Editors’ Newsroom: Together, we can achieve more—Multinational collaboration in social psychology research
Main Article Content
Since its founding in 1973, the editors of Social Behavior and Personality: An international journal (SBP) have sought to make academic publishing more accessible to emerging and established researchers across the globe. The word “international” was intentionally given a place in the journal name, and over the years we have seen a spread of countries represented in both journal authorship and readership. While the concept of internationality is difficult to define in respect to academic journals, consensus in the scientific community suggests important criteria include a language of publication that makes it universally understandable, online access, and a commitment to international publication standards (Buela-Casal & Zych, 2012).
Another potentially useful—and extensively researched—indicator of the internationality of a journal is multinational collaboration, as measured by coauthorship indices (Buela-Casal et al., 2006). Recently, we have observed a welcome trend of increased multinational collaboration in the articles we have published, with four examples in the current issue (Vol. 53, No. 11) alone (Jiang et al., 2025; Yang et al., 2025; Yao et al., 2025; Zhang et al., 2025). In 2023, we published 16 articles coauthored by researchers from at least two countries; in 2024, we published 34; and in the present year we have published 32 to date.
Over the course of this millennium, there have been calls for greater international collaboration in psychology, as well as recognition of its potential challenges (e.g., power differentials) and pitfalls (see, e.g., Cole, 2006; Petersen, 2016; van de Vijver, 2013). The increasing interdependence of people throughout the world and their shared concerns over common international issues have provided an impetus for greater scientific collaboration. International fellowships, doctoral and postdoctoral student exchanges, and increasingly available visiting professorships (Kliegl & Bates, 2011) have likely all contributed to increases in international collaboration across scientific disciplines. In recent years, the increasing use of online participant recruitment and testing, while being associated with certain notable limitations (e.g., selection biases, common method bias), has facilitated the rapid conduct of large-scale, and potentially cross-cultural, research (Obschonka et al., 2022).
From a practical standpoint, researchers can share specific expertise or skills, specialist equipment, and other resources when they collaborate across countries. Another benefit—sometimes a byproduct, rather than intentionally sought—is exposure to different perspectives and cultural understandings, which enriches the resulting research. The internationalization of psychological research, which involves synthesizing cross-cultural data to create more inclusive and globally applicable theories and practices, is vital for the progress of psychology, and allows us to scientifically test the universality that is frequently assumed in mainstream psychology (van de Vijver, 2013).
Recent multinational collaborations in SBP have considered the applicability of Western theories or models to different cultural contexts, such as in studying despotic leadership in the Pakistani textile industry (Sheng et al., 2025) or emotional coping mechanisms in Korean workplaces (Hwang et al., 2025). Other recent publications have reported on the translation of various psychological instruments into different languages, such as the Intensive Care Unit Nurses’ Alarm Fatigue Questionnaire (Ming & Tan, 2025) and the Personal Relative Deprivation Scale (Gui et al., 2025) into Chinese, and their validation in these populations.
Multinational collaboration has particular importance in the face of major global crises, where awareness of international perspectives and data is often crucial. For example, research on mental health consequences (e.g., depression, anxiety) became a global priority for the psychological research community during the COVID-19 pandemic (Obschonka et al., 2022). Our multinational collaborations published this year have addressed topics that transcend national borders, such as sustainability (e.g., He et al., 2025; Hussain et al., 2025; Wang et al., 2025), COVID-19 vaccination intentions (Zhan et al., 2025), technological advancements (e.g., Lin et al., 2025), and problematic contemporary phenomena such as smartphone addiction (e.g., Guo et al., 2025).
With interest, I noted that one of our recently published collaborations (Chen & Wong, 2025) explored the concept of a multicultural personality, characterized by traits that include openmindedness, cultural empathy, emotional stability, social initiative, and behavioral flexibility (Van der Zee & Van Oudenhoven, 2001). These so-called multicultural personality traits can predict cross-cultural adjustment (e.g., Van Oudenhoven & Van der Zee, 2002; Yakunina et al., 2012), tolerance of diversity (e.g., Gawali & Khattar, 2016; Korol et al., 2016), and constructive engagement in multicultural environments (e.g., Hofhuis et al., 2020). On a global scale, we will need effective collaborative processes—ideally characterized by a willingness to challenge one’s own assumptions, the ability to tolerate uncertainty and ambiguity, and a flexible and forgiving attitude (Petersen, 2016)—if we are to address the formidable challenges now facing humankind.
References
Buela-Casal, G., Perakakis, P., Taylor, M., & Checa, P. (2006). Measuring internationality: Reflections and perspectives on academic journals. Scientometrics, 67(1), 45–65. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-006-0050-z
Buela-Casal, G., & Zych, I. (2012). How to measure the internationality of scientific publications. Psicothema, 24(3), 435–441. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2012-18152-016
Chen, S., & Wong, K. Y. (2025). Teachers’ multicultural personality, attitude, and practices in multicultural music education: Training and support as moderators. Social Behavior and Personality: An international journal, 53(8), Article e14573. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.14573
Cole, M. (2006). Internationalism in psychology: We need it now more than ever. American Psychologist, 61(8), 904–917. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.61.8.904
Gawali, G., & Khattar, T. (2016). The influence of multicultural personality on attitude towards religious diversity among youth. Journal of the Indian Academy of Applied Psychology, 42(1), 114–123.
Gui, J., Zhu, G., Wang, L., He, Y., Yu, Y., & Wang, J. (2025). Validation of the Personal Relative Deprivation Scale in Chinese college students. Social Behavior and Personality: An international journal, 53(6), Article e14369. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.14369
Guo, J., Abu Talib, M., Guo, B., & Ren, J. (2025). Smartphone addiction as a moderator of undergraduates’ sense of coherence, social support, and satisfaction with life. Social Behavior and Personality: An international journal, 53(2), Article e14204. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.14204
He, J., Naveed, R. T., Muneer, S., Naseem, W., & Alshammari, F. M. M. (2025). Banking on sustainability: Corporate social responsibility, ecological concern, and green advertising on social media. Social Behavior and Personality: An international journal, 53(8), Article e14293. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.14293
Hofhuis, J., Schilderman, M. F., & Verdooren, A. (2020). Multicultural personality and effectiveness in an intercultural training simulation: The role of stress and pro‐active communication. International Journal of Psychology, 55(5), 812–821. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijop.12647
Hussain, A., Xue, Y., Hassaan, M., Akhtar, R., Akhtar, A., Yaseen, A., & Ibrahim, A. (2025). Behavioral perspectives: Examining the nexus between high-commitment work systems and sustainable performance. Social Behavior and Personality: An international journal, 53(5), Article e14111. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.14111
Hwang, T. J., Sy, T., & Choi, J. N. (2025). Coping with negative emotions: Interpersonal effects in organizational settings. Social Behavior and Personality: An international journal, 53(5), Article e13885. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.13885
Jiang, H., Wang, H., Cheong, K. W., & Tan, W. H. (2025). Enhancing children’s creative practical ability through emotionally motivated music teaching. Social Behavior and Personality: An international journal, 53(11), Article e15265. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.15265
Kliegl, R., & Bates, D. (2011). International collaboration in psychology is on the rise. Scientometrics, 87(1), 149–158. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-010-0299-0
Lin, Q., Li, Y., Li, L., & Yu, X. (2025). Anthropomorphism effect of virtual influencers on purchase intention in social commerce: A presence perspective. Social Behavior and Personality: An international journal, 53(2), Article e13953. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.13953
Ming, X., & Tan, P. (2025). Revision and validation of the Chinese version of the Intensive Care Unit Nurses’ Alarm Fatigue Questionnaire. Social Behavior and Personality: An international journal, 53(9), Article e14073. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.14073
Obschonka, M., Cai, Q., Chan, A. C., Marsalis, S., Basha, S. A., Lee, S. K., & Gewirtz, A. H. (2022). International psychological research addressing the early phase of the COVID‐19 pandemic: A rapid scoping review and implications for global psychology. International Journal of Psychology, 57(1), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijop.12823
Petersen, S. (2016). Collaborate! Psychology International, 27(3), 10–12.
Sheng, Y., Wang, Y., Farooq, M., Ejaz, S., & Ejaz, F. (2025). Despotic leadership and workplace status of textile workers in Pakistan: A moderated mediation model. Social Behavior and Personality: An international journal, 53(7), Article e13850. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.13850
Van der Zee, K. I., & Van Oudenhoven, J. P. (2001). The Multicultural Personality Questionnaire: Reliability and validity of self- and other ratings of multicultural effectiveness. Journal of Research in Personality, 35(3), 278–288. https://doi.org/10.1006/jrpe.2001.2320
van de Vijver, F. J. R. (2013). Contributions of internationalization to psychology: Toward a global and inclusive discipline. American Psychologist, 68(8), 761–770. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0033762
Van Oudenhoven, J. P., & Van der Zee, K. I. (2002). Predicting multicultural effectiveness of international students: The Multicultural Personality Questionnaire. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 26(6), 679–694. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0147-1767(02)00041-X
Wang, J., Naveed, R. T., Bhatti, S. M., Naseem, W., & Mahmood, H. (2025). Organizational values and employee participation in food-waste-reduction initiatives. Social Behavior and Personality: An international journal, 53(5), Article e14158. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.14158
Yakunina, E. S., Weigold, I. K., Weigold, A., Hercegovac, S., & Elsayed, N. (2012). The multicultural personality: Does it predict international students’ openness to diversity and adjustment? International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 36(4), 533–540. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2011.12.008
Yang, Y., Sa, H. J., & Kang, H. (2025). Sports advertising and consumer intentions: Insights from the 2024 Paris Olympics. Social Behavior and Personality: An international journal, 53(11), Article e14907. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.14907
Yao, S., Khir, A. M., Ma’rof, A. A., & Jaafar, W. M. W. (2025). Ethnic stereotypes, meta-stereotypes, and intergroup attitudes: The mediating role of intergroup anxiety among ethnic minority university students in China. Social Behavior and Personality: An international journal, 53(11), Article e15860. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.15860
Zhan, W., Deng, Q., Nguyen, V. B., Anh, T. P. D., Na, P. D., Shia, A.-S., & Ku, G. C. M. (2025). Factors influencing athletes’ intention to receive the COVID-19 vaccine booster. Social Behavior and Personality: An international journal, 53(5), Article e13389. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.13389
Zhang, J., Mansor, A. T., Wang, J., & Pei, X. (2025). The mediating role of career decision-making self-efficacy on the relationship between career adaptability and career planning among medical students. Social Behavior and Personality: An international journal, 53(11), Article e14832. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.14832
Buela-Casal, G., Perakakis, P., Taylor, M., & Checa, P. (2006). Measuring internationality: Reflections and perspectives on academic journals. Scientometrics, 67(1), 45–65. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-006-0050-z
Buela-Casal, G., & Zych, I. (2012). How to measure the internationality of scientific publications. Psicothema, 24(3), 435–441. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2012-18152-016
Chen, S., & Wong, K. Y. (2025). Teachers’ multicultural personality, attitude, and practices in multicultural music education: Training and support as moderators. Social Behavior and Personality: An international journal, 53(8), Article e14573. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.14573
Cole, M. (2006). Internationalism in psychology: We need it now more than ever. American Psychologist, 61(8), 904–917. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.61.8.904
Gawali, G., & Khattar, T. (2016). The influence of multicultural personality on attitude towards religious diversity among youth. Journal of the Indian Academy of Applied Psychology, 42(1), 114–123.
Gui, J., Zhu, G., Wang, L., He, Y., Yu, Y., & Wang, J. (2025). Validation of the Personal Relative Deprivation Scale in Chinese college students. Social Behavior and Personality: An international journal, 53(6), Article e14369. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.14369
Guo, J., Abu Talib, M., Guo, B., & Ren, J. (2025). Smartphone addiction as a moderator of undergraduates’ sense of coherence, social support, and satisfaction with life. Social Behavior and Personality: An international journal, 53(2), Article e14204. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.14204
He, J., Naveed, R. T., Muneer, S., Naseem, W., & Alshammari, F. M. M. (2025). Banking on sustainability: Corporate social responsibility, ecological concern, and green advertising on social media. Social Behavior and Personality: An international journal, 53(8), Article e14293. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.14293
Hofhuis, J., Schilderman, M. F., & Verdooren, A. (2020). Multicultural personality and effectiveness in an intercultural training simulation: The role of stress and pro‐active communication. International Journal of Psychology, 55(5), 812–821. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijop.12647
Hussain, A., Xue, Y., Hassaan, M., Akhtar, R., Akhtar, A., Yaseen, A., & Ibrahim, A. (2025). Behavioral perspectives: Examining the nexus between high-commitment work systems and sustainable performance. Social Behavior and Personality: An international journal, 53(5), Article e14111. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.14111
Hwang, T. J., Sy, T., & Choi, J. N. (2025). Coping with negative emotions: Interpersonal effects in organizational settings. Social Behavior and Personality: An international journal, 53(5), Article e13885. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.13885
Jiang, H., Wang, H., Cheong, K. W., & Tan, W. H. (2025). Enhancing children’s creative practical ability through emotionally motivated music teaching. Social Behavior and Personality: An international journal, 53(11), Article e15265. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.15265
Kliegl, R., & Bates, D. (2011). International collaboration in psychology is on the rise. Scientometrics, 87(1), 149–158. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-010-0299-0
Lin, Q., Li, Y., Li, L., & Yu, X. (2025). Anthropomorphism effect of virtual influencers on purchase intention in social commerce: A presence perspective. Social Behavior and Personality: An international journal, 53(2), Article e13953. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.13953
Ming, X., & Tan, P. (2025). Revision and validation of the Chinese version of the Intensive Care Unit Nurses’ Alarm Fatigue Questionnaire. Social Behavior and Personality: An international journal, 53(9), Article e14073. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.14073
Obschonka, M., Cai, Q., Chan, A. C., Marsalis, S., Basha, S. A., Lee, S. K., & Gewirtz, A. H. (2022). International psychological research addressing the early phase of the COVID‐19 pandemic: A rapid scoping review and implications for global psychology. International Journal of Psychology, 57(1), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijop.12823
Petersen, S. (2016). Collaborate! Psychology International, 27(3), 10–12.
Sheng, Y., Wang, Y., Farooq, M., Ejaz, S., & Ejaz, F. (2025). Despotic leadership and workplace status of textile workers in Pakistan: A moderated mediation model. Social Behavior and Personality: An international journal, 53(7), Article e13850. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.13850
Van der Zee, K. I., & Van Oudenhoven, J. P. (2001). The Multicultural Personality Questionnaire: Reliability and validity of self- and other ratings of multicultural effectiveness. Journal of Research in Personality, 35(3), 278–288. https://doi.org/10.1006/jrpe.2001.2320
van de Vijver, F. J. R. (2013). Contributions of internationalization to psychology: Toward a global and inclusive discipline. American Psychologist, 68(8), 761–770. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0033762
Van Oudenhoven, J. P., & Van der Zee, K. I. (2002). Predicting multicultural effectiveness of international students: The Multicultural Personality Questionnaire. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 26(6), 679–694. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0147-1767(02)00041-X
Wang, J., Naveed, R. T., Bhatti, S. M., Naseem, W., & Mahmood, H. (2025). Organizational values and employee participation in food-waste-reduction initiatives. Social Behavior and Personality: An international journal, 53(5), Article e14158. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.14158
Yakunina, E. S., Weigold, I. K., Weigold, A., Hercegovac, S., & Elsayed, N. (2012). The multicultural personality: Does it predict international students’ openness to diversity and adjustment? International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 36(4), 533–540. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2011.12.008
Yang, Y., Sa, H. J., & Kang, H. (2025). Sports advertising and consumer intentions: Insights from the 2024 Paris Olympics. Social Behavior and Personality: An international journal, 53(11), Article e14907. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.14907
Yao, S., Khir, A. M., Ma’rof, A. A., & Jaafar, W. M. W. (2025). Ethnic stereotypes, meta-stereotypes, and intergroup attitudes: The mediating role of intergroup anxiety among ethnic minority university students in China. Social Behavior and Personality: An international journal, 53(11), Article e15860. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.15860
Zhan, W., Deng, Q., Nguyen, V. B., Anh, T. P. D., Na, P. D., Shia, A.-S., & Ku, G. C. M. (2025). Factors influencing athletes’ intention to receive the COVID-19 vaccine booster. Social Behavior and Personality: An international journal, 53(5), Article e13389. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.13389
Zhang, J., Mansor, A. T., Wang, J., & Pei, X. (2025). The mediating role of career decision-making self-efficacy on the relationship between career adaptability and career planning among medical students. Social Behavior and Personality: An international journal, 53(11), Article e14832. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.14832