Holistic processing of visual words (i.e., obligatory encoding of/attending to all letters of a word) could be a marker of expert word recognition. In the present study, we thus examined for the first time whether there is a direct relation between the wordcomposite effect (i.e., all parts of a visual word are fully processed when observers perform a task on a word part) and fast access to the orthographic lexicon by visual word experts (i.e., fluent adult readers). We adopted an individual differences approach and used the word-frequency effect (i.e., faster recognition of high-than low-frequency words) in an independent lexical decision task as a proxy of fast access to lexical orthographic representations. Fluent readers with larger word-composite effect showed smaller word-frequency effect. This correlation was mainly driven by an association between a larger composite effect and faster lexical decision on low-frequency words, probably because these lexical representations are less stable and integrated/unitized, hence allowing differentiating among fluent readers. We thus showed that holistic processing of visual words is indeed related to higher efficiency in visual word recognition by skilled readers.

Loneliness may be a consequence of social distancing, a measure imposed by several governments to try to reduce the contagion of severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Despite being necessary, this measure may have thus caused a rise in mental health issues, leading to higher psychological distress and symptomatology. Thus, it is also important to explore how loneliness relates to the regulation of psychological needs. This study aims to explore the relationships between loneliness, symptomatology, and the regulation of psychological needs. 142 individuals (Mage=32.7, SD=10.9), answered self-report questionnaires in a cross-sectional design. Results show that loneliness is positively correlated with symptomatology and difficulties in the regulation of psychological needs, with these relationships being mediated by psychological distress and psychological well-being. We discuss our results with a focus on loneliness and related psychopathological symptomatology, as they seem to be core factors in the regulation of psychological needs.

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Background Early maladaptive schemas (EMS), as lifelong psychological structures, tend to be associated with psychopathological symptomatology. Previous research has suggested that schemas act as psychological vulnerabilities to stressful life situations, such as the present worldwide COVID‐19 pandemic. In this context, anxiety and psychological distress have been documented as two of the main psychological symptoms associated with the COVID‐19 pandemic. However, the associations between specific EMS and COVID‐19 anxiety remain unexplored. Therefore, this study aims to explore the relationships between EMS, COVID‐19 anxiety as well as other mental health variables such as psychological well‐being, distress and life satisfaction. Methods In a cross‐sectional design, 249 individuals (M = 34.2, SD = 12.0) completed several self‐report measures. Results EMS from different schematic domains were positively associated with COVID‐19 anxiety and psychological distress and negatively associated with psychological well‐being and life satisfaction. An EMS hierarchical regression model predicted COVID‐19 anxiety. Mistrustfulness and vulnerability to harm and illness mediated the relationships between COVID‐19 anxiety, psychological distress and life satisfaction. Conclusions According to these results, mistrustfulness and vulnerability to harm and illness can act as underlying variables for the decrease in mental health associated with the COVID‐19 pandemic.