You have passion, but do you have self-compassion? Harmonious passion, obsessive passion, and responses to passion-related failure

Examining the impact of perceived psychological distances of quitting and continuing tobacco smoking on antismoking intention: a cross-sectional study

To date, little research has been conducted to understand the role of psychological distances on smoking behaviour. Construal Level Theory posits that individuals mentally construe events, objects, or ideas based on their perceived distance in terms of spatial, temporal, social, and hypothetical dimensions, influencing their judgments and decision-making processes. The aim of the current study was (1) to provide a comprehensive exploration of psychological distances of costs and benefits of tobacco smoking and antismoking intention and (2) to examine whether smoking can be attributed to rational behaviour based on the psychological distance weighted balance of perceived costs and benefits of quitting and continuing smoking. Mediation models delineating the relationships among temporal and hypothetical psychological distances, personal relevance and antismoking intention were tested on cross-sectional survey data of 1486 smokers (880 men, Mage = 39.9 years, SD = 13.36). Psychological distances were shown to be important factors in the cognitive evaluation process of smoking behaviour. Perceived temporal distance to smoking continuation/cessation was related to personal importance and hypothetical psychological distances, which were associated with anti-smoking intention. Furthermore, antismoking intention was related to the psychological distance-weighted gain-cost balance of quitting and continuing smoking. The current findings enhance our knowledge of the cognitive evaluation of the outcomes of smoking, indicating that the choice of not quitting smoking may be partially based on a biased rational decision-making process.

Stressed and distressed: how is the COVID-19 pandemic associated with sexual frequency, sexual satisfaction, and relationship satisfaction?

BACKGROUND

The Canadian government's response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic included the implementation of several restrictive measures since March 2020. These actions sought to decrease social contact and increase physical distancing, including that within universities. Such constraints were required to impede the transmission of the virus; however, concerns remain about their impact on the sexual and intimate relationships of university employees and students.

AIM

This study examined the associations between COVID-19-related stress and sexual frequency, sexual satisfaction, and relationship satisfaction, also testing the mediating role of psychological distress.

METHODS

The models were tested with Canadian data collected from university employees and students in 2 phases: the first wave in April-May 2020 (T1; n = 2754) and the second wave in November-December 2021 (T2; n = 1430), 18 months afterward. Participants completed self-report questionnaires online. Path analyses were performed to test the associations of the mediation models.

OUTCOMES

The principal outcomes included psychological distress determined via the Patient Health Questionnaire-4, relationship satisfaction measured via the Dyadic Adjustment Scale, and sexual satisfaction and sexual frequency ascertained through a single item each.

RESULTS

Overall, COVID-19-related stress was associated with higher psychological distress, which in turn was related to lower sexual frequency, sexual satisfaction, and relationship satisfaction. Similar results were obtained with T1 and T2 data, indicating the mediating effect of psychological distress.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

These findings increase scholarly comprehension of the negative associations between stress/distress and sexual and romantic relationships. Sexuality and close relationships are vital to the quality of human life; thus, targeted interventions should be developed to reduce COVID-19-related stress and its impact on sexual and romantic relationships to mitigate the long-term influences of this unique global challenge.

STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS

To our knowledge, this study is the first to use a large sample size and replicate findings in 2 waves. Nonetheless, it is limited by the use of cross-sectional data. Longitudinal studies with the same participants are mandated to better understand the evolution of these outcomes.

CONCLUSION

COVID-19-related stress and psychological distress were found among participating university students and employees and were associated with lower sexual satisfaction, sexual frequency, and intimate relationship satisfaction. These results were observed at the early onset of the pandemic and 18 months afterward, suggesting that the stress generated by the pandemic were not mere reactions to the onset of the pandemic but persisted over time.

Self-determination, restrictive eating, and psychological needs: Challenges for young athletes

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to examine the mediating role of self-determination for sport in the relationship between psychological needs in a sport context, and restrictive eating behaviors among adolescent athletes, while controlling for confounding variables.

METHOD

Self-report online surveys were completed by 983 adolescent athletes (41.3% identified as girls, M = 14.63 years, SD = 0.765). Structural equation modeling was conducted to investigate the hypothesized associations between basic psychological need satisfaction and frustration in sport, self-determination for sport, and restrictive eating behaviors, controlling for the level of competition and the type of sport practiced. Gender differences between the associations were assessed using moderation analysis.

RESULTS

Girls reported significantly more restrictive eating behaviors (M_girls = 0.85; SD = 1.39 vs. M_boys = 0.62; SD = 1.31). Both associations between basic psychological need frustration and satisfaction and restrictive eating behaviors were mediated by self-determination for sport (β = 0.054, 95% bootstrap IC = 0.027-0.089; β = -0.045, 95% bootstrap IC = -0.079 to -0.021). Further, gender moderated an association so that frustration of basic psychological in sport more strongly predicted restrictive eating behaviors in girls (β = 0.256; p = 0.008), compared with boys.

DISCUSSION

Our study reveals considerable gender differences in the mechanism underlying the adoption of restrictive eating in adolescent athletes. The research also fills a gap in the literature by supporting the assumptions of the Hierarchical Model of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation in eating behaviors, specifically in the sport context.

Thriving through Adversity: The Role of Passion and Emotions in the Resilience Process

Two cross-sectional (Studies 1, N = 283, and 2, N = 275) and one prospective (Study 3, N = 238) studies investigated the role of passion (for academia) and emotions in the process of resilience in the education domain and in life in general. Participants were examined when facing a stressful situation related to their passion for academia (end of term exam period, a timed education task). All three studies showed that harmonious passion, through its positive relationship with positive emotions, was positively associated with high positive outcomes in the education domain (satisfaction with one's studies, subjective and objective performance in one's studies) and in life in general via the subjective evaluation of one's life and general health indicators (subjective vitality, fewer negative physical symptoms). On the other hand, obsessive passion was related to mixed effects on resilience. Specifically, obsessive passion related to low levels of functioning (Studies 1 and 3) and also hindered the positive outcomes (Studies 1 to 3) through its positive relationships with positive and negative emotions, respectively. In sum, under stress, harmonious passion facilitates high levels of resilience across life domains, whereas obsessive passion yields low levels of resilience across life or no resilience at all.

Fixed Intelligence Mindset, Self-Esteem, and Failure-Related Negative Emotions: A Cross-Cultural Mediation Model

A growing body of literature supports that fixed intelligence mindset promotes the emergence of maladaptive emotional reactions, especially when self-threat is imminent. Previous studies have confirmed that in adverse academic situations, students endorsing fixed intelligence mindset experience higher levels of negative emotions, although little is known about the mechanisms through which fixed intelligence mindset exerts its influence. Thus, the present study (N_total = 398) proposed to investigate self-esteem as a mediator of this relationship in two different cultural contexts, in Hungary and the United States. Structural equation modeling revealed that self-esteem fully mediated the relationship between fixed intelligence mindset and negative emotions. Furthermore, results of the invariance testing conferred preliminary evidence for the cross-cultural validity of the mediation model. These findings suggest that, students adhering to fixed intelligence beliefs tend to experience greater self-esteem loss when experiencing academic failure, which leads to higher levels of negative emotions.

The Role of Impulsivity and Reward Deficiency in "Liking" and "Wanting" of Potentially Problematic Behaviors and Substance Uses

A few studies have examined the changes in substance- and behavior-related "wanting" and "liking" of human subjects, the key properties of Incentive Sensitization Theory (IST). The aim of this study was to examine the dissociation between "wanting" and "liking" as a function of usage frequency, intensity, and subjective severity in individuals across four substances (alcohol, nicotine, cannabis, and other drugs) and ten behaviors (gambling, overeating, gaming, pornography use, sex, social media use, Internet use, TV-series watching, shopping, and work). Also, the potential roles of impulsivity and reward deficiency were investigated in "wanting," "liking," and wellbeing. The sex differences between "wanting" and "liking" were also examined. Based on our findings using structural equation modeling with 749 participants (503 women, M age = 35.7 years, SD = 11.84), who completed self-report questionnaires, "wanting" increased with the severity, frequency, and intensity of potentially problematic use, while "liking" did not change. Impulsivity positively predicted "wanting," and "wanting" positively predicted problem uses/behaviors. Reward deficiency positively predicted problem uses/behaviors, and both impulsivity and problem uses/behaviors negatively predicted wellbeing. Finally, women showed higher levels of "wanting," compared to men. These findings demonstrate the potential roles of incentive sensitization in both potentially problematic substance uses and behaviors.

Cumulative interpersonal childhood adversity and post-traumatic stress symptoms across heterosexual, cisgender and gender and sexually diverse adolescents: The mediating role of emotion regulation

BACKGROUND

Emotion regulation has been identified as an explanatory factor in the association between interpersonal childhood adversity and post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). However, most studies focused on adults or older adolescents, neglecting youth from the community, especially gender and sexually diverse (GSD) adolescents, who have a higher risk for exposure to adverse events and psychological difficulties, compared to their heterosexual, cisgender (HC) peers.

OBJECTIVE

The present cross-sectional study aimed to examine the mediating role of emotion regulation difficulties in the association between cumulative interpersonal childhood adversity and PTSS across HC and GSD adolescents.

METHODS

A sample of 2904 ninth grade students (M_age = 14.53, SD = 0.61) completed a self-report survey. Multigroup path analyses were conducted to examine the proposed mediation model in all groups, and comparisons were made using chi-square difference tests.

RESULTS

Greater difficulties in emotion regulation mediated the association between greater cumulative interpersonal childhood adversity (β = 0.36, p < .001) and greater PTSS (β = 0.35, p < .001) - regardless of HC or GSD status - although the direct association between cumulative interpersonal childhood adversity and PTSS was significantly stronger among GSD boys (β = 0.36, p < .001) and GSD girls (β = 0.35, p < .001) than among HC boys (β = 0.21, p < .001) and HC girls (β = 0.25, p < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Findings offer a modifiable target for prevention and/or intervention among middle adolescents, as emotion regulation difficulties may partially explain the presence of PTSS following cumulative interpersonal childhood adversity.

The effect of passion for activities on fear of COVID-19 and mental health among the Japanese population

As the ongoing pandemic limited the lives of the general population, people engaged in their favorite activities; either in alternative ways or while disregarding the restrictions. These activities and people's engagement in such activities are considered to have a significant impact on mental health. Thus, this study aimed to examine the relationship between two types of passion (harmonious passion and obsessive passion), fear of COVID-19, and mental distress. Thus, a total of 322 Japanese participants completed an online questionnaire. The results showed that harmonious passion (HP) was negatively related to mental distress. Conversely, obsessive passion (OP) was positively related to fear of COVID-19 and mental distress. The fear of COVID-19 had a positive relationship with mental distress. This study evidenced that HP is a protective factor against pandemics as it improves mental health during a pandemic. However, OP is a risk factor as it amplifies fear of COVID-19. Focusing on distinct types of passion may prove effective in improving mental health amidst the pandemic.

Crimes of passion: When romantic obsession leads to abusive relationships

OBJECTIVE

This research examines the relationship between passion for a romantic partner and obsessive relational intrusion (ORI) which is defined as repeated and unwanted behaviors toward a partner that invade his/her personal privacy and cause fear for his/her safety.

METHOD

Based on the dualistic model of passion, we predicted that obsessive passion (OP) would be associated with fear of abandonment, which in turn would be associated with ORI. In contrast, harmonious passion (HP) should not be associated with ORI.

RESULTS

Four studies (N = 1257) supported these predictions. Study 1 found cross-sectional support for these hypotheses from the victim's perspective. Study 2 replicated Study 1 and extended it to the perpetrator's perspective by demonstrating that the relationship between passion and ORI is mediated by fear of abandonment. Study 3 replicated these findings using an experimental manipulation of passion. Study 4 found similar results by experimentally manipulating fear of abandonment, the mediator, to demonstrate its causal influence on ORI.

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together, the present results demonstrate that passion and fear of abandonment play an important role in the type of behavior people are willing to pursue to maintain their romantic relationship.

Meta-analytic review on the differential effects of self-compassion components on well-being and psychological distress: The moderating role of dialecticism on self-compassion

Although self-compassion has been extensively studied in the recent decades, the representation of self-compassion as a unitary measure or the presence of self-warmth (i.e., presence of the positive components: self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness) and self-coldness (i.e., presence of the negative components: self-judgment, isolation, and mindfulness) remains controversial. Moreover, the differential effects of the six components of self-compassion on mental well-being and psychological distress have not been systematically investigated. To synthesize the differential effects of the six components of self-compassion and to examine how people in different cultures may associate the positive and negative components of self-compassion differentially, the present meta-analysis synthesized 183 effect sizes across 27 cultures. Results showed that the negative components of self-compassion (rs = 0.44 to 0.45) showed greater effect sizes with psychological distress than the positive counterparts (rs = -0.17 to -0.29) whereas the positive components of SCS (rs = 0.29 to.39) showed greater effect sizes with mental well-being than the negative counterparts (rs = -0.29 to -0.36), with the exception of common humanity and isolation (r = 0.29 and - 0.36). Cultural orientation of dialecticism moderated the association between the positive and the negative components of self-compassion, with dialectical cultures showing lower associations between the two opposing components. Findings have implications on the design and implementation of self-compassion interventions cross-culturally.

Making the Final Shot: The Role of Passion and Integrated Temporal Positivity in Last-Second Sport Performance

The new construct of integrated temporal positivity-defined as the positive, adaptive, and dynamic use of the past, the present, and the future-is posited to promote optimal functioning. Based on the dualistic model of passion, the present research sought to test the hypothesis that harmonious passion, more than obsessive passion, triggers a higher use of integrated temporal positivity that, in turn, leads to one crucial type of sport performance, namely last-second performance. The results of 3 studies conducted with team-sport athletes (Study 1, n = 625; Study 2, n = 285; and Study 3, n = 263) provided clear support for the hypothesis. The results pave the way for future research focusing on the role of adaptive temporal processes in support of sport performance.

Passion and moral disengagement: Different pathways to political activism

OBJECTIVE

Four studies examined the relationship between motivational imbalance-the degree to which a goal dominates other goals-and political activism.

METHOD

Based on the dualistic model of passion (Vallerand, 2015) and recent theorizing on violent extremism (Kruglanski, Jasko, Chernikova, Dugas, & Webber, 2017), we predicted that obsessive passion (OP), which facilitates alternative goal suppression, would increase support for violent political behaviors. In contrast, we predicted that harmonious passion (HP), which facilitates the integration of multiple goal pursuits, would increase support for peaceful political behaviors.

RESULTS

Study 1a demonstrated that OP for environmentalism was positively associated with moral disengagement, which in turn predicted violent behaviors. HP was positively associated with peaceful behaviors. Political activism among Democrats yielded similar findings in Study 1b. Study 2 replicated Studies 1a-1b using an implicit measure of moral disengagement. Study 3 replicated Studies 1-2 by demonstrating that experimentally inducing a harmonious (vs. obsessive) passion mindset indirectly reduced violent behaviors through the attenuation of moral disengagement while directly promoting peaceful behaviors. Study 4 conceptually replicated Studies 1-3 by experimentally manipulating moral disengagement.

CONCLUSIONS

These results offer insights into the workings of radicalization and suggest theory-driven methods of reducing political violence.

How passionate individuals regulate their activity with other life domains: A goal-systemic perspective

OBJECTIVE

People that pursue a passionate activity obsessively (vs. harmoniously) tend to neglect (vs. integrate) other important life domains, yet research has been silent on the psychological mechanism explaining these differences in self-regulation. The purpose of this research was to address this gap by testing the role of alternative goal suppression.

METHOD

Four studies tested whether harmonious passion is characterized by the pursuit of multifinality, the preference for means that gratify multiple goals simultaneously, whereas obsessive passion is characterized by the pursuit of counterfinality, the preference for means that serves a focal goal to the detriment of other pursuits. Underlying this relationship is the tendency to suppress goals conflicting with one's passion.

RESULTS

Study 1 found cross-sectional support for these hypotheses. Study 2 replicated Study 1 and extended it by demonstrating that the relationship between obsessive passion and counterfinal means is mediated by alternative goal suppression. Study 3 replicated these findings using an experimental manipulation of passion. Study 4 found similar results by experimentally manipulating alternative goal suppression, the mediator, to demonstrate its causal influence on means evaluation.

CONCLUSIONS

Collectively, the present results demonstrate that passion plays a significant role in the type of means-ends relations preferred for goal pursuits.

Passionately motivated reasoning: Biased processing of passion-threatening messages

OBJECTIVE

When facing setbacks and obstacles, the dualistic model of passion outlines that obsessive passion, and not harmonious passion, will predict greater levels of defensiveness. Our aim was to determine whether these passion dimensions predicted defensiveness in the same way when confronted with threatening messages targeting the decision to pursue a passion.

METHOD

Across four studies with passionate Facebook users, hockey fans, and runners (total N = 763), participants viewed messages giving reasons why their favorite activity should not be pursued. Participants either reported their desire to read the messages (Studies 1 and 2) or evaluated the messages after reading them (Studies 3 and 4).

RESULTS

Harmonious passion consistently predicted higher levels of avoidance or negative evaluations of the messages. These responses were attenuated for participants who had previously affirmed an important value (Study 1), or who were told that they do not control the passions they pursue (Study 4).

CONCLUSIONS

Harmonious passion entails a sense of autonomy and control over activity engagement, which usually leads to nondefensive behavior. However, this sense of control may elicit more defensive responses from more harmoniously passionate individuals when the decision itself to pursue an activity is under attack.