Curwyn Mapaling^*

Journal of Psychology in Africa, Vol.36, No.2, pp. 309-310, 2026, DOI:10.32604/jpa.2026.083289 - 29 April 2026

Abstract This article has no abstract. More >

Jingxue Cai¹, Xi Chen^2,3, Yilei Wu⁴, Wanru Lin^2,*

Journal of Psychology in Africa, Vol.36, No.2, pp. 231-237, 2026, DOI:10.32604/jpa.2026.078827 - 29 April 2026

Abstract This study examined the role of future orientation in the association between sense of purpose and academic engagement among university students. Using a cross-sectional design, data were collected from 1174 undergraduate students (females = 64.4%) across five universities in China. Participants completed well-validated scales assessing sense of purpose, future orientation, and academic engagement. Mediation analyses showed that sense of purpose was associated with higher academic engagement, with future orientation partially mediating this association to be stronger. The indirect effect of sense of purpose on academic engagement through future orientation accounted for 33.8% of the total More >

Lihua Xu^1,2, Jinmei Liu³, Yan Wang⁴, Wenfu Li^3,*

Journal of Psychology in Africa, Vol.36, No.2, pp. 239-248, 2026, DOI:10.32604/jpa.2026.078257 - 29 April 2026

Abstract This study investigated the association between helicopter parenting and malevolent creativity among college students, and the serial mediating roles of family environment and moral identity. The study sample comprised 489 Chinese college students (females = 56.2%, 18–23 years old = 87.1%). The students completed self-report measures assessing helicopter parenting, family environment, moral identity, and malevolent creativity. The results of serial mediation model showed that helicopter parenting was significantly associated with higher malevolent creativity. Moreover, family environment and moral identity sequentially mediated this relationship. Specifically, helicopter parenting may contribute to a negative family environment and undermine More >

Jingxuan Lou¹, Yaping Pan^2,*

Journal of Psychology in Africa, Vol.36, No.2, pp. 171-179, 2026, DOI:10.32604/jpa.2026.076331 - 29 April 2026

Abstract The present study examined the mediating roles of self-efficacy and meaning in life in the relationship between growth mindset and satisfaction with life among college students, as well as the moderating role of gender. Participants were 1791 Chinese college students (female = 52.31%, mean age = 19.31 years, SD = 1.14 years). They completed the Growth Mindset Scale (GMS), the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ), and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). Correlation analyses results showed that a growth mindset was significantly and positively related to satisfaction with life among… More >

Jingli Wu^*

Journal of Psychology in Africa, Vol.36, No.2, pp. 285-291, 2026, DOI:10.32604/jpa.2026.074079 - 29 April 2026

Abstract This study explored the relationship between parental psychological control (PPC) and adolescents’ problematic gaming (PG) focusing on the mediating roles of self-control (SC) and deviant peer affiliation (DPA). A total of 2028 adolescents from high schools completed self-report measures on PPC, SC, DPA, and PG. The results revealed that PPC positively predicted PG. SC mediated the relationship between PPC and PG, and also revealed that DPA also played a mediating role in this association. Additionally, SC and DPA operated in a chain mediation, where PPC reduced SC, which in turn increased the likelihood of DPA, More >

Yanting Li^1,*, Min Hu¹, Jin Jiang², Jiamin Ge³

Journal of Psychology in Africa, Vol.36, No.2, pp. 293-299, 2026, DOI:10.32604/jpa.2026.073569 - 29 April 2026

Abstract The present study investigated the longitudinal and reciprocal associations between psychological distress and psychological inflexibility among college students. A total of 391 participants (77.2% male; age = 20.31, SD = 0.90) were recruited through cluster sampling, completed the DASS-21 (21-item Depression Anxiety Stress Scale) and AAQ-II (Acceptance and Action Questionnaire–II) at two time points (T1: March 2024; T2: October 2024). After establishing longitudinal measurement invariance, a cross-lagged panel model was estimated while controlling for gender and age. Results from cross-lagged panel modeling (CLPM) revealed significant concurrent correlations between psychological distress and psychological inflexibility at both time… More >

Lauren Martin^1,*, Henry D. Mason², Juan A. Nel³

Journal of Psychology in Africa, Vol.36, No.2, pp. 301-307, 2026, DOI:10.32604/jpa.2026.073424 - 29 April 2026

Abstract This study explored how psychology educators in South Africa can be professionally developed to embed Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) principles into their pedagogy, thereby enhancing psychological flexibility among postgraduate students. Using a Collaborative Action Research approach, seven educators and thirteen students participated in a ten-month intervention comprising four iterative cycles of training, implementation, and reflection. The thematic analysis found that ACT-informed pedagogy not only promoted student resilience, present-moment awareness (mindfulness), and values-based engagement (authenticity) but also catalysed shifts in educator identity toward more reflexive teaching. Students cultivated resilience by learning to tolerate emotional discomfort More >

Xin Yu, Jingbo Wang, Hao Hong^*

Journal of Psychology in Africa, Vol.36, No.2, pp. 209-217, 2026, DOI:10.32604/jpa.2026.073317 - 29 April 2026

Abstract This study examined the roles of negative emotions and physical activity in the relationship between problematic mobile game use and executive functioning. A total of 528 participants were included (females = 62.07%; M = 19.24, SD = 1.52). All participants completed the Adapted Internet Addiction Scale, the 21-item Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21), the Chinese version of the Adolescent Executive Function Scale, and the Chinese version of the Physical Activity Rating Scale-3 (PARS-3). After controlling for gender, age, school, major, and grade, regression analysis revealed that problematic mobile gaming was significantly associated with impaired executive More >

Linda Naidoo^*, Mariette Coetzee

Journal of Psychology in Africa, Vol.36, No.2, pp. 161-170, 2026, DOI:10.32604/jpa.2026.073305 - 29 April 2026

Abstract This study tested the internal reliability and validity of a 28-item Employee Empowerment scale within a higher education context. A sample of 452 university employees (N = 452) from a South African higher education institution, comprising academics (46%), administrative staff (33%), and professional and managerial staff (21%), participated in the study. The participants were required to complete an employee empowerment questionnaire. The exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis identified a three-construct measurement model for employee empowerment: management support, autonomy and decision-making, and access to information and resources. The results revealed that the research instrument More >

Guoxiu Tian, Yanbin Guo^*

Journal of Psychology in Africa, Vol.36, No.2, pp. 201-208, 2026, DOI:10.32604/jpa.2026.072897 - 29 April 2026

Abstract The present study explored how teacher professional development (PD) activities function as a mediator between teachers’ perceptions of work value and policy orientation, their motivation, and their overall job satisfaction. The study drew on a sample of 3047 Chinese junior high school teachers from the 2018 Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS), of whom 74.47% were female. Results from the mediation model revealed that job satisfaction was positively associated with teacher motivation, as well as with teachers’ perceptions of value and policy orientation. The findings further revealed that teacher participation in PD activities played a More >