Journal of Professional & Applied Psychology

Chilla: A Cultural Shield against Maternal Postpartum Depression in Pakistan

2025-04-13T17:01:43+00:00

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Impact of Emotional Abuse and Neglect on Depressive Symptoms with Moderating Role of Emotional Intelligence among University Students

2025-04-13T17:02:08+00:00

Emotional abuse and emotional neglect have a huge impact on an individual’s mental health (St Clair et al., 2015). They have a huge prevalence not in Pakistan only but internationally (Kumari, 2020). Many studies have studied their impact on children and adolescents but very few investigated their impact on university students (Simpson, 2018). So, the current study examined their impact on depressive symptoms among university students. This study also aimed to study whether emotional intelligence moderates the relationship between emotional abuse, neglect, and depressive symptoms among 400 Pakistani university students. A cross-sectional research design was used and data was collected through the Convenient Purposive sampling technique. SPSS and Process Macro 4.1 version was used for data analysis. Results indicated that emotional abuse and neglect were positively related to depressive symptoms and they all were negatively correlated with emotional intelligence. Emotional abuse and neglect positively predicted depressive symptoms among university students. Further, it was found that emotional intelligence significantly moderates the relationship between emotional abuse, emotional neglect, and depressive symptoms. This indicates that students who have higher levels of emotional intelligence suffer less from depressive symptoms because of emotional abuse and neglect and vice versa. Findings indicate that emotional intelligence can be considered as a protective factor against the impacts of emotional abuse and neglect, and there is a need to work on it. So, the mental health practitioners can devise updated programs to improve emotional intelligence.

Personality, Self- esteem, and Materialism in University Students

2025-04-13T17:02:00+00:00

This study examined the relationship between personality, self-esteem, and materialism in university students. The study's design was correlational. Non-probability purposive sampling was used to select 300 university students, including 122 males and 178 females. The data was gathered using standardized tests. The analysis was run using the IBM SPSS version 21. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson Product Moment Correlation, multiple linear regression, and an independent sample t-test. The study revealed that extraversion strongly, positively, and significantly correlated with material value scale and acquisition centrality. Openness to experience and neuroticism had significant negative correlations with possession-defined success and acquisition centrality, respectively. Moreover, self-esteem showed a significantly positive correlation with acquisition centrality and a negative correlation with the acquisition of pursuit of happiness. Personality and self-esteem did not significantly predict materialism in university students. Moreover, gender differences were found only in neuroticism, with women scoring higher than men. The findings have significant implications that highlight the importance of personality traits in determining materialistic behavior and creating educational initiatives meant to lower materialistic ideals and foster positive self-esteem among university students.

Influence of Leadership Styles on Turnover Intentions in Technology Startups

2025-04-13T17:01:51+00:00

This study examines the relationship between leadership styles and turnover intentions in technology startups. It was a correlational study that followed the cross-sectional research design. The hypotheses were democratic and laissez faire leadership styles have positive whereas authoritarian leadership styles have an inverse relationship with turnover intentions of the employees. Data was collected from 150 employees and leaders with age ranges from 20 to 40 years within technology startups in Lahore, Pakistan using the non-probability purposive sampling technique. Leadership styles were measured using the Leadership Style Questionnaire (LSQ), while turnover intentions were measured with the Turnover Intention Scale (TIS-6). The results show a nonsignificant correlation between all leadership styles and turnover intentions. Tech startups represent a relatively underexplored population in leadership and organizational behavior literature. Present study tried to expand theoretical frameworks by applying leadership models to non-traditional organizational structures. However, hypotheses were not accepted in the proposed direction. Future research may increase sample size and replicate the study with different populations to see the relationship dynamics.

Development and Validation of Multidimensional Climate Change Distress Scale (MCCDS)

2025-04-14T17:01:50+00:00

The prevalence and intensity of climate change, and climate change related disasters is on the rise. Nations around the world have started to focus on mitigation and adaptation towards climate change, but Pakistan is still lacking in this aspect. People are developing fear, anxiety, and negative emotions because of climate change. Therefore, it becomes necessary to focus our attention on the impacts of climate change on the mental health of the masses. The 51-item multidimensional climate change distress scale MCCDS was developed to measure the distress individuals experience due to climate change. A total of n=368 participants were recruited for data collection. For exploratory factor analysis, SPSS was utilized, which revealed a 7-factor solution. The factors extracted were pro-environmental behaviors, eco-hopelessness, eco-emotions, eco-health, solastalgia, need for survival, and lack of planning. The psychometric properties of MCCDS further established the reliability, and convergent validity with climate change anxiety scale. The overall results suggest that the masses experience distress due to climate change, and there is a substantial need to tackle the mental health outcomes of climate change. The results of the current study further strengthen the need for mitigation and adaptation towards climate change. Future implications, and recommendations are also discussed further.

Institutional Social Cynicism Scale: Preliminary Validation in Adults

2025-04-22T17:39:11+00:00

Social cynicism influences individuals’ behaviors and interpersonal interactions, with excessive social cynicism potentially compromising the quality of life. To address this within the Pakistani context, it was aimed to develop the Institutional Social Cynicism Scale (ISCS) by focusing on the institutional aspects of social cynicism. Following an exploratory sequential design, three studies were conducted from March to July 2023. Study I (n = 39) generated qualitative data for initial item generation, while Study II (n = 304) and Study III (n = 367) were conducted to evaluate the scale’s construct validity and reliability indices. The final 20-item scale encompasses six factors and demonstrates strong psychometric properties, including robust discriminant validity through significant correlations with core self-evaluations, life satisfaction, and personality traits. The analysis emphasizes the ISCS’s cultural relevance and applicability, establishing it as a critical assessment tool for understanding the sources and dynamics of institutional social cynicism within our diverse indigenous context.

Emotional Stability, Trust and Sense of Self among Partners of Narcissists

2025-04-25T17:49:56+00:00

This study aims to investigate narcissist spouses' emotional stability, self-esteem, and trust levels. One hundred married women and one hundred married men made up the total sample size of 200 (N=200). Ames et al. (2006), Rempel et al. (1985), Flury and Ickes (2007), and Goldberg (1992) developed the Narcissistic Personality Inventory-16, Trust in Close Relationship Scale, and Factor IV Scale of Emotional Stability, respectively, which were employed as research instruments in this study. The wife's trust, emotional stability, and self-esteem were all significantly correlated with her husband's narcissism. Spouses of males who scored high on the narcissism scale had different levels of self-confidence, emotional stability, and trust. The effects of a narcissistic partner's personality on a spouse's emotional stability, trust, and self-esteem can be better understood by the current research findings. In addition, the current research encourages a deeper comprehension of these aspects, which helps narcissistic partners get better insight.

Sustaining Well-Being amid Eco-Anxiety: The Moderating Influence of Environmental Concerns among Adults in Urban Settings

2025-04-26T17:50:28+00:00

The purpose of this study was to find out the impact of Eco-anxiety on the well-being of urban adults in the Multan district. It was also investigated if the concern about the environment moderates the affiliation between Eco-anxiety and well-being. The population was selected through a purposive sampling technique in order to target educated adults in urban settings who are familiar with environment-related terminology. Participants were adults from urban areas of the Multan District. The study was based on a correlational research design. After estimating the minimum sample size required, 114 participants were sampled for data collection. A survey method was used for collecting the data. The instruments used for data collection included the Hogg Eco Anxiety Scale (Hogg et al., 2021), Preisendörfer's nine-item Environmental Concern Scale (Preisendörfer 1998), and the 18-item Well-being Scale (Ryff & Keyes, 1995). The collected data were analyzed through the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS 26.0). Correlation, Regression, and moderation analyses were run to obtain the results of the study. The results showed that Eco anxiety is an increasing situation affecting adults and causing serious issues among them and their well-being. The results of the study have shown a significant correlation between Eco anxiety, well-being and environmental concerns. Results of this study suggest that Eco anxiety is a predictor of their well-being, and their concerns for the environment significantly moderates this relationship in strengthening the association between Eco-anxiety and well-being.