Applied Psychology - Journal Articles
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Item An average Joe, a laptop, and a dream: Assessing the potency of homemade political deepfakes(John Wiley and Sons Ltd, 2025) Murphy, Gillian; Ching, Didier; Meehan, Eoghan; Twomey, John; Bolger, Aaron; Linehan, Conor; Research Ireland; European Regional Development FundAcademic and media commentary suggests that deepfake videos are problematic because they are both more easily created and more potent than previous forms of misinformation. Surprisingly, there is little research that experimentally tests these claims. In this study, we tasked a first-year undergraduate student with quickly creating political deepfakes using easily available online tools. We experimentally compared the effectiveness of misinformation delivered through those deepfake videos against misinformation delivered through text and synthetic audio format (N = 443). Deepfakes were effective at planting false memories for fabricated political scandals and, in some cases, reduced reported voting intention by up to 20%. However, they were not consistently more effective than simple text. In a follow-up study (N = 300), we confirmed that we effectively debriefed participants and caused no lasting measurable changes to their beliefs or memories. We encourage further critical study of the novel properties of deepfake technology.Item The association between body image and psychological outcomes in multiple sclerosis. A systematic review(Elsevier B.V., 2024-12-24) McCormack, Derval; O'Keeffe, Fiadhnait; Seery, Christina; Eccles, FionaBackground: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating autoimmune condition, in which body image may be altered due to a range of biopsychosocial factors. The aim of this review was to examine whether there is a relationship between body image and psychological outcomes in MS, in order to guide clinical intervention development. Methods: PsycINFO, Medline, CINAHL and Scopus databases were searched systematically in November 2023 for eligible studies, using terms relating to MS and body image. Quantitative studies, published in English, that examined the relationship between body image and psychological outcomes in adults with MS were included. The QualSyst tool was used to assess risk of bias across studies. Screening and quality appraisal was verified by the third author. A narrative synthesis was used to report patterns in findings. Results: Thirteen studies (ten cross-sectional and three intervention studies) met inclusion criteria and were included in the final review. The sample size across all included studies totalled 1533. The results suggested that positive body image was associated with improved mood, lower anxiety, increased self-esteem, and better quality of life. However, the causal nature of these relationships was unclear. Conclusion: The findings offer preliminary evidence to suggest that a more negative body image is associated with higher levels of psychological distress in MS, indicating that body image may be a target for intervention. Further research is necessary to provide a greater understanding of this association, and to inform future clinical practice.Item Being popular and being liked: Goals, behaviors, and norm salience(Springer Nature, 2024-12-28) Jones, Martin H.; Špes, Tanja; Hsiao, Yu-Yu; Markovič, Rene; Košir, Katja; Javna Agencija za Raziskovalno Dejavnost RSYouth’s social status (popularity and likability) relates with social status goals as well as bullying and prosocial behaviors within the context of classroom norms for bullying and prosocial behaviors, but less clear is how each of these factors interrelates with each other. The current study empirically analyses the concurrent relationships among social status goals, bullying and prosocial behaviors, and classroom norms with social status. Participants were a nationally representative sample of 6,421 Slovenian early adolescents (50% females; Mage = 13 years; SD = 6 months). Findings indicated that popularity goals were related to bullying behaviors and bullying behaviors were related to popularity. In contrast, likability goals are related to prosocial behaviors, and prosocial behaviors are related to popularity and likability. The role of classroom norm salience was complex as bullying increased popularity in low-bullying environments, whereas prosocial behaviors enhanced likability in high prosocial classroom contexts. Students high on both bullying and prosocial behaviors (bistrategic controllers) demonstrated higher popularity and likability compared to their peers., but had similar relationships among their social status goals, bullying, prosocial behaviors, and social status as all other peers. The findings demonstrate a clear relationship among social status goals, bullying and prosocial behaviors, and social status (popularity and likability), while suggesting that classroom norms may differentiate how bullying/prosocial behaviors might align with social status.Item “A young person in an old person’s body”: a reflexive thematic analysis of the experience of living with young onset Parkinson’s disease(Taylor & Francis, 2024-12-24) Cullen, Emma; Eccles, Fiona J. R.; Byrne, Gary; Dow, McKenzie; Dwyer, Brendan; O’Riordan, Sean; O’Keeffe, FiadhnaitBackground: People with young-onset Parkinson’s disease (YOPD), a term for those diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD) under the age of 60, face unique challenges compared to those diagnosed with PD later in life. A better understanding of the lived experience of those with YOPD is essential to delivering bespoke rehabilitation and improving quality of life. Purpose: To provide insight into the emotional and social lived experience of individuals with YOPD. Method: Semi-structured interviews were completed with twelve adults diagnosed with YOPD, aged between 30 and 59. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Results: Three major themes were developed: Theme 1: “I’m not drunk or stupid, I’m just a young person with Parkinson’s”: A daily dose of stigma; Theme 2: “I often feel like I’ve done something wrong, like I am wrong”: The heavy weight of shame; and Theme 3: “I was mourning my future, it felt like a death”: Grieving what has been, and what will be, lost. Conclusion: Grief and social stigma can result in shame and self-criticism in YOPD. Implications for healthcare professionals include the recommendation to routinely offer psychological support for individuals living with YOPD. Awareness campaigns about YOPD are needed to reduce stigma.Item ‘You were going online for that person’: How digital tools shaped Irish mourning experiences amidst COVID-19(Springer Nature, 2024-11-30) McCoy, Ava; Ciolfi, LuiginaPhysical restrictions in many countries during the COVID-19 pandemic affected almost all aspects of social life, including end-of-life rituals such as funerals. In Ireland, public health restrictions required mourners to adapt to alternative rituals to customary Irish mourning practices, which are traditionally community-focused and highly social. This period brought significant changes and challenges in the way Irish people and communities mourn, and in how events such as funerals were experienced through digital and online technologies. This paper reports on a qualitative study that contributes a better understanding of the experiences of mourners in Ireland during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly regarding the use and role of digital tools during this period, and their continued use following the lifting of pandemic restrictions. Overall, the findings indicate that participants felt a sense of unfulfillment and faced a series of challenges in managing altered support mechanisms, while acknowledging the importance and utility of digitally-mediated experiences, such as participation in live-streamed funerals and in online books of condolences. The paper sheds further light in the experiences of use of technology during the pandemic and provides insights to inform the future design and use of end-of-life digital tools and services, as they remain widely used also after the end of the pandemic.