Applied Psychology Research

The interplay between work overload, trait motivation, and emotional exhaustion on job satisfaction and happiness

Fiona E. Raines — 2026-02-26

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.

The modern coding of hysteria: Rethinking women’s systemic conditions and treatment

Brooke Laufer — 2026-03-10

There is a strikingly disproportionate female-to-male ratio in diagnoses of autoimmune, neurological, and chronic pain disorders. Although biological mechanisms—such as hormonal fluctuations, X-linked genetic factors, immune modulation, and epigenetic vulnerability—are frequently proposed, no single pathway sufficiently accounts for the magnitude of this imbalance. Across diagnostic categories, these conditions share a constellation of symptoms: persistent fatigue, cognitive slowing or “brain fog,” diffuse musculoskeletal pain, gastrointestinal disturbance, autonomic irregularities, numbness, breathlessness, and dizziness. Notably, this symptom profile echoes early twentieth-century descriptions of hysteria, a diagnosis historically applied to women whose distress manifested through bodily complaints. This article does not argue for diagnostic equivalence, but rather for conceptual continuity. It considers whether contemporary conditions such as Fibromyalgia, Celiac disease, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and Long COVID might, in some cases, represent embodied expressions of unarticulated strain within sociocultural systems that have historically constrained female agency. Drawing on theoretical frameworks and clinical vignettes, the paper explores how trauma, chronic stress physiology, immune dysregulation, and gendered role expectations intersect. It ultimately advocates for an integrative model—medical, psychodynamic, and somatic—that treats women’s symptoms as meaningful communications shaped by both biology and lived experience, rather than as evidence of defect or fragility. This perspective seeks to shift the narrative from women's bodies as "broken" to bodies expressing deeper truths that Western medicine has yet to fully understand.

A mathematical study based on fuzzy inference system for addressing psychosocial issues among students

Monika Rathore — 2026-03-25

Psychosocial issues such as stress, anxiety, depression, and social integration challenges are prevalent among students and significantly impact their academic performance and overall well-being. Traditional methods for addressing these issues often fall short due to their reliance on qualitative assessments and generalized interventions. This study proposes a novel approach utilizing a Fuzzy Inference System (FIS) to model and analyze these complex psychosocial dynamics. FIS, grounded in fuzzy set theory, effectively handles the inherent uncertainty and imprecision of human emotions and behaviors. The study outlines the design of an FIS that incorporates key input variables such as stress, anxiety, depression, and social integration, which are fuzzified into linguistic terms like low, medium, and high. By applying a comprehensive set of fuzzy rules derived from expert knowledge and empirical data, the system processes these inputs to generate personalized and actionable insights. The implementation of this FIS in educational settings allows for the continuous monitoring and evaluation of student psychosocial health, enabling early identification and tailored interventions for at-risk students. The study demonstrates that an FIS-based approach provides a structured yet flexible method for addressing psychosocial issues, ultimately enhancing student support mechanisms, and fostering better academic outcomes and well-being.

Configurational dynamics and structural mediators of psychosocial attrition in contemporary labor ecosystems

Rashid Shar Baloch — 2026-03-25

Within the volatile landscape of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, pervasive occupational precarity has emerged as a critical systemic stressor, catalyzed by the rapid onset of autonomous systems and macro-economic restructuring. While the deleterious effects on physiological and psychological well-being are documented, the underlying mechanisms and nonlinear thresholds through which insecurity erodes institutional vitality remain theoretically fragmented. Using a diverse, multi-sectoral cohort (N = 874), this study employs a sophisticated methodological nexus, integrating Structural Equation Modelling (SEM), fuzzy set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA), Necessary Condition Analysis (NCA), and Multilevel Modelling (MLM) to map the multidimensional architecture of psychosocial attrition. Our findings establish that job instability functions as a potent driver of direct and mediated declines in psychosomatic equilibrium, exacerbated by fractured communication channels and heightened organizational threat perceptions. Specifically, the application of NCA identifies precise critical insecurity thresholds (3.1–3.3) that serve as tipping points for health degradation, while fsQCA reveals diverse equifinal pathways to employee vulnerability. By synthesizing these advanced analytical frameworks, this research positions job insecurity not merely as a localized concern but as a fundamental structural health hazard. Consequently, we advocate for the institutionalization of proactive monitoring infrastructures and high-fidelity early warning systems to safeguard the long-term sustainability of human capital.

Psychosocial determinants of alcohol consumption among adults in southern Poland: An observational pilot study

Monika Kozieł — 2026-03-30

Alcohol consumption remains a significant public health issue influenced by a wide range of psychosocial factors. Understanding the determinants of alcohol use is essential for developing effective prevention strategies tailored to specific populations. This study aimed to assess psychosocial determinants of alcohol consumption among adults residing in southern Poland, with particular emphasis on demographic, social, and personality-related factors. The study was conducted between December 2023 and March 2024 among 175 adults using an anonymous, author-designed online questionnaire (CAWI) covering sociodemographic characteristics, psychosocial factors, and patterns of alcohol consumption. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, cross-tabulations, and Pearson’s chi-square test (p < 0.05). A statistically significant association was found between gender and alcohol consumption, with men reporting higher alcohol use than women. Marital status was also significantly related to drinking behavior, with higher consumption observed among single individuals. No significant associations were identified for age, education, occupational status, income, place of residence, or family-related variables. Alcohol consumption occurred predominantly in social settings. Among respondents who had ceased alcohol consumption, the most frequently reported reasons were lack of perceived benefits and unfavorable taste. Overall, alcohol consumption appeared to be influenced primarily by psychosocial rather than socioeconomic factors, underscoring the importance of preventive strategies targeting social and behavioral determinants of alcohol use.

Other-rated personality and student cheating

Thomas H. Stone — 2026-04-08

Although considerable research has examined student cheating, relatively few studies have examined personality as an antecedent of student cheating. Its role in career success has been established. This is the first study to examine relationships between student cheating and personality assessed using a multi-perspective approach, i.e., peer, meta-perceptions and self-personality ratings. Results suggest this approach has implications for predicting student cheating and career success. We examine the ability of other-rated Big Five personality traits to account for more variance in student cheating and report cheating than self-rated personality ratings. Online surveys of 121 business college students and 357 other raters provided ratings of six personality traits, cheating attitudes, cheating behavior and reporting cheating. Regression and correlation analysis examined relationships between cheating and personality traits via a multi-perspectives approach: traditional self-ratings, meta-perceptions (how individuals think others view them), and other ratings. Our findings are consistent with the substantial literature demonstrating that personality ratings by others have stronger validity than traditional self-ratings. Specifically, others’ ratings of peer personality traits and meta-perceptions accounted for additional variance in cheating behavior and reported cheating beyond traditional self-ratings. Consistent with virtually all studies of deviant behavior, conscientiousness was highly significant for cheating behavior and report cheating and marginally significant for attitude. Similarly, emotional stability was significant for cheating behavior and report cheating. These findings suggest the use of multi-perspective personality measures to predict outcomes such as cheating behaviors, as previous research has shown college cheating is associated with cheating at work and dysfunctional career consequences.

Social media use and fear of missing out as predictors of life satisfaction among undergraduates in selected universities in Nigeria

Joshua O. Ogunsemi — 2026-04-09

The use of social media platforms has increased among university undergraduates, and the fear of missing out may be a likely underlying factor in this increase. There is, however, a paucity of empirical research addressing whether these variables predict life satisfaction among university undergraduates. The study assessed the predictive influence of social media use and fear of missing out on life satisfaction among university undergraduates in Nigeria. An ex post facto design was used. Data were collected from 358 undergraduates (Male = 46.1%, Female = 53.9%) who completed self-reporting assessments: the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SwLS), Fear of Missing Out (FoMO), and Social Media Use Scale (SMUS). Data were subjected to descriptive and inferential analyses. The study results showed that both social media use (β = −0.25, p < 0.001) and FoMO (β = −0.29, p < 0.001) predicted lower life satisfaction. Age and gender also predicted life satisfaction, with gender (β = 0.33, p < 0.001) a significant predictor, while age was not. The independent-samples t-test showed that male undergraduates reported significantly higher life satisfaction than female undergraduates (d = 0.69). In contrast, female undergraduates reported higher FoMO (d = 0.49), and both genders showed equal social media use. The research demonstrates that FoMO and social media use patterns are essential psychological factors that impact the rating of life satisfaction through likely digital social pressure experiences across genders. The study emphasises the need for interventions that address FoMO while teaching undergraduates better digital behaviour, as these measures will help them achieve higher life satisfaction.

Spelling success in students with SLD: The role of initial morphological awareness and vocabulary versus intervention strategies

Vasiliki Kokkali — 2026-04-10

Teaching spelling is particularly challenging for children with, or at risk for, Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD). The present study examined the effectiveness of a structured instructional intervention designed to improve spelling skills, vocabulary knowledge, and morphological awareness (MA) in Greek third-grade students receiving special education support. A pretest–intervention–posttest experimental design was implemented, with a total of 72 students randomly assigned to either an experimental group (n = 39) or a control group (n = 33). The four-week intervention was based on principles of Direct Instruction with systematic scaffolding and incorporated a modified version of the Morphological Processing Spelling Approach (MPSA). Standardized measures of spelling, MA and vocabulary knowledge were administered before and after the intervention to assess students’ progress. Results from repeated-measures ANOVAs showed that students in the experimental group demonstrated significantly greater improvement than those in the control group in text-level spelling, grammatical and historical spelling. Improvements in isolated word spelling were comparable across groups. Regression analyses further indicated that neither MA nor vocabulary knowledge predicted spelling performance at the baseline level. Overall, the findings provide strong support for the effectiveness of structured and direct instruction for enhancing spelling development among children at risk for or with SLD, highlighting its value regardless of their initial competence.