Exploring why adolescents of disadvantaged family socio-economic status were more depressed than others: Serial mediations via personal psychological resources, loneliness, and school refusal functions.

Background: Disadvantageous family socio-economic status (DFSES) is a potential source of disparity in adolescent mental health. This study investigated the association between DFSES and probable depression and its mediation mechanisms via personal psychological resources (hope and resilience), loneliness, and school refusal functions.

Methods: A school-based anonymous survey was conducted among 8285 middle school students in China from February to March 2022; the response/eligible rate was 98.

Sex differences in social anxiety: A longitudinal serial mediation via perceived stress and resilience among adolescents in China.

Background: Adolescent social anxiety is consequential. There is a substantial sex difference in the prevalence. Yet, the underlying mechanisms are almost unknown; no longitudinal studies have investigated this topic.

Associations of addiction-like eating with personal relative deprivation, compensatory health beliefs, and body mass index from the life history perspective.

Background: The rising global overweight/obesity rate has led to an increase of research attention in one of its antecedents: addiction-like eating (AE). Under the framework of life history (LH) theory, the present study aimed at examining not only the association between AE and body mass index (BMI) but also the effects of LH strategy on AE, via two cognitive mediators (i.e.

Development and validation of the time perspective scale of perceived benefits and harms of internet gaming among adolescents in China.

Background And Aims: Gaming-specific maladaptive cognitions were critical determinants of internet gaming disorder (IGD). This study was novel to develop and validate the Time Perspective Scale of Perceived Benefits and Harms of Internet Gaming (TPS-PBHIG) by integrating the concepts of present- and future-oriented time perspectives, perceived benefits, and perceived harms of internet gaming.

Methods: Item generation was conducted by using both inductive (focus group interviews among adolescents) and deductive (comprehensive literature review) approaches.

The Mediating Role of Attentional Inflexibility in the Association between Metacognitions and Severity of Gambling Disorder Symptoms.

Gambling Disorder and its adverse outcomes are prevalent in Chinese gamblers, and modifiable cognitive factors should be identified to improve interventions. Drawing on the Self-Regulatory Executive Function (S-REF) model, the present study examined the associations between positive and negative metacognitions about gambling, attentional inflexibility, and severity of Gambling Disorder symptoms in 1,024 Chinese gamblers. Results revealed that, consistent with hypotheses, both positive and negative metacognitions about gambling were positively correlated with severity of Gambling Disorder symptoms.

Disentangling the Impacts of Childhood Environment on Problematic Smartphone Use From the Life History Perspective.

Objectives: While childhood experiences have been well-recognized as salient predictors of addictive behaviors, this scoping review aims to evaluate whether life history (LH) theory can offer a valid and reliable theoretical framework for elucidating the influence of childhood environment on problematic smartphone use (PSU). In particular, it examines existing empirical evidence to clarify the underlying internal processes, if any, from the LH perspective.

Methods: Following the PRISMA guidelines, a scoping review was conducted by searching 5 databases and screening relevant studies on February 18, 2025.

The neural vulnerabilities in reward processing in gambling disorder.

Background And Aims: Clinical diagnosis of gambling disorder (GD) remains challenging due to the heterogeneity in symptoms and a lack of consistency in the proposed neural mechanisms. Effective classification of GD may depend on neural representations of either risky decision-making or reward processing.

Methods: To address these challenges, we recruited more than 100 individuals with GD and matched healthy controls, utilizing event-related fMRI during a novel risky decision-making task to elicit neural representations of risky decision-making and reward processing.

The role of artificial intelligence in general, and large language models specifically, for understanding addictive behaviors.

Artificial intelligence (AI) presents a general-purpose technology built into diverse products including language assistants on smartphones, recommender systems in e-commerce and social media, and applications in social and industrial robotics. AI became a globally discussed topic when the large language model ChatGPT was launched in November 2022. In the aftermath, scientists in the field of (online) addictive behaviors and internet use disorders have discussed which features or modalities of AI systems underlying video games or social media platforms might result in adverse consequences for users.

The International Work Addiction Scale (IWAS): A screening tool for clinical and organizational applications validated in 85 cultures from six continents.

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.

Transdiagnostic study of dynamic brain activity and connectivity among people with gambling and internet gaming disorders: DYNAMIC BRAIN ACTIVITY IN GD AND IGD.

Despite both internet gaming disorder (IGD) and gambling disorder (GD) being officially recognized as medical conditions by the World Health Organization, controversies persist. A transdiagnostic study may help inform classification and intervention approaches. IGD and GD may share or have distinct neural and behavioral features.

The relationships between positive/negative metacognitions and Internet gaming disorder among Chinese adult gamers: Cross-sectional and longitudinal evidence.

Previous research investigating Internet gaming disorder (IGD) in China involved mainly youth samples despite the large population of adult gamers. Drawing on the self-regulatory executive function model, this study aimed to demonstrate the psychometric robustness of negative and positive gaming-specific metacognitions assessed by the short-form Metacognitions about Online Gaming Scale (MOGS; Study 1). Then, Study 2 aimed to explore bidirectional associations between these two factors of the MOGS and IGD among a broad age spectrum of Chinese adult gamers.

Prevalence of mental disorders and their associations with age at diagnosis and time since diagnosis of nasopharyngeal cancer.

Background: Despite advancements in cancer treatment, understanding the long-term mental health implications for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) survivors remains an underexplored area. This study aims to examine the prevalence of mental disorders and their correlations with age at diagnosis and time since diagnosis among NPC survivors.

Methods: A total of 1872 NPC patients were surveyed from September 2020 to June 2021 in this cross-sectional survey.

School Climate and School Identification as Determinants of Internet Gaming Disorder Among Chinese Adolescent Internet Gamers: Cross-Sectional Mediation Study.

Background: School climate and school identification are important features of the school environment and potential determinants of adolescent internet gaming disorder (IGD).

Objective: This novel study investigated their joint effects on IGD and related mediation mechanisms via the interpersonal factor of teacher-student relationship and the individual factors of academic stress and anxiety.

Methods: A large-scale cross-sectional study was conducted among adolescent internet gamers of junior, senior, and vocational middle schools in Taizhou City, China, from February to March 2022 (N=5778).

Association between interpersonal resources and mental health professional help-seeking among Chinese adolescents with probable depression: mediations via personal resources and active coping.

Background: Globally, adolescent depression is prevalent. There is, however, a dearth of studies investigating behavioral intention to professional help-seeking regarding mental health problems among adolescents having probable depression. Based on the Stress Coping Theory, the hypothesis that personal resources and active coping would mediate between interpersonal resources and behavioral intention to professional help-seeking was investigated.

Gambling-specific metacognitions, depression, and responsible gambling in Macao, China.

The Self-regulatory Executive Function model elucidates how metacognitions link to the development and maintenance of gambling disorder, however whether, and how, metacognitions explain responsible gambling remains unknown. This study is the first to address this knowledge gap by: (a) examining whether both generic and gambling-specific metacognitions explain variances in responsible gambling; and (b) testing the mediating role of depression between generic/gambling-specific metacognitions and responsible gambling. A two-stage cluster random sampling method was used to obtain a probability sample of 837 Chinese adult gamblers (48.

Application of life history theory to explain the association between childhood maltreatment and adulthood sleep problems in Chinese men with drug abuse: multiple mediating roles of emotion regulation, future-oriented coping, and anxiety.

Despite the practical importance of addressing the drug user's sleep problems to enhance the efficacy of treatment and rehabilitation, little is known about whether and how history of childhood maltreatment relates to this issue. This study takes an evolutionary perspective to investigate the associations between history of childhood maltreatment and sleep problems in adults with drug abuse via their emotion regulation difficulties, future-oriented coping, and anxiety. Participants were 604 male adults with drug abuse between the ages of 18-58 years ( = 36.

The longitudinal relationships between problematic mobile phone use symptoms and negative emotions: a cross-lagged panel network analysis.

Background: The association between problematic mobile phone use (PMPU) and negative emotions in university students is not well understood in terms of causality and directionality. This study aims to clarify whether negative emotions trigger PMPU or whether the PMPU itself leads to increased negative emotions over time.

Methods: A two-wave longitudinal study was conducted involving 5568 Chinese freshmen who were surveyed at baseline and followed up after one academic year.

Measurement invariance of the Facebook intrusion questionnaire across 25 countries.

Facebook is one of the most popular social networking sites. However, Facebook intrusion or addiction is a growing concern as it involves an excessive attachment to Facebook, which disrupts daily functioning. To date, few studies have examined whether cross-cultural differences in the measurement of Facebook addiction exist.

Scent-driven Selective Attention on Gambling Outcome: Implications for Responsible Gambling.

Many casinos diffuse a pleasant ambient scent into their facilities as a customer experience management practice, but the ethics of this scenting process is questionable. Although the effect of a pleasant scent on cognitive, emotional, and behavioral responses has been well-documented, its effect on attention during gambling has yet to be explored. Grounded in the tenets of the top-down control of attention and cross-modal correspondence between vision and olfaction, we conduct two eye-tracking experiments that involve different electronic casino games including video slots and live Cussec.

Can watching the World Cup make you mentally healthier? Positive associations between involvement in physical activities and flourishing were mediated by psychological need satisfaction.

Background: The current understanding of the relationship between physical activity involvement and flourishing, as well as the underlying psychological mechanisms, remains limited. Building upon the basic psychological need theory, this study investigates whether and how engaging in physical activities, either as a spectator (e.g.

Desire Thinking About Gambling: Assessment and Associations With Gambling Disorder and Responsible Gambling Among Chinese Gamblers.

Desire thinking, within the metacognitive model of addictive behaviors, is conceptualized as a transdiagnostic process linked to the escalation and maintenance of craving for various addictive disorders; however, its application to the understanding of gambling and the Chinese community remains at an early stage. The present study aimed to introduce desire thinking into gambling research in the Chinese context by: (1) testing the applicability of its two-factor conceptualization and assessment tool, the Desire Thinking Questionnaire (DTQ), and (2) exploring its association with dysregulated and regulated engagements in gambling (i.e.

Assessing the Role of Cortisol in Anxiety, Major Depression, and Neuroticism: A Mendelian Randomization Study Using / Variants.

Background: Previous evidence informed by the toxic stress model suggests that higher cortisol causes anxiety and major depression, but clinical success is lacking. To clarify the role of cortisol, we used Mendelian randomization to estimate its associations with anxiety, major depression, and neuroticism, leveraging the largest available genome-wide association studies including from the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium, the UK Biobank, and FinnGen.

Methods: After meta-analyzing 2 genome-wide association studies on morning plasma cortisol ( = 32,981), we selected single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at < 5 × 10 and < 0.