Journal of Professional & Applied Psychology

Validation of Differential Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder and Intellectual Disability Scale in Pakistan

Sajjad Ahmad — 2025-09-30

Due to the recent clinical work's growing awareness of both autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disability (ID), differentiating between the two diagnoses is becoming more difficult, especially in developing countries like Pakistan. The co-occurrence of symptoms and characteristics contributed to the confusion. This tool attempts to address this challenge. From the parents of 20 people, 10 of whom were diagnosed with ASD and 10 of whom were diagnosed with ID, a total of 92 symptoms and traits were elicited, using the phenomenological method. Ten professional psychiatrists and clinical psychologists validated the explored signs diagnostically associated with ASD or ID. The resulting 66 symptoms fit firmly into one of the two categories. Two hundred sixty (260) mothers or teachers of children diagnosed with ASD (n=110) or ID (n=150) were interviewed, using base ratings. The statistical analyses indicated 36 features with high factor loading and statistical significance for ASD and 7 characteristics for ID. The tool named ‘Differential Diagnosis of Autism and Intellectual Disability (DDAID) Scale’ showed respectable sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive, and concurrent validity values (78%, 89%, 86%, & 89% respectively). The findings were reviewed for their cultural ramifications, enhancements in differential diagnosis, and their usefulness in creating training programs for certain people.

Relationship between Attachment Styles and Cognitive Biases in Young Adults

Fatima Usman — 2025-09-30

The study examined the relationship between attachment styles and cognitive biases in young adults and how the attachment styles tend to affect the overall cognitive biases and leads towards cognitive biases. To observe the relationship between the variables, a quantitative study was conducted with young adults, aged 18-25, and a sample of 250 participants was taken. The sample was collected through purposive sampling from the universities of Lahore from public and private sectors. The MANOVA and Pearson correlation were performed as main analyses of the data. Overall, the results of the statical analysis shows that individuals with secure attachment style had no significant correlation with cognitive biases, however a significant correlation between the variables in of insecure attachment styles is observed, positive correlation of anxious attachment style with cognitive biases is observed with negative correlation of dependant attachment style is observed. These findings highlight that insecure attachment styles, particularly anxious and dependent patterns, play a crucial role in shaping cognitive biases among young adults, whereas secure attachment appears to serve as a protective factor.

The Dark Side of Success: A Study of Dark Tetrad Traits and Subjective Entrepreneurial Success-Achievement

Hanzla Ahmed — 2025-09-30

The research investigated the relationship between Dark Tetrad personality traits (narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and sadism) (Paulhus et al., 2021) and subjective perceptions of entrepreneurial success (Wach et al., 2020). Our hypothesis stated that these dark personality traits would positively correlate with subjective entrepreneurial success-achievement among the entrepreneurs. It was also hypothesized that Dark Tetrad traits would differ between genders. The research utilized quantitative methods with convenience-based non-probability sampling to gather survey responses from 200 entrepreneurs, 100 males and 100 females. The analysis showed two dark personality traits linked positively to subjective entrepreneurial success (Machiavellianism and narcissism). The independent samples t-test demonstrated how Dark Tetrad traits differ between genders. Women obtained significantly lower scores in Machiavellianism compared to men. Similarly, males displayed higher scores in the narcissism trait than females. Finally, males exhibited higher psychopathy levels when compared to female participants. In sadism, results were not statistically significant. Therefore, data shows partial evidence for hypotheses and findings are discussed in the context of entrepreneurs.

Fear of COVID-19, Perceived Stress and Burnout in Healthcare Professionals: The Mediating Role of Emotion-Focused Coping

Rubab Razzaq — 2025-09-30

Healthcare professionals are at higher risk of burnout during COVID-19 because of their role as a frontline warrior. So, the goal of this study is to search the link between fear of COVID-19 (FOC), perceived stress, coping mechanisms as well as burnout in healthcare professionals. Adopting a cross-sectional research design, this study recruited 120 healthcare professionals purposively from government and private hospitals during COVID-19. All the recruited participants recorded their responses after signing an informed consent in a survey booklet consisting of demographics and standardized assessment tools such as Familial Infection scale (FCFIS), Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory, Perceived Stress scale, and Copenhagen Burnout inventory (CBI). Findings demonstrated a significant positive association between FOC, styles of coping, perceived stress and burnout in the sample. Regression analysis found that burnout was significantly positively predicted by FOC and emotion focused coping style. However, the association between FOC and burnout was mediated by emotion focused coping. The outcomes of this study suggest the advancement of healthy coping strategies to reduce the stress and chances of burnout in the recruited sample. The outcomes of this study indicate the advancement of healthy coping strategies in order to reduce perceived stress and chances of burnout in the recruited sample.

Perceived Parental Involvement and Psychological Capital among College Students: Mediating Role of Self-Identity

Esha Saeed — 2025-09-30

The relationship between perceived parental involvement and self-identity and psychological capital (goal orientation, optimism, self-efficacy, and resilience) was studied among college students. It was supposed that the perceived parental involvement would be positively related to self-identity and psychological capital and the relationship between the perceived parental involvement and the psychological capital would be mediated by self-identity. The research design was correlational. A purposive sample of 300 college students (M_age= 17 years, SD=1.19) was selected through the different colleges of Lahore in the government and the private sectors. The measures were the Helicopter Parenting Scale (LeMoyne & Buchanan, 2011), Self Concept & Identity Measure (Kaufman et al., 2015), and the Psychological Capital Scale (Batool et al., 2023), which involved subscales viz goals orientation, resilience, self-efficacy, and optimism. All measures were in their standardized form. Data was analyzed using SPSS; descriptive statistics, Pearson product-moment correlation, mediation using Hayes PROCESS macro (Model 4) were used. It was found that the perceived parental involvement had a positive correlation with self-concept, psychological capital, goal orientation, optimism, self-efficacy, and resilience. Psychological capital was also positively related to self-identity. Mediation analysis showed that self-identity significantly mediates the relationship between perceived parental involvement and psychological capital along with its four dimensions; goal orientation, resilience, self-efficacy and optimism. The study underscores the significance of perceived parental involvement in enhancing self-identity and psychological capital among college students.

The Impact of Exposure to Thin Ideal Celebrities on Young Women's Mood and Body Image

Shifa Nadeem — 2025-09-30

The previous studies have consistently shown that the media’s promotion of the thin ideal negatively impacts women’s body image and mood. This experimental study examined the effects of Instagram images of thin-ideal versus higher-weight celebrities on young women’s mood, body image, and state appearance comparison. A purposive sample of 176 university students (Mage = 20.43, SD = 1.87) was selected, with half exposed to 15 thin-ideal celebrity images (experimental group) and half to 15 higher-weight celebrity images (comparison group). Assessments used the Visual Analog Scale (Heinberg & Thompson, 1995) and the State Appearance Comparison Scale (Tiggemann & McGill, 2004). Findings demonstrated that thin-ideal celebrity images led to more negative mood, lower body satisfaction, and increased state appearance comparison. State appearance comparison partially mediated the relationship between exposure and both mood and body image. These results highlight the psychological effects of exposure to thin-ideal celebrity images among young women.

Organizational Cronyism and Job Satisfaction in College Teachers: Exploring the Role of Workplace Incivility

Nafeesa Ashiq — 2025-09-30

This research investigated the potential buffering effect of incivility at workplace amid organizational cronyism and job satisfaction in college teachers. Cross-sectional research design was employed and participants were recruited through non-probability, purposive sampling. It was hypothesized that organizational cronyism, workplace incivility, and job satisfaction might be significantly correlated with each other. Furthermore, organizational cronyism and workplace incivility are expected to be significant predictors of job satisfaction. A sample of 207 college teachers (M_age= 34.41, SD_age= 8.04) was collected from seven different colleges. The Perceived Organizational Cronyism Scale (Turhan, 2014), Workplace Incivility Scale (Cortina et al., 2013), and Job Satisfaction Scale (Macdonald & Maclntyre, 1997) were utilized to assess study variables. SPSS 23 was used to analyzed data. The results showed that organizational cronyism and workplace incivility are significant predictors of job satisfaction, with a significant association between them. Workplace incivility also served as a moderator between in-group bias and job satisfaction and reciprocal exchange of favor and job satisfaction. The findings contribute valuable knowledge for organizational behavior within the Pakistani context. Interventions to reduce incivility, such as civility training programs, clear reporting mechanisms and leadership role modeling can help improve job satisfaction and overall organizational climate.

Understanding Death Anxiety in Patients with Terminal Diseases: Exploring the Impact of Resilience and Optimism

Muhammad Naeem — 2025-09-30

Death anxiety is a distressing fear caused by thoughts of one's own death, impacting mental well-being and disrupting daily life while resilience is the competence to cope with hostile circumstances and optimism is a cognitive construct and it positively influences approach and response to future outcomes. This research aimed to examine resilience and optimism as determinants of death anxiety. The sample size of the study was 120 patients, which included 64 female and 56 male patients of different diseases, and the age range was between 18 - 78 years. Significant negative correlation of resilience and optimism with death anxiety was observed. Multiple regression analyses endorsed resilience and optimism as significant negative predictors of death anxiety. These findings underscore the protective effects of resilience and optimism in the experience of death anxiety among individuals diagnosed with terminal disease. The findings are discussed in light of the findings reported in the existing literature on death anxiety and its correlates.