On Passion for Life Activities

Perfectionism, disordered eating and well-being in aesthetic sports: The mediating role of passion

Aesthetic athletes face higher risks of disordered eating, and perfectionism is one of the determinants involved. While research suggests that perfectionism in sport may play a role in physical and psychological well-being, its influence remains to be confirmed. As such, further examination of the influence of perfectionism on health is warranted as it could lead to better interventions. This preregistered research sought to shed new light on these relationships by investigating the mediating role of passion in the perfectionism-disordered eating relationship as well as physical and psychological well-being in aesthetic sports. In Study 1, 229 American recreational and competitive athletes practicing either gymnastics (n = 150) or artistic swimming (n = 79) were recruited on MTurk to complete an online questionnaire. The same recruitment procedure was used for Study 2, with 107 American gymnasts (n = 69) and artistic swimmers (n = 38) completing the questionnaire at two timepoints, one year apart. Results from path analyses showed that socially prescribed perfectionism was associated with obsessive passion, which in turn was associated with disordered eating. Self-oriented perfectionism was associated with both obsessive and harmonious passion, the latter being more adaptative as it was associated with physical and psychological well-being. Thus, the way one engages in aesthetic sports matters, as engaging with obsessive passion may take a toll on one's health and lead to disordered eating. Conversely, fostering harmonious engagement seems to temper the negative associations between perfectionism and health outcomes and promote positive relationships with athlete's well-being, but requires further study.

Does Ultra-Endurance Passion Make Athletes Happy?

Sport psychology research of ultra-endurance (UE) athletes focused predominantly on their psychological characteristics, traits, and behaviors. However, their happiness and passion, as well as a unified framework for UE hobby phenomenon, were not sufficiently investigated. This study aims to: (1) identify the main contributors to happiness and passion of non-professional UE athletes; and (2) explore the possible relationships between types of sport passion, motivation, and athletic identity. During data collection, 116 non-professional UE athletes (mean age 43.66 years, SD = 8.97, 16.4% female) responded to an online questionnaire. Statistical analyses revealed that obsessive UE passion (p < 0.05) and amotivation (p < 0.05) predicted lower levels of happiness. A higher level of obsessive passion was predicted by extrinsic motivation (p < 0.005), amotivation (p < 0.05), and exclusivity identity (p < 0.001); a lower level was predicted by social identity (p < 0.05) and years in sports (p < 0.05). Weekly training hours and age correlated positively with passion strength, while amotivation was strongly negatively related to training volume. These results indicate that happiness of UE athletes depends on the type of sport passion formed and the quality of the underlying motivation: obsessive passion and amotivation seem to be the main enemies of happiness for UE athletes. This novel finding connecting passion, happiness, and motivation contributes to both a better understanding of the psychology of UE athletes and has practical implications for UE athletes, coaches, athletes' social circles, and sport psychologists. Due to known maladaptive outcomes of obsessive passion, including its negative impact on overall well-being, health, and now also on happiness, its formation in UE athletes needs to be observed and prevented. While the study shows predictors of obsessive passion and high vs. low obsessive passion, future research should investigate how harmonious passion impacts athletes' happiness, motivation, and identity. Likewise, research among the UE entourage would help to better understand the social impact of UE as a serious hobby and the formation of UE lifestyles. We also suggest our Temporal Framework for Progressive UE Engagement and Passion, which was further developed based on the results of this study, to be used and validated by sport psychologists.

Differences between U23 and older semi-professional soccer players in perfectionism and passion: exploring determinant relationship between variables

Aim

Abundant studies have pointed out that perfectionism and passion are interrelated and that they both can influence performance in a variety of contexts, including sports, however, research on how these variables interact and might affect performance in team sports, such as soccer, is still scarce. The aim of this study is to analyze differences in perfectionism and passion between under-23 years-old (U23) and older semi-professional soccer players, as well as to study the possible relationship between these two psychological variables.

Methods

Participants (N = 130 healthy semi-professional Spanish soccer players) were divided into two equivalent groups according to the participants age, U23 (N = 65; 21.58 ± 1.91 years) and older than 24 years (N = 65; 30.03 ± 3.72 years) and completed self-reports on perfectionism and passion.

Results

Independent samples t-test determined significant differences between the U23 Group and the >24 Group in perfectionism global score and concern over mistakes (maladaptive perfectionism), and in time, value, and passion. Multiple regression analyses revealed that obsessive passion predicted maladaptive subdimensions of perfectionism, while harmonious passion predicted adaptive perfectionism.

Discussion

U23 soccer players show higher levels of maladaptive perfectionism, time, value, and passion in relation with soccer than older players, probably because at this stage pressure to become professionals and to develop their technical, tactical, and physical skills is higher than in later stages.

Conclusion

Identifying differences between different age groups can help professionals in tailoring their interventions and strategies to address the specific needs of athletes at different stages of development more effectively, and to optimize mental focus, reduce stress, to promote a healthy mindset for optimal performance in soccer players, furthermore, the study of moderating effects of factors such as team dynamics or coaching styles on these constructs is advised.

Gaming passion contributes to the definition and identification of problematic gaming

Even if for most people playing video games is a healthy leisure activity, a minority of vulnerable users present an excessive use associated to negative consequences (e.g., psychosocial maladjustment, sleep interference) and functional impairment. The current study first aims to identify psychological factors that contribute to discriminate highly involved (but healthy) gamers from problematic gamers. For that purpose, we used a cluster analysis approach to identify different groups of gamers based on their profiles of passion towards gaming (using the Dualistic Model of Passion). Another objective of the present study is to explore, using supervised machine-learning, how gaming disorder symptoms, assessed within the substance use disorder framework (e.g., tolerance, withdrawal), might be linked to harmonious and/or an obsessive passion for gaming. Three distinct clusters of gamers were identified based on their passion profiles, including risky gamers, engaged gamers, and casual gamers. Supervised machine-learning algorithms identified that specific gaming disorder symptoms (salience, mood modification, tolerance, low level of conflict) were predominantly related to harmonious passion, whereas others (withdrawal, high level of conflict, relapse) were more directly related to obsessive passion. Our results support the relevance of person-centered approaches to the treatment of problematic gaming.

Predictors of compassion satisfaction among healthcare professionals working in intensive care units: A cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence of compassion satisfaction, related factors, and predictors among healthcare professionals in Thai intensive care units.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted in 12 intensive care units at a university hospital in Thailand from August to November 2022. All nurses and doctors were invited to complete an anonymous online survey which included: the Professional Quality of Life Scale version 5, Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, Passion Scale, Flourishing Scale, and Acceptance and Action Questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and hierarchical multiple regressions were used for data analysis in SPSS 28.0.

RESULTS

A total of 178 nurses and doctors participated (92.13% nurses, 89.89% female, mean 32.10 years). Average compassion satisfaction (assessed using the Professional Quality of Life Scale) was moderate, with a mean score of 37.94 (SD = 5.58). The final regression model predicting compassion satisfaction was significant and explained 65% of the variance in compassion satisfaction, F (11, 154) = 26.00, p < 0.001. Four out of 11 predictor variables made unique statistically significant contributions to the final model: resilience (β = 0.48, p < 0.001), harmonious passion (β = 0.24, p < 0.001), being a nurse (not a doctor; β = 0.17, p < 0.05), and holding a postgraduate qualification (β = 0.10, p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Most healthcare professionals in critical care units have a moderate level of compassion satisfaction, which is correlated with resilience, flourishing, and harmonious passion. Resilience and harmonious passion predict compassion satisfaction. These factors are modifiable through intervention.

IMPLICATION FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE

Assessment of staff psychological well-being can identify those at risk for stress and impaired professional quality of life. Resilience and harmonious passion predict compassion satisfaction and can be modified through psychological interventions to promote psychological well-being and professional quality of life in healthcare workers in intensive care units.

Psychometric properties of persian version of escapism scale among Iranian adolescents

The aim of this study was to assess the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the Escapism Scale among Iranian adolescents aged 14-18. Between January 2021 and August 2021, cross-sectional study was conducted using a convenience sampling method to select 566 participants (340 girls and 226 boys) to investigate the relationship between physical activity and mental health in adolescents. The participants completed several questionnaires, including the Escapism Scale, Erikson Psychosocial Stage Inventory (EPSI), Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), Hope Scale (AHS), Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV), and General Self-efficacy (GSE). Construct validity, reliability using Cronbach's alpha, and concurrent validity were used to evaluate the Escapism Scale's validity and reliability. Results of the Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) indicated that a two-factor model provided a good fit for the data: sbX2 = 179.99 (p < 0.01); SRMR = 0.07; RMR = 0.56, CFI = 0.91; NFI = 0.89; IFI = 0.91; NFI = 0.89; GFI = 0.93; AGFI = 0.90, RMSEA = 0.076). The Cronbach's alpha coefficient for escapism was 0.73. The study found a significant positive relationship between escapism and smartphone addiction (r = 0.19). Additionally, a significant negative relationship was observed between escapism and hope (r=-0.31), satisfaction with life (r=-0.34), and general self-efficacy (r=-0.33). Furthermore, a significant relationship was found between escapism and gender. Lastly, the study found a significant relationship between escapism and identity confusion (r = 0.164, P < 0.01) and identity coherence (P < 0.01, r = 29). In conclusion, the Escapism Scale is a valid and reliable tool for assessing escapism and psychological evaluations in Iranian adolescents. These results may inform future research and suggest re-testing in clinical populations.

The Power of Mindfulness: Examining Power Imbalances, Mindfulness, and Couples' Relational and Sexual Well-Being

Perceptions of power imbalance are common in relationships. We used the relational model of mindfulness to examine links between marital perceptions of power, relational and sexual well-being and to evaluate whether trait mindfulness and sexual mindfulness moderate these associations. Using a nationally representative sample (N = 1,519 couples at Wave III) of mixed-sex newlywed couples, an actor-partner-interdependence model indicated that trait mindfulness and state sexually mindful awareness buffered the link between men's and women's own perceived power imbalance and relational well-being. Sexually mindful non-judgment, however, accentuated the negative association between perceived power imbalance and sexual well-being for men. We discuss the need for therapists to consider the need to encourage mindful awareness to attenuate perceptions of power imbalances and to evaluate how sexually mindful non-judgment influences men's feelings of sexual well-being. Therapeutic implications of these findings are also discussed.

Integrating the interpersonal theory of suicide and the dualistic model of passion among adults at risk for suicide

The dualistic model of passion proposes two passion types, harmonious and obsessive, representing adaptive and maladaptive passion, respectively. Studies suggest interpersonal experiences explain harmonious passion benefits and obsessive passion negative consequences. However, research has not examined passion among individuals with clinically elevated suicide risk, nor the associations between passion types and suicide-related outcomes. The present study presents a conceptual model linking the dualistic model of passion and the interpersonal theory of suicide constructs [specifically, thwarted belongingness (TB) and perceived burdensomeness (PB)]. U.S. adults with clinically elevated suicide risk (N = 484) completed online, cross-sectional assessments of harmonious and obsessive passion, TB, PB, and future dispositions (i.e., positive focus, negative focus, and suicide orientation). A mediation model indicated the effects of harmonious and obsessive passion on positive and negative focus and suicide orientation were largely explained by TB and PB. The present findings suggest engaging in a passion activity may be meaningfully related to suicide-related interpersonal perceptions (i.e., TB and PB).

Changes in basic psychological needs, passion, and well-being of first-semester graduate students

OBJECTIVE

Examine changes in graduate student health and well-being in the first semester.

PARTICIPANTS

Full-time, first-semester graduate students (N = 74) from a midsized midwestern university.

METHOD

Graduate students were surveyed prior to starting their master's program and 10 weeks later. Passion for academics, basic psychological needs, physical and mental health symptoms, positive and negative affects, and quality of life were assessed.

RESULTS

Need satisfaction, harmonious passion, and indicators of well-being decreased across the first semester, whereas need frustration and indicators of ill-being increased over the first semester. Obsessive passion, harmonious passion, need satisfaction, and need frustration were associated with students' well-being at the end of the semester, with need frustration being the most robust predictor.

CONCLUSIONS

Although most graduate students reported good general health and moderately low mental health symptoms, findings suggest that a need supportive environment may contribute to better health and well-being.

The Influence of Individual and Contextual Factors on the Vocational Choices of Adolescents and Their Impact on Well-Being

Adolescents who have to make decisions regarding their future career or academic path can be greatly influenced by parental expectations and other individual and contextual factors. The aim of this study is to explore the impact of adolescent–parent career congruence on adolescents’ well-being and future intention to enroll in a university course. The recruitment of participants took place through a combination of convenience sampling and snowball sampling. A sample of 142 high school students who are managing their decisions for the future completed an online questionnaire. Data were analyzed through a path analysis (SEM) with observed variables, and different indices were evaluated to check the model goodness of fit. The data show that congruence with parents’ wishes has a significant effect on academic motivation, work hope and mattering, which in turn have a positive and significant effect on both future intentions to undertake university studies and on the participants’ occupational well-being. In line with past studies, our results demonstrate correlations between adolescent–parent career congruence in career exploration and decision making, pointing out in particular the influence due to complementary congruence with mothers. Furthermore, our study underscores the important role played by both individual and contextual factors in adolescent well-being and intentions for their future. Finally, implications for the practice of vocational guidance practitioners are discussed.

Academic Passion and Subjective Well-Being among Female Research Reserve Talents: The Roles of Psychological Resilience and Academic Climate

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between academic passion (AP) and subjective well-being (SWB), along with the mediating role of psychological resilience (PR) and the moderating role of academic climate (AC), among Chinese female research talent in reserve. A convenience sampling method was used to select 304 female master's degree students from several universities in the central region of China a questionnaire survey. The results show that: (1) AP has a positive predictive effect on the SWB of female reserve research talents; (2) PR partially mediated the relationship between the AP and SWB of female reserve research talents; (3) AC moderated the relationship between the AP and SWB of female reserve research talents. Thus, the findings of this study support a moderated mediation model that explores the relationship between AP and SWB for female research backups, with PR as the mediating variable and AC as the moderating variable. These findings provide a new perspective with which to explore the mechanisms influencing the subjective well-being of female research reserves.

The Role of Passion in Self-Oriented Versus Team-Oriented Decision-Making in Team Sports

This study investigated the role of passion and achievement goals in making self-oriented and team-oriented decisions. Based on the Dualistic Model of Passion, it was hypothesized that in the context of collective sports, harmonious passion should lead to the adoption of mostly mastery goals, which in turn should lead to a more team-oriented decision-making. Conversely, obsessive passion should be related to the adoption of all three types of goals but mostly to performance-approach and performance-avoidance goals, which in turn should lead to a more self-oriented decision process. A total of 253 basketball players completed measures of passion and achievement goals in sport. They then were exposed to basketball scenarios and indicated their likelihood to act in a self-oriented or team-oriented manner. Results from structural equation modeling supported the hypotheses and lead to several implications for future research.

Body Image and Sex: A Dyadic Examination of Body Esteem and Sexual Inhibition, Obsession, and Harmony

How each individual within a relationship views their body may play a role in how they experience their sexual interactions. Previous research found associations between body image and sexual well-being at an individual level, but very little research has examined a dyadic association between body image and sexual and relational well-being. Using a nationally representative sample of 2,177 newlywed couples, this study used an Actor-Partner Interdependence Mediation Model (APIMeM) to estimate actor and partner associations between body esteem and relationship satisfaction, using sexual styles - inhibited, obsessed, or harmonious - as potential mediators. Findings showed both actor and partner effects. Body esteem was positively associated with own and partner's sexual harmony. Both men's and women's body esteem were negatively associated with women's sexual inhibition. A positive association between body esteem and own relationship satisfaction remained even when accounting for sexual mediators. Additional findings are discussed. These findings indicate that an individual's comfort with the body may be associated with sexual and relational well-being for both partners.

"Feeling It": Links between elements of compassion and sexual well-being

Introduction

Compassion may be a particularly important component of a sexual relationship as it facilitates needed self-awareness, understanding, and connection to frame deeply intimate expressions of sexual emotion and vulnerability. Given the lack of research on how broad concepts of compassionate elements may be linked to sexual well-being, we examine how mindfulness (an ability to maintain awareness in the present moment), compassionate relational attitudes (i.e., accessibility, responsiveness, and engagement), and compassionate relational behaviors (i.e., forgiveness and gratitude), are linked to sexual well-being (sexual harmony, orgasm consistency, and sexual frequency), and sexual mindfulness (a state of being mindful during sex) for oneself and one's partner.

Methods

We constructed an actor partner structural equation model with newly married couples (n = 2,111) and regressed sexual outcomes at time 1 and time 2 on each partner's compassionate attitudes, behaviors and mindfulness reported at time 1.

Results

Results showed that cross-sectionally, nearly all elements of one's compassion related to one's own sexual well-being for both partners. Strongest paths included positive significant relations for women between mindfulness and non-judgment and from compassionate relational attitudes and behaviors to sexual harmony. Men's compassionate behaviors were positively related to their own sexual awareness. Perhaps more importantly, women's and men's compassionate behaviors had significant effects on their partner's sexual well-being longitudinally.

Discussion

Implications include an emphasis on compassion as a key mechanism that can increase sexual satisfaction and strengthen relationships, particularly in the critical time of early marriage where patterns of interconnectedness are being established.

Disconnected Out of Passion: Relationship Between Social Alienation and Obsessive Passion

Violent radicalization continues to be a global problem. One of the main proposals for understanding radicalization and support for political violence is based on social alienation as a trigger. That is, individuals who feel alienated from society try to get out of this situation by using violence, if necessary. However, social alienation alone is not enough to explain radicalization. Therefore, we propose that social alienation interacts with other factors to foster radicalization. Particularly, we propose that obsessive passion, an internal compulsion that leads a person to engage in an activity even when they should not, is one of the interacting factors. Following previous literature, we hypothesized that higher social alienation predicts support for political violence to a greater extent the higher the obsessive passion. To test this hypothesis, we performed two studies in which the cause of passion varied (religion: N = 652 and family: N = 873). Both studies assessed social alienation, harmonious and obsessive passion, and support for political violence. The results showed a significant increase in the effect of social alienation on support for political violence when obsessive passion was higher, even controlling by harmonious passion. These results highlight the importance of considering other variables related to social alienation that could facilitate radicalization processes, particularly maintaining an obsessive passion for a cause when one feels a social disconnection. The theoretical and practical implications of these results are discussed given their contributions to prevention based on work on feelings of social disconnection and harmonization of causes.

Dimensions of passion and their relationship to the risk of exercise addiction: Cultural and gender differences

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Harmonious and obsessive passion are two independent, non-interacting predictors of the risk of exercise addiction.

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High harmonious and obsessive passion reflect the ‘true’ passion.

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Exercise volume is weakly associated with passion.

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There are cultural differences in exercise addiction.

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No gender differences were found in relation to exercise addiction.

This study was performed to investigate further the two-dimensional aspect of passion and its relationship to the risk of exercise addiction (REA) in nine nations and to clarify the unresolved gender differences. The here reported results stem from the reanalysis of data gathered in three previous empirical studies. The analyses demonstrated that harmonious (HP) and obsessive (OP) passion are two independent, non-interacting predictors of the REA, the prevalence of which was 12.1 % in the current sample that included 1448 people (age = 30.49 ± SD = 11.17 years; 55 % men), who exercised at least three hours per week. Furthermore, the results show that HP and OP could co-exist as a single ‘total’ or ‘true’ passion within the individual or in high-low HP and OP proportions, supporting the proposal for one, two-dimensional passion. Indeed, most people at REA demonstrated both high HP and high OP. The weekly amount of exercise was weakly associated with the two dimensions of passion. Relatively specific cultural differences in the REA and OP, but not HP, have emerged. The results also demonstrate that when a minimal weekly volume of training (i.e., 3 h) is a criterion for participant recruitment, no gender differences occur in the REA.

Relationships among Sports Group Cohesion, Passion, and Mental Toughness in Chinese Team Sports Athletes

BACKGROUND

Passion is an important motivational variable that profoundly affects athletes' cognition, emotion, and behavior. This study constructed a mediating model to explore the mechanism of cohesion toward passion and mental toughness of Chinese team sports athletes and to investigate the mediating effect of harmonious passion and obsessive passion on cohesion and mental toughness.

METHODS

A questionnaire survey was conducted on 326 Chinese active athletes (M = 19.63, SD = 6.51) aged 14-26 years (54% male, 46% female) from eight sports.

RESULTS

Cohesion and its dimensions can positively predict athletes' mental toughness, and ATG-T is more important in advantage analysis. The direct and indirect paths show that cohesion affects mental toughness through the mediating effect of harmonious passion and obsessive passion. Mediating effect model has a good fit and explained 22.1% of the variance in mental toughness.

CONCLUSION

The relationship between cohesion, passion, and mental toughness reflects the psychological dynamic process from environment to motivation to sports performance. The development of team sports athletes' mental toughness can be carried out from the following points. First, the team should define a sports goal and take the needs of members into account in goal-setting. Second, the sports team should build a team culture that is enterprising, inclusive, and cooperative and emphasizes members' recognition of them. Third, the team should attach importance to the passion of the members and make good use of the team atmosphere. To protect the psychological health and long-term development of athletes, team culture should pay more attention to the cultivation of athletes' harmonious passion. Improving cohesion is beneficial to athletes' mental toughness in team sports. To protect the psychological health and long-term development of athletes, team culture should pay more attention to the cultivation of athletes' harmonious passion.

Life insurance salespeople linking work stressors to proactive behaviors by passion: Servant leadership as a moderator

As the main sales force of life insurance companies, salespeople have accounted for more than 50% of life insurance sales channels over the years, playing a pivotal role in the development of the industry. Since the adoption of the model of employment at an agency, the commission income of life insurance salespeople has largely relied on their sales volume, which requires employee proactivity under a great number of stressors. However, because previous studies have analyzed stressors in a single dimension, our understanding of the relationship between work stressors and proactive behaviors remains limited. Applying self-determination theory, we investigated differential relationships between challenge/hindrance stressors and proactive behaviors, which were expected to be mediated by passion and moderated by servant leadership. In the sample of 332 insurance salespeople, there was a positive (negative) relationship between challenge (hindrance) stressors and proactive behaviors. In addition, passion mediated the relationship between stressors and proactive behaviors, and servant leadership moderated the relationship between stressors and passion. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

What Influences Home Gardeners’ Food Waste Composting Intention in High-Rise Buildings in Dhaka Megacity, Bangladesh? An Integrated Model of TPB and DMP

Composting is a sustainable way of transforming organic waste into valuable organic fertilizers which have the potential to act as soil conditioners by controlling various biological processes. The prime objective of the current study was to determine the influencing factors behind the intent of home food waste composting, by employing the combined model of Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and Dualistic Passion Model (DMP). The combined model showed a higher predictive ability in comparison to the individual TPB model. The fit statistic of the integrated model was deemed good, and 65% of the variance for home composting intention was explained. Using a face-to-face questionnaire survey, a total of 203 valid responses were gathered from home gardeners and tested via a unique two-step methodology: the PLS-SEM and the artificial neural network (ANN). The results revealed that the composting intention can be significantly influenced by attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. The study also confirmed the positive effect of harmonious passion and the negative effect of obsessive passion on the intention of food waste composting. Furthermore, the hybrid method produced more reliable results because HP was found to be the most important variable in both ANN and PLS-SEM results, while PBC was observed to be the second most important variable in ANN and the fourth most important in PLS-SEM. The results of the current study not only highlight the importance of passion in determining food waste composting intention in Dhaka, Bangladesh, but also provide helpful information for designing effective, sustainable tactics for encouraging residents to compost food waste at home.

Emotions and Resilience in Saudi Women’s Digital Entrepreneurship during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The adoption of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5 on gender equality and the growth in the number of women entrepreneurs in the MENA region is likely to change the rules of the game. A growing body of research is addressing this and the factors pertaining to this growth, including digital entrepreneurship. However, little remains known about the growth and resilience of women-owned digital microbusinesses during adverse social and economic disruptions, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, in Saudi Arabia. Hence, this study explores the impact of emotions on the resilience of women entrepreneurs in “Saudi Arabia in transformation”, to explore the impact this has on shaping the digital entrepreneurship journeys of women entrepreneurs. A qualitative longitudinal approach was utilized to capture the processual nature of entrepreneurship during crises, and the broaden-and-build theory offered the theoretical framing for the study. Of the eight women-owned digital microbusinesses participating in this study, six survived the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings show that digital entrepreneurship contributed to sustaining microbusinesses during adversity, and entrepreneurs motivated by passion are also infused with positive emotions and positive thoughts and actions, empowering their resilience, despite the adversity.

Need satisfaction, passion and wellbeing effects of videogame play prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, reports have shown a significant rise in videogame engagement due to stay-at-home and quarantine restrictions, which has led to further concerns regarding the wellbeing impacts of videogames. Due to the challenges and stressors associated with living in a pandemic, it is even more crucial now to understand how engagement with videogames influence players’ wellbeing. This study, therefore, utilises Self-Determination Theory and the Dualistic Model of Passion to explore the relationships between people’s need satisfaction (and frustration), passion for videogames, and wellbeing prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings showed that, during both periods, in-game need satisfaction could lead to either harmonious or obsessive passion for videogames, while frustration of needs through important life domains was more likely to determine an obsessive passion. The findings also highlighted significant differences in wellbeing outcomes seen prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic, suggesting that videogame engagement may play an important role in improving players’ vitality and lowering psychological distress during this time.

Self-Regulation as a Mediator of the Associations Between Passion for Video Games and Well-Being

Video games can satisfy people's basic psychological needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness. This may lead them to develop a passion for the activity, which can be harmonious or obsessive. These different types of passions are associated with different well-being outcomes: harmonious passion (HP) is associated with positive effects such as Satisfaction with Life (SWL), obsessive passion (OP) is associated with adverse effects such as psychological distress. Although time spent playing video games has sometimes been found to be a predictor of poor well-being, there is a lack of understanding in its role in explaining the relationship between passion and well-being compared with other factors. Self-regulation is an important factor in predicting habits, including video game play. In this cross-sectional study (N = 182), we investigated whether self-regulation or playtime better mediated the associations between different passion orientations and well-being (i.e., SWL, global subjective well-being, and psychological distress) among video game players. A path analysis revealed that people with higher HP for video games reported higher levels of self-regulation and those with higher OP for video games reported lower levels of self-regulation. Our findings also indicate that self-regulation provides a more comprehensive explanation for the relationship between passion and well-being. Overall, this study provides further support for the importance of self-regulation as a determinant of well-being in video game players rather than more arguably surface-level metrics such as time spent playing. These findings have implications for game developers and clinicians who design interventions for individuals who may experience unregulated video game play.

Motivational Factors Are Varying across Age Groups and Gender

The aim of the current study was to explore differences in passion for achievement, grit, and mindset across age and gender, by using a cross-sectional design. The sample consisted of 1548 participants including 931 females and 617 males aged from 13 to 77 years (Mage 26.53 years, SD = 11.77). The eight-item Passion for Achievement Scale was used to assess general passion and the Grit-S scale was used to assess grit. Mindset was assessed using the eight-item Theories of Intelligence Scale (TIS). The results indicated significant differences between the three factors related to age, age groups, and gender. For the total sample, there was a significant gender difference in passion, where males score higher, and growth mindset, where females score higher. With age, passion decreases until the age of 50–59, and slightly increases for the remaining age groups. After a decrease in grit between the first (13–19 years) and the second (20–29 years) age group, grit increases with age. Mindset scores decline strongly after the age of 40–49. Generally, the patterns show that mindset and passion decrease across the life-span, while grit increases. Indeed, these attributes seems to be different from each other, and how they change varies across age groups.

Taking the Pulse: State of the (He)art of Entrepreneurial Emotion Research

Research on the role of affect in the entrepreneurial process has surged over time, resulting in a vibrant field of inquiry. To advance scholarship in this area, we conduct an inductive analysis of 162 published articles, critically analyzing the state of research on affect in entrepreneurship. We develop an organizing framework to capture three major conversations in existing research—affect valence (feelings), discrete emotions, and emotional competencies—and encompass several outcomes studied within each conversation. We find that limited work has been done to explore the antecedents of affect (both feelings and discrete emotions), anticipated affect deserves greater consideration, and affective influence of stakeholders on entrepreneurs remains overlooked. Research on negative affect and emotional competencies also remains scarce in the entrepreneurship literature. Future inquiry would do well to take a multilevel approach to affect, explore affective phenomena over time, and cast light on the role of emotional competencies in the entrepreneurial process. We also spotlight crucial empirical advancements, including big data and artificial intelligence, for affect research going forward.

Marie Curie vs. Serena Williams: ambition leads to extremism through obsessive (but not harmonious) passion

Extremism occurs when a certain need, for instance, significance quest, overrides other human motivations. Based on the Significance Quest Theory, we argue that ambition—a specific aspect of significance quest—can lead to extremism, particularly through obsessive passion. In an Italian sample (Study 1, N = 249) we predicted and found that ambition was positively related to both obsessive and harmonious passion; however, only obsessive passion positively predicted extremism. To bolster and generalize our findings we conducted a second study involving American participants (Study 2, N = 300). We confirmed the mediating role of obsessive passion in the relationship between ambition and extremism, while we did not find the mediating role of harmonious passion. The present research has theoretical implications in that it constitutes the first evidence that ambition might share some aspects with significance quest and sheds new light on ambition field. Moreover, our findings provide practical ways to prevent extremism.

Unlimited Paid Time Off Policies: Unlocking the Best and Unleashing the Beast

Unlimited paid time off policies are currently fashionable and widely discussed by HR professionals around the globe. While on the one hand, paid time off is considered a key benefit by employees and unlimited paid time off policies (UPTO) are seen as a major perk which may help in recruiting and retaining talented employees, on the other hand, early adopters reported that employees took less time off than previously, presumably leading to higher burnout rates. In this conceptual review, we discuss the theoretical and empirical evidence regarding the potential effects of UPTO on leave utilization, well-being and performance outcomes. We start out by defining UPTO and placing it in a historical and international perspective. Next, we discuss the key role of leave utilization in translating UPTO into concrete actions. The core of our article constitutes the description of the effects of UPTO and the two pathways through which these effects are assumed to unfold: autonomy need satisfaction and detrimental social processes. We moreover discuss the boundary conditions which facilitate or inhibit the successful utilization of UPTO on individual, team, and organizational level. In reviewing the literature from different fields and integrating existing theories, we arrive at a conceptual model and five propositions, which can guide future research on UPTO. We conclude with a discussion of the theoretical and societal implications of UPTO.

The Role of Passion in Psychological and Cardiovascular Responses: Extending the Field of Passion and Positive Psychology in New Directions

The present study fills a void in research on passion by examining for the first time the role of passion in physiological responses. The aim of the study was to investigate the role of passion, and the mediating role of cognitive appraisals, in the psychological and physiological responses to a stressful situation related to one’s passion. Students (43 women, 12 men, M age = 27.21 years), who were passionate for their studies, completed the Passion Scale for their studies and the Cognitive Appraisal Scale (assessing perceptions of challenge/threat). Then, they engaged in an education task under stressful conditions, and a subsequent unrelated leisure task under no-stress. Physiological reactivity was measured throughout the entire session and their perceptions of situational vitality and positive and negative emotions were assessed directly after the education task. Results showed that harmonious passion (HP) positively predicted challenge appraisals that, in turn, were positively related to positive emotions, vitality, and positive cardiovascular adaptation while engaging in the stressful education task, but less so with the leisure task (unrelated to one’s passion for academia). On the other hand, obsessive passion (OP) positively predicted threat appraisals. In turn, threat appraisals were positively related to negative emotions, negatively associated with vitality, and not related to cardiovascular reactivity. The present findings suggest that HP creates the onset of an adaptive psychological and physiological response whereas the response is less adaptive with OP.

The Role of Passion and Achievement Goals in Optimal Functioning in Sports

This study aimed to test the role of passion in the cognitive goals pursued in sport and the level of Optimal Functioning in Society (OFIS) derived from such sport engagement. A total of 184 competitive water polo and synchronized swimming athletes completed a questionnaire assessing their passion for their sport, achievement goals, and various scales assessing their level of OFIS (e.g., subjective well-being, relationship with their coach, sport performance, and intentions to continue in sport). It was hypothesized that harmonious passion (HP) would be positively associated with mastery goals while obsessive passion (OP) would be positively associated with mastery, performance-approach, and performance-avoidance goals. In turn, mastery goals were expected to positively lead to the four components of OFIS, whereas performance-approach and performance-avoidance goals should display less adaptive relationships with OFIS. The results of a path analysis generally supported the proposed model. As hypothesized, these findings suggest that HP leads to a more adaptive cognitive engagement in sport (than OP) that, in turn, fosters higher levels of optimal functioning.

Fanning the Flames of Passion: A Develop Mindset Predicts Strategy-Use Intentions to Cultivate Passion

College students are encouraged to major in subjects they are passionate about but less often advised about what to do when passion is low. What self-regulatory strategies do students use to up-regulate their passion toward their subjects, and how might they be oriented toward using such effective strategies? Three studies examined how the belief that passion is developed – a “develop” mindset – relates to students’ intentions to use strategies to actively grow their passion. The more strongly students endorsed a develop mindset, the more of these “cultivation strategies” they reported using, and in turn, the larger their increase in reported passion toward their subject majors (Study 1). Instilling a develop mindset causally increased students’ intentions to use more cultivation strategies (Study 2) – with some effects lasting up to a year (Study 3). Instilling a develop mindset can potentially help students to ignite their passion when its flame burns low.

Factors Associated With Lower Limb Injuries in Recreational Runners: A Cross-Sectional Survey Including Mental Aspects and Sleep Quality

Knowledge about prevalence and etiology of running-related injuries (RRIs) is important to design effective RRI prevention programs. Mental aspects and sleep quality seem to be important potential risk factors, yet their association with RRIs needs to be elucidated. The aims of this study are to investigate the epidemiology of RRIs in recreational runners and the association of mental aspects, sleep, and other potential factors with RRIs. An internet-based questionnaire was sent to recreational runners recruited through social media, asking for personal and training characteristics, mental aspects (obsessive passion, motivation to exercise), sleep quality, perceived health, quality of life, foot arch type, and RRIs over the past six months. Data were analyzed descriptively and using logistic regression. Self-reported data from 804 questionnaires were analyzed. Twenty-five potential risk factors for RRIs were investigated. 54% of runners reported at least one RRI. The knee was the most-affected location (45%), followed by the lower leg (19%). Patellofemoral pain syndrome was the most-reported injury (20%), followed by medial tibial stress syndrome (17%). Obsessive passionate attitude (odds ratio (OR):1.35; 95% confidence interval (CI):1.18-1.54), motivation to exercise (OR:1.09; CI:1.03-1.15), and sleep quality (OR:1.23; CI:1.15-1.31) were associated with RRIs, as were perceived health (OR:0.96; CI:0.94-0.97), running over 20 km/week (OR:1.58; CI:1.04-2.42), overweight (OR:2.17; CI:1.41-3.34), pes planus (OR:1.80; CI:1.12-2.88), hard-surface running (OR:1.37; CI:1.17-1.59), running company (OR:1.65; CI:1.16-2.35), and following a training program (OR:1.51; CI:1.09-2.10). These factors together explained 30% of the variance in RRIs. A separate regression analysis showed that mental aspects and sleep quality explain 15% of the variance in RRIs. The association of mental aspects and sleep quality with RRIs adds new insights into the multifactorial etiology of RRIs. We therefore recommend that besides common risk factors for RRI, mental aspects and sleep be incorporated into the advice on prevention and management of RRIs.

Am I choosing the right career? The implications of COVID-19 on the occupational attitudes of hospitality management students

The hospitality industry is under threat from COVID-19 and the possibility of future crises remains very real. To improve understanding of how such a crisis impacts the attractiveness of pursuing a career in the hospitality industry, this study examines the effects of negative emotions invoked by COVID-19 on hospitality management students' occupational attitudes. Using a sample of 425 students, we find that in addition to diminishing their occupational identification and in turn, job choice intentions, that the effects of these negative emotions are channeled through three salient motivational pathways, namely self-efficacy, intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, and passion. Thus, the study not only advances theory by providing a more nuanced conceptualization of the effects of negative emotions on occupational attitudes but it identifies important leverage points that can be harnessed to help mitigate the harmful emotional effects of a crisis, such as COVID-19, important and timely contributions that the authors hope will benefit aspiring hospitality industry talent and help restore the attractiveness of careers in the hospitality industry. Future research directions and implications to theory and practice are discussed.

Burnout, Positivity and Passion in Young Mexican Athletes: The Mediating Effect of Social Support

The burnout syndrome is a negative experience for athlete development and it has been demonstrated that it gets worse when a sport is practiced in an obsessive way. Interventions with a positive view towards sports could be a protective factor to boost the athlete’s wellbeing. The aim of the present study was to analyse the mediator effect from social support, the relationship between the burnout, positivity and passion in young Mexican athletes. The sample was composed by 452 Mexican athletes, males and females (women 45%), from 12 to 18 years of age (M = 16.29, SD = 1.66). Participants answered the Athlete Burnout Questionnaire, The Scale of the Social Support Perceived by Athletes, the Passion Scale and the Positivity Scale. The results of structural equation modeling showed a good adjustment model (χ² = 889.213; df = 274; χ²/df = 3.245; p ˂ 0.01; CFI = 0.93; TLI = 0.91; IFI = 0.94; NFI = 0.91; RMSEA = 0.07). The harmonious passion presented direct and indirect effects on the burnout, being the perceived social support the mediator variable of the indirect effect. The positivity resulted positive predictor from the social support (β = 0.714, p ˂ 0.001) and social support predicted the burnout (β = −0.270, p ˂ 0.005). The obsessive passion had a direct effect over burnout (β = 0.627, p ˂ 0.001). Developing negative commitments to sports could be an indicator of a greater risk of experiencing individual conflicts that lead to sports burnout.

Higher emotional investment in social media is related to anxiety and depression in university students

Objectives

Most studies that have reported the adverse effects of social media (SM) usage on mental health have been conducted on adolescents. Additionally, such studies have used frequency or duration as the only indicator of SM usage. The present study aims to relate SM usage (frequency, duration, and emotional investment) with anxiety, depression, and self-esteem in university students.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, we adapted a non-probability convenience sampling technique. The data from 893 university students was collected through questionnaires, which were developed in Google forms and their links were shared in social media groups. The study tools used were Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Rosenberg self-esteem scale, Social Integration and Emotional Connection subscale of the Social Media Use Integration Scale. We recorded variables for overall SM use (volume and frequency), night-time specific SM usage, emotional investment in SM, anxiety, depression, and self-esteem levels. Based on the scores achieved in SM variables, participants’ data were classified into different quartiles.

Results

We found a significant positive correlation of emotional investment in SM with anxiety (r = 0.71; p-value < 0.001) and depression (r = 0.72; p-value 0.003). The results of the one-way ANOVA revealed significantly increased anxiety and depression scores (p-value 0.03 and 0.02, respectively) in quartile four versus quartile one. The probability or likelihood of being anxious and depressed significantly increased by factors of 1.76 and 1.48, respectively with per unit increase in emotional investment in SM.

Conclusion

Higher Emotional Investment in Social Media is related to Anxiety and Depression in University Students. The probability of being anxious and depressed significantly increases with per unit increase in emotional investment in SM.

Fuelling the passion: Psychological needs and behavioural regulations as antecedents of passion for football

The purpose of the present study was to examine the motivational antecedents of passion for sport by testing a model where players' satisfaction of the three basic psychological needs was expected to predict their harmonious and obsessive passions through the mediation of autonomous and controlled motivations. Four-hundred eighty-seven elite U18 male football players (M_age = 17.43, SD = 0.71) completed measures of psychological need satisfaction, behavioural regulations and passion for sport. Measurement models were defined using exploratory structural equation models. The results support the model where autonomous and controlled regulations partially mediate the relationship between psychological needs and passion. In this model, the need for relatedness positively and directly predicts harmonious passion and indirectly predicts obsessive passion, which supports its key role in discriminating between the two types of passion. Moreover, autonomy and competence satisfaction present direct and indirect effects on both types of passions. Finally, autonomous regulations positively predict obsessive and harmonious passion, although the strength of the relationship was stronger for the latter. In sum, our results highlight that (a) satisfaction of each need is crucial to promote harmonious passion and (b) both autonomous and controlled regulations contribute to the understanding of how passion is developed in football.

The Double-Edged Sword of a Calling: The Mediating Role of Harmonious and Obsessive Passions in the Relationship between a Calling, Workaholism, and Work Engagement

Even though research on perceiving a calling has been growing, our understanding of its double-edged sword effects and psychological mechanisms remain unclear, especially in terms of work engagement and workaholism. Based on the heavy working investment (HWI) and dualistic model of passion (DMP) theories, we established a dual-path structural model to examine the effects of callings on work engagement and workaholism through two types of passion: harmonious (HP) and obsessive (OP) passions. Our results showed that the association between perceiving a calling and work engagement was partially mediated by HP, while the association between perceiving a calling and workaholism was fully mediated by OP. This study contributes to the literature in that it reveals how perceiving a calling has different effects on work engagement and workaholism through the HWI theoretical lens, as well as the mediating roles of HP and OP, based on the DMP theory. Our findings can be practically applied in organizations and counseling.

Transformational Teaching in Physical Education and Students' Leisure-Time Physical Activity: The Mediating Role of Learning Climate, Passion and Self-Determined Motivation

In the context of education, this study examined the relationship between perceiving a transformational physical education (PE) teacher and student's leisure-time physical activity (PA). Furthermore, we tested the potential mediation role of motivational learning climate, passion and self-determined motivation in this relationship. The sample was composed of 2210 high-school PE students (1145 males, 1065 females) between 16 and 20 years of age. Results of structural equation modeling revealed that the perceived transformational PE teacher-PA outcomes relationship was stronger when students perceived a task-involving climate, when they were harmoniously passionate, and when they were self-determined. We conclude that students' health-enhancing behaviours could be improved if their PE teachers use transformational teaching style and created a task-oriented learning climate.