Abstract: Introduction: Adolescence is a developmental stage during which adolescents often report lower levels of well-being. Understanding the factors that enhance subjective well-being is essential to its improvement. However, the specific relationships between emotional intelligence, resilience, and subjective well-being remain unclear. Aim: This study compares six theoretical models based on preliminary research exploring the relationship dynamics among emotional intelligence, resilience, and subjective well-being. Methods: Participants included 1,397 schoolchildren aged 12 to 16 years ( M = 13.88; SD = 1.27). Results: The findings support a sequential model in which emotional intelligence directly predicts both positive (emotional clarity and repair) and negative (emotional attention and clarity) effects. Emotional intelligence also indirectly influences these variables through resilience, while resilience directly and indirectly predicts life satisfaction via the affective domain. Discussion: The results reveal a stepwise relationship dynamic, highlighting the mediational role of resilience and affective balance. Additionally, the affective components of subjective well-being play distinct roles compared to life satisfaction when analyzed alongside other well-being-related variables in a multivariate framework. This study opens up new avenues for enhancing adolescent life satisfaction.

Abstract: Aim: It is important to identify the factors associated with suicide risk. This study examines how depression mediates the relationship between the Dark Triad personality traits and suicide risk. Methods: We collected data from 448 Turkish university students (mean age =21.14 ± 1.97; females 72.8%) using an online survey that included the Dark Triad Dirty Dozen Scale, the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale, and the Suicide Probability Scale. Results: The findings indicated that Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism positively correlated with depression, low self-perception, anger/impulsivity, hopelessness/loneliness, and suicidal ideation. Depression was more associated with Machiavellianism and psychopathy than with suicide ideation. Depression was found to have a significant positive relationship with suicide probability and acted as a mediator between the Dark Triad personality traits and suicide risk. There were stronger direct pathways from psychopathy to suicide ideation than to impulsivity. Discussion/conclusion: These results suggest that the combination of the Dark Triad traits and depression could increase the probability of suicide. Our study highlights the importance of addressing both Dark Triad traits and psychological distress, such as depression, in efforts to reduce suicide risk among university students.

Abstract: Introduction: Apart from a few studies with limited sample sizes, we have little data on attitudes toward lesbian and gay (LG) people in Greece. Methods: This study examines this topic in 949 heterosexual Greek participants. Based on previous research in cultural contexts other than Greece, we hypothesized that four demographics (gender, age, education, area of residence) and religious and political orientation predict a substantial amount of variance in homophobia (i.e., anti-LG attitudes). Results: We verified all observed variables except area of residence as significant predictors. Regarding the “intergroup contact hypothesis,” we distinguished the direct effects of the predictor variables from indirect effects mediated by contact with lesbians and gay men. All variables except area of residence showed a direct effect and, except for education, also an indirect effect on homophobia. The strongest effects were found for religious and political orientation, followed by gender. Highly religious, right-wing oriented, and male participants reported the highest levels of homophobia, partially mediated by their low level of contact with LG people. Discussion/Conclusion: The results confirm and further explain the detrimental role the Greek Orthodox Church, right-wing political parties, and traditional gender roles play in the acceptance of sexual minorities.

Abstract: Introduction: This study analyzes the effects of personality traits on the stockpiling of groceries in the United Kingdom during the COVID–19 pandemic. The sample is representative of the UK population in terms of age, gender, and residential area. Methods: We collected the data through five rounds of web surveys during the spring of 2020 ( N = 1025). We used the Big Five Inventory (BFI–10) to measure personality traits. We analyzed the data using independent t-tests and logistic regression. Results: The independent t-tests show that “stockpilers” have a higher degree of Neuroticism and a lower degree of Agreeableness and Conscientiousness than “nonstockpilers.” Logistic regressions moreover show that differences in Neuroticism are related to other personality traits, and that differences in Agreeableness are largely related to age and residential area. The low degree of Conscientiousness among “stockpilers” remains, after we controlled for other factors in the model (i.e., personality traits, gender, age, and residential area). Discussion: We discuss the findings regarding previous research. Understanding personality traits and stockpiling is important to prepare and manage similar extraordinary situations that may occur in the future.

Abstract: Background: In clinical psychology, interpersonal sensitivity is defined as a vulnerability to perceived signs of rejection in interpersonal situations; it plays an important role in the development of psychopathology, especially mood disorders. We investigated the relationship between interpersonal sensitivity, emotion-regulation strategies, and emotional reactivity in a group of youths without mental health issues. Method: Participants ( N = 231, 46 men, 185 women, 18–25 years old) were recruited from online groups focusing on education, social activism, and psychological self-help. Measures: Interpersonal Sensitivity Measure, Perth Emotional Reactivity Scale, and Emotion Regulation Questionnaire. Results: Negative emotional reactivity predicted all dimensions of interpersonal sensitivity. Positive emotional reactivity negatively predicted fear of rejection and dependence on the opinion of others. Only expressive suppression predicted the fear of rejection. Activation and intensity of negative emotions moderated the link between expressive suppression and fear of rejection. The Interpersonal Sensitivity subscales predicted negative emotional reactivity and expressive suppression. Discussion: The present study corroborates and broadens the results of previous studies that utilized rejection sensitivity – a narrower construct than interpersonal sensitivity. Expressive suppression and emotional reactivity emerge as differential predictors of individual dimensions of interpersonal sensitivity.

Abstract: Introduction: The present study adapted the Vaccine Conspiracy Beliefs Scale (VCBS ) developed by Shapiro and colleagues (2016) in the specific context of COVID-19 and examined the psychometric properties of an Italian version of the scale (VCBS-COVID19/Ita). Methods: We modified the 7 items of the VCBS to address conspiracy beliefs specifically regarding COVID-19 vaccines and translated them into Italian. We collected the data from a group of 1,179 subjects (73% female). We used confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to examine the dimensional structure of the VCBS-COVID19/Ita and multigroup CFA (MG CFA) to evaluate the measurement invariance across gender. Results: We found support for a one-factor solution for the VCBS-COVID19/Ita. The one-factor model was factorially invariant across gender. Additionally, we determined the VCBS-COVID19/Ita scores to be associated with COVID-VAX dimensions, providing support for the convergent and divergent validity of the Italian version of the VCBS-COVID19. Discussion: Our results provide evidence that the Italian version of the VCBS-COVID19 is reliable, valid, and, thus, potentially useful for research on COVID-19. Study limitations and future research directions are discussed.

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic caused substantial stress to healthcare workers (HCW) worldwide. This study examined the mental health of frontline Chinese HCW through their dream experience during the COVID-19 pandemic and their subjective perception of reported dreams. Using semistructured interviews, we evaluated 45 dreams from 28 HCW from various hospital departments. Six themes emerged after a thematic analysis of these dreams: warning, escape, alienation of HCW, gender inequality, archetypal-mythological dreams, and negative emotions. The findings indicate a close relationship between the participants’ mental health state and their dreams, which contributes a new insight into understanding the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on frontline HCW. It allows us to provide them with better psychological support in a global public health crisis. In the conclusion to this article, we discuss future research directions for the dreams of frontline HCW.

Abstract: Introduction: The study focuses on the prevalent emotions and specific experiences of three particularly vulnerable groups in the Bulgarian pandemic context. The target groups include working parents with small children (0–12 years), people who lost their jobs because of the COVID-19 crisis, and people with chronic diseases. Methods: To determine the experiences and sources of stress, we conducted semistructured in-depth calendar interviews ( N = 45) in late 2021. Narratives of representatives of the three groups generated authentic retrospective textual data, amounting to 221,883 words. To identify prevalent emotions in their speech, we did an automated qualitative data analysis of the three text corpuses and built a 10-category dictionary for basic emotions in accordance with Carroll Izard’s (1991) differential emotions theory, including synonyms, similar, and related words. Results: Content analysis showed that the most prominent emotion was fear, followed by interest, sadness and enjoyment. Lack of consistent and reliable information, the feeling of uncertainty, fear of the unknown and constant changes in the restrictive measures were significant sources of stress for all groups included in the study. At the same time, the three vulnerable groups differed both in the sources and in the content of the expressed fears. Discussion: Both practical and future research implications are discussed. Perhaps, these findings are valid for other types of crises and can serve as a central line for elaborating specific measures and crisis communication strategies targeting concrete vulnerable groups in society. Conclusion: Although the prevalent emotion in the narratives was fear, both the sources and the content of the fears were very different for the three groups. Findings suggest that specific measures and policies for the different vulnerable groups might be more effective in case of crisis.

Abstract: Introduction: Anxiety is one of the most common psychological problems in children, with an increasing trend during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examines the mediating role of intolerance of uncertainty and cognitive emotion-regulation strategies in the relationship between stress and anxiety symptoms of children and early adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: We conducted the study with 234 elementary school students (128 females) aged 11 to 15 years. The students completed the COVID-19 Stress Scale, Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale, Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale for Children, and the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire. To determine whether stress affects anxiety symptoms both directly and indirectly through intolerance of uncertainty and cognitive emotion-regulation strategies, we performed a mediation analysis with gender as a covariate. Results: Our results confirmed cognitive emotion regulation and intolerance of uncertainty as important cognitive vulnerability factors for anxiety in children and adolescents. A stressful experience contributes directly to anxiety and indirectly through higher intolerance of uncertainty and less adaptive strategies. The results serve to further improve prevention and intervention programs for children and adolescents which focus on correcting maladaptive cognitive emotion-regulation strategies and increasing tolerance of uncertainty.