Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) have been described as multifactorial conditions involving musculoskeletal pain, psychological distress, and impaired jaw function. Although cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been increasingly used to manage the psychological components of chronic pain, its isolated effectiveness for TMDs remains uncertain because of methodological variability in existing studies. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was to evaluate the effectiveness of CBT for reducing pain and psychological stress among adults with TMDs compared with conventional therapeutic interventions alone. Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, a systematic literature search of RCTs published within the past 10 years was conducted across 4 databases: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library. Study selection, quality appraisal using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist, data extraction, and meta-analysis were performed independently by 2 reviewers. A random-effects model was used to compute pooled standardized mean differences with 95% confidence intervals, and heterogeneity was assessed using the I² statistic (α=.05). Five RCTs, with 413 participants, were analyzed. CBT interventions, whether delivered independently or combined with occlusal devices or manual therapy, demonstrated moderate improvements in pain and psychological distress. The pooled standardized mean difference (SMD) was 0.53 (95% CI: -0.06 to 1.12; P=.068), reflecting moderate but statistically nonsignificant effectiveness. Heterogeneity across studies was considerable (I²=77%). Sensitivity analyses indicated variations in intervention duration as a potential source of heterogeneity. CBT effectively reduced the pain and psychological distress associated with TMDs, with optimal outcomes when integrated into multidisciplinary treatment approaches. However, evidence remains limited because of the moderate risk of bias, small sample sizes, and short follow-up periods. Future research should prioritize standardized CBT protocols and long-term outcomes to enhance clinical applicability.
Adolescence is a critical developmental stage characterized by heightened vulnerability in psychological and behavioral domains. During this period, adverse experiences such as social ostracism, anhedonia, and behavioral problems are more prevalent and can significantly disrupt individual well-being. Interventions that fail to account for adolescents' developmental characteristics often remain ineffective. This study aims to contribute to the literature by examining the interrelationships among these variables through an integrated and holistic framework. The research employed a correlational survey design and was conducted with high school students. Advanced statistical techniques were used to analyze the data, allowing for a comprehensive exploration of the complex associations among the study variables. The findings revealed that adolescents' resilience negatively and indirectly influenced ostracism through anhedonia, and further affected both externalizing and internalizing behaviors indirectly and negatively through anhedonia and ostracism. Conversely, anhedonia was found to have an indirect and positive effect on externalizing and internalizing behaviors via ostracism. The study demonstrated that resilience serves as a protective factor, buffering adolescents against adverse emotional and social experiences. However, anhedonic tendencies were shown to weaken social relationships and exacerbate behavioral difficulties. These findings underscore the importance of strengthening protective factors such as psychological resilience in interventions designed for adolescents.
Introduction: University students are vulnerable to psychological distress due to the academic and social demands of this life stage. Mindfulness and self-compassion are effective and adaptable strategies in an academic environment that promote emotional regulation and psychological well-being. This study aims to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the combined impact of mindfulness- and self-compassion-based interventions (MBSCIs) on psychological distress. It will also analyze their role as predictors of therapeutic change, as well as the moderating influence of sociodemographic and contextual factors. Method: We systematically searched PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and single-group pre-post trials investigating the effect of MBSCI on anxiety, depression and stress in college students. Studies were combined using the inverse variance method in a random effects model. Additional subgroup and meta-regression analyses were performed, and risk of bias was assessed. The review was pre-registered (PROSPERO registration number: CRD420251003822). Results: Our review included 49 studies with a total of 5043 participants (3721 in the intervention group, and 1322 in the control group). The results provide relevant evidence on the efficacy of MBSCI in the university population, especially in reducing symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression. The effect sizes observed were moderate-to-large for stress and small-to-moderate for anxiety and depression, supporting their clinical usefulness in university educational settings. However, these findings should be interpreted with caution, as no included study achieved low risk of bias, and heterogeneity was moderate-to-high across most outcomes. Conclusions: The results suggest that MBSCI could alleviate psychological distress in university students. However, these results are limited by some methodological issues (risk of bias, heterogeneity, lack of follow-ups, poor standardization). It would be advisable to integrate these practices into the university curriculum as workshops or complementary activities. Further studies are needed to confirm their effectiveness and explore sustained effects and differences according to individual characteristics.
Patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HCT) and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy experience significant disability exacerbated by persistent fatigue, pain, and psychological distress. These symptoms limit physical activity, one of the most effective and recommended strategies for reducing disability. Cognitive behavioral interventions improve cancer-related symptoms but have not been adapted for this unique patient population. This randomized controlled trial will test Step Up, a hybrid-delivered (in-person and mobile health) intervention that integrates cognitive behavioral symptom management with occupational therapy (OT)-led activity coaching. Adults (N = 177) post-HCT or CAR-T who report ≥2 target symptoms (fatigue, pain, psychological distress) at moderate levels (≥3/10) will be randomized 1:1 to Step Up or Usual Care Plus. Step Up includes seven weekly sessions: three in-person during intensive outpatient care and four videoconferencing at home, supported by a mobile app with activity trackers and personalized feedback. Usual Care Plus provides seven educational videos and activity monitoring. The primary outcome is physical disability assessed post-intervention (10-14 weeks after baseline). Secondary outcomes include fatigue, pain, psychological distress, daily steps, self-efficacy for symptom management, and digital symptom biomarkers (e.g., sleep). Assessments occur at baseline, post-intervention, and 3- and 6-month follow-ups. This is the first trial to test a hybrid-delivered, theory-based intervention integrating symptom management and OT-led activity coaching for HCT and CAR-T patients. Step Up may reduce physical disability and improve clinical outcomes. If successful, it could lead to widespread implementation to improve recovery during the critical transition from intensive outpatient care to home.
To estimate associations between past-year gambling and risk of harm from gambling with psychological distress, and explore whether these associations differ across population subgroups. Data were collected from 1,987 adults (≥ 18y) in Great Britain in October 2022 through a nationally-representative household survey. Participants reported past-year gambling activity. Those who had gambled completed the Problem Gambling Severity Index; scores ≥ 1 indicated the person was at risk of harm from gambling. Past-30-day psychological distress was assessed with the K6 and categorised as low/no (scores < 5) vs. moderate/severe distress (≥ 5). Covariates included sociodemographics, mental health history, smoking status, and alcohol consumption. Past-year gambling was not associated with increased odds of experiencing psychological distress relative to not gambling (29.7% vs. 32.6%; OR = 0.87 [0.70-1.09]; ORadj=0.81 [0.62-1.06]), and there was no clear evidence of moderation by age, gender, social grade, children in the household, mental health history, smoking, or alcohol consumption. Among past-year gamblers, those at risk of harm from gambling were more likely to report distress than those not at risk (46.9% vs. 28.2%; OR = 2.25 [1.23-4.10]). This association was attenuated after adjustment for sociodemographics (ORadj=1.67 [0.84-3.35]) and additionally for mental health history, smoking status, and alcohol consumption (ORadj=1.16 [0.57-2.35]). Psychological distress appears similar between those who had and had not gambled in the past year in Great Britain in 2022. Those at risk of harm from gambling were more likely to experience psychological distress but it does not appear independent of their sociodemographic characteristics, mental health history, and smoking and alcohol consumption. These findings underscore the need for integrated policies and intervention strategies that address not only gambling behaviour but also consider associated sociodemographic and health-related factors to effectively mitigate distress among individuals at risk.
Addictive behaviors, including both substance use disorders and behavioral addictions, arise from complex interactions among biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors including digital ones. This review focuses on the assessment of social and psychological risk and protective factors, highlighting how artificial intelligence and machine learning approaches complement conventional qualitative and quantitative methodologies. The aim is to clarify how these tools can enhance understanding, prediction, and prevention of addictive behaviors. Recent research identifies impulsivity, emotion dysregulation, peer norms, and family functioning as central psychosocial risk factors for addictive behaviors. Protective factors - such as self-efficacy, social support, and family cohesion - moderate these risks. Conventional analyses provide foundational evidence, while ML methods (predictive machine learning, explainable artificial intelligence, reinforcement learning) now enable integration of multimodal data, detection of nonlinear patterns, and identification of latent psychosocial profiles. Emerging studies demonstrate potential for early-warning prediction and personalized intervention design. AI/ML offers unprecedented opportunities to advance addiction science by handling high-dimensional psychosocial and behavioral data. Yet, ethical, interpretative, and causal challenges persist. The most promising path forward lies in synergizing theory-driven analytics with data-driven AI approaches to achieve more precise and contextually grounded prevention and intervention strategies for addictive behaviors.
Insufficient physical exercise poses a substantial threat to the physical and psychological wellbeing of university students. However, participation in physical activity is shaped by a complex interplay of psychological and physiological factors. This study employed machine learning techniques to predict levels of physical exercise participation and to identify key influencing factors among university students. Questionnaire data were collected from students across multiple provinces in China. Five classification models-Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP), Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), Random Forest, Gradient Boosting Decision Tree (GBDT), and Decision Tree-were constructed and evaluated using standard classification metrics on an independent test set. Among the five models, the GBDT exhibited the highest predictive accuracy. Feature importance analysis indicated that body weight and anxiety were the most influential predictors of physical exercise participation. Partial dependence plots revealed non-linear relationships between key psychological variables and exercise behavior, particularly in differentiating higher levels of physical activity. In addition, the decision tree model identified resistance to temptation as the primary decision node, followed by healthy habits and impulse control. By integrating the Multi-Process Action Control (M-PAC) framework with stress process theory, this study elucidates how psychological stress, self-regulatory capacity, and behavioral habits jointly influence physical exercise participation. The findings provide practical implications for the development of targeted interventions aimed at promoting sustained physical activity among university students.
Depression and chronic pain frequently co-occur, amplifying disease burden and complicating treatment. Shared mechanisms span immune, neurotransmitter, and neuroplastic domains. Neuroinflammation, characterized by elevated cytokines such as IL-6 (interleukin-6) and TNF-α (tumor necrosis factor-alpha), drives both mood dysregulation and nociplastic pain through microglial activation and central sensitization. Dysregulation of glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) signaling contributes to excitatory-inhibitory imbalance, while altered BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) expression links neuroplasticity with pain amplification. Substance P and monoamine disturbances further integrate affective and somatic symptoms. Neuroimaging reveals overlapping dysfunction in prefrontal, cingulate, and limbic networks, providing a unifying framework for pain-emotion interactions. Psychological and social factors, including maladaptive cognitions, emotion regulation deficits, and reduced social support, exacerbate this bidirectional relationship. Clinically, tricyclic antidepressants and SNRIs (serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors) demonstrate superior analgesic efficacy compared with SSRIs, particularly in neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome. Novel agents such as ketamine and esketamine show rapid antidepressant and potential analgesic effects. Neuromodulation strategies (rTMS (repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation), tDCS (transcranial direct current stimulation)) and psychological interventions (CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy), mindfulness, ACT (acceptance and commitment therapy)) further enhance outcomes. Together, these findings support a precision medicine approach that integrates biological, psychological, and social determinants. Targeting convergent mechanisms may reduce symptom burden, improve treatment responsiveness, and ultimately enhance quality of life in patients with comorbid depression and chronic pain.
The increased use of online technologies has expanded the social landscape for individuals with ill-intent to sexually exploit and abuse children. To date, the specific psychological impact on and mental health outcomes for children who have experienced Technology-Assisted Child Sexual Abuse (TA-CSA) remain underexplored in comparison to those of CSA in the physical world. This mixed-methods systematic literature review synthesizes the findings from existing studies that have explored these phenomena. A systematic search of three databases (EMBASE, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO) was conducted. Included articles (n = 18) were assessed for quality using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. The findings were integrated using a narrative thematic approach. The synthesis yielded seven key themes: (i) An Onslaught of Painful Emotions, (ii) A Shattered Sense of Self: Self-Blame and Guilt, (iii) A Future Held Hostage: Image Permanence and Hypervigilance, (iv) Broken Bonds: Social Isolation and Relational Rupture, (v) Prevalence of Mental Health Difficulties, (vi) Behavioral and Interpersonal Sequelae, and (vii) Gender-Based Variations in Psychological Outcomes. The findings reveal that experiences of TA-CSA lead to a range of significant mental health outcomes, from profound emotional distress and a shattered sense of self to a high prevalence of psychological? Difficulties. The unique features of TA-CSA, such as digital permanence, are associated with persistent trauma responses. Implications for clinical practice, policy, and future research are discussed. PROSPERO registration number CRD42024548986.
Driven by global carbon reduction agendas and circular economy initiatives, green packaging has evolved beyond regulatory compliance toward value creation and identity expression. In social media environments, young consumers assess and disseminate products through intertwined considerations of sustainability, aesthetics, and social interaction. Within this context, biomimetic cultural and creative products offer a unique lens to explore how youth green aesthetics influence the adoption of green packaging. Drawing on innovation diffusion theory, persuasive design theory, and biophilia theory, this study develops an integrated analytical framework to examine the underlying psychological and behavioral mechanisms. A cross-sectional research design was employed, combining qualitative expert interviews with quantitative survey analysis. Data were collected from 662 young respondents across mainland China and Taiwan. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test the proposed relationships, including mediation effects of perceived innovation attributes (relative advantage, compatibility, observability), persuasive design factors (motivation, ability, triggers), and biophilic responses (natural imagery evocation and biomimetic experience). The findings indicate that youth green aesthetics have a significant positive effect on the willingness to adopt green packaging. This relationship is mediated by perceived innovation attributes, persuasive design mechanisms, and biophilic responses. Among these mediators, biomimetic experience and perceived ability demonstrate the strongest effects, while observability does not exhibit a significant mediating role. The results highlight the joint influence of aesthetic perception, behavioral facilitation, and nature-related emotional engagement in shaping adoption intentions. Rather than establishing causal claims, this study provides empirical evidence of the mechanisms through which youth green aesthetics influence green packaging adoption within social media contexts. The integration of diffusion, persuasion, and biophilia perspectives offers a novel theoretical contribution to sustainable design research. Practically, the findings inform green packaging design strategies and sustainability communication in the cultural and creative industry. Future research is encouraged to adopt longitudinal and cross-cultural approaches to further validate and extend these findings.
Problematic pornography use (PPU) has attracted increasing interest due to its reported associations with psychological distress, sexual difficulties, and relationship concerns in a subset of users. Several psychotherapeutic interventions have been proposed. Still, there is no widely accepted, evidence-based, standardized protocol for its treatment. This scoping review aimed to identify and synthesize intervention protocols based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for the treatment of PPU, published between 2019 and 2024. A systematic search was conducted in the PubMed, Scopus, and PsycINFO databases, using predefined terms such as "cognitive behavioral therapy," "pornography," "PPU," and "problematic pornography use." Empirical studies presenting CBT-based protocols for PPU, published in English, Portuguese, or Spanish between 2019 and 2024, were included. Two independent reviewers conducted double-blind screening of the studies, with discrepancies resolved by consensus. Extracted data included participant characteristics, study design, intervention components, session structure, and outcomes. The initial search identified 437 studies. After removing duplicates and full-text screening, 11 studies met the inclusion criteria. Interventions varied in therapeutic approach, including CBT alone, ACT, mindfulness-based practices, and hybrid protocols, integrating CBT techniques with ACT-based or mindfulness-based strategies. Delivery modalities included in-person (n = 5), online (n = 5), and mixed (n = 1). Most protocols addressed emotional regulation, cognitive restructuring, craving management, and relapse prevention. Although all studies reported reductions in the frequency of PPU and associated symptoms, interventions that combined CBT with other techniques tended to report larger effect sizes. No studies reported complete abstinence, and there were high dropout rates in self-guided interventions. Despite promising findings, current CBT-based protocols for treating PPU lack standardization and methodological rigor. The field would benefit from consensus on diagnostic criteria, therapeutic goals, outcome measures, and additional randomized clinical trials that integrate mental health and sexual health.
Objective: This study systematically integrates and reviews the results of Iranian studies on the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for emotional disorders. Method : To ensure a comprehensive review, relevant Iranian studies from 2001 to 2024 were identified from databases such as Google Scholar, Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, SID, Noormags, and MagIran using keywords including CBT, emotional disorders, anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD, and stress. Results: Based on the inclusion criteria, 93 effect sizes from 65 Iran-based studies were selected for analysis. The random-effects model revealed a significant overall effect size of CBT on emotional disorders, with g = 1.07, p < 0.001, and a 95% confidence interval ranging from 0.95 to 1.20. The primary analysis indicated that CBT effectively improved various emotional disorders, including anxiety (g = 1.04), depression (g = 1.09), OCD (g = 1.19), PTSD (g = 0.39), and stress (g = 1.27). Subgroup analysis showed no significant gender differences in the effectiveness of CBT, whereas meta-regression revealed a significant association between the effect size of CBT and the age of Iranian participants. Conclusion: The CBT intervention method has been an effective treatment for emotional disorders and has significantly improved anxiety, depression, OCD, and PTSD in Iranian populations; however, its effect on stress was not statistically significant in this study.
Gambling disorder is a growing public health concern, exacerbated by the rapid expansion of online gambling. Prevention is key to supporting individuals from developing or exacerbating risky conducts. This study presents a multidisciplinary project across psychology and computational linguistics. The project aimed at developing a predictive system for detecting linguistic markers of problematic gambling behaviours in customer-operator chats from Sisal, a major Italian gambling company. The objective is to support staff in promptly recognizing at-risk individuals and providing timely assistance. The research was conducted in two phases. First, a qualitative analysis of Italian conversations on the online support centre chat identified linguistic and discursive markers of risk. These insights informed the training of a supervised binary classification model. In the second phase, the system was refined through dataset expansion, manual coding carried out by psychologists, and the introduction of a four-level risk classification. Markers were grouped into macro-categories and weighted according to emotional intensity and frequency before being integrated into the predictive model. Findings showed that combining linguistic analysis with psychological expertise can effectively enhance the early detection of problematic gambling behaviours. The research highlighted the potential of text mining as a tool for prevention and person-centred interventions in gambling disorder.
This study examines the psychological mechanisms through which anthropomorphic artificial intelligence (AI) relates to consumer adoption intentions in fragile, low-trust economies. Integrating the Stimulus-Organism-Response framework with the Computers Are Social Actors paradigm, Institutional Trust Theory, and Privacy Calculus Theory, we investigate how human-like AI design shapes cognitive and affective responses within Sierra Leone's banking sector. Using survey data from 277 banking customers and partial least squares structural equation modeling, we find that AI anthropomorphism exhibits no direct association with adoption intention (β = -0.013, p = 0.760). Instead, its influence is entirely indirect-transmitted in parallel through perceived social presence (β = 0.144, 95% CI [0.062, 0.226]) and trust in the AI system (β = 0.139, 95% CI [0.068, 0.210]). Critically, customer skepticism-shaped by institutional fragility-functions as a boundary condition that substantially attenuates both pathways: among highly skeptical users (+1 SD), anthropomorphism's conditional effect on social presence becomes non-significant (β = 0.098, p = 0.124) compared to low-skepticism users (β = 0.412, p < 0.001), while its effect on trust is reduced by more than half (β = 0.118 vs. 0.284). These findings identify a critical boundary condition on human-like AI design: in low-trust environments, anthropomorphism operates not as a standalone adoption driver but as a relational amplifier whose efficacy depends on foundational trust and is substantially weakened when skepticism is high. The study challenges universalist assumptions in human-AI interaction research and underscores the need for institutionally sensitive design approaches in fragile economies.
Understanding the psychological mechanisms underlying consumer loyalty behavior constitutes a central challenge for the behavioral sciences. Despite growing research on experiential marketing, limited attention has been directed toward understanding the conditional cognitive mechanisms that determine when and how consumption experiences translate into stable loyalty patterns, particularly in emerging market contexts where consumer behavior dynamics differ substantially from those in mature economies. The present study examines how experiential processing influences the formation of behavioral loyalty patterns, considering the moderating role of cognitive value evaluation. A quantitative, correlational, cross-sectional design was employed with a sample of 500 consumers from retail businesses in Pueblo Nuevo, Peru. The instruments demonstrated adequate psychometric properties (α > 0.88; AVE > 0.50). The results of the moderation analysis using PROCESS Model 1 revealed that the model explains 79.9% of the variance in loyalty behavior (R2 = 0.799, p < 0.001). The interaction effect was significant (B = 0.10, p < 0.001), confirming that cognitive value evaluation moderates the relationship between experiential processing and behavioral loyalty. Simple slopes analysis showed that the effect of experiential processing on loyalty intensifies as perceived value increases, ranging from B = 0.56 at low levels to B = 0.77 at high levels. The Johnson-Neyman criterion identified the transition point at 14.80. These findings contribute to consumer behavior theory by demonstrating that consumption experiences require a favorable cognitive evaluation to translate into stable behavioral loyalty patterns, with implications for Sustainable Development Goal 8 concerning sustainable economic growth. These results advance consumer behavior theory by providing an integrative moderating framework applicable beyond the Peruvian context, and offer retail managers a diagnostic tool for calibrating experiential strategies based on consumer value perception thresholds.
Background: Dermatological conditions represent a leading cause of global nonfatal disease burden, accounting for approximately 42.9 million disability-adjusted life years annually. Their complex pathogenesis is increasingly understood through the skin-brain-exposome axis, a bidirectional neuroimmunological and environmental communication network. The study aims to synthesize the neurobiological mechanisms of the skin-brain-exposome axis with macroscopic sociodemographic modifiers, clinical manifestations, and evidence-based psychodermatological interventions. Methods: A narrative review was conducted, following a structured search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science (from inception to February 2026), yielding 54 sources. Mechanistic and interventional data (including randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses) were integrated with large-scale population-based epidemiological findings, anchored by a recent cross-sectional Polish cohort of 27,000 adults. Results: Psychological distress is associated with hyperactivation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and peripheral neurogenic inflammation (e.g., Substance P, corticotropin-releasing hormone), exacerbating stress-sensitive conditions such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, acne, and chronic pruritus. External exposome factors (urbanization, pollution) and sociodemographic variables (education, gender) may modify biological risk and diagnostic capture rates, frequently generating an epidemiological diagnostic paradox. Randomized trials support that psychotherapeutic interventions, particularly Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), effectively disrupt the physical itch-scratch-stress cycle and improve disease-specific quality of life, serving as evidence-based adjunctive strategies in comprehensive care. Conclusions: Effective dermatological management requires targeting both the cutaneous barrier and the psychological exposome. Integrating routine psychosocial screening and stratified behavioral interventions into standard clinical care is essential for addressing the neuroimmune chronicity of inflammatory skin diseases.
Mandatory recycling policies in China's megacities have had varying degrees of effectiveness, revealing a persistent gap between policy goals and actual public participation. Using a "perception-to-action" framework integrating environmental risk perception into the theory of planned behavior, this study quantitatively evaluated the psychological drivers of 4,983 urban residents. The findings demonstrate that the psychological mechanism driving recycling is not universal, with this heterogeneity being caused by two important factors: (1) an "infrastructure ceiling effect," where the influence of perceived behavioral control on behavior diminishes as urban infrastructure matures; and (2) "demographic divergence," where age, education, and income systematically alter the dominant psychological pathways from risk perception to action. Ultimately, effective urban recycling governance requires an abandonment of one-size-fits-all campaigns and should, instead, adopt "precision governance" that precisely targets social norms while adapting to the life cycle of urban infrastructure and the distinct psychological profiles of its residents.
While generative artificial intelligence offers transformative potential for programming education, its impact on students' internal cognitive and behavioral patterns remains underexplored. This study aims to address this "black box" issue by investigating how AI-driven interventions influence metacognitive regulation and self-regulated learning. A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 122 Computer Science undergraduates (mean age = 19.6 years; 28.2% female) from a university in China. Participants were assigned to an AI-assisted intervention group (n = 62) or a control group (n = 60) within a Python programming course. Using a customized Jupyter environment, an integrated autonomous AI agent monitored real-time behavioral logs and triggered non-directive, process-oriented prompts based on specific algorithmic thresholds. Data collection integrated fine-grained log analysis with standardized assessments to quantify implicit planning, monitoring, and regulation processes. The AI intervention significantly optimized learning behaviors, facilitating a shift from impulsive "trial-and-error" approaches to deliberate planning and superior debugging precision. These behavioral improvements were accompanied by significant gains in both academic performance and subjective metacognitive awareness compared to the control group. The findings confirm that when designed as a process-oriented scaffold, AI functions as a catalyst for self-regulated learning rather than a passive crutch. This study highlights the role of AI as a psychological scaffold that supports metacognitive regulation, providing an evidence-based blueprint for the design of effective learning environments in educational psychology.
Achieving high-quality employment for retired athletes is essential for promoting the holistic development of athletes and accelerating the construction of a strong sports nation. From the perspective of capital collaboration, this study develops a comprehensive analysis framework by incorporating human capital, social capital, and psychological capital to systematically investigate the influencing factors and configuration pathways for high-quality employment of retired athletes. Utilizing Necessary Condition Analysis (NCA) and fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA), this study discovers three main findings. First, no single condition variable independently constitutes the necessary condition for high-quality employment. Second, three configuration pathways for achieving high-quality employment are identified, including human capital-social capital synergy, human capital-psychological capital synergy, and human capital-social capital-psychological capital integration. Third, vocational skill, as a component of human capital, emerges as an important condition in configurations associated with high-quality employment. Based on the findings, this research recommends improving the athlete security policy system, promoting the accumulation of human capital, strengthening the development of psychological capital, constructing diverse social support networks, and optimizing the pathways for retired athletes to achieve high-quality employment. These aims will support retired athletes in navigating career transitions effectively while securing stable and high-quality employment.
Endurance performance is regulated through dynamic interactions between physiological capacity, nutritional status, and psychological control processes. While traditional endurance models have emphasized metabolic and cardiorespiratory determinants, growing evidence indicates that energy availability also influences cognitive function, perceived effort, and decision-making during prolonged exercise. This narrative review synthesizes current literature on the interplay between nutritional strategies and psychological regulation in endurance sports, with particular emphasis on low energy availability, carbohydrate availability, mental fatigue, and pacing behavior. Acute and chronic reductions in energy availability are associated not only with endocrine and metabolic disturbances but also with amplified perceived exertion, impaired executive functioning, reduced effort tolerance, and altered risk-related decision-making, even in the absence of overt physiological failure. Carbohydrate availability emerges as a central modulator operating through both peripheral mechanisms (substrate supply and glycogen preservation) and central neurocognitive pathways influencing perception, motivation, and fatigue regulation. Hydration status, caffeine ingestion, and gastrointestinal tolerance further interact with perceptual and cognitive processes to shape real-time pacing and endurance sustainability. Integrating sport nutrition and sport psychology provides a unifying framework for understanding endurance regulation as a multilevel process linking metabolic state to perceptual experience and behavioral decision-making. From an applied perspective, optimizing endurance performance requires maintenance of adequate long-term energy availability, strategic carbohydrate periodization aligned with training demands, and systematic monitoring of perceived effort alongside physiological load. Future research should prioritize interdisciplinary, ecologically valid designs combining metabolic, perceptual, and cognitive measurements, supported by wearable and data-driven technologies capable of capturing real-time endurance regulation. Bridging nutritional and psychological mechanisms within a unified conceptual model offers a stronger scientific basis for improving performance sustainability while safeguarding athlete health in modern endurance sport.