Hongmei Yuan¹, Siting Li^1,2,3,*, Yu Zhang^2,3, Yunheng Zhao¹, Dan Shen¹, E. Scott Huebnerd⁴

Journal of Psychology in Africa, Vol.35, No.6, pp. 723-730, 2025, DOI:10.32604/jpa.2025.073368 - 30 December 2025

Abstract Academic engagement is a key factor in students’ academic success, yet its psychological pathways remain underexplored in the context of physical activity. This study investigated the relationship between sports participation and academic engagement, with a focus on the sequential mediating roles of positive affect and life satisfaction. A total of 1365 Chinese secondary school students (females = 55.09%; mean age = 15.95 years, SD = 1.65) participated in the study. Participants completed the Physical Activity Rating Scale, the Positive Affect and Negative Affect Scale, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, and the Academic Engagement Scale. Correlation More >

Ling Li^1,#, Ninghui Xu^1,#, Wenjing Wang^2,*, Jianfen Ying^1,*

Journal of Psychology in Africa, Vol.35, No.6, pp. 833-842, 2025, DOI:10.32604/jpa.2025.071557 - 30 December 2025

Abstract This study explores the role of teachers’ professional identity (TPI) on employee learning engagement (LE), with mediation by basic needs satisfaction (BNS). Participants were 255 Chinese pre-service teachers (191 females = 74.9%, 16 freshmen = 6.2%, 135 sophomores = 52.9%, 35 juniors = 12.5%, 72 seniors = 28.2%). They completed surveys on the “QuestionStar” online survey platform and 12 of the teachers completed interviews for sharing their personal insights. The results of Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) indicated that teachers’ professional identity significantly predicted both learning engagement and basic needs satisfaction, with basic needs satisfaction partially More >

Fan Deng^*

Journal of Psychology in Africa, Vol.35, No.6, pp. 797-805, 2025, DOI:10.32604/jpa.2025.068735 - 30 December 2025

Abstract This study investigated the relationship between customer-employee exchange (CEX) and employee work engagement (vigor, dedication, absorption), and the role of psychological safety and self-efficacy mediate that relationship. Survey data were collected from 329 Chinese hotel employees (females = 52.9%, tenure: 1–3 years = 50.5%). The results following ordinary least squares regression and the SPSS PROCESS macro indicate that higher customer-employee exchange is associated with employee vigor, dedication, and absorption. Psychological safety and self-efficacy mediate the relationship between customer-employee exchange and vigor and dedication to be stronger, while the work absorption mediating effect is not significant. More >

Masefako Andronica Gumani^*

Journal of Psychology in Africa, Vol.35, No.6, pp. 807-814, 2025, DOI:10.32604/jpa.2025.065776 - 30 December 2025

Abstract This study explored law enforcement members’ empathetic engagements with primary survivors of trauma. Informants were 15 South African Police Service members from a rural district of the Limpopo (females = 26.6%; constables = 13.3%). Unstructured open-ended and follow-up telephone interviews, field notes, and diaries were used as data-collection methods. Data were analysed following the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis guidelines. Emergent themes indicated that law enforcement members engage in three types of empathy, namely affective, cognitive, and cognitive-affective empathy when called upon to help survivors of trauma. Their affective empathy involved police members’ emotional connection with the More >

Gwang-Soo Oh^1,#, Je-Seong Lee^2,#, Myeong-Hun Bae^3,*

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.27, No.11, pp. 1729-1745, 2025, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2025.071944 - 28 November 2025

Abstract Background: With the rapid growth of digital learning environments, esports has emerged as a popular form of school-based activity that promotes teamwork, motivation, and engagement. However, limited research has examined how participation in esports relates to students’ psychological and academic development. To address this gap, the present study identified structural relationships between perceived psychological well-being, social support, academic engagement, and school-life satisfaction among students participating in school-based esports activities. Methods: We surveyed 588 students who competed in on-campus esports tournaments across 15 secondary schools in Gwangju Metropolitan City, South Korea. Psychological well-being, social support, academic engagement,… More >

Qinglin Wang^1,2, Hang Zhang², Junzhe Zhao², Wenfan Chao², Minghui Wang^2,*

Journal of Psychology in Africa, Vol.35, No.5, pp. 557-563, 2025, DOI:10.32604/jpa.2025.068969 - 24 October 2025

Abstract This study investigated the role of work role engagement and interpersonal perspectives mediation in the relationship between school principal moral leadership and teachers’ voice behavior. A sample comprising 315 middle school teachers from a central province in China participated in the research (females = 73.3%). These teachers completed surveys on moral leadership, work engagement, trust in superiors, and voice behavior. The results of dual mediation modeling indicated evidence of an indirect effect of moral leadership on teachers’ voice behavior through work engagement. The results also indicated evidence of mediating effect of trust between moral leadership More >

Yunbo Shen, Jie Wu, Xianglian Yu^*

Journal of Psychology in Africa, Vol.35, No.5, pp. 565-573, 2025, DOI:10.32604/jpa.2025.067055 - 24 October 2025

Abstract This study investigated the mediating roles of career values and learning engagement in the relationship between psychological capital and employability among university students. Data were collected from 5434 students across three Chinese universities (male = 1930; female = 3504; M = 23.84 years, SD = 2.55). Regression analyses indicated that psychological capital significantly predicted higher employability. Both career values and learning engagement independently and jointly mediated this relationship, thereby strengthening the overall effect. Psychological capital not only directly enhanced students’ employability but also exerted indirect effects through career values and learning engagement. These findings align with More >

Xiao Huang^1,*, Suqing Chen², Fairuz A’dilah Binti Rusdi¹

Journal of Psychology in Africa, Vol.35, No.5, pp. 641-650, 2025, DOI:10.32604/jpa.2025.066349 - 24 October 2025

Abstract This study examined the perceived teacher autonomy support effects on college students’ creativity, and the role of academic engagement and affect (positive and negative emotions) in that relationship. The study sample comprised 637 undergraduates (366 females, 271 males). Results from structural equation modelling with a moderated mediation framework indicated that perceived teacher autonomy support positively predicted college students’ self-reported creativity. Academic engagement partially mediated the relationship between autonomy support and creativity, whereby higher perceived autonomy support predicted greater academic engagement, which subsequently promoted creativity. Both positive and negative emotions strengthened the link between autonomy support More >

Niya Chen^1,#, Lei Ren^2,3,#, Xinyi Wei⁴, Yaning Guo⁵, Chuanjun Liu¹, Li Guo⁵, Yinchuan Jin^5,6,*

Journal of Psychology in Africa, Vol.35, No.5, pp. 635-640, 2025, DOI:10.32604/jpa.2025.065773 - 24 October 2025

Abstract This study utilized a mediation model to examine the role of psychological capital and positive academic emotions in the relationship between school connectedness and academic engagement in adolescents. A sample of 389 Chinese adolescents (M_age = 13.43; 51.2% females) completed the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale-Student (UWES-S), the Achievement Emotions Questionnaire (AEQ), the Positive Psychological Capital Scale (PPCS), and the School Connectedness Scale (SCS). Structural equation modeling analysis yielded findings to suggest that higher school connectedness is associated with academic engagement. Psychological capital was associated with positive emotions, and higher psychological capital partially mediated the relationship between More >

Esther López-Bermúdez, María Soledad Palacios-Gálvez, Francisco José García-Moro, Diego Gómez-Baya^*

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.27, No.9, pp. 1265-1278, 2025, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2025.068013 - 30 September 2025

Abstract Objectives: The climate crisis demands urgent action from all sectors of society, including young people in higher education. While previous research has explored individual and contextual predictors of pro-environmental behaviour (PEB), the contribution of Positive Youth Development (PYD) remains underexplored. This study investigates the relationship between PYD dimensions (Competence, Confidence, Connection, Character, and Caring) and two environmental outcomes: environmental habits and climate change awareness, considering gender differences. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 1779 students from 10 universities in Andalusia (Spain). Data were collected through an online survey assessing PYD indicators,… More >