The Mediating Role of Rumination in the Relationship between Loneliness and Depression in University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Introduction: While mitigation procedures are needed to prevent the continuous spread of COVID-19, they may, in turn, negatively impact individuals’ mental health. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate the relationships between loneliness, rumination, and depression, as well as the mediating role of rumination in the relationship between loneliness and depression in university students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was circulated, collecting a final sample of 288 university students (Mage = 22.01, SD = 3.45, range = 18–55, 75.7% female). Study variables were measured utilizing self-report questionnaires. Results: In line with the hypotheses, rumination partially mediated the relationship between loneliness and depression. Discussion: Therefore, ruminative thoughts may be one of the key factors contributing to lonely university students’ susceptibility to depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic

International prevalence and correlates of psychological stress during the global COVID-19 pandemic

Significant measures have been taken worldwide to prevent the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), including quarantine, social distancing, and self-isolation. To understand the psychological impacts of these rapid changes in daily life, this study reports perceived stress and associated sociodemographic factors from an international sample of adults, during the period of a global pandemic

International Prevalence and Correlates of Psychological Stress during the Global COVID-19 Pandemic

This study reports perceived stress and associated sociodemographic factors from an international sample of adults, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) along with socio-demographic questions were conducted between 8 April 2020 and 11 May 2020. The survey was translated from English into five languages. Recruitment was conducted worldwide using social media. A total of 1685 survey responses were collected across 57 countries with eleven countries (≥30 responses/country) included in the sub-analyses. Overall, the mean PSS-10 score was 19.08 (SD = 7.17), reflecting moderate stress compared to previously reported norms. Female gender was associated with a higher PSS score (3.03, p < 0.05) as well as four-year degree holders (3.29, p < 0.05), while adults over 75 years (−7.46, p < 0.05) had lower PSS scores. Personal care composite score (including hours of sleep, exercise, and meditation) was associated with lower PSS scores (−0.39, p < 0.01). Increases in personal care and changes in work expectations were associated with lower PSS scores (−1.30 (p < 0.05) and −0.38 (p < 0.01), respectively). Lower total PSS scores were reported in Germany (−4.82, p < 0.01) compared to the global response sample mean. This information, collected during the initial period of global mitigation orders, provides insight into potential mental health risks and protective factors during crises

Design Choices in the Infant Habituation Paradigm: A Pre-registered Crowd-Sourced Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Methodological variations and inconsistency in reporting practices pose considerable challenges to the interpretation and generalizability of outcomes derived from the habituation paradigm -one of the most prominent methods for studying infant cognition. In a systematic review, we map out experimental design choices in habituation study samples aged 0-18 months using looking time measures. 2,853 records published in peer-reviewed journals between 2000-2019 were extracted from PsycInfo and Web of Science. 781 (27.4%) papers were deemed eligible after screening (Fleiss kappa = .60, 95%, CI[.40 -.80], 6 blind raters). We adopt a collaborative, multi-lab approach for crowd-sourced data collection involving raters from the developmental research community. In a meta-analysis, we assess the impact of habituation detection criteria on the novelty effect size, moderated by age. Our results will inform a detailed evaluation of experimental designs and a set of recommendations to improve research and reporting practices in infant habituation research