European Journal of Investigation in Health Psychology and Education最新文献

{"title":"Sexual Knowledge, Attitudes, and Motivational Factors Associated with Sexual Activity in Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study.","authors":"Verónica Estruch-García, María Dolores Gil-Llario, Encarnación Satorres","doi":"10.3390/ejihpe16060077","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ejihpe16060077","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Sexuality remains an important dimension of well-being in later life, yet it is often surrounded by misconceptions and ageist stereotypes. Understanding sociodemographic, cognitive, attitudinal, motivational, and behavioral aspects of sexuality among older adults may contribute to a more comprehensive view of sexual well-being in aging.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study aimed (1) to describe older adults' knowledge, attitudes, sexual motivation, behaviors, and satisfaction; (2) to examine differences between individuals who reported engaging in partnered eroto-genital activity during the previous six months and those who did not; and (3) to identify sociodemographic (age, gender, religiosity and health condition), cognitive, attitudinal, and motivational factors associated with engagement in partnered eroto-genital activity.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional study was conducted with 186 adults aged 65-88 years (M = 73.29). Participants completed the Aging Sexual Knowledge and Attitudes Scale (ASKAS) and a Sexual Behavior Questionnaire assessing sexual motivation, sexual behaviors, and sexual satisfaction. Descriptive analyses, group comparisons, and hierarchical logistic regression analyses were performed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Participants showed relatively adequate knowledge and generally favorable attitudes, although several misconceptions persisted. Affective behaviors were more frequent than eroto-genital practices. Individuals reporting partnered eroto-genital activity showed higher knowledge, more positive attitudes, greater perceived importance of sexuality, and higher sexual satisfaction. Regression analyses indicated that age, gender, attitudes toward sexuality, and perceived importance of sex were significant predictors of partnered eroto-genital activity, with perceived importance of sex showing the strongest association.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Sexuality in later life reflects diverse patterns shaped by cognitive, attitudinal, and especially motivational dimensions. These findings highlight the central role of subjective importance and attitudes in sexual engagement, suggesting that interventions may benefit from moving beyond information provision to also address motivational and relational aspects of sexuality in aging populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":30631,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Investigation in Health Psychology and Education","volume":"16 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13298553/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148319490","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Psychological Capital and Mental Health in Ecuadorian University Students: The Mediating Role of Negative Stress.","authors":"Lucía Quinde, Victor López-Guerra, Sandra Guevara-Mora","doi":"10.3390/ejihpe16060076","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ejihpe16060076","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study examined the mediating role of negative stress in the relationship between Psychological Capital (PsyCap) and psychological distress indicators among Ecuadorian university students. PsyCap was conceptualized as a higher-order construct composed of hope, self-efficacy, resilience, and optimism. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 1732 university students (55% women; M = 20.44, SD = 2.29) from three Ecuadorian universities using validated self-report measures. Structural equation modeling supported the proposed mediational model and demonstrated an adequate fit to the data, χ²(367) = 1732, <i>p</i> < 0.001, CFI = 0.972, TLI = 0.969, RMSEA = 0.061 (90% CI [0.058, 0.063]), and SRMR = 0.041. PsyCap showed a significant negative association with negative stress (β = -0.311, <i>p</i> < 0.001). In turn, negative stress was positively associated with anxiety-depression symptoms (β = 0.785, <i>p</i> < 0.001) and psychological inflexibility (β = 0.774, <i>p</i> < 0.001). Mediation analyses revealed significant indirect effects of PsyCap on anxiety-depression (β = -0.244, <i>p</i> < 0.001) and psychological inflexibility (β = -0.241, <i>p</i> < 0.001) through negative stress. Direct effects remained significant but smaller in magnitude (β = -0.131 and β = -0.107, respectively), supporting a partial mediation model. The model explained 69.7% of the variance in anxiety-depression and 66.3% of the variance in psychological inflexibility. These findings suggest that PsyCap functions primarily as a protective psychological resource through its capacity to reduce maladaptive stress responses, which subsequently influence broader transdiagnostic indicators of psychological distress. The study highlights the relevance of integrating strengths-based approaches and stress-reduction strategies in university mental health interventions. Furthermore, it provides empirical evidence from a Latin American context, contributing to the understanding of mechanisms linking positive psychological resources and mental health among university students.</p>","PeriodicalId":30631,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Investigation in Health Psychology and Education","volume":"16 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13298133/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148319430","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"From Simulation to Sustainability: The Mediating Role of Clinical Self-Efficacy Among Undergraduate Healthcare Students.","authors":"Waleed El-Sayed Mohammed Hemaida, Ekram Mohammed Gomaa Geenedy, Mohamed Sayed Abdellatif, Mohamed Ali Nemt-Allah","doi":"10.3390/ejihpe16060075","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ejihpe16060075","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Despite growing recognition that nurses must be equipped with sustainability competencies to address climate-related health challenges, the psychological mechanisms through which nursing education fosters sustainability attitudes are not yet fully understood. This study examined the mediating role of clinical performance self-efficacy in the relationship between simulation-based learning quality and sustainability attitudes among undergraduate nursing students. A cross-sectional correlational design was employed with a main sample of 679 nursing students from four Egyptian universities. Data were collected using the CHEST, SECP Scale, and SANS_2. Mediation analysis used Hayes' PROCESS macro with 5000 bootstrap resamples. Simulation-based learning quality significantly predicted both self-efficacy (β* = 0.772) and sustainability attitudes (β* = 0.613). Self-efficacy partially mediated this relationship, accounting for 68.34% of the total effect (indirect β* = 0.419, Boot 95% CI [0.343, 0.494]). Nursing educators should design simulation curricula that deliberately cultivate self-efficacy while embedding sustainability content, producing clinically competent and environmentally responsible graduates.</p>","PeriodicalId":30631,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Investigation in Health Psychology and Education","volume":"16 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13298465/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148319262","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Perceived Academic Support and Mental Well-Being Among Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Trainees in Kenya: The Mediating Role of Academic Resilience.","authors":"Naomi Odira Owuor, Bettina F Piko","doi":"10.3390/ejihpe16060074","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ejihpe16060074","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Mental well-being has been considered a fundamental contributor to overall academic success and psychological stability. Based on the Transactional Theory of Stress and Coping, this study examined the mediating role of academic resilience in the relationship between perceived academic support and mental well-being of Kenyan TVET trainees. A quantitative cross-sectional design was employed, with a sample of 1933 trainees (<i>M</i>_age = 22.87 years; 57.7% male) from 239 public TVET institutions in Kenya. The following measures were administered: Perceived Academic Support Questionnaire, Academic Resilience Scale, and the Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale. Correlation analysis demonstrated that perceived academic support showed a strong positive association with mental well-being, whereas academic resilience indicated a moderate association. Consistent with the hypothesized model, parallel mediation analysis indicated that academic resilience partially mediated the relationship between academic support and mental well-being. The indirect effects observed across resilience dimensions indicated that emotional response was the dominant mediating pathway, while perseverance showed a small positive indirect effect, and adaptive help-seeking demonstrated a small but significant negative indirect effect. These findings contribute to the growing but limited literature on well-being in vocational training and suggest that while academic resilience serves as a key mediating mechanism, perceived academic support may also function as a direct protective factor, underscoring the importance of embedding structured emotional coping support within TVET academic environments.</p>","PeriodicalId":30631,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Investigation in Health Psychology and Education","volume":"16 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13297924/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148319453","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Culturally Embedded Inner Strengths as Predictors of Resilience in Emerging Adults Following Childhood Parental Divorce.","authors":"Shan Chen, Penkarn Kanjanarat, Tinakon Wongpakaran, Danny Wedding","doi":"10.3390/ejihpe16060073","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ejihpe16060073","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Parental divorce, as an adverse childhood experience, may disrupt family systems and exert enduring effects on psychological development, with impacts becoming particularly salient during emerging adulthood, a stage characterized by identity exploration and increasing autonomy. Within the Thai cultural context, inner strengths grounded in Buddhist values may serve as important resources for resilience. This study examined associations between inner strength dimensions derived from the Ten Perfections (<i>Pāramīs</i>) and resilience among emerging adults who experienced parental divorce in childhood. A cross-sectional design was employed with 160 Thai participants aged 20 to 29 years, who completed the Inner Strength-Based Inventory (I-SBI) and the Resilience Inventory (RI-9). Correlation analysis indicated that equanimity, determination, perseverance, wisdom, meditation, and loving-kindness were positively correlated with resilience. Multiple regression analysis showed that equanimity (β = 0.312, <i>p</i> < 0.001), determination (β = 0.227, <i>p</i> < 0.01) and loving-kindness (β = 0.213, <i>p</i> < 0.01) were significantly associated with resilience. These findings suggest that culturally embedded inner strengths are associated with resilience in a non-Western context. More specifically, among the ten dimensions examined, equanimity, determination, and loving-kindness emerged as being significantly associated with resilience in Thai emerging adults with childhood parental divorce experiences.</p>","PeriodicalId":30631,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Investigation in Health Psychology and Education","volume":"16 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13298458/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148319264","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Kinesiophobia and Work Disability in Fibromyalgia: Cognitive Mediation in a Population-Based Study of Women.","authors":"Giordano Mayer De Freitas, Guilherme Teixeira Lopes, Graziele Borges Bueno, Mariana Lentino Coelho, Julia Gomes, Caroline Leffa Venturini, Maria Eduarda Louzada, Sara Machado Peres, Barbara Regina França, Iraci L S Torres Pham, Felipe Fregni, Andrea Cristiane Janz Moreira, Wolnei Caumo","doi":"10.3390/ejihpe16060072","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ejihpe16060072","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Work disability in fibromyalgia is only partially explained by symptom severity, suggesting a relevant contribution of cognitive-behavioral mechanisms.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aimed to determine whether kinesiophobia is associated with fibromyalgia impact and work-related disability and to assess whether pain catastrophizing mediates these relationships within a hierarchical biopsychosocial framework.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional study included 2096 women with fibromyalgia recruited through a nationwide online survey. Participants completed validated instruments assessing fibromyalgia impact (FIQ), pain catastrophizing (PCS), depressive symptoms (PHQ-9), central sensitization (CSI), and kinesiophobia (Tampa Scale). Pain-related work disability was defined using the Graded Chronic Pain Scale-Revised (GCPS-R). Hierarchical logistic regression models identified factors independently associated with work disability. Mediation was tested using bootstrapped analyses (5000 resamples).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Kinesiophobia demonstrated a robust independent association with work disability (OR 1.03; 95% CI 1.02-1.05) after adjustment for sociodemographic factors, clinical pain phenotype, systemic burden, pain severity, psychocognitive load, and medication burden. Other relevant contributors included pain severity (OR 1.96; 95% CI 1.70-2.27), psychocognitive burden (OR 1.35; 95% CI 1.15-1.58), use of benzodiazepines (OR 1.74; 95% CI 1.33-2.28), and opioid use (OR 1.29; 95% CI 1.06-1.56). Mediation analysis indicated a significant indirect effect of kinesiophobia on work disability through pain catastrophizing (β = 0.131; 95% CI 0.078-0.188).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Kinesiophobia is a proximal determinant of work disability in fibromyalgia, exerting direct and cognitively mediated effects through pain catastrophizing, reinforcing the fear-avoidance framework and the need for psychologically informed rehabilitation.</p>","PeriodicalId":30631,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Investigation in Health Psychology and Education","volume":"16 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13297734/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148319223","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Co-Designing a Digital Coach-Supported Parenting Program for Internalising Problems in Autistic Children.","authors":"Olivia Bruce, Wan H Sim, Aspasia Stacey Rabba, Anthony F Jorm, Elizabeth Nicolaou, Ling Wu, Marie B H Yap","doi":"10.3390/ejihpe16050071","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ejihpe16050071","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Depression and clinical anxiety (also known as 'internalising disorders') are commonly experienced by autistic children. Parents play an important role in reducing their child's risk of developing internalising disorders, and existing technology-assisted parenting programs have shown promise in empowering parents in this role. Yet, existing interventions do not currently meet the unique needs of parents of autistic children. This study aimed to co-design adaptations to an existing technology-assisted parenting program (<i>Partners in Parenting Kids</i>) to enhance its relevance and acceptability for parents of school-aged autistic children. An iterative two-phase co-design study was conducted with parents of autistic children (<i>n</i> = 5) and service providers (<i>n</i> = 5). In Phase 1, semi-structured interviews explored participant experiences and needs in the context of parenting support, as well as perspectives on parenting programs. In Phase 2, eight co-design workshops were conducted with parents and service providers to build on the findings from Phase 1 and to collaboratively adapt the program content, delivery, and design features. Workshops involved participatory design activities to foster collaborative sharing of ideas and decision-making. Transcripts from both phases were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Themes identified in Phase 1 included: (1) Day-to-day challenges of parenting an autistic child; (2) Unique parent knowledge base and skill set; and (3) Desired qualities of parenting programs. Themes from Phase 2 of the study included: (1) Meaningful connections with others in the community; (2) Acceptance of autism; and (3) Diversity within the community. These themes are described in terms of their design implications for the resultant parenting program (<i>Partners in Parenting Kids-Autism</i>). The findings provide critical insights into desired qualities of parenting programs for parents of autistic children. Importantly, they also shed light on key design recommendations for future work focused on empowering parents to support their child's mental health through interventions.</p>","PeriodicalId":30631,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Investigation in Health Psychology and Education","volume":"16 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13205567/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148035962","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dysfunctional Cognition and Work-Related Outcomes: A Systematic Literature Review.","authors":"Christian Scholtes, Petru Lucian Curșeu, Sabina Ramona Trif","doi":"10.3390/ejihpe16050069","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ejihpe16050069","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This systematic literature review synthesizes and integrates research on dysfunctional cognition (DC) in organizational settings, addressing the lack of a coherent model explaining how cognitive vulnerabilities shape work-related outcomes. Following the PRISMA guidelines, we analyzed 41 manuscripts (selected from more than 4523 initial and secondary search hits), leading to an integrative model of DC at work. Results show that DC is activated by job demands, alongside other demanding situational and contextual features. The model specifies maladaptive appraisal processes as the cognitive-affective mechanism through which DC shapes (dis)engagement in the task and relational domains at work and ultimately impacts outcomes such as well-being, stress, burnout, performance, and decision quality. It further incorporates job, personal, and social resources as buffering contingencies that promote adaptive appraisal and attenuate the detrimental role of DC. By integrating insights from clinical, cognitive-behavioral and organizational research, this review advances theory in three ways: (1) by emphasizing the role of appraisal as the cognitive-affective mechanism linking DC to work (dis)engagement, (2) by embedding DC in the job demands-resources model and identifying job demands as activating conditions and resources as regulatory factors for dysfunctional cognitive dynamics at work and (3) by differentiating between task and interpersonal (dis)engagement as domain-specific paths through which self-focused and relational schema impact work-related outcomes. The integrative DC model provides a foundation for future research using longitudinal and mixed-method designs, and for more fine-grained examinations of how specific forms of DC relate to distinct cognitive-affective pathways and work-related outcomes, while offering practical implications for developing schema-informed and resource-based interventions in organizations.</p>","PeriodicalId":30631,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Investigation in Health Psychology and Education","volume":"16 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13205660/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148035882","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Age-Related Patterns in Child-to-Parent Violence Across Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood.","authors":"María J Navas-Martínez, Lourdes Contreras, Nazaret Bautista-Aranda, M Carmen Cano-Lozano","doi":"10.3390/ejihpe16050070","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ejihpe16050070","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The aim of this study was to examine the pattern of child-to-parent violence (CPV) across a broad age range, from early adolescence to late emerging adulthood. Specifically, the objectives were to analyze the linear and quadratic relationships between CPV types (psychological, physical, financial, and control/domain behaviors) and age, as well as to examine the interaction of sex within this relationship.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 1959 adolescents (13-17 years) and 1046 young adults (18-25 years) completed, respectively, the adolescent and young adult versions of the Child-to-Parent Violence Questionnaire (CPV-Q).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Age was curvilinearly associated with psychological CPV (increasing until approximately age 19 and then decreasing), positively linearly associated with financial CPV (increasing with age), and negatively linearly associated with control/domain behaviors (decreasing with age). No significant association was found between age and physical CPV. Furthermore, boys and girls showed different age-related patterns in some CPV types.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These findings suggest that CPV does not disappear after adolescence, and that the pattern is not uniform throughout development nor the same for boys and girls. The results (1) underscore the importance of studying CPV considering developmental stage, sex, and the specific CPV types, and (2) may contribute to facilitate the early detection of CPV, anticipating changes in violence patterns, and guiding prevention strategies tailored to each developmental stage.</p>","PeriodicalId":30631,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Investigation in Health Psychology and Education","volume":"16 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13206349/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148035934","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Identity Reconstruction as a Coping Mechanism in Addiction Recovery: A Pilot Stratified Randomized Controlled Trial of Narrative Therapy Group Intervention.","authors":"Peipei Wang, Yanan Li, Xu Cheng, Hong Xie, Huanxian Huang, Jun Yang, Yangwei Chen, Alex Pak Ki Kwok, Jiacheng Chen","doi":"10.3390/ejihpe16050068","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ejihpe16050068","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Relapse in substance use disorders remains a persistent clinical challenge. Identity reconstruction, the psychological transition from an internalized \"addict\" identity to a recovery-oriented self, may be a core coping mechanism for abstinence maintenance. This exploratory pilot stratified randomized controlled trial examined the feasibility and preliminary effects of a Narrative Therapy (NT) group intervention, delivered within an evidence-based practice framework. Forty-five male residents of a closed rehabilitation facility were randomly assigned (<i>n</i> = 15 each) to an 8-week NT intervention, standard psychoeducation (TAU), or waitlist control (WLC). The Self-Identity Scale and an abbreviated four-item Stimulant Relapse Risk Scale served as outcomes. The Self-Concept Clarity Scale assessed a candidate process variable. A 3 (group) × 3 (time) repeated-measure ANOVA showed significant group × time interactions for self-identity (<i>F</i> = 64.215, <i>p</i> < 0.001, and <i>η²p</i> = 0.754) and relapse-risk indicators (<i>F</i> = 62.131, <i>p</i> < 0.001, and <i>η²p</i> = 0.747). For self-identity, only the NT group showed significant within-group gains. For relapse-risk indicators, NT scores were significantly lower than both control groups at post-test and follow-up (all pairwise <i>p</i> ≤ 0.008), with these reductions maintained at two-month follow-up. Within-group self-concept clarity gains emerged for NT, though between-group differences were nonsignificant. Because the study was conducted in a custodial setting, the relapse-risk findings reflect psychological vulnerability rather than observed behavior. Larger adequately powered trials are needed.</p>","PeriodicalId":30631,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Investigation in Health Psychology and Education","volume":"16 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13206116/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148035903","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}