to mathematical problem solving and complex reasoning. Although mathematical metacognition has been associated with computational thinking, the mechanisms underlying this relationship remain unclear. Grounded in Flavell’s metacognitive theory and Wing’s framework, this study ex…

IntroductionThe psychological resilience of elite athletes is often tested by the interpersonal climate established by their coaches. This study aimed to delineate the integrated psychological pathways through which controlling coaching behaviors undermine an athlete’s mental toughness, specifically exploring the interplay between the coach–athlete relationship (CAR) and individual resilience.Met…

Emotional violence (EV) from teachers toward students is a serious and underexplored issue in school settings. This study aims to review current research on EV, explore the concepts of Bleak Pedagogy (BP) and Adultcentrism as conceptual frameworks, and explain the underlying causes of emotionally violent behaviors. Given the global prevalence of EV, we infer that it may be influenced by embedded …

This study investigated the relationship between trait gratitude and mental health among Chinese college students, with a specific focus on the potential mediating mechanisms of the Tangping (lying flat) tendency and positive self-esteem. A cross-sectional survey was administered to 828 undergraduate students in China, utilizing the Gratitude Questionnaire (GQ-6), the Tangping Questionnaire, the …

BackgroundDemoralization is a common psychological distress in Chinese cancer patients, affecting treatment adherence and quality of life. NCCN Guidelines recommend routine monitoring of distress. The original 24-item Mandarin Demoralization Scale (DS-MV) is comprehensive but less suited for rapid, repeated screening in busy oncology clinics. We therefore refined and validated a short-form Mandar…

IntroductionDistributed work has made e-leadership central to how teams coordinate, connect, and perform through digital technologies. This is particularly important in distributed new product development teams, where uncertainty, time pressure, and reduced social cues intensify both coordination demands and emotional strain. Drawing on social exchange theory and leader–member exchange theory, th…

Companion animals are often assumed to benefit human emotional wellbeing, yet empirical evidence for this effect and the proposed stress-buffering mechanism underlying this effect is heterogeneous. This study examined whether momentary interaction with a companion animal is associated with pet owners’ positive and negative affect in daily life, and whether these interactions buffer the affective …

This study investigates the psychological mechanisms underlying engagement in AI-mediated EFL writing from a social cognitive theory perspective. Specifically, it examines how growth mindset, ideal L2 self, and enjoyment relate to engagement. An explanatory sequential mixed-methods design was employed. In the quantitative phase, survey data were collected from 519 university EFL learners from eth…

IntroductionMusic listening is increasingly recognized not only as a form of entertainment but a complementary intervention for well-being. Its ability to promote relaxation and reduce arousal, particularly following stress, highlights its therapeutic potential. However, the differential effects of various types of music on emotional regulation in response to stress remain underexplored, limiting…

AimTo explore the experiences of Hypoglycemic Confidence among Chinese adults with type 1 or 2 diabetes and identify contextual facilitators and barriers affecting its development and sustainability.MethodsA qualitative descriptive design was adopted. Semi-structured face-to-face interviews were conducted with 16 adults with type 1 or 2 diabetes from the endocrinology department of a tertiary hos…

ObjectiveThe H1N1 influenza, a highly contagious acute respiratory disease, causes a significant burden on public health, especially during the winter season when the number of cases surges. Emergency department nurses, who are on the frontline of patient care during this period, are exposed to high - stress situations, increasing their risk of developing post - traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). …

In contemporary China, increasing numbers of Ph.D.-holding corporate professionals and new-generation doctoral-stage participants (Ph.D. candidates or Ph.D. graduates within 1–2 years) prioritize university faculty or research posts (“reverse mobility”). Prior accounts have focused mainly on economic and institutional push–pull forces; consequently, the psychological and meaning-making processes …

ObjectivesThis study aimed to examine general and sport-specific mental toughness in university students and their associations with personality traits, sport participation, and academic performance, as well as competitive anxiety in students engaged in sport.MethodsThis cross-sectional study involved 239 university students. Participants completed the Mental Toughness Questionnaire-18 (MTQ-18), …