Foundation University Journal of Psychology

Relationship between Mother-Child Emotion Talk, and Emotional Competence among Pakistani Preschoolers

2025-12-08T09:37:58+00:00

Background. The present study investigated the link between mother-child emotion talk, emotional competence (i.e., emotion understanding and emotion regulation) among preschool children. The role of demographic variables including age and number of siblings (older and younger) was also investigated for emotion talk and emotional competence.

Method. The sample comprised of 30 preschoolers (48 to 71 months; M = 60.13, SD = 7.56) and their mothers. Children completed emotion understanding; affective knowledge test (AKT) (Denham, 1986), and emotion regulation tasks; locked box task (Goldsmith et al., 1999). Mother-child dyads also engaged in an autobiographical recall task (Cervantes & Callanan, 1998; Neal 2014) discussing two past events which was recorded and coded for emotion labels and explanations using Mind-Mindedness Coding Manual (Meins & Fernyhough, 2015).

Results and discussion. Regression analyses indicated that mother emotion talk significantly predicted children emotion talk (? = .38) and use of explanations by children predicted emotion understanding (? = .43). Number of siblings significantly positively predicted emotion understanding (? = .47), mother emotion talk (? = .46) and dyadic emotion talk (? = .46) and negatively predicted venting coping strategies (? = -.41) of emotion regulation. Independent samples t-tests showed that older preschoolers have significant higher emotion understanding and used more emotion labels, whereas younger preschoolers used more negative emotion regulation strategies (avoidance and venting).

Conclusion. These findings highlight the importance of maternal use of emotion language and sibling context in enhancing children’s emotional competence.

Prevalence of Parent-Sibling Rivalries and Narcissism in Young Adults of Pakistan

2025-12-12T09:15:28+00:00

Background. The present study explored the relationships between parental rivalry, siblings conflict and narcissism among young Pakistani adults.

Method. In a correlational research design 147 young men and 154 young women (N = 301) ranging in age from 19 to 40 years (M = 24.50, SD = 4.23) from different cities of Punjab completed a demographic sheet, Adult Sibling Relationship Questionnaire-Short (Lanthier et al., 2001a; 2001b) and Narcissistic Personality Inventory (Raskin & Terry, 1988).

Results. The results indicated sibling conflict was influenced by parental rivalry and narcissism. We believe a positive association between sibling conflict and parental rivalry (maternal and paternal) and narcissism suggested this influence. Results revealed parental rivalry and narcissism were stronger in joint than in nuclear families and in families where parents were separated or divorced. Sibling conflict was greater in nuclear than joint families because of parental favoritism. Parental rivalry was higher in females than males.

Conclusion. The result provides insight into the dynamics within the context of Pakistani families shedding light on the importance of how parental different treatment affects siblings relationships. Further research and interventions in this area can potentially enhance the family relationship and explore additional variables to deepen the understanding of complex dynamics within the families.

Body Self-Image and Psychological Wellbeing among University Students: Self Compassion as a Moderator

2025-12-12T09:08:52+00:00

Background. Negative body image can lead to psychological issues in university students however, self-compassion can help them to improve their body-image and enhance psychological wellbeing.

Objectives. The study explored influence of body image on wellbeing in university moderated by self-compassion in university students.

Method. In a cross-sectional research design 150 man and 150 women (N = 300) were conveniently sampled from public and private universities in Rawalpindi and Islamabad and ranged in age from 18-25 years. To assess body image perception, Body image Questionnaire-Short Form was used, while, the Self-Compassion Scale-Short Form was used to determine the participant’s capacity for self-compassion and Psychological Wellbeing Scale was used to assess psychological functioning.

Results. Results of the current research showed that body image subscales were significantly and positively associated with self-compassion and psychological wellbeing. Furthermore, female participants exhibited positive body image than male counterparts. Self-compassion significantly moderated the relationship between subscales of body image and psychological wellbeing.

Conclusion & Implications. The results of the current study will help the university students to raise their awareness about positive body image, which can lead to immediate improvements in self-compassion and psychological wellbeing.

Personality Religiosity and Gender Influence Attitudes and Beliefs toward Transgenders

2025-12-09T07:08:23+00:00

Background. This study assesses the relationship among personality traits, religious orientations and gender in attitudes and beliefs toward transgenders in Pakistan. We expected personality traits like emotional stability and open to experience, intrinsic religious orientation and women would express greater inclusive attitudes and beliefs toward transgenders.

Methods. A convenient sample of 75 male and 75 female (N = 150) young (18 to 25 years) students from different universities of Lahore were asked to complete Ten-Item Personality Inventory (TIPI, Gosling et al., 2003), Revised Intrinsic/Extrinsic Religious Orientation Scale (I/E-R, Gorsuch & MacPherson, 1989) and Transgender Attitudes and Beliefs Scale (TABS, Kanamori et al., 2017).

Results. The findings suggested, openness to experience and emotional stability positively associated with positive attitudes and beliefs towards transgenders. Intrinsic religiosity positively and extrinsic personal religious orientation negatively associated with accepting transgenders. No gender differences were observed in attitudes and beliefs toward transgenders.

Conclusion. Openness to experience and emotional stability and intrinsic and extrinsic personal religious orientation can account for positive attitudes and beliefs toward transgenders. More data is needed to tease these factors to provide a basis for social change that would include transgenders in mainstream culture.

Keywords. personality traits, religious orientations, gender, transgenders, attitudes, beliefs

Examining the Predictors of Prosocial Behavior Among University Students: The Role of Empathy and Social Values

2025-02-27T08:53:08+00:00

Background. This cross-sectional research examined the predictors of prosocial behavior among university students.

Method. This study employed a cross-sectional quantitative design. The sample comprised N=400, equally distributed male and female university students. The age range of the participants ranged from 18 to 45 years. Non-probability, convenience sampling was used to draw the sample. Data were collected through an online survey and an in-person questionnaire. The 16-item Toronto Empathy Questionnaire (TEQ){Spreng, 2009 #273}, the 25-item Asian Values Scale- Revised (AVS-R), and the 16-item Prosocial Behavior Scale (PBS) were administered along with a self-structured demographic sheet and consent form. Data was analyzed using SPSS (version 27).

Results. The quantitative analysis found that female university students showed higher levels in the context of empathy, social values, and prosocial behavior, additionally, there is also found that urban university students exhibited higher levels of empathy, social values, and prosocial behavior. It was also revealed that prosocial behavior is positively correlated with empathy and social values in university students. Furthermore, it was also evidenced based on of findings, that prosocial behavior significantly impacts empathy.

Implications. The study offered significant implications for academic institutions and society as a whole. By illuminating the relationship between empathy, social values, and prosocial behavior, this research contributes to the advancement of educational programs, community service initiatives and interventions designed to foster empathy and instill social values in university students could be developed.