Symposia

Effect of Our Past, Present Well-Being, Beliefs About the Future on Academic Performance and Interpersonal Relationships

Moderator: Darinka Ilić, Psychological counselling for students, SKC Niš, Niš, Serbia

Abstract

The aim of this symposium is reflecting upon some meaningful topics such as family, subjective well-being, on the one hand, and academic success and our beliefs, on the other hand. We asked students from different Universities in Serbia, mainly from the University of Nis, to give us the opportunity to better understand their outlook on interpersonal relationships, academic performance and their beliefs about justice in the world. Over 250 students and young adults participated in this research and shared their thoughts and evaluations with the volunteers of the Psychological counseling for students. Do internal factors have an effect on our academic success, such as our well-being, our behavior like procrastination, or maybe some external factor such as family climate? If bad things have happened to us, how will we look and maybe justify those events? What role does belief in just world play in our own perceived capacity for success in academic tasks? Some of the answers regarding these questions can be found in the research results of the symposium papers. Important results we reached out are that - family climate and the need for drama play a significant role in shaping an individual's interpersonal orientation, then that autonomy, as a part of the family self-assessment and positive attitude towards life play an important role in explaining the general academic self-efficacy. Results of other paper indicate that the general academic self could clarify more with procrastination, subjective well-being, and personal belief in a just world. And in the end, participants with some adverse, unfavorable childhood experiences tend to have less belief in personal and general just world. The significance of these results lies in a better understanding of these concepts and their connection, which can be used in the practice of mental health professionals employed in schools or in individual sessions with clients, where it could be worked on improving one’s academic efficacy or interpersonal relationships. Also, the significance of these research papers is in giving possible explanations for the question why we think that “what comes around goes around” and whether this belief in just world helps us in everyday life, after surviving trauma events.

Keywords

interpersonal relationships, academic self-efficacy, belief in just world

A Psychological Perspective on Infertility: Exploring Challenges and Support Systems - InsideMe Project

Moderator: Jelena Opsenica Kostić, Faculty of Philosophy, Niš

Abstract

This symposium explores the psychological experiences of women and couples facing infertility, drawing on findings from the InsideMe project. The project utilizes a Self-Determination Theory (SDT) framework to investigate how infertility challenges a woman's sense of well-being and identity. Infertility can threaten basic psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness, potentially leading to feelings of helplessness, isolation, and a crisis of reproductive identity. The InsideMe project team not only validated instruments for measuring various aspects of identity, but also constructed a groundbreaking tool to specifically assess reproductive identity, a concept gaining traction in scientific research.

Social support from partners, family, and friends emerges as a crucial factor. Perceived support buffers the negative effects of infertility, while a lack of support can exacerbate feelings of loneliness and exclusion. The prominence of pro-natalist values, emphasizing childbirth as a central part of womanhood, can further contribute to a reproductive identity crisis.

Furthermore, the symposium examines how women cope with the emotional rollercoaster of infertility, including the disappointment of unsuccessful conception attempts. Various coping strategies are identified, such as excluding negative emotions, justifying failures, and maintaining a positive outlook with a focus on future attempts.

The project also presents a psychosocial support program designed for couples undergoing IVF treatment. This group-based program equips participants with tools for emotional regulation, navigating social interactions in the context of infertility, and aligning their actions with personal values. By combining cognitive-behavioral techniques with humanistic therapeutic approaches, the program aims to improve emotional well-being and support couples on their journey towards parenthood.

In total, this symposium offers a comprehensive perspective on the psychological aspects of infertility, highlighting the challenges faced by individuals and couples, the significance of social support, and the potential benefits of psychosocial interventions.

This research was supported by the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia, 1568, Identity Crisis in Women Facing Infertility: Mixed Methods Approach – InsideMe

Keywords

infertility, self-determination theory, reproductive Identity, social support, psychosocial support.