
Oasi Research Institute-IRCCS, Italy


Applied Psychology Research (APR, eISSN: 3029-276X) is a peer-reviewed, open-access journal that publishes original articles, reviews, research notes, and short communications in the broad field of psychology. The journal seeks original research in all empirical and theoretical fields of psychology, aiming to achieve a deeper understanding of the mental processes of individuals, organizations, and institutions. This includes the cognitive, motivational, affective, and behavioral factors in various situations. It is dedicated to the application of experimental behavioral science research to societal problems, such as social psychology, organizational and leadership psychology, education, economics, management, environment, law, safety, health, and gender issues.
The topics covered in Applied Psychology Research include but are not limited to:
Open Access
Article
Article ID: 3071
by Fiona E. Raines, Shahnaz Aziz, Julia King, Kristin S. Allen
Applied Psychology Research, Vol.5, No.1, 2026;
Job satisfaction and happiness have received considerable attention in recent literature, as the work landscape increasingly prioritizes and seeks to maximize employee well-being. Despite considerable extant research looking at organizational factors, individual antecedents of these desirable outcomes, such as motivation and burnout, have yet to be examined. In the present study, we seek to address this gap by applying the frameworks of the Job Demands-Resources model and Conservation of Resources theory to examine achievement motivation and emotional exhaustion (a key aspect of burnout) as predictors of job satisfaction and global employee happiness. A cross-sectional, secondary dataset sampling 844 working professionals via an Amazon Mechanical Turk survey was employed to investigate the interplay between environmental factors (i.e., work overload), individual factors (i.e., trait motivation and emotional exhaustion as a core component of burnout), and the outcomes of job satisfaction and happiness. Emotional exhaustion and anxiety motivation were negatively related to job satisfaction and happiness, while achievement motivation was positively related to them. Additionally, findings demonstrated evidence that work overload relates to job satisfaction and happiness through an emotional exhaustion statistical mediation pathway. Future researchers should confirm and expand on our findings by evaluating these relationships in longitudinal studies and more heterogeneous samples to examine temporal effects.
Open Access
Article
Article ID: 3965
by Gustave Adolphe Messanga, Hermann Kevin Ekango Nzekaih, Monique Pélagie Tsogo À Bebouraka, Achille Vicky Dzuetso Mouafo, Sylvestre Nzeuta Lontio
Applied Psychology Research, Vol.4, No.2, 2025;
The conspiracy narrative surrounding the LGBTQ+ community is based on the belief in the existence of a gay lobby whose hidden agenda (the gay agenda) aims to destroy societal norms, institutions, and traditional values through the indoctrination of minors and the disruption of the natural/moral order. To study this little-explored conspiracy, the GILC scale was constructed and validated in an Italian context. However, this scale: 1) is only available in English; 2) has been validated only in a Western context, in a field where literature reports that context can impact not only the susceptibility to believe in certain conspiracies, but also the elements of a conspiracy that are highlighted; and 3) presents, moreover, a potential lack of content and factorial validities, linked to the fact that its conceptors present it as a unidimensional measure when it actually measures two conspiracies, therefore potentially two distinct constructs. To fill these gaps, this study evaluates the factorial structure of the French version of this measure in two independent samples of heterosexual people of Cameroonian nationality (N = 864). The first (n1 = 361, M = 22.86 ± 2.65 years) reported an exploratory unidimensional structure with 7 items of the original version measure, which contains 9 items; excluding items 3 and 5, relating to gender ideology conspiracy, which had very low factor loadings and therefore did not meet the recommended threshold. The second (n2 = 503, M = 23.60 ± 4.77 years) confirmed this unidimensional structure presenting an excellent fit. We concluded that this version of the GILC scale, which exclusively assesses the LGBTQ+ lobby conspiracy, is reliable.
Open Access
Article
Article ID: 3234
by Tanvee Buldewo, Prabha Ramseook-Munhurrun
Applied Psychology Research, Vol.4, No.2, 2025;
This study examined the associations between motivations for TikTok use and users’ mental well-being as well as the role of perceived online emotional support as a mediator. Although previous studies have examined the relationships between motivations for social media use and users’ mental well-being, findings remain inconclusive. Therefore, this study further sheds light on the factors driving TikTok adoption and how they impact users’ perceived online emotional support and mental well-being within a small developing island such as Mauritius, where TikTok’s popularity has surged. Data were collected through a survey of 235 young adults (aged 18–35) via both online and face-to-face methods. Descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis, multiple linear regression, and mediation analysis (Hayes PROCESS macro) were employed. Results showed that social interaction, self-expression and information-seeking were significant predictors of online emotional support. Only information-seeking motive and age predicted mental well-being of TikTok users, which was explained through the mediator role of perceived online emotional support. The findings provide implications for mental-health professionals to render social media users mindful about the proper use of TikTok. While TikTok has recently been perceived as an emerging information hub, mental health professionals should be encouraged to create valuable informational content that can satisfy users’ cognitive needs and foster perceived online emotional support, thereby improving one’s mental well-being.
Open Access
Article
Article ID: 2345
by Jim Jansen, Aurora JAE van de Loo, Johan Garssen, Andrew Scholey, Brian Tiplady, Joris C. Verster
Applied Psychology Research, Vol.4, No.2, 2025;
In some research, it is important to conduct cognitive assessments in an everyday setting. Both tablet PCs and mobile phones have been used in this context. The purpose of this study was to examine whether a mobile test battery yields similar results on a mobile phone (screen size 6 cm diagonal) and a tablet (18 cm). Thirty-nine healthy volunteers (aged 18–30) completed five training sessions and one final “test” session per device. The 18-minute test battery consisted of six tests, measuring attention (Number Pairs Test, NP and Arrow Flankers Test, AF), psychomotor functioning (Arrow reaction time test, AR), working memory (Memory scanning test, MS), paired associate learning (Shape pairs, SP), and comprehension (Serial sevens, SS). Outcome measures were mean reaction time (RT) and the percentage of errors. RT scores over the practice runs indicated that AR and AF required only a single familiarization run, while other tests needed 3–4 runs to achieve stable performance. No difference was seen in practice effects between the platforms. Test scores were similar for the platforms with minimal differences between phone and tablet scores (effect sizes < 0.25). Correlations between phone and tablet scores were in the range 0.53–0.82, except one measure, SP errors, where the correlation was much lower. Taken together, these results indicate that there is generally good agreement between data obtained from phones and tablets with very different screen sizes. Phones with small screens are suitable for assessing cognition in an everyday setting. Training on the tests is recommended to achieve stable performance before the start of experimental sessions.
Open Access
Review
Article ID: 2265
by Idara Uyoata Johnson, Andrew Sampson Udofia, Nsikak Godwin Etim, Sylvester Chibueze Izah
Applied Psychology Research, Vol.4, No.2, 2025;
The management of infectious diseases like tuberculosis (TB), HIV/AIDS, malaria, hepatitis, and COVID-19 presents significant challenges that extend beyond physical health, often deeply affecting the mental and psychosocial well-being of individuals. This paper focuses on integrating mental health care and medical social work into infectious disease management as a critical strategy for improving patient outcomes. Psychological burdens such as stigma, anxiety, depression, and fear of contagion can hinder treatment adherence and negatively impact health outcomes. Medical social workers play a crucial role by providing counseling, psychosocial support, and resource linkage, which help reduce stigma and foster resilience in patients and their families. They also advocate for systemic changes and address social determinants of health, contributing to health equity. As healthcare systems adapt to emerging infectious diseases, partnerships across sectors and community-based interventions are increasingly critical. These strategies align with Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being), promoting integrated, equitable, and holistic care. By prioritizing mental health and social work within infectious disease programs, healthcare systems can improve patient outcomes, enhance quality of life, and build resilient communities capable of addressing future health challenges. Therefore, incorporating trauma-informed care, collaborative care models, psychosocial support networks, mental health education, telemedicine, and policy advocacy could further strengthen the holistic management of infectious diseases. These approaches could improve both mental and physical health outcomes, thereby promoting a more resilient healthcare system and, ultimately, better outcomes for patients facing the dual challenges of infectious diseases and mental health issues.
Open Access
Article
Article ID: 2671
by Ayodeji Adekunle Eluyemi, Amos Adebimpe Amosun, Peter Adetokunbo, Tunji Omoseyin, Ogundele K. T., Oluwabusayo Oluwakemi Eluyemi, Samuel Adedigba Adeojo
Applied Psychology Research, Vol.4, No.2, 2025;
We investigated the perception of residents in southwestern Nigeria towards the establishment of a contested infrastructure, namely nuclear power plants (NPPs) and deep geological nuclear waste repositories. The study used an online survey methodology, encompassing 78 participants with a predominantly male composition (62%) and high educational attainment: postgraduate degrees (60%), graduate degrees (20%), undergraduate studies (18%), and secondary school certificates (2%). The research centered on “trust” as the primary independent variable, exploring its associations with factors, including fear, safety perceptions, and both local and foreign expertise. Statistical analysis using Pearson’s correlation revealed robust positive relationships between trust in safety measures and NPP management (r = 0.72), as well as between trust and local expertise (r = 0.60). Significantly, fear regarding NPPs exhibited a strong negative correlation with support for their construction (r = −0.70), while trust in foreign expertise showed minimal correlations with other variables (r ≤ 0.2). The respondents’ professional backgrounds, primarily in physical sciences (45%), offered technically informed perspectives on nuclear infrastructure. The educational attainment of individuals showed a moderate positive relationship with knowledge of nuclear waste (r = 0.57), highlighting the role of education in determining perception of nuclear-related progress. These findings suggest that trust-building, particularly through local knowledge and safety assurances, while simultaneously addressing public fears, is critical to achieving public acceptance of NPPs and nuclear storage sites. It highlights the need for effective communication efforts and local experts being brought into the forefront in addressing the issues of public concern for nuclear infrastructural development.