Facebook Intrusion as a Mediator Between Positive Capital and General Distress: A Cross-Cultural Study

Background: Social networking sites (SNSs) play an important role in many aspects of life nowadays, and it seems to be crucial to explore their impact on human well-being and functioning. The main aim of the study was to examine the mediating role of Facebook intrusion between positive capital and general distress. Positive capital was considered as comprising self-esteem, ego-resiliency, and self-control, while general distress was seen as having three dimensions: depression, anxiety, and stress. Methods: The sample consisted of N = 4,495 participants (M = 22.96 years, SD = 5.46) from 14 countries: Australia, Cyprus, Greece, Hong Kong, Lithuania, New Zealand, Peru, Poland, Russia, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and United States. We used the following methods: the Facebook Intrusion Questionnaire (FIQ), the Self-Esteem Scale (SES), the Brief Self-Control Scale (SCS), The Ego Resiliency Revised Scale and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). Results: We found that Facebook intrusion was a mediator between self-esteem and general distress and between self-control and general distress. Limitations: The present study was based on a cross-sectional study, and the measures used were self-report measures. The majority of the participants were recruited using convenience sampling. Conclusions: The present findings contribute to a better understanding on how the social media have impact on individual mental health. Implications for future studies are discussed

Does the group membership shape evaluations on other drivers? The role of symbolic cues in traffic

The present study investigated the effects of group membership on drivers' evaluations of themselves and other drivers. An online survey was completed by 144 university students. As measurement, mini Driver Behavior Questionnaire (DBQ) with the addition of three aggressive violation items of the original DBQ the Positive Driver Behavior Scale, and an adjective list were used. Participants assessed their own driving behavior as well as three different driver identities represented by three sets of car photographs. In-group (the university) identity, out-group (politically provocative) identity and no identity (control) were represented to participants by use of different car stickers and accessories. As our hypotheses suggested, the participants made the highest evaluations for their own driving behavior, while making the lowest evaluations for the out-group in both measures. Additionally, participants evaluated their in-group members' driving behaviors more favorable than other identities. Results were discussed in terms of social identity theory

Indirect Relationship between Egoistic Relative Deprivation and Subjective Well-Being

The present study investigates the possible variables that explain subjective well-being based on Relative Deprivation Theory. In this regard, the first purpose of the study is to focus on the qualitative characteristic of the desired outcome and examine whether the types of material and emotional egoistic relative deprivation exhibit a differentiated relationship with subjective well-being. The second purpose is to test the possible mediating role of perceived intrinsic strength and perceived extrinsic strength variables on the relationship between material/emotional egoistic relative deprivation and subjective well-being. Data were collected from 286 female and 161 male undergraduate university students who had an age range from 18 to 26 (Mage = 21.02; S = 1.71). Although there are significant differences in some variables based on the qualitative characteristic of the desired outcome, the number of variables that are not differentiated is higher due to the relativity aspect of deprivation. In addition, material/emotional egoistic relative deprivation is associated with subjective well-being through perceived intrinsic strength and perceived extrinsic strength. The findings complement the related literature. The research contributes to the literature that considers the qualitative characteristic of the desired outcome, and the possible indirect relationship between material/emotional egoistic relative deprivation and subjective well-being

Political Orientations and Morality Judgments in the Turkish Context: Considering the Roles of the Needs for Cognition and Recognition

The aims of this study were to test: (a) the association of political orientations with morality orientations, specified by moral foundations theory, on a sample of young adults from Turkey, representing a collectivistic culture; and (b) the statistically mediating roles of needs for cognition and recognition in the links between political orientation and morality endorsements. According to the results (a) right-wing orientation and need for recognition were associated with all the three binding foundations (i.e., in-group/loyalty, authority/respect, and purity/sanctity); (b) right-wing orientation was associated with binding foundations also indirectly via the role of need for recognition; (c) regarding individualizing foundations, left-wing orientation and need for cognition were associated with fairness/reciprocity, whereas only gender was associated with harm/care; and (d) left-wing orientation was associated with fairness dimension also indirectly via the role of need for cognition. The cultural relevance of moral foundations theory as well as the roles of needs for cognition and recognition are discussed

Strategies for becoming a more desirable mate: Evidence from 14 countries

The current research aimed to study the strategies that people employ in order to become more desirable as mates in different cultural settings. More specifically, using a closed-ended questionnaire on a sample of 7181 participants from 14 different countries, we identified 10 different strategies that people employ to become more appealing as mates. Participants indicated that they had more frequently used the “Enhance looks,” followed by the “Show off abilities and talents,” and the “Demonstrate similarity” strategies. On the other hand, they had less frequently used the “Keep undesirable things hidden,” the “Show off and exaggerate wealth and abilities,” and the “Drastic appearance changes” strategies. Female participants indicated that they had more extensive used the “Enhance looks” strategy than male participants, while male participants indicated that they had more extensive used the “Increase income and social status” and the “Show off and exaggerate wealth and abilities” strategies than female participants. The sex effects, as well as the extent of use, were generally consistent across the different cultures. The identified strategies were classified further into two main strategies, namely the “Develop and demonstrate desirable traits” and the “Deceive about undesirable traits,” which was generally consistent across the different countries