Chinenye Joseph Aliche^1,*, Erhabor Sunday Idemudia¹, Ike E. Onyishi²

Journal 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 >

Zhiyong Sun^*

Journal 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 >

Wanqing Lin^1,2,*, Mohd Azrin Mohd Nasir¹, Suzila Binti Ismail¹

Journal 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 >

Jia Wu^1,#, Wei Luo^2,#, Qianguo Xiao¹, Qinhong Xie¹, Xiaodong Li¹, Taiyong Bi^1,*, Hui Kou^1,*

Journal 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 >

Xiang Deng^1,2, Zaida Nor binti Zainudin^1,*, Xiaoling Wang², Wan Norhayati Wan Othman¹

Journal 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 >

Waseemah Patel¹, Laura Lorente^2,*, Felipe Bravo-Duarte³

Journal 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 >

Siliang Yang^1,2,*, Mengying Xu²

Journal 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 >

Yuting Han, Nana Jiang, Yuan Yuan^*

Journal 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 >

Abdo Hasan AL-Qadri^1,*, Mohammed Ateik Al-Khadher², Nadia Saraa³, Ahmed Abdalmonem Mohmed Ahmed⁴, Pengfei Chen¹, Salaheldin Farah Bakhiet⁵, Ismael Salamah Albursan², Hazim M. Alhaqbani⁶, Abdullah Saad Almutairi⁷

Journal 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 >

Jeofrey Mtemeri^1,*, Hetal Patel¹, Rehema Abiyo², Claire Farrow¹, Megan Jarman¹, Haatembo Mooya³, Laura Shapiro¹, Barnabas Simatende⁴, Pamela Wadende⁵, Henriette Zeidler⁶

Journal 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 >