Frontiers in Psychology最新文献

{"title":"Reward processing deficits: weakened self-reward association in individuals with methamphetamine addiction undergoing abstinence.","authors":"Xie Yanghui, Fan Chong, Li Qianyu","doi":"10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1567735","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1567735","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This research primarily investigates whether both reward processing and self-processing are aberrant in individuals with methamphetamine use disorder. It also explores whether initiating self-referential processing modulates reward processing abilities in this population, and how this modulation differs from that observed in healthy controls. Experiment 1 employed a two-factor mixed experimental design to compare the performance of addiction groups with varying withdrawal durations (all participants in the addiction groups were methamphetamine users) against healthy control groups in a probabilistic reward learning task. The results indicated that the healthy control group performed better than the addiction group in learning characters associated with high-probability, high-reward outcomes. While the long-term abstinence group outperformed the short-term abstinence group, these differences were not statistically significant. Therefore, the addiction group subjects in Experiments 2 and 3, the addiction group consisted of methamphetamine users with a uniform withdrawal duration of no more than 12 months. Experiment 2 utilized a two-factor mixed design to explore whether self-processing is abnormal in addicted individuals. The results showed that the addiction group had a significantly lower accuracy rate for self-referential characters compared to the healthy control group, while their accuracy for characters associated with acquaintances was significantly higher than that of the healthy control group. Experiment 3 also employed a two-factor mixed design to examine the moderating effect of self-processing on reward learning. The findings revealed that when high-probability reward characters were linked to self-relevance, learning efficiency was superior to that of characters linked to acquaintances. However, this moderating effect was weaker in the addiction group compared to the healthy control group. These results suggest that substance addiction not only impairs individuals' reward processing abilities but also reduces their sensitivity to self-referential information. Furthermore, the enhancing effect of self-processing on reward learning is significantly diminished in addicted populations, providing new insights into the cognitive mechanisms underlying addiction.</p>","PeriodicalId":12525,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Psychology","volume":"16 ","pages":"1567735"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12434089/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145074887","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Navigating change: the role of change management strategies and cultural factors in Saudi Arabian organizations.","authors":"Chiraz Mohamed Rouissi","doi":"10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1551902","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1551902","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Organizational change remains a critical challenge in the industrial sectors of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where leadership practices and deep-rooted cultural norms significantly influence transformation efforts. Despite a growing body of global change management literature, limited empirical research addresses the interplay between cultural dynamics and change management within the Saudi context.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study examines how change management techniques and cultural elements jointly affect employee engagement and performance in Saudi Arabia's industrial sector. Kurt Lewin's change management model serves as the theoretical foundation, providing a structured lens for analyzing transformation processes.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A quantitative research design was adopted, using a self-administered survey completed by 477 employees from diverse industrial firms across Saudi Arabia. A pilot study ensured the instrument's validity and reliability. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was employed to evaluate relationships among change management practices, cultural factors, and employee outcomes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The findings reveal that leadership-when aligned with culturally appropriate practices-significantly enhances employee engagement and performance. Transparent communication, employee participation, and targeted training were identified as critical enablers of effective change. Furthermore, cultural factors moderated the impact of change management strategies, emphasizing the necessity of context-sensitive approaches.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study contributes theoretically by integrating cultural considerations into change management frameworks, addressing a gap in region-specific organizational research. Practically, the results offer actionable insights for leaders and HR professionals aiming to design culturally responsive change strategies. The novelty of this research lies in its empirical focus on the Saudi industrial sector, providing evidence-based guidance for managing change in culturally complex environments.</p>","PeriodicalId":12525,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Psychology","volume":"16 ","pages":"1551902"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12434401/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145074898","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Understanding perceived stigma and depression symptoms in maintenance hemodialysis patients: a network perspective.","authors":"Yurong Li, Yaoyao Yang, Shiman Liang, Guanghui Cao, Jinjin Yang","doi":"10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1552518","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1552518","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) experience stigma due to their reliance on machines and changes in appearance, contributing to negative psychological outcomes. Depression symptoms can be considered a product of perceived stigma. However, the inter-relationships between perceived stigma and depression symptoms have not been examined using network analysis among MHD patients. The aim of this study was to model the perceived stigma and depression symptoms network structure, identify its core symptoms, analyze the internal connections between perceived stigma and depression symptoms, as well as identify bridge symptoms in the stigma-depression network.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study included 301 MHD patients in a cross-sectional design. The participants completed self-reported measures of perceived stigma and depressive symptoms. A cross-sectional network analysis was performed using the R language to model the network structure and identify core and bridge symptoms in the network.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The core symptoms of perceived stigma from the network analysis were SIS5 \"Feel others avoid me because of my illness\" (Strength = 1.258, Betweenness = 32, Closeness = 0.00303), SIS13 \"Feel others think I am to blame\" (Strength = 1.142, Betweenness = 62, Closeness = 0.00298), and SIS11 \"My job security has been affected\" (Strength = 1.108, Betweenness = 72, Closeness = 0.00313). The core symptoms of depression were PHQ6 \"Worthlessness\" (Strength = 1.213, Betweenness = 13, Closeness = 0.00211), PHQ1 \"Anhedonia\" (Strength = 1.048, Betweenness = 20, Closeness = 0.0150), and PHQ2 \"Sad mood\" (Strength = 1.012, Betweenness = 8, Closeness = 0.0164). Regarding the combination network, results showed that SIS2 \"Some people think I am less competent\" (Bridge Strength = 0.917) and SIS11 \"My job security has been affected\" (Bridge Strength = 0.783) were the two most prominent bridge nodes.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This research reveals the core and bridge symptoms in different symptomatic profiles (such as perceived stigma, depression symptoms, and their combination networks), which can be targeted for treatment personalization and aid in diminishing depressive symptoms and perceived stigma among MHD patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":12525,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Psychology","volume":"16 ","pages":"1552518"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12433967/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145074975","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Distinct patterns of parental involvement in Chinese families and preschoolers' social adjustment.","authors":"Zhongling Wu, Dianyue Zhang, Lichun Chen, Liang Chen, Wenxin Zhang","doi":"10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1616138","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1616138","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Parental involvement during early childhood is crucial for promoting children's social development. However, few studies have explored both maternal and paternal involvement and their combined effects on children's social adjustment.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The person-centered approach was conducted to examine the profiles of maternal and paternal involvement in a sample of 535 Chinese families with preschool children. Furthermore, the present study investigated the associations between these parental involvement profiles and preschoolers' social adjustment.</p><p><strong>Results and conclusion: </strong>Latent profile analysis identified a total of four profiles of parental involvement: <i>Moderate maternal-low paternal involvement</i> profile (21.9%), <i>Both moderate involvement</i> profile (38.1%), <i>High maternal-moderate paternal involvement</i> profile (28.2%), and <i>Both high involvement profile</i> (11.8%). Children in <i>Both high involvement</i> and <i>High maternal-moderate paternal involvement</i> profiles exhibited higher social skills compared to those in lower-involvement profiles. These findings enhance our understanding of home-based parental involvement patterns and their associations with preschoolers' social development.</p>","PeriodicalId":12525,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Psychology","volume":"16 ","pages":"1616138"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12434958/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145074917","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The impact of unfairness experience on cooperative behavior revealed by ultimatum game-public goods game integration: an ERPs study.","authors":"Yu-Jie Wang, Yao-Zhong Liu","doi":"10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1602181","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1602181","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Fairness critically shapes cooperative behavior in social dilemmas, yet the neurocognitive mechanisms linking unfairness experiences to cooperation remain underexplored. Twenty-four participants (<i>M</i> _age = 19.50 years, <i>SD</i> = 1.06) completed the Ultimatum Game (UG) with three proposal types (fair, moderately unfair, and extremely unfair) while event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded, followed by the Public Goods Game (PGG) to assess cooperation. Behavioral results revealed that participants exhibited robust inequity aversion, rejecting moderately and extremely unfair UG proposals at significantly higher rates than fair one. Exposure to unfairness reduced subsequent PGG contributions, underscoring fairness as a priority over material gains. ERPs results showed that unfair proposals elicited stronger medial frontal negativity (MFN), reflecting norm violation detection, while fair proposals evoked larger P300 amplitudes, indexing reward valuation. Exploratory analyses revealed that P300 amplitudes positively related to cooperative behavior, suggesting reward-related neural activity facilitates post-inequity cooperation. These findings elucidate behavioral patterns of inequity aversion in interactive games and their neurophysiological correlates, advancing the understanding of how fairness preferences regulate cooperative decision-making.</p>","PeriodicalId":12525,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Psychology","volume":"16 ","pages":"1602181"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12433989/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145074929","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The influence mechanism of upward social comparison on work withdrawal behavior of rural-origin civil servants: based on the mediating effect of ego depletion and the moderating effect of social mobility belief.","authors":"Jingyuan Zhang, Fengjuan Yan, Lin Meng","doi":"10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1653112","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1653112","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>As the sustained popularity of civil service careers persists, a significant number of young people from rural backgrounds have entered the civil service. However, due to differences in social status and background, rural-origin civil servants are prone to engaging in upward social comparison. This results in ego depletion and subsequently induces work withdrawal behavior, adversely affecting team harmony and sustainable development. This study empirically examines the mechanism by which upward social comparison influences work withdrawal behavior among rural-origin civil servants. The concepts of ego depletion and social mobility belief are introduced, with ego depletion further categorized into three dimensions: cognitive, emotional, and behavioral dimensions. Analysis of questionnaire data collected from 1,137 rural-origin civil servants in Jinan, Shandong Province, yielded the following findings: Upward social comparison significantly predicted work withdrawal behavior. Cognitive and emotional ego depletion positively mediated the relationship between upward social comparison and work withdrawal behavior. Furthermore, the mediating effect of emotional ego depletion was stronger than that of cognitive ego depletion. Social mobility belief negatively moderated the pathways through which upward social comparison influences cognitive ego depletion, behavioral ego depletion, and work withdrawal behavior. This research offers a new perspective for understanding the psychological mechanisms underlying work withdrawal behavior among rural-origin civil servants and provides a theoretical basis for targeted interventions.</p>","PeriodicalId":12525,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Psychology","volume":"16 ","pages":"1653112"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12434060/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145074927","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Designed physical activities targeting social skills in preschoolers: a meta-analysis.","authors":"Yuxin Yuan, Wen Liu, Jingyao Yi, Xiaofen Li","doi":"10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1585415","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1585415","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To comprehensively evaluate the impact of Designed Physical Activities (DPA) on the social skills of preschoolers, as well as its specific subdomains.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We obtained data from Web of Science, EBSCO, cochrane library, PubMed, PsycInfo, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WanfangData, and VIP Data from the establishment of each databases to June, 21, 2024. Two researchers independently assessed the quality of the study using the Cochrane risk of the bias assessment tool. Meta-analysis was performed when data were available, with further subgroup analysis, using Review Manager 5.4, and sensitivity analysis was performed using Stata software 15.1.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Search terms yielded 7,074 articles, of which 14 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Results showed that DPA had beneficial effects for social skills [SMD = 0.63, <i>p</i> < 0.0001], and insignificant positive effects for emotional skill [SMD = 1.86, <i>p</i> = 0.08]. Subgroup analysis indicated that interventions with both music and tools, and without music or tools caused positive effects, while those with only music or only tools did not. Considerable outcomes were achieved regardless of the frequencies of the intervention. Interventions of 12 weeks and had a significant effect in promoting preschoolers' social skills. Notably, the outcomes reported by parents were significantly higher than that reported by teachers and tested by children.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>DPA can significantly improve social skills and emotional skill in preschoolers. Nevertheless, it is imperative to conduct further trials with meticulous and rigorous study designs in order to furnish more definitive evidence in the foreseeable future.</p>","PeriodicalId":12525,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Psychology","volume":"16 ","pages":"1585415"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12434767/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145074871","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of anxiety and sleep disturbances on postoperative outcomes in male cardiothoracic surgery patients: a multicenter randomized controlled trial evaluating a psychological intervention during the ICU phase.","authors":"Yue Zhang, Dan Li, Xiaofei Bi, Xu Fang, Yang Jing, Baicheng Zhang, Xianglong Kong, Jing Shi","doi":"10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1649765","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1649765","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To investigate the prevalence and impact of anxiety and sleep disturbances during the intensive care unit (ICU) stay following cardiothoracic surgery in male patients, and to evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of a structured psychological intervention combining Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) principles with environmental optimization.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study was designed as a multicenter, prospective, randomized controlled trial (RCT) conducted from January to April 2025 across three tertiary hospitals. A total of 120 adult male patients who underwent radical surgery for cardiac or lung cancer and were subsequently admitted to the ICU were enrolled. Baseline assessments were performed within 48 h after surgery. Participants were randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to either the intervention group (<i>n</i> = 60) or the standard care group (<i>n</i> = 60) using a computer-generated randomization sequence with concealed allocation. While the standard care group received routine perioperative management, the intervention group additionally received a structured psychological intervention that incorporated components of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I)-including sleep education, relaxation training, and behavioral strategies-along with daily psychological support and environmental optimization measures such as noise reduction, lighting adjustment, and use of sleep-promoting devices.Primary outcomes included Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) for pain, ICU length of stay, incidence of postoperative complications, and the 30-day postoperative quality of life as measured by the SF-36. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the predictive value of anxiety and sleep disturbances on postoperative outcomes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>On postoperative day 3, the intervention group showed significantly lower GAD-7 scores (6.3 ± 1.6 vs. 8.4 ± 2.3, p = 0.016) and PSQI scores (7.5 ± 1.6 vs. 10.2 ± 2.3, <i>p</i> < 0.01) compared to the standard care group. Pain scores were also significantly reduced (2.7 ± 1.2 vs. 3.6 ± 1.3, <i>p</i> = 0.018). The intervention group had a shorter ICU stay (2.5 ± 0.6 days vs. 3.7 ± 1.2 days, <i>p</i> < 0.01), a lower rate of postoperative complications (17% vs. 36%, <i>p</i> = 0.033), and significantly better SF-36 scores at 30 days post-surgery (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression identified both anxiety and sleep disturbance as independent predictors of postoperative complications (GAD-7: OR = 1.25, 95% CI: 1.03-1.42; PSQI: OR = 1.33, 95% CI: 1.14-1.51).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Anxiety and sleep disturbances are common during the postoperative ICU phase in male patients undergoing cardiothoracic surgery and are significantly associated with pain, complications, and recovery outcomes. Early implementation of a CBT-I-based psycholo","PeriodicalId":12525,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Psychology","volume":"16 ","pages":"1649765"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12434024/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145074909","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The experience of transition preparation for children and adolescents with mental disorders in China: a qualitative study.","authors":"Yingying Miao, Juan Li, Jihong Wang, Xiaohuan Zhou, Xin Li, Yi Zhang, Hui Xu","doi":"10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1638296","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1638296","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Adolescence represents a critical transitional phase from pediatric to adult healthcare, during which young individuals with mental disorders encounter unique challenges; however, research on their transition experiences, particularly in non-English-speaking contexts such as China, remains limited.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study aimed to explore the transition preparation experiences of adolescents with mental disorders in China as they move from pediatric to adult healthcare.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 children and adolescents diagnosed with mental disorders in China, and the data were analyzed using interpretive phenomenological analysis.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>The study identified five primary themes related to the transition experiences of children and adolescents with mental disorders: (1) a discrepancy between transitional awareness and action; (2) gaps in transitional care throughout the healthcare transition process; (3) multidimensional needs within transitional care; (4) a contradiction between desire for self-management of illness and limited capacity; and (5) the dual attributes of family support, encompassing both enabling and constraining aspects.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The study underscores the concerning transition readiness of adolescents with psychiatric disorders in China, marked by complex challenges and diverse needs, while highlighting the dual role of family support as both a motivating and obstructive force.</p>","PeriodicalId":12525,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Psychology","volume":"16 ","pages":"1638296"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12434409/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145074970","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Asymmetric effects of spectator presence on home and away team performance: a natural experiment from the 2021 K League 1 season.","authors":"Joonha Lee, Seoung-Jin Park, Dong Hun Suh, Hyung Jun Park","doi":"10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1646264","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1646264","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The presence of spectators is a well-known factor contributing to home advantage in competitive sports. However, isolating its direct effect on team performance has proven difficult. This study aims to assess the influence of spectator attendance on the performance of home and away teams using a natural experimental setting during the 2021 K League 1 season, which experienced regional differences in spectator policies due to the COVID-19 pandemic.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This retrospective observational study analyzed 162 matches in the 2021 K League 1 season. Match variables were categorized into three domains: outcome factors (e.g., points, win percentage), tactical factors (e.g., shots on target, total shots), and violation factors (e.g., fouls, cards) to evaluate team performance. Matches were classified according to the presence or absence of spectators and further stratified by whether they were home or away games. Group comparisons were performed using t-tests, one-way analysis of variance, and effect-size analysis (Cohen's <i>d</i>).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The presence of spectators was associated with improved tactical performance in home matches, as evidenced by a greater number of shots on target (6.02 ± 3.08 vs. 4.40 ± 2.34, <i>p</i> = 0.041, <i>d</i> = 0.58) and total shots (11.46 ± 4.13 vs. 9.46 ± 3.48, <i>d</i> = 0.52). In contrast, spectator-related effects were more pronounced in away matches, particularly in outcome performance factors. Away teams with spectators had lower win percentage (0.22 ± 0.42 vs. 0.58 ± 0.52, <i>d</i> = 0.83), more goals conceded (1.58 ± 1.16 vs. 0.67 ± 0.89, <i>p</i> = 0.032, <i>d</i> = 0.82), and fewer points (0.96 ± 1.19 vs. 2.00 ± 1.28, <i>d</i> = 0.87) than those without spectators.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Spectator presence was associated with enhanced tactical performance by home teams. In contrast, its impact on away matches was more pronounced in outcome-related performance, suggesting that home crowds may exert psychological pressure that disrupts visiting teams' execution and composure. These findings underscore the asymmetrical influence of spectatorship and enhance our understanding of home advantage in professional football.</p>","PeriodicalId":12525,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Psychology","volume":"16 ","pages":"1646264"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12434956/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145074833","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}