Need for Affect, Problematic Social Media Use and the Mediating Role of Fear of Missing Out in European and Arab Samples.

Purpose: The growing awareness and concern about the excessive use of social media have led to an increasing number of studies investigating the underlying factors contributing to this behavior. In the literature, it is discussed that problematic social media use (PSMU) can impact individuals' mental health and well-being. Drawing on the Interaction of Person-Affect-Cognition-Execution (I-PACE) model, this study aimed to examine the association between the need for affect (affect approach and affect avoidance) and PSMU (operationalized via the social media disorder scale), as well as the mediating role of fear of missing out (FoMO) in that relation. Participants and Methods: Data were collected via an online survey from 513 participants in European and Arabic countries. Regression and mediation analyses were conducted to explore the relationships between affect approach, affect avoidance, FoMO, and PSMU. Results: Regression analysis results indicated that both affect approach and affect avoidance as part of the need for affect construct significantly predicted PSMU in both cultural contexts. Mediation analysis showed that FoMO partially mediated the relationship between affect approach and PSMU in the Arab sample but not in the European sample. Beyond this, FoMO partially mediated the relationship between affect avoidance and PSMU in both cultural samples. Conclusion: The present study indicates that managing emotions could be an effective strategy to combat PSMU. In line with this and against the background of the data business model behind social media companies, we deem it to be of importance to minimize triggers related to FoMO in the design of social media platforms (for example, push notifications). This might be particularly relevant for individuals with a high inclination towards affect approach and affect avoidance.

Brain and behavioral contributions to individual choices in response to affective-cognitive persuasion.

Affective and cognitive information conveyed by persuasive stimuli is evaluated and integrated by individuals according to their behavioral predispositions. However, the neurocognitive structure that supports persuasion based on either affective or cognitive content is poorly understood. Here, we examine the neural and behavioral processes supporting choices based on affective and cognitive persuasion by integrating 4 information processing features: intrinsic brain connectivity, stimulus-evoked brain activity, intrinsic affective-cognitive orientation, and explicit target evaluations. We found that the intrinsic cross-network connections of a multimodal fronto-parietal network are associated with individual affective-cognitive orientation. Moreover, using a cross-validated classifier, we found that individuals' intrinsic brain-behavioral dimensions, such as affective-cognitive orientation and intrinsic brain connectivity, can predict individual choices between affective and cognitive targets. Our findings show that affective- and cognitive-based choices rely on multiple sources, including behavioral orientation, stimulus evaluation, and intrinsic functional brain architecture.

Spanish Adaptation of the Need for Affect Questionnaire (NAQ and NAQ-S) / Adaptación Española del Cuestionario de Necesidad de Afecto (NAQ y NAQ-S)

Background: Need for affect (NA) refers to individual differences in the motivation to approach or avoid emotion-inducing situations and activities. Prior research has demonstrated that NA is a relevant construct for understanding psychological processes related to affect. The present study aimed to adapt and validate the English version of the Need for Affect Questionnaire (NAQ), as well as the short version (i.e., the NAQ-S), to Spanish. We examined evidence of validity and reliability in the NAQ and NAQ-S scores. Method: Study 1 (N = 416) analyzed the psychometric properties of scores from the Spanish adaptation of the NAQ, as well as the relationships with measures of other relevant psychological constructs. Study 2 (N = 118) tested the validity and reliability of scores from the Spanish adaptation of the NAQ-S. Results: We found two main factors (i.e., Emotion Approach and Emotion Avoidance), and the internal consistency of both the NAQ and the NAQ-S scores, as well as their test-retest reliability, were adequate. Relationships with other measures were in line with prior research, providing positive evidence of concurrent validity. Conclusions: Scores from both instruments showed validity and reliability, so should be considered in future research related to NA.(AU)

Antecedentes: La necesidad de afecto (NA) se refiere a las diferencias individuales en la motivación para buscar o evitar situaciones y actividades que inducen emoción. La investigación previa ha demostrado que la NA es un constructo relevante para entender procesos psicológicos relacionados con el afecto. La presente investigación adaptó al castellano el cuestionario de necesidad de afecto (NAQ), así como su versión breve (NAQ-S). Por tanto, examinamos las evidencias de validez y fiabilidad de las puntuaciones en ambos cuestionarios. Método: En el Estudio 1 (N = 416), exploramos las propiedades psicométricas de las puntuaciones en la adaptación del NAQ, así como las relaciones con medidas de otros constructos psicológicos relevantes. En el Estudio 2 (N = 118), analizamos la fiabilidad y la validez de las puntuaciones en la adaptación del NAQ-S. Resultados: Se encontraron dos factores (i.e., Aproximación a la Emoción y Evitación de la Emoción) y la consistencia interna, así como la fiabilidad test-retest, de las puntuaciones en ambos cuestionarios fueron adecuadas. Las relaciones con otras medidas proporcionaron evidencia positiva de la validez concurrente. Conclusiones: Las puntuaciones obtenidas en ambos cuestionarios mostraron validez y fiabilidad, por lo que deberían ser considerados en la investigación futura relacionada con la NA.(AU)

The matching effect in persuasive communication about lockdown.

Scientific literature about persuasion has shown that the effectiveness of persuasive communication may depend on the match between the affective or cognitive contents of the message and the affective [(Need for Affect (NFA)] or cognitive [Need for Cognition (NFC)] orientation of the recipient. The present work aims to contribute to studying this effect by considering the context of health-related communication during the SARS-CoV-2 infection. Specifically, we aim to demonstrate that, when the message is characterized by affective and cognitive contents having the same (congruent message) or different valence (incongruent message), the attitude toward the target (i.e., a new lockdown) will be guided by the valence of the contents matching the individual affective/cognitive orientation. A total of 1,003 participants took part in a 2 (Cognitive content message: Positive vs. Negative) × 2 (Affective content message: Positive vs. Negative) factorial design and answered an online questionnaire. Results show that people with high levels of NFA and low levels of NFC report attitudes toward lockdown consistent with the valence of the affective contents. Conversely, attitudes of people with high levels of NFC and low levels of NFA were not influenced by contents that matched their orientation (i.e., cognitive).

Self-reported elevated pain levels: A coping strategy used by women undergoing medical abortion procedures.

PURPOSE: Epidural analgesia alleviates pain during normal labour but women who undergo medical abortion procedures using epidural analgesia continue to express high pain levels. To understand this we assessed if patients undergoing medical abortions, treated with epidural analgesia, use their pain for psychological benefits. METHODS: This study comprised 105 patients over 13 weeks of gestational age diagnosed with foetal abnormalities after selecting a medical abortion procedure using epidural analgesia. Three questionnaires were handed-out: 1) 'Need for Affect', assessed the motivation to react to emotions; 2) 'Pain-Levels' 3) PANA- 'Positive Affect' (PA), 'Negative Affect' (NA) assessed emotions pre-abortion and post-abortion. RESULTS: Patients with a strong Need for Affect and high Pain-Levels expressed a stronger PA post-abortion (b = .69, se = .11, ß = .68, p < .001, 95%CI [.48,.90]). Patients with a strong NA pre-abortion and high Pain-Levels expressed a higher NA post-abortion (b = .48, se = .11, ß = .53, p < .001, 95%CI [.26, .70]). CONCLUSION: Patients with a strong Need for Affect who express a strong PA pre-abortion intensify their pain to fulfill their Need for Affect, which then helps recovery. Patients with a strong NA pre-abortion and high Pain-Levels indicate a less favourable outcome.

Preferences in Information Processing: Understanding Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors among Active Duty Military Service Members.

The present study examined Preferences in Information Processing (PIP), an emerging model of understanding suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs), in a clinical military sample for the first time. Constructs of need for affect (NFA; i.e., extent to which one engages or avoids emotional content) and need for cognition (NFC; i.e., extent of preference for and enjoyment of cognitive effort) are central individual differences of the PIP model hypothesized to be associated with STBs. Data (n = 200 active duty personnel) were drawn from medical records and self-report questionnaires from two outpatient treatment settings in a military hospital. Primary findings include: (1) moderate positive bivariate associations of NFA avoidance with mental health symptoms and lifetime STBs; (2) consistent patterns in which NFA approach buffers the negative associations of depression with life STBs, clinical suicide risk, perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belonging. Recommendations are offered for military suicide prevention, and future suicide theory testing.

Identifying Chinese social media users' need for affect from their online behaviors.

The need for affect (NFA), which refers to the motivation to approach or avoid emotion-inducing situations, is a valuable indicator of mental health monitoring and intervention, as well as many other applications. Traditionally, NFA has been measured using self-reports, which is not applicable in today's online scenarios due to its shortcomings in fast, large-scale assessments. This study proposed an automatic and non-invasive method for recognizing NFA based on social media behavioral data. The NFA questionnaire scores of 934 participants and their social media data were acquired. Then we run machine learning algorithms to train predictive models, which can be used to automatically identify NFA degrees of online users. The results showed that Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGB) performed best among several algorithms. The Pearson correlation coefficients between predicted scores and NFA questionnaire scores achieved 0.25 (NFA avoidance), 0.31 (NFA approach) and 0.34 (NFA total), and the split-half reliabilities were 0.66-0.70. Our research demonstrated that adolescents' NFA can be identified based on their social media behaviors, and opened a novel way of non-intrusively perceiving users' NFA which can be used for mental health monitoring and other situations that require large-scale NFA measurements.

Are need for affect and cognition culture dependent? Implications for global public health campaigns: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Cultural differences in affective and cognitive intrinsic motivation could pose challenges for global public health campaigns, which use cognitive or affective goals to evoke desired attitudes and proactive health-promoting actions. This study aimed to identify cross-cultural differences in affective and cognitive intrinsic motivation and discuss the potential value of this information for public health promotion. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey using cross-culturally validated need for affect (NFA) and need for cognition (NFC) scales was carried out among 1166 Chinese participants, and the results were compared with published data from 980 American participants. Additionally, we assessed a highly prevalent symbolic geriatric health condition, hearing loss, in 500 Chinese community-dwelling seniors. The Chinese NFA scale was developed following the translation-back translation procedure, and the psychometric evaluation was performed by applying confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM), correlation analysis and multigroup invariance test. MANOVA and Hedge's g statistic were employed to compare the NFA and NFC levels between individuals from different countries and between Chinese seniors with and without hearing loss. The relation of early hearing intervention intention to NFA and NFC was also explored in the Chinese sample. RESULTS: A basic two-factor model of NFA adequately fit the sample data from Chinese and American cultures. The questionnaire demonstrated reasonable invariance of the factor structure and factor loadings across the groups. Those in the primary Chinese sample had lower NFA and NFC than their American peers. This difference held in the senior sample. Moreover, Chinese seniors with hearing loss had even lower NFA and NFC than those without hearing loss. Their early hearing intervention intention was low but was associated with intrinsic motivation. CONCLUSIONS: The Need for Affect (NFA) construct may be generalized beyond its Western origins. There was a general lack of affective and cognitive intrinsic motivation in Chinese individuals, particularly in seniors with hearing loss, compared with their American peers. These differences point to a potential challenge in framing effective messages for some cultures in the geriatric public health domain. Ideally, recognizing and understanding this challenge will inspire the consideration of novel persuasive strategies for these audiences.

Multidimensional Models of Perfectionism and Procrastination: Seeking Determinants of Both.

BACKGROUND: Perfectionism is currently conceptualized using a multidimensional model, with extensive research establishing the presence of both maladaptive and adaptive forms. However, the potential adaptability of procrastination, largely considered as a maladaptive construct, and its possible developmental connection to perfectionism remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to examine the individual differences of the multidimensional models of both perfectionism and procrastination, as well as investigating potential links between the two constructs. METHODS: A convenience sample of 206 undergraduate students participated in this study. Participants completed a questionnaire consisting of 236 questions regarding the variables under investigation. RESULTS: The adaptive model of procrastination yielded largely insignificant results and demonstrated limited links with adaptive perfectionism, while maladaptive procrastination was consistently associated with maladaptive perfectionism, lending further evidence of a unidimensional model of procrastination. CONCLUSIONS: Many previous findings regarding the multidimensional model of perfectionism were replicated, along with new contributions focusing on the dual-process model and temporal orientation.

Preferences in Information Processing, Marginalized Identity, and Non-Monogamy: Understanding Factors in Suicide-Related Behavior among Members of the Alternative Sexuality Community.

Suicide-related behavior (SRB) is a mental health disparity experienced by the alternative sexuality community. We assessed mental health, relationship orientation, marginalized identities (i.e., sexual orientation minority, gender minority, racial minority, ethnic minority, and lower education), and preferences in information processing (PIP) as factors differentiating lifetime SRB groups. An online cross-sectional survey study was conducted in 2018. Members of the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom (NCSF; n = 334) took part. Bivariate analyses identified the following SRB risk factors: female and transgender/gender non-binary identity, sexual orientation minority identity, lower education, suicide attempt/death exposure, Need for Affect (NFA) Avoidance, depression, and anxiety. Monogamous relationship orientation was a protective factor. Multi-nomial regression revealed the following: (1) monogamous relationship orientation was a protective factor for suicidal ideation and attempt; (2) lower education was a risk factor for suicide attempt; (3) anxiety was a risk factor for suicide attempt; and (4) depression was a risk factor for suicidal ideation. A two-way interaction showed that elevated NFA Approach buffered the negative impacts of depression. Relationship orientation, several marginalized identities (i.e., based on gender, sexual orientation, and educational level), and PIP all contributed uniquely to SRB. Further study is necessary to understand the role of relationship orientation with suicide. Health education and suicide prevention efforts with NCSF should be tailored to account for marginalized identity, mental health, and NFA factors.

Sense or sensibility? The neuro-functional basis of the structural matching effect in persuasion.

The present study investigates the neural pathways underlying individual susceptibility to affective or cognitive information in persuasive communication, also known as the structural matching effect. Expanding on the presumed involvement of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vMPFC) in persuasion, we hypothesized that the vMPFC contributes to the evaluation of persuasive information depending on its match with the recipient's affective or cognitive predominance. During functional magnetic resonance imaging, 30 participants evaluated 10 consumable products presented with both affective and cognitive persuasive messages. All participants were characterized on a continuum regarding their personal orientation in terms of individual differences in need for affect (NFA) and need for cognition (NFC). The results showed that the vMPFC, posterior cingulate cortex, and cerebellum are more strongly activated when the persuasive message content, either affective or cognitive, matched the recipient's individual affective or cognitive orientation. Interestingly, this effect in the vMPFC was found specifically when participants evaluated the products presented by the persuasive messages, whereas the correlation in the posterior cingulate cortex and cerebellum activity was detected when reading the messages. These results confirm the hypothesis that the vMPFC plays a role in subjectively weighting persuasive message content depending on individual differences in affective and cognitive orientation. Such a structural matching effect might involve the vMPFC particularly during explicit expressions of subjective valuations. These novel findings also further develop the conceptualization of the role of the vMPFC in self-related processing.

Why Do We Watch? The Role of Emotion Gratifications and Individual Differences in Predicting Rewatchability and Movie Recommendation.

BACKGROUND: The present study's main aim was to determine the predictors of movie rewatchability and recommendations. METHODS: Using a sample of 318 participants, we first tested the structure of a gratification scale from watching a movie. Then, we examined the role of age, need for cognition, need for affect, extraversion, and emotional gratifications, in predicting individuals' interest in rewatching the movie and in making recommendations. RESULTS: As in the original proposal of the emotional gratification scale, the following dimensions were identified: fun, thrill, empathic sadness, release of emotions, social sharing, contemplative experiences, and character engagement, with acceptable model fit and reliability, convergent and divergent validity. Social sharing, contemplate experiences, need for affect and age were significant predictors of movie recommendation; whereas social sharing, thrill, extraversion, and age contributed most to explaining rewatching interest. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the importance of considering distinct gratifications and individual differences in predicting rewatching and movie recommendation.

Need for Affect, Interpersonal Psychological Theory of Suicide, and Suicide Proneness.

The present study expands upon the Interpersonal Psychological Theory of Suicide (IPTS), examining its relationship with the need for affect (NFA), a construct explaining attitudes toward seeking both positive and negative emotions. A sample of 576 emerging adults completed measures of NFA, IPTS, suicide proneness, and demographics online. Findings include NFA accounting for a small significant amount of suicide proneness, a positive association between approaching emotions and one indicator of suicide proneness, negative association between approaching emotions and thwarted belongingness, and positive associations between avoidance of emotions with both perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness. Findings are discussed concerning NFA as a theoretically and practically relevant factor for understanding suicide.

Preferences in Information Processing and suicide: Results from a young adult health survey in the United Kingdom.

BACKGROUND: Suicide prevention literature currently suffers from inconsistent measurement and incomplete theoretical development. AIMS: Using a recommended suicide measurement approach for epidemiological studies (i.e. the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R)), the present investigation assessed United Kingdom young adult suicide prevalence rates. This study also investigated the utility of a Preferences in Information Processing (PIP) model of suicide in identifying those at increased odds for elevated suicide risk, as well as lifetime ideation and attempt. METHOD: A cross-sectional mental health and well-being survey study ( n = 414) was conducted. RESULTS: The prevalence rates of elevated risk (49.8%), lifetime ideation only (55.3%) and lifetime attempt (13.5%) were high. Bivariate associations demonstrated that elevated depression, anxiety and Need for Affect (NFA) Avoidance were associated with worsened suicide outcomes, whereas elevated Need for Cognition (NFC) was associated with decreased suicide risk. Logistic regression results identified depression and NFA Avoidance as the strongest predictors of elevated suicide risk. Multinomial logistic regression results established several PIP-based moderation effects for depression and anxiety in which NFA Approach and NFC differentially influenced odds of suicide attempt group membership. CONCLUSION: The SBQ-R is an appropriate tool for UK young adult suicide research. NFA and NFC demonstrated potential for inclusion in young adult suicide prevention programming. Further research is needed to fully evaluate the PIP model of suicide and effectiveness of proposed theory-based approaches to suicide prevention.

Need for Affect and Attitudes Toward Drugs: The Mediating Role of Values.

Human values and affective traits were found to predict attitudes toward the use of different types of drugs (e.g., alcohol, marijuana, and other illegal drugs). In this study (N = 196, Mage = 23.09), we aimed to gain a more comprehensive understanding of those predictors of attitudes toward drug use in a mediated structural equation model, providing a better overview of a possible motivational path that drives to such a risky behavior. Specifically, we predicted and found that the relations between need for affect and attitudes toward drug use were mediated by excitement values. Also, results showed that excitement values and need for affect positively predicted attitudes toward the use of drugs, whereas normative values predicted it negatively. The pattern of results remained the same when we investigated attitudes toward alcohol, marijuana, or illegal drugs separately. Overall, the findings indicate that emotions operate via excitement and normative values to influence risk behavior.

Questionário de Necessidade de Emoções (NAQ-S): Validade de Construto, Invariância e Fidedignidade / Need for Affect Questionnaire (NAQ-S): Construct Validity, Invariance and Reliability / Cuestionario de Necesidad de Emóciones (NAQ-S): Validez de Constructo, Invariancia y Fiabilidad

Dois estudos (N = 457) examinaram as propriedades psicométricas da versão reduzida do Questionário de Necessidade de Emoções (Need for Affect Questionnaire: NAQ-S) no contexto brasileiro. No primeiro estudo, uma análise de componentes principais indicou uma estrutura bifatorial, com cinco itens cada: aproximação (α = 0,70) e evitação (α = 0,75). Confirmou-se essa estrutura no segundo estudo (GFI = 0,92; CFI = 0,90), mostrando-se invariante quanto ao sexo. Para verificar os correlatos do NAQ-S, utilizou-se, nos dois estudos, medidas que visam avaliar os valores humanos, a solidão e a necessidade de pertença, além dos cinco fatores da personalidade no segundo estudo. Os resultados demonstraram que uma maior necessidade de emoção foi associada com maior extroversão, maiores escores em valores de experimentação e interativos, e escores mais baixos de solidão. Os estudos apresentam suporte de validade do NAQ-S no Brasil, mostrando sua utilidade para fins de pesquisa.(AU)

Two studies (N=457) examined the psychometric properties of the short version of the Need for Affect Questionnaire (NAQS) in the Brazilian context. In the first study, a principal components analysis indicated a two-factor structure, with five items each: approach (α= .70) and avoidance (α= .75). This structure was confirmed in the second study (GFI= .92; CFI= .90), and it was invariant across gender. To verify the correlates of NAQ-S, we used measures to evaluate the human values, loneliness and need to belong in both studies, besides the five personality factors in the second study. The results showed that higher need for affect was associated with higher extraversion, higher scores in excitement and interactive values, and with lower loneliness scores. The studies support the validity of the NAQ-S in Brazil, showing its usefulness for research purposes.(AU)

Dos estudios (N=457) examinaron las propriedades psicométricas de la versión reducida del Cuestionario de Necesidad de Emociones (Need for Affect Questionnaire; NAQ-S) en el contexto brasileño. En el primer estudio, un análisis de componentes principales indicó una estructura bifactorial, con cinco ítems cada una: aproximación (α = .70) y evitación (α = .75). Se confirmo esta estructura en el segundo estudio (GFI=.92; FCI=.90), mostrándose invariable con relación al sexo. Para verificar las correlaciones del NAQ-S, fue utilizado en ambos estudios medidas que tienden a evaluar los valores humanos, la soledad y la necesidad de pertenencia, además de evaluarse en el segundo estudio los cinco factores de personalidad. Los resultados mostraron que una mayor necesidad de emoción, fue asociada con mayor extraversión, con resultados mayores en valores de experimentación e interactivos, y resultados más bajos de soledad. Los estudios presentan apoyo de validez del NAQ-S en Brasil, mostrando su utilidad para fines de investigación.(AU)

Affective and Cognitive Orientations in Intergroup Perception.

Three studies examined the role of need for affect (NFA) and need for cognition (NFC) in intergroup perception. We hypothesized that NFA predicts a preference for stereotypically warm groups over stereotypically cold groups, whereas NFC predicts a preference for stereotypically competent groups over stereotypically incompetent groups. Study 1 supported these hypotheses for attitudes toward stereotypically ambivalent groups, which are stereotyped as high on one of the trait dimensions (e.g., high warmth) and low on the other (e.g., low competence), but not for stereotypically univalent groups, which are seen as high or low on both dimensions. Studies 2 and 3 replicated this pattern for stereotypically ambivalent groups, and yielded provocative evidence regarding several putative mechanisms underlying these associations. Together, these findings help integrate and extend past evidence on attitude-relevant individual differences with research on intergroup perception.

Why the impact? Negative affective change as a mediator of the effects of victim impact statements.

Victim impact statements (VISs) represent a contentious legal and psychological point of debate. Current knowledge concerning the influence of VISs on jurors' emotional states and views of offenders is unclear. Using a sexual assault case, the present study attempted to disentangle these points of debate in the body of existing literature by (a) examining the direct influences of the presence of a VIS and juror Need for Affect (NFA) on sentencing recommendations, (b) assessing overall negative affective change as a mediating mechanism of these predictors, and (c) if mediation was present, identifying specific negative emotions that explain the effects of negative affective change. Results showed that presence of a VIS and a greater proclivity to approach emotions were associated with significantly greater sentencing recommendations. Moreover, change in negative affect mediated the effects of NFA approach and VIS exposure. Examination of changes in specific negative emotions revealed that increases in being upset and nervous mediated the impact of VIS condition; in addition, increases in hostility mediated the effect of NFA approach. Results are discussed with regard to emotion-based decision making of potential jurors, applications to trial process, and future research in the area.