Open Access
ISSN:1433-0237 (print)
ISSN:1815-5626 (online)
Publication Frequency:Bi-monthly
Journal of Psychology in Africa (JPA) is a peer-reviewed Open Access journal that publishes research articles, research reviews, conceptual development articles and thematic issues in the areas of socio-cultural and health development globally, with a particular emphasis on African settings and the African diaspora. This journal is published bi-monthly by Tech Science Press.
Social Sciences Citation Index (Web of Science): 2024 Impact Factor 0.8; Scopus Citescore (Impact per Publication 2024): 1.6; SNIP (Source Normalized Impact per Paper 2024): 0.363; JCI (Journal Citation Indicator): 0.32; IBSS (International Bibliography of the Social Sciences).
Effective 2025, the Journal of Psychology in Africa (JPA) will be published by Tech Science Press (TSP). This transition aims to broaden the journal’s reach, enhance its global influence, and ensure equitable access to high-quality research in psychology.
The journal’s mission, scope, and submission guidelines will remain unchanged. Under the continued leadership of Editor-in-Chief Prof. Elias Mpofu and the Editorial Board, JPA will maintain its commitment to advancing psychological research and practice.
We extend our gratitude to authors, reviewers, and readers for their steadfast support as we embrace this transformative phase in the journal’s journey.
Open Access
ARTICLE
SPECIAL SECTION ON STUDENT WELLBEINGJournal of Psychology in Africa, Vol.36, No.1, pp. 1-8, 2026, DOI:10.32604/jpa.2025.067375 - 26 February 2026
Abstract The current study examined the roles of collective self-esteem and personal self-esteem in the relationship between national identity and subjective well-being. Participants were 583 Chinese college students (females = 49%; mean age = 19.25 ± 1.85 years). They completed measures of national identity, collective self-esteem, personal self-esteem, and subjective well-being. Path analysis findings result indicated national identity to influence the students’ subjective well-being through three pathways: (1) national identity → collective self-esteem → subjective well-being, meaning higher subjective wellbeing with collective self-esteem. (2) national identity → personal self-esteem → subjective well-being, to suggest higher personal self-esteem was… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
SPECIAL SECTION ON STUDENT WELLBEINGJournal of Psychology in Africa, Vol.36, No.1, pp. 9-20, 2026, DOI:10.32604/jpa.2026.072027 - 26 February 2026
Abstract Mindfulness would enhance university students’ emotional well-being and study engagement. However, the role of affect (positive and negative emotions) and psychological resources (psychological capital) linking mindfulness to study engagement remain underexplored. This cross-sectional study surveyed 688 Chinese university students (females = 413, mean age = 20.3, SD = 0.83), using validated self-report measures of mindfulness, positive and negative emotions, psychological capital, and study engagement. Structural equation modeling and bias-corrected bootstrap analyses (5000 resamples) revealed that mindfulness directly enhanced positive emotions, psychological capital, and study engagement, while reducing negative emotions. Positive emotions partially mediated the positive… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
SPECIAL SECTION ON STUDENT WELLBEINGJournal of Psychology in Africa, Vol.36, No.1, pp. 21-32, 2026, DOI:10.32604/jpa.2026.070171 - 26 February 2026
Abstract This study explores the core characteristics, dynamic progression of the depression-anxiety-stress network among Chinese higher vocational college freshmen and its association with life satisfaction, and identifies key nodes and critical intervention points. Participants were 295 higher vocational college freshmen (male = 137; M = 18.52, SD = 0.69) completing two follow-up surveys (5-month interval). Measures included depression-anxiety-stress symptoms and life satisfaction, analyzed via cross-sectional and binary cross-lagged panel network analysis. The results showed that “Easily agitated” was the central node (strength = 1.519, EI = 1.967); “Irritable” and “Mouth Dryness” were top predictors (Out-EI = More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
SPECIAL SECTION ON STUDENT WELLBEINGJournal of Psychology in Africa, Vol.36, No.1, pp. 33-43, 2026, DOI:10.32604/jpa.2026.074741 - 26 February 2026
Abstract This mixed-methods study investigated how AI-enhanced English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learning environments influence students’ psychological well-being through the mediating roles of motivation and language learning anxiety and the moderating role of trust. Participants were Chinese university students (N = 310, 62% female, mean age = 18.9, SD = 0.8), of whom 15 completed interviews to both add to and to clarify the evidence from the surveys. Structural equation modeling results revealed that AI use had significant indirect effects on well-being through increased motivation and reduced language learning anxiety. Trust in AI significantly moderated… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
REGULAR ARTICLESJournal of Psychology in Africa, Vol.36, No.1, pp. 45-52, 2026, DOI:10.32604/jpa.2026.067701 - 26 February 2026
Abstract This study examined the relationship between loneliness and mobile phone addiction (MPA), and the mediating roles of social anxiety and self presentation in that relationship. The sample comprised 559 students (male = 250, female = 309, mean age = 20.78 years, SD = 1.13 years). Based on bias-corrected bootstrap method, our indicate loneliness to be associated with MPA of college students. Additionally, social anxiety and self-presentation, respectively, partially mediated the association between loneliness and college students’ MPA. Specifically, as loneliness increased, both social anxiety and self-presentation rose, thereby increasing MPA. Social anxiety and self-presentation also More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
REGULAR ARTICLESJournal of Psychology in Africa, Vol.36, No.1, pp. 53-63, 2026, DOI:10.32604/jpa.2026.069558 - 26 February 2026
Abstract Globally, mealtimes provide key insights into cultural and social values and practices. We examine mealtime environments and eating practices in two different African settings using quantitative observational and questionnaire data. Participating families (N = 80) were recruited from two rural locations in Zambia and Kenya. Results following descriptive analysis showed that meals are typically taken as a family in a sociable context, providing opportunities to nurture children’s positive behaviours. In both communities, mothers (71.25%) were most likely to be present and typically prepared meals and provided the food. We observed a few distractions being used… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
REGULAR ARTICLESJournal of Psychology in Africa, Vol.36, No.1, pp. 65-77, 2026, DOI:10.32604/jpa.2025.069675 - 26 February 2026
Abstract Burnout is an escalating global occupational health challenge, requiring valid and reliable assessment tools. This study validates the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI) for assessing burnout among Sudanese workers in the education, healthcare, and banking sectors, where burnout prevalence is high. Utilizing the 19-item CBI, translated into Arabic, the study measured burnout across three dimensions: Personal Burnout (PB), Work-related Burnout (WB), and Client-related Burnout (CB). A total of 1068 participants were surveyed, including 438 teachers (41%), 326 healthcare workers (30.5%), and 304 bank employees (28.5%). Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analyses confirmed the construct validity of the… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
REGULAR ARTICLESJournal of Psychology in Africa, Vol.36, No.1, pp. 79-87, 2026, DOI:10.32604/jpa.2026.069939 - 26 February 2026
Abstract This study investigated the effects of parental involvement, parenting stress, and social support on the social skills of school-aged children (6–18 years old) with intellectual disabilities (ID). Data were collected from 280 Chinese parents (mothers = 70.0%, fathers = 30.0%) of children with ID through purposive sampling and analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The results indicated that parental involvement not only directly enhanced children’s social skills but also indirectly improved them by alleviating parenting stress, which acted as a partial mediator. Contrary to the stress-buffering hypothesis, social support did not moderate More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
REGULAR ARTICLESJournal of Psychology in Africa, Vol.36, No.1, pp. 89-95, 2026, DOI:10.32604/jpa.2025.071560 - 26 February 2026
Abstract This study examined the relationship between inclusive leadership and authenticity at work in racial minority groups of South Africa, taking into account the mediating role of psychological safety and the moderator role of gender, in that relationship. The sample was composed of 94 employees predominantly working in the professional services sector from South Africa (41.5% females; mean age = 37.1), who self-identified as racial minority groups (coloured/black/Indian). Results indicate that inclusive leadership has no direct effect on authenticity at work; however, psychological safety fully mediates this relationship. Regarding the moderation effect of gender, results showed… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
REGULAR ARTICLESJournal of Psychology in Africa, Vol.36, No.1, pp. 97-106, 2026, DOI:10.32604/jpa.2026.072761 - 26 February 2026
Abstract This study examines the mediating role of positive psychological capital and the moderating role of ethnicity in the relationship between mindfulness and internalizing/externalizing problems among adolescents. The study sample comprized Chinese adolescents (N = 637 ethnic minority; females = 40.97%, meam age = 12.68, SD = 0.49 years; N = 636 Han; females = 49.06%, mean age = 12.71, SD = 0.47 years). The participants completed the Child and Adolescent Mindfulness Measure, the Positive Psycap Questionnaire, and the Youth Self-Report. Results from the moderated mediation analysis showed mindfulness was negatively associated with both internalizing and externalizing More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
REGULAR ARTICLESJournal of Psychology in Africa, Vol.36, No.1, pp. 107-115, 2026, DOI:10.32604/jpa.2026.075295 - 26 February 2026
Abstract Self-compassion is an important psychological resource that improves health-related quality of life and diabetes self-management; however, the psychological processes underlying these associations remain unclear. This study examined the roles of meaning in life and resilience in the relationship between self-compassion and both health-related quality of life and diabetes self-management. Participants were 301 individuals living with type 2 diabetes (176 (58.5%) females, M age = 49.69, SD = 12.36) conveniently selected from two tertiary healthcare institutions in Nigeria. They completed self-report measures of self-compassion, meaning in life, resilience, health-related quality of life and diabetes self-management. Multiple… More >
Open Access
REVIEW
PROFESSIONAL ISSUESJournal of Psychology in Africa, Vol.36, No.1, pp. 117-130, 2026, DOI:10.32604/jpa.2025.068219 - 26 February 2026
Abstract This study presents a reflective bibliometric review of 1457 peer-reviewed articles published in the Journal of Psychology in Africa (2008–2024, 17 years), using a Meta-Editorial Mapping Framework (MEMF) analysis. The MEMF integrates citation metrics, keyword novelty ratios, TF–IDF weighting, and cluster-based topic modeling to trace long-term thematic trends and editorial evolution. Findings reveal sustained attention to foundational domains such as mental health, education, and identity, alongside a gradual integration of emergent themes including digital well-being, organizational behavior, and post-pandemic adaptation. Articles with moderate topical novelty (40%–60% new keywords) achieved the highest citation and usage metrics, More >
Open Access
REVIEW
PROFESSIONAL ISSUESJournal of Psychology in Africa, Vol.36, No.1, pp. 131-142, 2026, DOI:10.32604/jpa.2025.069010 - 26 February 2026
Abstract This scoping review aimed to explore the nature and structure of Student Counselling and Development Units (SCDUs) in Africa towards a better understanding of the role they play in African Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). A comprehensive literature search of ten years (2015–2025) on five electronic databases was conducted. Titles and abstracts were screened, and full articles examined, resulting in 23 studies meeting the inclusion criteria. Using thematic analysis, five main overarching themes were identified: (i) the scope and focus of services in SCDUs, (ii) multidisciplinary teams, (iii) approaches to service provision, (iv) challenges in providing More >
Open Access
REVIEW
PROFESSIONAL ISSUESJournal of Psychology in Africa, Vol.36, No.1, pp. 143-152, 2026, DOI:10.32604/jpa.2026.073231 - 26 February 2026
Abstract This systematic review synthesizes empirical research on external risk factors for adolescent smartphone addiction. Scopus and Web of Science were searched for English peer-reviewed empirical articles from 2008 onward; 28 met inclusion criteria (excluding non-adolescents, generic internet addiction, non-empirical work, or non-English). Thematic synthesis organized findings into three external risk domains—family, school, and peers—considering cultural/contextual mechanisms. Family dynamics (parental phubbing, harsh parenting, dysfunction), school stressors, and adverse peer relationships were identified as accumulating, direct and indirect contributors to smartphone addiction. These operate within a techno-ecological framework, where digital technologies amplify vulnerabilities and create new pathways More >
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