Verbs, as the conventional linguistic category for expressing action and motion, possess meta-semantic associations specifically with action-orientation—associations not typically found in other grammatical classes (e.g., nouns). The central aim of this research was to examine whether the proposed association between verbs and action manifests in shorter response times for verbs compared to other grammatical forms. In Studies 1a and 1b (N1a = 136, N1b = 323), we examined the impact of exposure to verbs versus nouns on overall completion time for a complex questionnaire survey. In Studies 2a and 2b (N2a = 92, N2b = 96), we employed a syntactic classification task to investigate behavioral responses to verbs and nouns, using a pseudoword paradigm in which carefully constructed lexical stimuli were devoid of semantic meaning but clearly conveyed grammatical class through suffixes. Across all four experiments, we consistently observed shorter response times for verbs and pseudoverbs compared to nouns and pseudonouns, suggesting that grammatical class exerts meta-semantic effects on behavior.
Agentic language—words and phrases that reflect a speaker's sense of control, intention, or ability to act—has been proposed as a linguistic marker of psychological well-being. Across two preregistered studies (N = 587), we examined whether individuals experiencing lower mood or reduced self-esteem use less agentic language in written utterances. Participants completed validated measures of current and prolonged mood, depressive symptoms, and explicit and implicit self-esteem, followed by a writing task. Agentic language use was assessed through both semantic and grammatical indicators. In both studies, low mood and self-esteem emerged as strong negative predictors of semantic indicators of agency, with prolonged affect and explicit self-liking being the most
consistent and robust correlates. Furthermore, semantic indicators reliably distinguished individuals who met the screening threshold for depression from those who did not, with depressed participants using significantly less agentic language. Grammatical indicators of agency, on the other hand, showed weaker and less consistent associations. These findings suggest that semantic—but not grammatical—expressions of agency may serve as subtle behavioural markers of mood and self-related evaluations. Beyond theoretical implications for psycholinguistics and clinical psychology, this work offers potential applications in scalable psychological screening tools, therapeutic language-based interventions, and self-guided mental health technologies.
Accurate assessment of substance use is essential in public health, clinical, and research settings. While self-reports are widely used, they are prone to biases such as social desirability and recall errors. Objective biological measures, such as hair toxicology, offer a longer detection window and may improve data validity. This study examined the concordance between self-reported substance use and hair toxicology results, with a particular focus on cannabis. It also explored the prevalence and predictors of underreporting, and the relationship between cannabis use patterns and THC detection in hair. Data were collected from 75 adult participants. Self-reported substance use was assessed via questionnaire, and hair samples were analyzed using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to detect drug use over the prior 3 months. Underreporting was defined as a negative self-report with a positive hair test. Results showed that 21.3% of participants underreported use of at least one substance. While group differences were not statistically significant, moderate-to-large effect sizes were observed, these effect sizes are descriptive in nature and may reflect possible discordance for substances such as MDMA and cocaine. No sociodemographic factors or alcohol use patterns significantly predicted underreporting. However, self-reported cannabis use frequency and quantity were significant predictors of THC detection, while years of use and time since last use were not. These findings highlight the limitations of relying solely on self-reports and emphasize the value of integrating objective biological measures. A combined approach improves the accuracy of substance use assessment and helps address underreporting biases, particularly in settings where legal or social pressures may influence disclosure.
The aim of this study is to examine how professionals from Latin America working in Poland negotiate their cultural identities and make sense of their multiculturalism within organizational settings. Ten bicultural or multicultural individuals participated in in-depth interviews and created Cultural Identity Circles. Drawing on the frameworks of Bicultural Identity Integration and cultural identity styles, the findings indicate that across the sample, harmonious, blended, and hybridized identity styles were most prevalent among participants, with some individuals demonstrating multiple styles simultaneously. Alternating was less common, appearing mainly through contextual language switching. Moreover, within organizational contexts, multiculturalism was largely perceived as an asset. Participants drew on multilingualism, cultural bridging, and relational warmth rooted in Latin American values as deliberate strategies for fostering inclusion, mediating between teams, and navigating diverse workplace norms. However, these advantages were accompanied by costs, including linguistic barriers, being subject to stereotyping, and feelings of otherness. This study contributes to the field by providing phenomenologically grounded insights into Latin American professionals in Poland, an underexplored group in a Central and Eastern European context, and by demonstrating the value of cultural identity mapping as an elicitation tool for uncovering complex identity negotiations of bi- and multicultural individuals. The article calls for more dynamic approaches to multiculturalism, grounded in qualitative inquiry and close attention to lived experiences.
Background: Research into posttraumatic growth (PTG) and posttraumatic depreciation (PTD) has predominantly relied on cross-sectional quantitative designs, often overlooking the subjective nuances and temporal dynamics of adaptation. This study aimed to explore the long-term evolution of perceived posttraumatic outcomes and identify emergent domains of change that transcend traditional theoretical models.
Methods: We utilised a longitudinal qualitative design, following a purposive sample of 26 psychology graduates (23 women, 3 men; age M = 34.42, SD = 9.10) over a 36-month interval. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews at two time points: T1 (within 12 months of a seismic life event) and T2 (36 months later). Reflexive thematic analysis (RTA) was employed, integrating deductive theory-driven coding based on established models with the inductive discovery of emergent themes to map individual trajectories of change.
Results: Posttraumatic adaptation was characterised by a shift toward narrative complexity, with PTG and PTD coexistence increasing from 42.3% at T1 to 61.5% at T2. Core findings include the identification of emergent domains—Self-Alignment and Autonomous Regulation (growth) and Existential Vulnerability and Insecurity (depreciation)—which were present in over 70% of narratives. We identified four distinct longitudinal trajectories: Persistence, Transience, Latent Impact, and Emergence of Complexity. A dominant pattern was ‘Increased Strength at a Relational Cost,’ where personal empowerment coexisted with an enduring loss of interpersonal trust.
Conclusions: Posttraumatic adaptation is a non-linear, ongoing process of narrative reconstruction that continues long after the initial crisis. The results underscore the limitations of cross-sectional snapshots and traditional inventories, highlighting the need for longitudinal monitoring to distinguish transient coping from permanent personality transformation. Clinically, the findings suggest that fostering authenticity and self-alignment may be vital for long-term recovery.
