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Current levels of meat consumption are environmentally unsustainable and cause suffering to billions of animals each year. Researchers have sought to understand the psychological mechanisms driving people's meat consumption. Research suggests that having empathy towards animals may reduce a person's meat consumption, however, an empathic response does not always result in action (the "meat paradox"). It may be that some people 'disengage' from their animal related morality when consuming meat. The current study aimed to test whether moral disengagement mediated the relationship between animal empathy and meat consumption. A total of 302 participants (18 to 70 years, 55.3% female) completed the Animal Empathy Scale, Moral Disengagement in Meat Questionnaire, and the Meat Consumption Scale. Results supported the mediation model, whereby high empathy for animals appeared to reduce one's capacity to disengage with their morality, resulting in lower meat consumption. This study was the first to investigate the dual role of animal empathy and moral disengagement in meat consumption. We conclude that moral disengagement is a possible explanation for the meat paradox.

Impulsive urgency describes the tendency to act rashly when experiencing extreme emotions. This Australian study aimed to investigate the predictive utility of impulsivity, including impulsive urgency (positive and negative), across a range of problem behaviours. Data from two community samples, one retrospective (n = 281) and one current (n = 604), were analysed using hierarchical regression to determine which facets of impulsivity, as assessed with a comprehensive scale (i.e. negative urgency, positive urgency, lack or premeditation, lack of perseverance, and sensation seeking), best predicted a series of problem behaviours (i.e. problem gambling, disorderly alcohol use, online gambling disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder behaviours, and social media addiction). The impulsive urgency facets were shown to be significant predictors across the behaviours examined. More specifically, negative urgency was the strongest predictor of disorderly alcohol use, obsessive-compulsive disorder behaviours, and social media addiction. Positive urgency was associated with problem gambling and online gambling disorder behaviours. These findings suggest that impulsive urgency is a key contributing factor in many behavioural problems and that the valence of the urgency is an important consideration when addressing a broad range of psychopathologies.

Retirement from elite sport is a complex and often-problematic process. The current study explores a negative case study of an athlete recently retired from a team sport (Australian Rules Football) in order to generate knowledge on how to improve the retirement process.Three semi-structured interviews were undertaken less than 5 years post retirement, and archival career records were gathered from online sources. Data were coded to construct a narrative account of the participant's career and retirement. Narrative analysis also revealed that the retirement transition from elite sports for this athlete was problematic and caused considerable personal distress. We suggest that the means of improving retirement transition and reducing harm to players include fostering alternative life narratives and increasing selfcomplexity, utilising norm appropriate communication strategies, and recognising retirement as a potential grieving period for loss of community.

There is a need for a questionnaire that quantifies what students actually experience during martial arts (MA) training. Although no such measure exists, having one would allow researchers to identify the specific components of the MA training experience that may benefit participants’ health outcomes, and permit MA training organizations to implement control and consistency measures. In this article we report the development and psychometric properties of the Martial Arts Inventory (MAI). This study comprised three phases: (a) question development, (b) exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and (c) a correlational validity demonstration. We developed a 106 item questionnaire and then used exploratory factor analysis ( n = 252) to extract eight distinct factors (meditative training, respectful discipline, positive training environment, streaming, training behaviour, heavy training, goal orientation, and physical challenge) that were represented by 48 items. We demonstrated convergent validity through positive correlations between this questionnaire and measures of both self-regulation and mindfulness. As a first of its kind instrument, the MAI has the preliminary psychometric basis to be used by researchers and clinicians for measuring the consistency of student experiences across MA schools, and for exploring the efficacy of MA training for various applications, including participant psychosocial health outcomes. Additionally, further refinement and validity testing of this tool will be needed.