Citizens and scientists can work together to improve the collective well-being, if citizens are inspired to help the advancement of science, and researchers motivated to listen to the voices of citizens. The benefits of such collaboration are increasingly recognized by both citizens and scientists, as reflected in the growing number of related publications and initiatives. This is especially relevant for emerging areas of research, where early involvement of citizens could help to envision, prioritize, and plan prospective studies. The Problematic Usage of the Internet (PUI) is one such area, which is fast becoming a public mental health concern. However, there remains a lack of clarity regarding the practical guidelines and ethical requirements for citizen involvement at the earliest stages of PUI. In our paper, we propose a conceptual framework and a template for initial involvement of citizens in PUI. They are derived from our community case studies, conducted in six European countries (Georgia, Greece, Malta, North Macedonia, Portugal, and Spain) and consisting of consultation with diverse groups of interested citizens (students, parents, teachers, and health professionals). Informed by our consultation exercises, we also highlight four ethical aspects for citizen involvement in the research on PUI or novel disciplines in general. They follow simple guiding principles to ensure that scientists will: enable a long-term commitment and inclusive opportunities for citizens, challenge established power hierarchies, and support collaboration, co-production and co-authorship with citizens. We believe that the proposed practical guidelines and ethical considerations, provide a valuable foundation on which to advance our understanding and generate international strategies for citizen involvement in PUI.

The purpose of this article is to investigate how the dialectic process of “positive” and “negative” captures the complexity of well-being and other important psychological processes in the practice of psychotherapy. The second wave positive psychology that has more recently emerged has raised further concerns and questions about the major assumptions of the initial attitude of positive psychology, which questions the dichotomy between positive and negative, challenges the very notion of “positive”, and explores the intricate interplays between so-called positive and negative psychological processes. It also examines the implications of this dichotomy for psychotherapy and how modern clinical practice can overcome the non-fertile differences of the previous period. Finally, possible ways of using the evolving knowledge in positive psychology from counseling psychology are discussed.

Background: This study was a narrative review on prevention of addictive behaviors with an effort to clarify the major concepts of prevention and its dimensions. Methods: The PsycInfo and MedInfo databases were used to identify prevention. Α total of 65 articles were found 46 of which were included in the review. Τhe data were analyzed using content analysis. Findings: For a better understanding of the results, it was deemed advisable to categorize them into: (a) the types of major interventions and the theoretical approaches on which they were based, (b) the results of the review articles according to (1) variables and factors concerning the prevention proved important through the review and (2) a number of more general important topics which arose in the prevention of addictive behaviors. Conclusion: The results highlighted the greater effectiveness of community-based programs, applied primarily in broader contexts but also secondarily in high-risk groups. Τhe results were discussed based on the combination of the emerged factors with each other and prevention experience.

The impact of COVID-19 and the associated lockdown measures on people’s physical and mental wellbeing, as well as their daily lives and functioning, has been extensively studied. This study takes the approach of investigating the consequences of COVID-19 on a national scale, considering sociodemographic factors. The main objective is to make a contribution to ongoing research by specifically examining how age, gender, and marital status influence the overall impact of COVID-19 and wellbeing indicators during the second lockdown period that was implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Greek population. The study involved a sample of 16,906 individuals of all age groups in Greece who completed an online questionnaire encompassing measurements related to personal wellbeing, the presence and search for meaning in life, positive relationships, as well as symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. Additionally, to gauge the levels of the perceived COVID-19-related impact, a valid and reliable scale was developed. The results reveal that a higher perception of COVID-19 consequences is positively associated with psychological symptoms and the search for meaning in life, while being negatively correlated with personal wellbeing and the sense of meaning in life. In terms of individual differences, the findings indicate that unmarried individuals, young adults, and females tend to report higher levels of psychological symptoms, a greater search for meaning in life, and a heightened perception of COVID-19-related impact. These findings are analyzed in depth, and suggestions for potential directions for future research are put forth.

Various studies have employed quantitative and qualitative methods to explore the process of behavioral, emotional, and cognitive change that emerges during drug addiction treatment, including the factors both encouraging and discouraging such change. This article focuses on the narrative approach to the motivation and ambivalence inherent in recovery over the course of a residential treatment program. The study sample consisted of 46 clients undergoing substance abuse treatment in a residential facility in Greece. All conversations were taped and later elaborated on with the help of narrative analysis. Seven main types of narrative emerged from the overall analysis: optimistic, overly optimistic, pessimistic, overly pessimistic, “tough life,” troubled/confused, and balanced. Results based on these categorizations reveal common thoughts, skepticism, and difficulties patients face during recovery, with the linkage between each type of narrative.