Acta PsychologicaPub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-02-09DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.106305
Zebin Niu , Lingjie Wang , Yunhuan Jia
{"title":"How do role models nurture educators? The impact of practicum mentors' embodiment of the spirit of educators on pre-service teachers' intrinsic teaching motivation","authors":"Zebin Niu , Lingjie Wang , Yunhuan Jia","doi":"10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.106305","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.106305","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>China has implemented policies to encourage pre-service teachers' teaching commitment, yet their intrinsic teaching motivation remains insufficient. Existing studies on internship environments and motivation overlook spiritual role models and intrinsic motivation's significance. Integrating Social Learning Theory and Self-Determination Theory, this study explored how Practicum Mentors' Embodiment of the Spirit of Educators affects pre-service teachers' intrinsic teaching motivation, and the mediating roles of Teaching Self-Efficacy and Professional Identity. A questionnaire survey of 688 pre-service teachers used a self-developed Scale for Practicum Mentors' Embodiment of the Spirit of Educators and mature scales for the other three variables. Results revealed that Practicum Mentors' Embodiment of the Spirit of Educators had a significant positive impact on Pre-Service Teachers' Intrinsic Teaching Motivation; Teaching Self-Efficacy and Professional Identity played both independent and serial mediating roles. Findings extend the Social Learning Theory and Self-Determination Theory to the context of China's Spirit of Educators and inform optimizing mentor selection, pre-service teacher programs, and talent cultivation in other mentorship-based fields.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7141,"journal":{"name":"Acta Psychologica","volume":"264 ","pages":"Article 106305"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146155444","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Acta PsychologicaPub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-02-09DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.106373
Xin Wang , Xiaoqi Li , Qiang Sun
{"title":"Which features make scientific illustrations more interesting? Study of group effects based on the FsQCA approach","authors":"Xin Wang , Xiaoqi Li , Qiang Sun","doi":"10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.106373","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.106373","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Stimulating public interest in scientific content is a core challenge in science communication. To explore the combination of features that make scientific illustrations engaging, this study, grounded in situational interest theory, examined 67 Chinese undergraduate students. Using fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA), it investigated how four features— specificity, personal relevance, understandability, and unexpected information—interact to stimulate situational interest. The analysis reveals three effective configurations that result in high situational interest and three configurations associated with low situational interest. Among these, understandability, unexpected information, and specificity emerge as core causal conditions. Personal relevance proved to be a conditional core concept with a “double-edged sword effect.” Notably, the fsQCA analysis further revealed a significant asymmetry in the pathways leading to illustrations being perceived as “interesting” versus “uninteresting,” indicating that the absence of low-interest conditions does not necessarily result in high interest. These findings offer valuable theoretical and practical insights for educators and science communicators, aiding in the design of more effective visual materials to enhance learning engagement and motivational outcomes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7141,"journal":{"name":"Acta Psychologica","volume":"264 ","pages":"Article 106373"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146155657","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Acta PsychologicaPub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-02-06DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.106425
Zhixun Chen , Zihan Li , Ying Qu
{"title":"The impact of AIGC design features on user creativity: The mediating roles of cognitive flexibility and cognitive persistence","authors":"Zhixun Chen , Zihan Li , Ying Qu","doi":"10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.106425","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.106425","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>With the rapid development of artificial intelligence, Artificial Intelligence generated content (AIGC) has been increasingly applied in the design industry and has become an important tool for enhancing user efficiency. However, the impact of AIGC interaction design features on user creativity remains insufficiently examined. Based on the Stimulus Organism Response model and the Dual Pathway to Creativity Model (DPCM), this study constructs a theoretical framework that identifies intelligence, anthropomorphism, stylistic diversity, and interactivity as independent variables, and cognitive flexibility and cognitive persistence as mediating variables. Data were collected from 504 Chinese users who work in the design field with experience using AIGC tools and analyzed through Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling. Results show that the four design features significantly influence user creativity and that cognitive flexibility and cognitive persistence mediate these relationships. Notably, interactivity demonstrated the strongest direct effect, suggesting that highly interactive AIGC tools are particularly effective in stimulating creative production. The study provides theoretical and practical insights for optimizing AIGC tools, improving user creative experiences, and promoting creativity developments in both AIGC applications and the design industry.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7141,"journal":{"name":"Acta Psychologica","volume":"264 ","pages":"Article 106425"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146137113","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Acta PsychologicaPub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-02-14DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.106439
Zhanyang Yuan, Xiaoyun Tang
{"title":"Corrigendum to \"Environmental effects of social media on university students: A joint moderated mediation analysis of social connectedness and sustainability awareness, and perceived social support\" [Acta Psychologica 263 (2026) 106195].","authors":"Zhanyang Yuan, Xiaoyun Tang","doi":"10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.106439","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.106439","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":7141,"journal":{"name":"Acta Psychologica","volume":" ","pages":"106439"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146197277","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Acta PsychologicaPub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-02-21DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.106433
Mar González-Noriega, Ana Cancela, Alejo García-Naveira, Roberto Ruíz-Barquín
{"title":"The quality of life of competitive and recreational Spanish surfers and para surfers.","authors":"Mar González-Noriega, Ana Cancela, Alejo García-Naveira, Roberto Ruíz-Barquín","doi":"10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.106433","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.106433","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Physical exercise is known to enhance both physical and mental health. Surfing, an emerging water sport practiced in \"blue space\", offers unique well-being benefits, including for individuals with disabilities through Para-Surfing.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study analyzed the Quality of Life (QoL) among 146 Spanish participants (126 Surfers and 20 Para-Surfers), comparing competitive and recreational modalities, reasons for engagement, and the relationship between sociodemographic factors, surf practice, and QoL.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Overall, participants reported high scores QoL. Despite the absence of discernible global disparities in Global QoL attributable to practice or surfing modality, Para-Surfers exhibited comparatively diminished QoL in the Physical Health and Level of Independence (PHLI) domain relative to Surfers. The predominant reasons for engaging in surfing activities among the study participants encompassed the enhancement of both mental and physical well-being, augmented personal autonomy, and the fulfillment derived from personal challenges. However, competitive Surfers and Para-Surfers were more likely to highlight performance and recognition as key motivators. Notably, recreational surfers who valued social connections reported higher QoL, unlike competitive surfers who placed less importance on these relationships. For Para-Surfers, equipment adaptation was significantly associated with better overall QoL, as well as improvements in psychological health and spirituality (PHS).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The findings underscore the importance of aligning individual motivations with the type of surf practice to maximize QoL benefits. For Para-Surfers, access to safe, enjoyable, and adapted equipment is essential. Promoting surfing as a health-enhancing activity should consider both personal goals and structural support to optimize QoL outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":7141,"journal":{"name":"Acta Psychologica","volume":"264 ","pages":"106433"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147269365","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The role of verbal working memory load on number order processing: Evidence from an articulatory suppression paradigm.","authors":"Francesco Sella, Declan Devlin, Natalia Dubinkina, Iro Xenidou-Dervou, Bert Reynvoet, Korbinian Moeller","doi":"10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.106528","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.106528","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Although number order processing has received increasing research attention due to its association with arithmetic skills, its underlying cognitive mechanisms remain unclear. It has been suggested that highly familiar sequences (e.g., 1-2-3, 2-4-6) are processed faster because they are retrieved from memory. However, the involvement of verbal memory retrieval has not been directly tested and is usually inferred indirectly from participants' response times. In this study, participants completed an order verification task standalone and under verbal working memory load involving articulatory suppression, where participants repeated the syllables \"pa-ta-ka\" throughout the task. Participants also completed arithmetic production and verification tasks to evaluate the association between order processing and arithmetic. As expected, verbal working memory load increased response times, but this effect was stronger for consecutive than non-consecutive sequences, rather than for familiar versus unfamiliar ones as initially hypothesised. This pattern suggests that articulatory suppression may disrupt sub-vocal routines such as internal counting, which may be more prominent in consecutive sequences compared to non-consecutive, although familiar, sequences. Nevertheless, a robust familiarity effect was observed overall, with familiar sequences processed faster than unfamiliar ones. These findings point to a general involvement of verbal working memory in number order processing, particularly in relation to sequences that align with common counting routines. Finally, order verification performance was more strongly associated with arithmetic production for small problems-likely reflecting greater reliance on memory retrieval-and showed trends toward stronger associations with arithmetic verification and familiar sequences.</p>","PeriodicalId":7141,"journal":{"name":"Acta Psychologica","volume":"264 ","pages":"106528"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147281429","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Acta PsychologicaPub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-02-27DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.106502
Yulong Tang, Xiaolong Miao, Binjie Wang, Yingqian Wang, Yitian Liu, Juan Wang
{"title":"Family function and problem behaviors among preadolescents: A mediation model of generalized trust beliefs and peer attachment.","authors":"Yulong Tang, Xiaolong Miao, Binjie Wang, Yingqian Wang, Yitian Liu, Juan Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.106502","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.106502","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Preadolescence marks the critical onset period for problem behaviors that shape later adjustment. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether family function is associated with preadolescent problem behaviors through the sequential mediation of generalized trust beliefs and peer attachment, while exploring potential gender differences in these pathways. A total of 371 preadolescents (M<sub>age</sub> = 11.58 ± 0.58) completed self-reported questionnaires. Results of latent variable structural equation modeling showed that family function was negatively associated with internalizing problems largely through the sequential mediation of generalized trust beliefs and peer attachment. For externalizing problems, family function showed both a direct association and partially indirect association through the same pathway. Notably, the mediating role of peer attachment between family function and externalizing problems was significant for boys but not for girls. These findings underscore the roles of generalized trust and peer attachment in linking family function to problem behaviors and provide insights for gender-sensitive early interventions to reduce preadolescents' problem behaviors.</p>","PeriodicalId":7141,"journal":{"name":"Acta Psychologica","volume":"264 ","pages":"106502"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147321132","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The network structure of motivation: Interplay with perfectionism, mindfulness and emotion regulation styles.","authors":"Maryam Sadighpour, Fahimeh Ahmadian Vargahan, Sanaz Zarezadeh, Hojjatollah Farahani, Hoda Doosalivand","doi":"10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.106535","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.106535","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Motivation, a fundamental driver of human behavior, is intricately linked with perfectionism, mindfulness, and emotion regulation styles. Although these constructs have been studied separately, their complex interactions remain unclear.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study employed network analysis to explore how these dimensions collectively interact in a sample of 350 s-year high school students from Tabriz, Iran, selected via multi-stage cluster sampling. Data were collected using standardized self-report questionnaires. A Graphical Gaussian Model with polychoric correlations was estimated and visualized using qgraph and bootnet in R. Bridge centrality metrics and bootstrap resampling assessed network structure and stability.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Results revealed strong positive partial correlations between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, self-oriented and socially prescribed perfectionism, and mindfulness with integrated emotion regulation, alongside negative associations between mindfulness and emotion dysregulation. Intrinsic motivation, mindfulness, and self-oriented perfectionism emerged as the most central and influential nodes, supported by stable centrality indices.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These findings highlight intrinsic motivation and mindfulness as key targets for interventions aimed at enhancing psychological functioning. Overall, the study advances understanding of the dynamic interplay among these constructs, offering promising directions for tailored mental health interventions.</p>","PeriodicalId":7141,"journal":{"name":"Acta Psychologica","volume":"264 ","pages":"106535"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147300690","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Acta PsychologicaPub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-03-04DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.106540
Cagdas Türkmen, Alycia M Lee, Haoye Tan, Falk Kiefer, Sarah Gerhardt, Sabine Vollstädt-Klein
{"title":"The association between adverse childhood experiences and inhibitory control in heavy-drinking adults: A functional MRI study.","authors":"Cagdas Türkmen, Alycia M Lee, Haoye Tan, Falk Kiefer, Sarah Gerhardt, Sabine Vollstädt-Klein","doi":"10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.106540","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.106540","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Previous research has established an association between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and deficient inhibitory control. However, the role of ACEs in adults with heavy alcohol use, who frequently exhibit impaired inhibitory control, has not been well established. The present preliminary study aimed to assess the association between ACEs and inhibitory control in a sample of 32 heavy-drinking adults (43.75% women; 12.5% treatment-seeking) with retrospectively reported ACEs. This cross-sectional fMRI study assessed inhibitory control using the stop-signal task and retrospectively reported ACEs with the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). A linear regression model was used to estimate task-related whole brain activation, with CTQ sum score as a predictor. Additionally, the correlation between activation in the left and right inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) and ACE severity was explored in region of interest (ROI) analyses. Increased ACE severity was significantly associated with shorter stop-signal reaction times (SSRTs; r(25) = -0.55, p = 0.003). The whole-brain and ROI analyses showed no significant associations between brain activation and ACE severity. Greater ACE severity might be associated with better inhibitory control among heavy-drinking individuals, a finding that contrasts with previous research, particularly in pediatric and adolescent samples. However, the cross-sectional nature and small sample size limit the generalizability of the current findings, highlighting the need for longitudinal studies with larger samples. Exploring potential ACE type and timing-related effects on neural changes related to inhibitory control in heavy-drinking populations may be a fruitful avenue for future research.</p>","PeriodicalId":7141,"journal":{"name":"Acta Psychologica","volume":"264 ","pages":"106540"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147363427","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Acta PsychologicaPub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-03-10DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.106633
Hongmei Xia, Fredrik Allenmark, Hermann J Müller, Zhuanghua Shi
{"title":"Stage-specific priming of pop-out effects in the target-feature memory encoding and retrieval.","authors":"Hongmei Xia, Fredrik Allenmark, Hermann J Müller, Zhuanghua Shi","doi":"10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.106633","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.106633","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Priming of Pop-out (PoP), when a target-defining feature repeats, accelerates visual search. While previous studies highlight the influence of display density-sparse versus dense arrays-on PoP, how display density interacts with memory encoding and retrieval stages remains unresolved. The present study disentangled the contributions of encoding (trial n-1) from retrieval (trial n) and tracked their influence on early orienting (pre-selective) versus late identification (post-selective) processes. Participants searched for a uniquely colored target under blocked and interleaved density regimes, with eye movements and manual responses recorded. By crossing sparse and dense displays across consecutive trials, four transition types were probed to determine where density exerts its effect. Color repetition reduced reaction times and first saccadic latency, and boosted first-saccade accuracy, but only when the current (i.e., the retrieval) display remained sparse. In contrast, dense displays showed fast responses, with the absence of PoP, due to saliency-driven guidance. Pre-selective eye-movement metrics showed robust PoP in sparse retrieval arrays, whereas dense retrieval arrays defaulted to saliency-driven guidance. Post-selective decision times were comparable across conditions, indicating that PoP drives only the early attentional guidance. These results indicate that while encoding reliably forms target templates, it is the retrieval context that switches feature-biasing mechanisms on or off, highlighting a dynamic interplay between memory and bottom-up salience in adaptive search.</p>","PeriodicalId":7141,"journal":{"name":"Acta Psychologica","volume":"264 ","pages":"106633"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147429937","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}