Applied Psychology Research

Globally, anxiety disorders affect 40 million adults each year and are among the most common mental afflictions in the world. The literature indicates that fear and anxiety are pathologically related. Anxiety and existential angst are also closely related and share many of the same symptoms. This mini-review paper investigates the similarities between fear, anxiety, and existential angst to better conceptualize the internal and emotional difficulties faced by people suffering from anxiety disorders. It also explores the background research into anxiety and existential angst in an attempt to help more people overcome symptoms of anxiety by focusing on the internal locus of control and a Heideggerian philosophical theory on existential challenges. To date, research on internal locus of control and existential angst has inspired many to overcome the fear of mortality and unleash their potential in life to overcome life challenges. This paper provides additional evidence for how these tools may help people cope effectively with anxiety and existential angst.

The debate about differences in intellectual abilities is far from over. This debate has astronomically drifted from academic success to mental possessions. In this regard, the current study examined curiosity, creativity, and academic motivation in students for possible differences in terms of gender. A total of 568 high school students were surveyed using a cross-sectional design. The data were gathered using adapted curiosity, creativity, and academic motivation scales to test for possible differences. Male and female students had similar abilities in curious, creative, and motivated potentials, according to the test MANOVA results [F (3,549) = 0.718, p > 0.610; Wilks’ Lambda = 0.993, partial eta squared = 0.007]. This could be the result of similar opportunities presented to both male and female students in their academic journey. Therefore, educational policies on gender parity should be developed to help tone down unnecessary comparisons and mental competition between male and female students in the areas of curiosity, creativity, and academic motivation.

One of the main goals of current COVID-19 vaccination programs is to achieve herd immunity, which would inhibit further spread of the virus. However, achieving this goal is impossible without widespread public acceptance of vaccination. As a result, concerns about the decision to accept vaccination have become a key public health challenge on a global scale in recent years. Healthcare workers’ attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination are mostly related to accepting vaccine preparations and recommending them to patients. This is of great importance for maintaining the continuity of health care, as it contributes to protecting medical workers from SARS-CoV-2 virus infection and thus counteracts their absenteeism. In turn, with an adequate number of employees in healthcare facilities, it is possible to provide proper care to patients in a life- or health-threatening condition. In addition, medics are often considered authorities on health issues. Therefore, their trust and submission to vaccination will positively influence the public and encourage them to undergo the COVID-19 vaccination.

 Stress is the result of an individual’s interaction with his or her environment and can lead to serious illnesses and eating disorders, especially among young people exposed to social pressures. Eating habits are shaped by various factors, including climate, religion, culture, and individual preferences. Young people’s food choices often focus on products with low nutritional value, influenced by the media and peers. Food not only satisfies physiological needs but also plays a psychological, social, and emotional role. Food choices are determined by many aspects, including life stage, level of cognitive development, and individual attitudes. The study aimed to understand the relationship between stress and eating habits. The study was conducted among 2050 individuals. The results confirmed that the type of stressor, such as work or responsibilities, influences the level of stress experienced. Eating style also influences stress levels, but the number of meals eaten, and remorse are not related to stress levels.

The research investigated the relationship between burnout syndrome and the variables of mental resilience, quality, and enjoyment of life in Greek private and public sector workers (N = 112), with demographic differences. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire that was distributed in the form of an electronic Microsoft form. The questionnaire contained demographic questions, the psychometric tool Burnout Assessment Tool version 2.0, the psychometric tool Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), and the psychometric tool Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire (Q-LES-Q), which were used to measure the three variables examined by the research. For statistical analysis, linear regression analysis was used to find independent factors. The main research hypothesis was verified, finding a negative correlation between burnout and the variables of mental resilience and quality of life, while it was identified that employees experienced greater exhaustion and spiritual withdrawal compared to freelancers. Hypotheses regarding age, educational level, and public-private job data were not verified as there were no statistically significant differences in demographic results.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) can lead Italian high school students to improve their English as a Foreign Language speaking skills. The trigger for this research comes from my EFL teaching experiences at Italian schools where the syllabi employed tend to neglect the training of speaking skills and focus mainly on grammar translation and English literature instructions. The stimulus for this investigation comes also from articles on the effectiveness of using CLIL for the improvement of the FL speaking performance and lexis extension that I read before writing this article in order to have a broader view of this topic. The literature review describes in detail theoretical issues with regard to the advantages of using CLIL methodology in the classroom over traditional approaches on how this technique helps FL students to facilitate speaking difficulties. It also makes reference to a few key findings from former research. This study was conducted in Italy and the data gathering processes consist mainly of qualitative semi-structured interviews with five participants (three EFL learners and two experienced teachers of English as a foreign language), interview transcripts, and content analysis techniques which I used to examine and interpret data collected. Findings indicate that not only can Content and Language Integrated Learning represent an improvement of the common EFL teaching methods and help learners to enhance speaking abilities, but it can stimulate their motivation in studying English and lower learners’ level of anxiety which is commonly associated with their concern of making mistakes or of being assessed.