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People’s psychological response to the COVID-19 pandemic is significantly affected by their psychological inflexibility. One possible mechanism explaining the association between psychological inflexibility and psychological functioning concerns coping styles. While avoidance and approach coping styles were previously found to mediate this association, the mediating role of meaning-centered coping has not yet been explored. However, meaning-centered coping it is likely to be crucial in circumstances as uncertain as those at the onset of the COVID -19 pandemic. This study explored the mediating role of the three coping styles in the relationship of psychological inflexibility with ill-being and well-being. Slovenian adults (N = 1,365) aged 18 to 81 years provided self-reports on the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, the PERMA Profiler, the Brief COPE Inventory, and the MeaningCentered Coping Scale. In the context of the highly stressful beginning of the pandemic, psychological inflexibility contributed to higher ill-being and lower well-being directly and through increased use of avoidance coping, decreased use of meaning-centered coping, and, to a lesser extent, decreased use of approach coping. Avoidance coping predicted higher levels of ill-being, suggesting a maladaptive effect of this coping strategy. Approach coping positively but weakly predicted well-being, indicating a diminished value of this coping style in low-controllable circumstances of the pandemic. Finally, meaning-centered coping appeared to be the most beneficial in such circumstances, as it was associated with both lower levels of ill-being and higher levels of well-being. This finding suggests that meaning-centered coping should be studied as a stand-alone strategy, rather than as a combination of specific approach coping strategies. Consistent with previous research, this study demonstrates the importance of psychological inflexibility in effectively adapting to and actively coping with aversive situations. Furthermore, the results suggest that seeking or making meaning is vital, at least in a context characterized by low levels of control and high levels of uncertainty. Nasl. z nasl. zaslona. Soavtorji: Nikolett Eisenback, David F. Carreno, Gaja Zager Kocjan, Tina Kavčič. Opis vira z dne 20. 10. 2022. Datum prve objave 7. 10. 2022. Bibliografija: str. 208-209. Abstract.

Background/Objective: The objective of the study was to elucidate the underlying mechanism through which basic personality dimensions predict indicators of psychological functioning during the COVID-19 pandemic, including subjective well-being and perceived stress. As a personality characteristic highly contextualized in stressful circumstances, resilience was expected to have a mediating role in this relationship. Method: A sample of 2,722 Slovene adults, aged from 18 to 82 years filled in the Big Five Inventory, the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, the Perceived Stress Scale, and the Mental Health Continuum. A path analysis with the Boot-strap estimation procedure was performed to evaluate the mediating effect of resilience in the relationship between personality and psychological functioning. Results: Resilience fully or partially mediated the relationships between all the Big Five but extraversion with subjective well-being and stress experienced at the beginning of the COVID-19 outburst. Neuroticism was the strongest predictor of less adaptive psychological functioning both directly and through diminished resilience. Conclusions: Resilience may be a major protective factor required for anadaptive response of an individual in stressful situations such as pandemic and the associated lockdown. Antecedentes/Objetivo: El objetivo fue dilucidar el mecanismo subyacente a través del cual las dimensiones básicas de la personalidad predicen indicadores del funcionamiento psicológico durante la pandemia de COVID-19, incluido el bienestar subjetivo y el estrés percibido. Como característica de la personalidad altamente contextualizada en circunstancias estresantes, se esperaba que la resiliencia tuviera un papel mediador en esta relación. Método: Una muestra de 2.722 adultos eslovenos (18-82 años), completó el Big Five Inventory, la Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, la Perceived Stress Scale y el Mental Health Continuum. Se realizó un análisis de ruta con el procedimiento de estimación Bootstrap para evaluar el efecto mediador de la resiliencia en la relación entre la personalidad y el funcionamiento psicológico. Resultados: La resiliencia medió total o parcialmente las relaciones entre los Cinco Grandes, y la extraversión con bienestar subjetivo y el estrés experimentado, al comienzo del estallido de COVID-19. El neuroticismo fue el predictor más fuerte de un funcionamiento psicológico menos adaptativo, tanto directamente como a través de la disminución de la capacidad de resiliencia. Conclusiones: La resiliencia puede ser un factor de protección importante y requerido para una respuesta adaptativa de un individuo en situaciones estresantes como la pandemia y el confinamiento asociado.

Supplemental Material, sj-pdf-1-ccr-10.1177_10693971211068971 for The Necessity of Testing Measurement Invariance in Cross-Cultural Research: Potential Bias in Cross-Cultural Comparisons With Individualism��� Collectivism Self-Report Scales by David Lacko, Ji���� ��en��k, Jaroslav To����k, Andreja Avsec, Vladimir ��or��evi��, Ana Genc, Fatjona Haka, Jelena ��akoti��-Kurbalija, Tamara Mohori��, Ibrahim Neziri and Sini��a Suboti�� in Cross-Cultural Research

Antecedentes/Objetivo: 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. Método: 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. Resultados: 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. Conclusiones: 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. Background/Objective: 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. Method: 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). Results: 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. Conclusions: 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.

Supplemental material, sj-pdf-1-asm-10.1177_1073191121993558 for Measurement Invariance of the Subjective Happiness Scale Across Countries, Gender, Age, and Time by Gaja Zager Kocjan, Paul E. Jose, Gregor Sočan and Andreja Avsec in Assessment

Cultural models -independence, interdependence, and integration - that describe the hypothesized relationships between dimensions of self- construal and emotional components of subjective well-being have been proposed and already tested in limited number of countries (Cheng, C. et al., 2011). In our study, the proposed models were examined in five countries and expanded to psychological and social well-being. Participants filled out the Independent â Interdependent Self- construal scale, and the Mental Health Continuum â Short form. SEM analysis was applied for each country separately. The least consistent results were found for the prediction of the emotional well-being, although it was hypothesized that the models should be in accordance with predominant country orientation (collectivism, individualism). The results confirmed our expectations that interdependent self-construal is a crucial predictor of the social well-being in all countries. Regarding the psychological wellbeing, the results were in accordance with the integration model for most countries, thus indicating the necessary blend of individual and collective modes of agency for it.

Cultural models—independence, interdependence, and integration— that describe the hypothesized relationships between dimensions of self- construal and emotional components of subjective well-being among individualistic and collectivistic countries have been proposed and already tested in limited number of countries [Cheng et al., Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 42, 832 (2011)]. In our study the proposed models were examined in three European countries. According to Hofstede`s study [Cultures and organizations, McGraw-Hill, New York (2010)], Slovenia and Croatia are classified as collectivistic cultures and thus interdependence model regarding relationship between self-construal and emotional well-being should be characteristic for them ; on the other hand, for Italy as an individualistic culture the independence model should be relevant. In our study we also examined relationship between self- construal and psychological and social well- being. We expected that for these two aspects of well-being interdependent self-construal would be a crucial predictor regardless of predominant orientation (collectivism, individualism) of the culture. Slovene (N = 242), Croatian (N = 211), and Italian (N = 170) participants filled out the Independent – Interdependent Self-Construal Scale, and the Mental Health Continuum – Short form. Regarding the emotional well-being, the results were in accordance to interdependence model for Slovenia and independence model for Croatia ; regarding the psychological well-being the results were in accordance with the independence model for Croatia and Italy and the integration model for Slovenia. On the other hand, the interdependent self-construal was an important predictor of social well-being in all three countries, thus confirming the interdependence model. Results indicated that individuals’ perception of themselves as strongly related to others is especially relevant for social well-being regardless of country’s orientation toward individualism or collectivism.

Previous studies reported the importance of communion and agency for an individual`s well- being. However, it remains unclear what exactly accounts for the predictive effects of these broad trait dimensions. In the present study, it was hypothesized that emotionrelated competencies would mediate the relationship between the Big Two and subjective well-being. Specifically, intrapersonal aspects of emotion-related competencies were expected to mediate the relationship between agency and well-being, whereas interpersonal aspects were expected to represent a mediator in the relationship between communion and well-being. 443 Croatian and Slovene participants filled out the Emotional Skills and Competences Inventory, the Emotion Regulation questionnaire, the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form, and the Agency and Communion Scale. Results of the structural equation modelling confirmed the differential role of interpersonal and intrapersonal aspects of emotion-related competencies in the relationship of agency and communion with subjective well-being.

The objective of this study was to examine the validity and reliability of the Slovene version of the Self-Consciousness Scale SCS (Fenigstein, Carver, & Buss, 1975). Although the questionnaire was translated and published in Psihodiagnostika osebnosti (Lamovec, 1994), its psychometric characteristics have not been examined so far. Results on a sample of 361 students (189 men and 172 women) showed that the Slovene version of the questionnaire had factor validity and reliability comparable to those found in the English version. In general, the results supported three-factor solution proposed by the authors. However, some of the items in the subscales did not load as expected and alternative translations for two of the items are proposed.

The present study was designed to examine the differences between genders in the perception of romantic relationship as well as in aspects of the relationship that are important for their relationship satisfaction. However, previous studies rarely report significant differences between genders in various predictors of the relationship satisfaction. In our study, similar conclusions were obtained. Relationship satisfaction was predicted with attachment, self-esteem, and partner's social support. The study included 200 participants (63.5% of women) who completed the following questionnaires: Experience in Close Relationships - Revised Short ECR-RS, Quality of Relationship Inventory QRI, Relationship Satisfaction Scale RSS, and a single-item self-esteem measure. For both genders, significant positive predictor of their relationship satisfaction was self-esteem, while avoidance, anxiety, and conflict in the relationship were significant negative predictors. There were no significant differences between genders. These findings are consistent with the findings of previous studies, which rarely report significant gender differences in the various predictors V raziskavi nas je zanimalo, ali se moški in ženske razlikujejo v tem, kaj jim je pomembno v partnerskem odnosu, in od česa je odvisno njihovo zadovoljstvo v tem odnosu. Predhodne raziskave le redko poročajo o pomembnih razlikah med spoloma v različnih napovednikih partnerskega zadovoljstva. Do podobnih ugotovitev smo prišli tudi v naši raziskavi, kjer smo med napovednike zadovoljstva vključili navezanost v odnosu, samospoštovanje in partnerjevo socialno oporo. V raziskavi je sodelovalo 200 udeležencev (od tega 63,5 % žensk), ki so izpolnili vprašalnik Doživljanje odnosov z bližnjimi ECR-RS, Vprašalnik kakovosti odnosa QRI, Lestvico zadovoljstva s partnerskim odnosom RSS ter enopostavčno mero samospoštovanja. Pri obeh spolih je bil pomemben pozitiven napovednik zadovoljstva s partnerskim odnosom samospoštovanje, pomembni negativni napovedniki pa so bili izogibanje in anksioznost v odnosu ter konfliktnost odnosa. Med spoloma ni bilo statistično pomembnih razlik. Naši rezultati so skladni z ugotovitvami predhodnih raziskav, ki le redko poročajo o večjih razlikah med spoloma v različnih napovednikih.

Psychology has recently seen a noticeable increase in interest for implicit measures of attitudes and personality characteristics. The far most known implicit measure is the Implicit Association Test - IAT. We adapted this test in order to assess the Big Five personality dimensions (B5 IAT). We examined B5 IAT measurement characteristics on two samples. Based on the findings of the first sample (N = 62), improvements were made in the B5 IAT, to be tested again on another sample (N = 75). The two studies have shown similar results. The reliabilities of the personality dimensions measured with the B5 IAT failed to achieve a satisfactory level in most cases. The reason probably lies in a lower adequacy of certain stimuli and in the considerable length of the test procedure. The convergent validity of the B5 IAT with explicit measures of personality was low, which may be due to different structures underlying implicit and explicit measures. Results obtained on the first sample have shown that the correlations between IAT adjectives are adequately explained by five latent dimensions. However, these results should be interpreted with caution due to B5 IAT low reliabilities and small sample sizes. The second sample proved to be very unstable, thus the confirmatory factor analysis could not be conducted. Since this is the first attempt to adapt B5 IAT to Slovene language, it is hardly surprising that the results are not entirely consistent with the expectations. As implicit measures currently fail to meet relevant psychometric characteristics, they are not yet applicable in psychological practice. Nevertheless, they have great potential in exploring personality and individual differences, as they overcome many limitations of existing explicit measures. V zadnjem času je v psihologiji opazen porast zanimanja za t. i. implicitne mere stališč in osebnostnih lastnosti. Najbolj razširjena implicitna mera je Test implicitnih asociacij % IAT, ki smo ga v naši raziskavi priredili za merjenje velikih petih osebnostnih dimenzij (B5 IAT) in preverili njegove merske značilnosti z dvema vzorcema - na osnovi ugotovitev s prvega vzorca (N = 62) smo test popravili ter ga ponovno preizkusili na drugem vzorcu (N = 75). Pri obeh vzorcih so bili rezultati podobni. Zanesljivosti dimenzij osebnosti, merjenih z B5 IAT, v večini primerov niso dosegle zadovoljive ravni. Razlog je verjetno v manjši ustreznosti nekaterih dražljajev ter precejšnji dolžini testnega postopka. Konvergentna veljavnost B5 IAT z eksplicitnimi merami osebnosti je bila nizka, kar lahko razložimo z različnimi izhodišči in strukturami, na katerih temeljijo implicitne in eksplicitne mere. Rezultati konfirmatorne faktorske analize so na prvem vzorcu pokazali, da lahko korelacije med postavkami IAT razmeroma zadovoljivo pojasnimo s petimi latentnimi dimenzijami, vendar moramo biti pri njihovi interpretaciji posebej previdni zaradi nižjih zanesljivosti nekaterih lestvic B5 IAT in majhnosti vzorca. Drugi vzorec se je v meritvi izkazal za precej nestabilnega, zato konfirmatorne faktorske analize nismo mogli izvesti. Ker gre za prvi poskus priredbe B5 IAT v slovenskem jezikovnem prostoru, ne preseneča, da rezultati niso povsem skladni s pričakovanji. Implicitne mere zaenkrat ne dosegajo ustreznih psihometričnih značilnosti, zato v psihološki praksi še niso uporabne. Kljub temu imajo precejšen potencial pri raziskovanju osebnosti in individualnih razlik, saj premagujejo številne omejitve obstoječih pripomočkov (eksplicitnih mer).

The aim of our study was to find association between the personality of owners and the personality of their dogs, assessed by their owners. Furthermore, we were interested in finding differences between dogs of different breeds. The sample included 661 owners (556 women and 105 men) and an equal number of their dogs (332 females and 329 males). The participants filled in the Big Five Inventory and slightly adopted the Big Five Inventory for dogs. The results indicated statistically significant correlations between almost all owner's personality dimensions and personality dimensions of their dogs. Besides the influence of owners and their personalities on the dog's personality, a possible cause of these associations could be their misevaluation as they want their dogs to have some equal characteristics as they have. Analysis of the data also revealed significant differences in dimensions between breeds in three of four dogs' personalities. Results were partly in accordance with hypothesized differences which were based upon official descriptions of temperament of specific breeds. Despite the fact that the research confirms that owners can judge dog's personality with satisfactory levels of accuracy, it is necessary to account all limitations of measuring dogs' personality in interpreting the results. V raziskavi nas je zanimala povezanost samoocen osebnostnih lastnosti lastnikov z njihovimi ocenami osebnostnih lastnosti njihovih psov ter razlike med psi različnih pasem v osebnostnih lastnostih. V raziskavi je sodelovalo 661 lastnikov (556 žensk in 105 moških) ter enako število njihovih psov (332 samic in 329 samcev). Udeleženci so izpolnili vprašalnik velikih petih faktorjev osebnosti BFI ter preko prirejenega vprašalnika velikih pet BFI ocenili osebnostne lastnosti svojih psov. Ugotovili smo pomembno povezanost med vsemi dimenzijami lastnikove osebnosti in osebnostnimi lastnostmi njihovih psov. Poleg možnega vplivanja lastnika s svojimi lastnostmi na lastnosti psa je možen vzrok visokih korelacij tudi napaka ocenjevanja psov s strani lastnikov, saj si le-ti lahko želijo, da so jim psi v določenih značilnostih podobni. Ugotovili smo tudi, da se psi različnih pasem razlikujejo glede na izraženost treh od štirih ocenjenih osebnostnih lastnosti. V določeni meri so te razlike med pasmami skladne z opisi, ki jih podajajo vzreditelji, pogosto pa vzreditelji podajajo tako pomanjkljive opise, da ne moremo preveriti njihove skladnosti z našimi rezultati. Kljub temu, da raziskave na splošno kažejo, da so lastniki dobri ocenjevalci lastnosti svojih psov, je zaradi teoretičnih in praktičnih problemov merjenja osebnostnih lastnosti pri psih potrebno biti previden pri interpretaciji dobljenih rezultatov.