Vol. 16 No. 1 (2025): STUDIA DOCTORALIA. PSYCHOLOGY AND EDUCATIONAL SCIENCE
Studia Doctoralia Psychology and Education is the official journal of The Doctoral School of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Bucharest, Romania, published by the Doctoral Centre for Interdisciplinary Research, Innovation and Sustainable Development (CCIIDD). Audience and potential contributors include scholars, educators, consultants, practitioners, doctoral students, teachers and other professionals from all over the world and in all the applied fields of psychology and education science
Published:
2025-05-29
Full Issue
Articles
-
Post-Truth - When Emotion Becomes Authority EDITORIAL
Abstract
In recent years, the concept of post-truth has gained significant traction in political discourse, media studies, and social analysis. It refers to a cultural and political condition in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief (McIntyre, 2018; Oxford University Press, 2016). The rise of post-truth discourse signals a shift in the ways knowledge, authority, and truth are perceived and constructed in the public sphere.
-
Socioeconomic Status as a Longitudinal Predictor of Negative Automatic Thoughts and Depression
Abstract
The aim of the present study is to examine socio-economic status (SES) as a longitudinal predictor of negative automatic thoughts (NAT) and depression. We collected data across three waves and tested a mediation model in which SES predicted NAT, which in turn predicted depression. SES was operationalized through multiple indicators, including education, material deprivation, income per person (monthly), and perceived economic status. NAT was measured using the Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire (ATQ-15), and depression was assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). A linear mixed model (LMM) was employed to account for
repeated measures and individual variability over time. Results indicated that NAT was a strong predictor of depression across waves, while some SES indicators (income per person and perceived economic status) were associated with NAT and depressive symptoms. Limitations included high attrition rates across waves and model warnings indicating potential instability in parameter estimates. These findings underscore the mediating role of cognitive patterns in the SES–depression relationship and highlight the need for early
cognitive interventions in socioeconomically disadvantaged populations. -
What Youth Really is About: IDEA-R Confirmatory Factor Analysis
Abstract
This study examines the psychometric validity of the IDEA-R scale through exploratory (EFA) and confirmatory factor analyses (CFA), evaluating the essential traits of emerging adulthood (18–25 years). IDEA-R was administered to a sample of 243 participants (M = 21.6, SD = 2.23), 77% of whom were women. The objectives included identifying the latent structure of the instrument and confirming it using advanced statistical methods. EFA revealed four main factors: identity exploration, practical autonomy, independence, and
transition to maturity. CFA confirmed a moderate model fit (CFI = .812, RMSEA = .0926), suggesting the need for theoretical refinements. IDEA-R demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach’s Alpha = .869), indicating adequate reliability for assessing the psychosocial characteristics specific to this developmental stage. The results highlight the complexity of identity and transitional processes during emerging adulthood, providing a foundation for tailored interventions. -
Fostering Posttraumatic Growth: The Other Face of Trauma
Abstract
In the face of multiple traumatic events that people face, there are significant differences in their reactions and their overall capacity for posttraumatic growth. The present study analyses the role of centrality of events (CE), cognitive flexibility (CF), and creativity (C) in the evolution of posttraumatic growth (PTG), defined as the positive change that follows adversity. Moreover, it investigates three separate mediation models to determine the mediating role of each CE, CF, and C on the relationship between the perception of the traumatic impact (PTI) and PTG. The research analysed a sample of 164 individuals, aged between 18 and 62 years old, including 40
men (24.4%) and 124 women (75.6%). The hierarchical multiple regression highlights the predictive role of CE and CF in shaping PTG, while C did not reach statistical significance. The results of the mediation analyses showed that PTI influences CE, which also has an input in PTG, while the mediation models for CF and C were not statistically significant. Through this present study, efforts are being made to discover new relevant variables to PTG and their contribution to posttraumatic recovery, proposing a direction for future studies in the field of psychotraumatology. -
Identity Development and Well-being: A Systematic Review
Abstract
According to Erikson, identity development is a crucial psychosocial task. This study set out to systematically review the literature on identity development and well-being, to better understand the relationship between well-being and identity processes. A systematic review was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Searches were conducted across Web of Knowledge, Proquest, Scopus, ScienceDirect and Google Scholar, and reference lists of the
included studies (1990–2024). Independent reviewers screened titles and abstracts and conducted full-text assessment. A number of 10 studies met the predetermined inclusion criteria. Analysis of findings from the systematic literature review revealed that high identity commitment is related to identity development. Inconsistent findings with indepth exploration are reported, but empirical research in this area is limited. The links between identity development and well-being are not completely clear. The possible intermediate factors that could determine the relationship between identity development and well-being are discussed. Further empirical research is needed in this area. -
Attachment Style and Anxiety Symptoms: The Moderating Role of Self-Compassion and Nonattachment
Abstract
The present study explored the relationship between insecure attachment styles and anxiety symptoms, while also investigating the potential moderating role of self-compassion and nonattachment as protective factors. A total of 180 Romanian adults participated in the study by completing an online questionnaire that included measures of attachment (Romanian Version of the Experiences in Close Relationships, ECR Scale; Sava & Negrei, 2006), self-compassion (Self- Compassion Scale, SC; Neff, 2003), nonattachment (Nonattachment Scale – Short Form, NAS-SF; Chio et al., 2018), and anxiety symptoms (Generalized Anxiety Disorder- 7, GAD-7; Spitzer et al., 2006). Results showed that insecure attachments were positively associated with anxiety, while both self-compassion and nonattachment were negatively correlated with it. However, moderation analyses revealed that neither self-compassion nor nonattachment significantly moderated the relationship between attachment insecurity and anxiety symptoms. These findings indicate the importance of relational experiences even from childhood and suggest the potential of self-compassion and nonattachment as protective factors.
-
Perfectionism and Life Satisfaction: The Role of Procrastination and Self-Regulation
Abstract
The general objective of this study is to explore the relationship between negative perfectionism and life satisfaction. Specifically, the study aims to address two research goals: (1) to investigate the mediating role of procrastination in the relationship between perfectionism and life satisfaction, and (2) to examine the moderating role of self-regulation in the relationship between perfectionism and procrastination. Using a cross-sectional design, this study examined the responses of a convenience sample of 202 adults aged between 18 and 59 years. The mediation analysis indicated that procrastination partially explains the relationship between negative perfectionism and life satisfaction. In contrast, the moderation analysis did not support the role of self-regulation as a moderator; the influence of perfectionism on procrastination is not significantly shaped by self-regulatory behaviors. The study revealed a significant relationship between maladaptive perfectionism, procrastination, and life satisfaction, supporting the mediating role of procrastination. Although the moderating role of self-regulation was not supported by the data, it remains a relevant variable in understanding procrastinatory behavior, as procrastination is often considered a failure of the self-regulation process.
