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The study investigated the joint contribution of the self-regulated learning (SRL) and individual differences approaches to the prediction of university students’ grade point average (GPA) obtained at three separate time points throughout their degree (3 years). We assessed cognitive (i.e., previous academic performance, cognitive ability, and cognitive SRL strategies) and non-cognitive variables (i.e., personality, trait emotional intelligence, motivation, and non-cognitive SRL strategies) in a sample of Spanish undergraduates. Results showed that GPA correlated with previous academic performance (i.e., combination of high school’s GPA and college admission test score), academic self-efficacy, academic engagement, SRL strategies, and conscientiousness. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that non-cognitive factors (i.e., academic engagement, academic self-efficacy, regulation of behavior and context, and conscientiousness) alone explained 17–25% of the variance in GPA across three years, and previous academic performance accounted up to an additional 25% of the variance, jointly reaching an explained variance of up to 50% in GPA. Specifically, academic engagement and regulation of behavior and context demonstrated incremental validity over and above cognitive predictors such as previous academic performance, inductive reasoning and regulation of cognition and metacognition. The role of intelligence, whether cognitive or emotional, was not as obvious as a predictor. Two nested structural equation models explained about 27–29% of the variance in a latent GPA factor exclusively from a proxy of a global variable of non-cognitive factors as a latent predictor, which is a novel and promising proof of its robust criterion validity. Implications and recommendations for future studies are discussed.

This paper explores the relationship between trait emotional intelligence (trait EI) and appearance perception in a Lebanese university sample (N = 201). Two indicators of appearance perception, body image dissatisfaction (BID) and physical attractiveness (PAT), were investigated in relation to trait EI and depression. Global trait EI and the well-being and self-control factors negatively correlated with BID, while global trait EI and all four factors positively correlated with PAT. In addition, the well-being trait EI factor was a significant predictor of BID and PAT (marginal) over BMI, emotion regulation, and self-worth. These variables jointly predicted 38% of the variance in BID and 41% of the variance in PAT. Moderation analyses showed that global trait EI moderated the relationship between the appearance perception indicators and depressive symptomatology. The role of trait EI in attenuating the psychological impact associated with a negative appearance perception is discussed in relation to its clinical utility.

This study examined the role of different psychological coping mechanisms in mental and physical health during the initial phases of the COVID-19 crisis with an emphasis on meaning-centered coping.A total of 11,227 people from 30 countries across all continents participated in the study and completed measures of psychological distress (depression, stress, and anxiety), loneliness, well-being, and physical health, together with measures of problem-focused and emotion-focused coping, and a measure called the Meaning-centered Coping Scale (MCCS) that was developed in the present study. Validation analyses of the MCCS were performed in all countries, and data were assessed by multilevel modeling (MLM).The MCCS showed a robust one-factor structure in 30 countries with good test-retest, concurrent and divergent validity results. MLM analyses showed mixed results regarding emotion and problem-focused coping strategies. However, the MCCS was the strongest positive predictor of physical and mental health among all coping strategies, independently of demographic characteristics and country-level variables.The findings suggest that the MCCS is a valid measure to assess meaning-centered coping. The results also call for policies promoting effective coping to mitigate collective suffering during the pandemic.Este estudio examinó el papel de diferentes estrategias de afrontamiento psicológico en la salud mental y física durante las fases iniciales de la crisis de COVID-19.11,227 personas de 30 países representando todos los continentes participaron en el estudio y completaron medidas de malestar psicológico (depresión, estrés y ansiedad), soledad, bienestar, salud física, medidas de afrontamiento centrado en el problema y en la emoción, y una medida denominada Escala del Afrontamiento Centrado en el Sentido (MCCS) que fue desarrollada en este estudio. El análisis de validación de la MCCS se realizó en todos los países, y los datos se evaluaron mediante un modelo multinivel.La MCCS mostró una estructura unifactorial en 30 países con buenos resultados de validez test-retest, concurrente y divergente. Los análisis mostraron resultados mixtos en cuanto a las estrategias de afrontamiento centradas en la emoción y en el problema. La MCCS fue el predictor positivo más fuerte de salud física y mental, independientemente de las características demográficas y las variables a nivel de país.Los resultados sugieren que la MCCS es un insrumento fiable para medir afrontamiento centrado en el sentido. Estos resultados pueden servir para dirigir políticas que promuevan un afrontamiento eficaz con el fin de mitigar el sufrimiento colectivo durante la pandemia.

Studies investigating the COVID-19 pandemic from a psychological point of view have mostly focused on psychological distress. This study adopts the framework of existential positive psychology, a second wave of positive psychology that emphasizes the importance of effective coping with the negative aspects of living in order to achieve greater wellbeing. Trait emotional intelligence (trait EI) can be crucial in this context as it refers to emotion-related personality dispositions concerning the understanding and regulation of one’s emotions and those of others. The present study investigated the relationship between trait EI and both wellbeing and psychological distress (i.e., depression, anxiety, and stress), while exploring the mediating role of meaning-centered coping (proactive transformative strategies based on meaning in life) and maladaptive coping (i.e., behavioral disengagement and self-blame) during the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic. A sample of 326 Lebanese adults completed measures of trait EI, wellbeing, psychological distress, coping, and meaning-centered coping. Results showed a strong positive correlation between trait EI and meaning-centered coping. Trait EI also correlated positively with wellbeing and negatively with psychological distress. Structural equation modeling showed that meaning-centered coping partially mediated the relationship between trait EI and wellbeing. Maladaptive coping fully mediated the relationship between trait EI and psychological distress. Findings indicate that trait EI is positively related to dealing with a stressful situation such as the pandemic in positive ways at both the cognitive level, by reformulating the situation to see something valuable in it, and behavioral level, by being proactive about it. Trait EI was positively linked to seeing the situation as an opportunity for personal growth, finding personal meaning in this situation, maintaining an attitude of hope and courage, and acting more responsibly with one’s self and others during the current crisis. In turn, this coping formula was related to lower psychological distress and improved mental health. These results are consistent with the existential positive psychology framework and can inform implementation programs and policies aiming at raising awareness and promoting healthy and successful coping during the pandemic.

Disordered eating behaviors are on the rise among youth. The present study investigates psychosocial and weight-related variables as predictors of eating disorders (ED) through disordered eating (DE) dimensions (namely restrained, external, and emotional eating) in Lebanese university students. The sample consisted of 244 undergraduates (143 female) aged from 18 to 31 years (M = 20.06; SD = 1.67). Using path analysis, two statistical models were built separately with restrained and emotional eating as dependent variables, and all possible direct and indirect pathways were tested for mediating effects. The variables tested for were media influence, perfectionism, trait emotional intelligence, and the Big Five dimensions. In the first model, media pressure, self-control, and extraversion predicted eating disorders via emotional eating. In the second model, media pressure and perfectionism predicted eating disorders via restrained eating. Findings from this study provide an understanding of the dynamics between DE, ED, and key personality, emotion-related, and social factors in youth. Lastly, implications and recommendations for future studies are advanced.

The aim of this study was to validate the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire (TEIQue v. 1.5) in a Lebanese sample and compare its factorial structure to that of a UK sample. There were similar gender and age distributions in both samples as well as satisfactory structural reliabilities at the global, factor, and facet levels. Results from exploratory factor analysis showed a four-factor structure similar to that originally obtained by the author of the questionnaire. There were strong correlations between the factor scores derived from the two datasets (≥.90). Tucker congruence supported the similarity between the Lebanese and UK factors. Independent-samples t tests showed that Lebanese participants scored higher on the Sociability factor and the facets of self-esteem, social awareness and emotion perception, whereas UK participants scored higher on the facets of stress management, optimism and relationships. Gender differences are also reported, and recommendations for future research discussed.

Although stigma negatively impacts autistic people globally, the degree of stigma varies across cultures. Prior research suggests that stigma may be higher in cultures with more collectivistic orientations. This study aimed to identify cultural values and other individual differences that contribute to cross-cultural differences in autism stigma (assessed with a social distance scale) between college students in Lebanon ( n = 556) and those in the United States ( n = 520). Replicating prior work, stigma was lower in women than men and in the United States relative to Lebanon. Heightened autism knowledge, quality of contact with autistic people, openness to experience, and reduced acceptance of inequality predicted lower stigma. Collectivism was not associated with heightened stigma. Findings highlight the need to address structural inequalities, combat harmful misconceptions, and foster positive contact to combat stigma.

Trait emotional intelligence (“trait EI”) concerns our perceptions of our emotional abilities, that is, how good we believe we are in terms of understanding, regulating, and expressing emotions in order to adapt to our environment and maintain well-being. In this article, we present succinct summaries of selected findings from research on (a) the location of trait EI in personality factor space, (b) the biological underpinnings of the construct, (c) indicative applications in the areas of clinical, health, social, educational, organizational, and developmental psychology, and (d) trait EI training. Findings to date suggest that individual differences in trait EI are a consistent predictor of human behavior across the life span.

This study investigated the trait emotional intelligence (trait EI or trait emotional self-efficacy) profiles of 512 students from five university faculties: technical studies, natural sciences, social sciences, arts, and humanities. Using the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire, it was hypothesised that (a) social sciences would score higher than technical studies in Emotionality, (b) arts would score higher than technical studies in Emotionality, (c) arts would score lower than technical studies in Self-control, and (d) there would be an interaction between gender and faculty, whereby female students would score higher than male students within the social sciences only. Several other exploratory comparisons were also performed. Results supported hypotheses (a), (b), and (d), but not hypothesis (c), although the differences were in the predicted direction.

Reconocimiento-No comercial-SinObraDerivada, Los tests de pensamiento divergente no atienden generalmente a la naturaleza compleja de la creatividad y se centran en el producto final o solución del problema, obviando fases previas del proceso creativo como la búsqueda y formulación del problema. El presente estudio adopta el modelo de problem-finding y plantea una nueva medida de la creatividad para ninos ˜ de educación primaria (6-12 anos). ˜ Se expone la fundamentación teórica así como el proceso de diseno, ˜ construcción y validación de la prueba a través de diferentes estudios. El Test de Creatividad Infantil (TCI) evalúa el proceso creativo a partir de una tarea estructurada en dos fases: formulación y solución del problema. El test considera no sólo el resultado final (un dibujo) sino las fases previas que llevan a alcanzarlo. Los resultados muestran una fiabilidad y validez satisfactorias de las puntuaciones de la prueba. Se concluye que el TCI tiene unas propiedades psicométricas robustas y puede ser una herramienta útil para predecir el comportamiento creativo de los ninos ˜ en educación primaria, Divergent thinking tests do not generally address the complex nature of creativity but rather focus on the final product or solution of a problem, overlooking the previous stages of the creative process such as the discovery and formulation of a problem. The present study adopts the lrsquo;problem finding’ model and presents a new measure of creativity in children in primary education (6-12 years old). This paper presents the theoretical foundations as well as the process of designing, developing, and validating the test through different studies. The Child Creativity Test (TCI in Spanish) evaluates the creative process through a task structured in two stages: formulation and solution of a problem. The test considers not only the final output (a drawing), but also the previous phases that lead to it. Results show satisfactory validity and reliability of the test scores. It is concluded that the TCI has robust psychometric properties and can be a useful tool to predict creative behavior in primary school children