Social Behavior and Personality

Editors’ Newsroom: Together, we can achieve more—Multinational collaboration in social psychology research

2025-06-18T14:20:34+12:00

In our latest editorial, Associate Editor Dr. Yvette Lamb investigates general trends and benefits of multinational collaboration in social psychology research, and how these are being displayed in Social Behavior and Personality: An international journal. Yvette highlights the journal’s increasing number of coauthored articles from multiple countries, emphasizing the value of shared expertise, diverse perspectives, and cross-cultural validation. Recent collaborations have addressed global issues such as sustainability, mental health, and technological change. Yvette also discusses the general importance of multicultural collaboration for social psychology and, more broadly, humanity.

Developing a psychological resilience scale for health practitioners and students in Taiwan

2024-08-13T03:20:31+12:00

There is currently no psychological resilience scale specifically designed for health practitioners and students in Taiwanese health settings. To address the need for a culturally relevant scale to assess and track psychological resilience in these groups, we conducted a comprehensive study. After a literature review and panel discussions, a pilot study was carried out with 738 health students and health practitioners with health-related training or competence in central Taiwan who completed a survey. To examine the psychometric properties of the Psychological Resilience Scale for Health Practitioners and Students (PRS-HPS), data from 430 participants were used to perform exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and data from 308 participants were used to perform confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The CFA identified the same four factors as the EFA, but with a total of 32 items: positive expectations (nine items), meaningfulness (eight items), self-reliance (nine items), and composure (six items). The total explained variance in this 32-item CFA model increased to 75.022% despite the removal of one item. The validity and goodness-of-fit indices for the EFA- and CFA-derived PRS-HPS were satisfactory. The findings validated the PRS-HPS as an effective tool for evaluating the psychological resilience of health practitioners and students in Taiwan.

How future temporal focus facilitates career exploration behavior: A trait activation perspective

2024-08-15T23:32:13+12:00

Numerous studies have revealed the role of future temporal focus in guiding individual psychology and behavior; however, little attention has been paid to its influence on individuals’ career development. We conducted a time-lagged survey study with 643 Chinese medical student interns, drawing on the future temporal focus literature and trait activation theory to examine how and when future temporal focus influences individual career exploration behavior. We found that individuals with a higher future temporal focus tended to focus on the future and thus held more positive career outcome expectations, which, in turn, further promoted career exploration behavior. In addition, the external environment exerted great influence on individuals. When individuals received more (vs. less) career guidance, the relationship between future temporal focus and career exploration behavior via career outcome expectations was stronger. Theoretical and practical implications also discussed.

The relationship between perceived stress and phubbing among Chinese young adults: A chain mediated model

2024-08-17T01:32:27+12:00

Although perceived stress has been shown to be related to phubbing among young people, the mechanisms underlying this association remain poorly understood. This study explored the mediating effects of social anxiety and loneliness on the relationship between perceived stress and phubbing behavior. We recruited 792 Chinese adults aged 18–24 years to complete a questionnaire survey that measured perceived stress, social anxiety, loneliness, and phubbing behavior. The results indicated that perceived stress was positively correlated with phubbing behavior, whereas social anxiety and loneliness played chain mediating roles in the relationship between perceived stress and phubbing behavior. Our research findings have implications for the prevention and intervention of phubbing behavior among young adults. Future research can further explore the potential mechanisms for preventing phubbing behavior.

Perceived teacher support and learning engagement: The mediating effect of psychological capital

2024-08-23T12:18:02+12:00

This study delved into the impact of perceived teacher support on learning engagement and scrutinized the mediating role of psychological capital. We administered a survey covering aspects of perceived teacher support, learning engagement, and psychological capital to 398 undergraduates from a major comprehensive university in eastern China. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 21.0 and Amos 21.0. The results revealed that perceived teacher support notably predicted learning engagement and psychological capital, and that psychological capital significantly predicted learning engagement. Further, psychological capital mediated the association between perceived teacher support and learning engagement. These discoveries augment prior research by integrating external (teacher support) and internal (psychological capital) elements influencing students’ learning engagement, thus deepening comprehension of the combined effect of inherent and extrinsic power mechanisms on learning engagement.

Entrepreneurial intention and behavior of migrant workers returning to farming in rural China: Impact of self-efficacy

2024-08-25T02:23:33+12:00

Farmers in China constitute a substantial group in the total population, and yet the entrepreneurial behavior of Chinese farmers has not received significant attention from researchers. In this study, we used survey data from 378 participants to analyze the impact of self-efficacy on the entrepreneurial intention and behavior of farmers who were returning to rural areas after migrating to the city for work. The research findings indicated that self-efficacy had a positive predictive effect on returning farmers’ entrepreneurial intention and entrepreneurial behavior, policy support moderated the direct pathway through which self-efficacy predicted the farmers’ entrepreneurial behavior, and policy support negatively moderated the entrepreneurial behavior of the returning farmers. These findings provide a basis for policy makers to adjust the entrepreneurial policies that apply to returning farmers.

The attention, relevance, confidence, and satisfaction model improves Chinese students’ English listening

2024-08-27T22:56:10+12:00

We explored the impact of the attention, relevance, confidence, and satisfaction (ARCS) model on Chinese college students’ English listening proficiency. Participants were 76 sophomores, whom we divided between an experimental class and a control class. The experimental class was systematically taught using the ARCS model for 4 months, while the control class adhered to traditional grammar translation methods. We developed the Learning Motivation Questionnaire of English Listening and used this before and after the teaching block to measure listening motivation. We also tested listening ability. The experimental group demonstrated a statistically significant increase in total English listening motivation across all four dimensions of the ARCS-based scale, accompanied by a significant improvement in listening scores. Our newly developed and validated scale serves as a reliable tool for research purposes. Considering the significant correlations we observed between the ARCS dimensions and listening achievement, our findings have practical implications for enhancing college English listening instruction.

Quality of life among university employees considering Saudi Vision 2030: A cross-sectional survey

2024-08-31T23:21:37+12:00

Maintaining employee health is vital for achieving organizational goals and promoting productivity. Besides personal outcomes, the health of university employees affects students’ lives and quality of education. Given the importance of quality of life for societal development, Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan seeks to raise citizens’ quality of life through several programs and initiatives. This study examined quality of life among 393 Jazan University employees via an online cross-sectional survey conducted from September to December 2023. Respondents reported a high total quality-of-life score, which was significantly associated with age, years of experience at work, chronic conditions, exercise behavior, and smoking status. Saudi Vision 2030 initiatives and programs may have contributed to the high quality-of-life scores. Healthy workplace environments are essential for sustainable, high-performing organizations; the study findings can help develop organizational change and behavior interventions to improve employees’ quality of life.

Connecting academic striving with college students’ academic achievement: The role of self-efficacy

2024-09-30T15:47:09+13:00

Academic motivation and self-efficacy are recognized as significant factors influencing students’ academic success. However, the predictive capacity of motivation and academic self-efficacy, and its impact on the academic outcomes of college students, has received limited scholarly investigation. Employing structural equation modeling, we delved into the relationship between academic striving and academic achievement, and assessed whether such a connection was mediated by academic self-efficacy. A cohort of 300 students from a Chinese university participated in this survey. The results underscored the contributions of academic striving and academic self-efficacy toward students’ academic achievement. Furthermore, academic self-efficacy emerged as a pivotal mediating factor between academic striving and academic achievement. This study offers empirically grounded support for the importance of fostering students’ academic striving and academic self-efficacy within university settings.

Career adaptability and career planning among medical students: Mediating role of career decision-making self-efficacy

2024-09-22T21:10:59+12:00

Although research findings have shown that career adaptability influences career planning, few studies have been conducted on the mechanism of the link between career adaptability and career planning. Therefore, in this study we examined the link between career adaptability and career planning via the mediator of career decision-making self-efficacy. Participants were 314 medical students in Jilin Province, China. Results of structural equation modeling showed that career adaptability was positively related to career planning, and career decision-making self-efficacy partially mediated this relationship. Our findings will help researchers and educators to better understand the mechanism of the link between career adaptability and career planning, and will assist in providing practical suggestions for improving career planning.

Sports advertising and consumer intentions: Insights from the 2024 Paris Olympics

2024-10-15T14:01:06+13:00

This study investigated the impact of viewing sports advertising content related to the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics on consumers’ intention to purchase sports goods and share information. Applying the theory of planned behavior, we analyzed how attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control influence these intentions. In August 2024, we conducted an online survey with 343 participants in South Korea, who had watched Olympics-related YouTube content and advertisements. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS and Amos software. The results indicated that attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control were significant predictors of both purchase intention and information-sharing intention. Thus, the theory of planned behavior is an appropriate theoretical framework for explaining this phenomenon. The findings provide practical implications, suggesting that enhancing consumer attitudes, leveraging social influence, and supporting factors related to behavioral control are important in developing marketing strategies.

The dual impact of abusive supervision on employees’ job performance

2024-10-22T14:58:34+13:00

Abusive supervision has become increasingly prevalent in modern organizations, yet its impact on employees’ job performance remains contentious. Drawing on the cognitive appraisal theory of stress, this study investigated the dual pathways through which abusive supervision influences employees’ job performance and identified the contexts in which these effects manifest. Using a two-wave survey of 413 employees, we found that abusive supervision led to employee burnout, which, in turn, negatively impacted employees’ job performance. Conversely, abusive supervision also encouraged job crafting, thereby enhancing job performance. Additionally, employees’ workaholism moderated the relationship between leader abusive supervision and job burnout. These findings elucidate the mechanisms by which abusive supervision affects employee cognition and behavior, offering organizations strategies to manage the effects of abusive supervision while minimizing associated risks in managerial practice.

Cross-border online shopping: United States consumers’ intention to shop on Korean sites

2024-10-28T02:43:20+13:00

This study investigated the factors driving the growth of cross-border e-commerce, emphasizing the relationship between country image and online transactions. I developed a model that integrated these two dimensions, and the results demonstrated that country image significantly affected product image, particularly in the context of cross-border online shopping for Korean cosmetics. A positive country image enhanced consumers’ product perception, with the affective dimension being more influential than the cognitive dimension for consumers from the United States. Additionally, the perceived ease of use and usefulness of e-commerce sites did not significantly affect consumer attitudes toward cross-border shopping. However, perceived enjoyment played a crucial role in shaping consumers’ attitude and purchase intention. Ultimately, this research contributes to understanding purchasing behaviors in cross-border e-commerce settings by integrating country image and site dynamics, providing directions for further exploration across product categories.

Parent–child conflict and internet gaming addiction among Chinese adolescents: A moderated mediation analysis

2024-12-19T15:31:15+13:00

The current study examined whether psychological needs satisfaction mediated the link between parent–child conflict and internet gaming addiction (IGA) and whether this mediating process was moderated by deviant peer affiliation. A sample of 656 junior high school students completed questionnaires in their classrooms to assess the study variables. The results showed that parent–child conflict was linked to IGA in part because of psychological needs frustration, and deviant peer affiliation was a risk factor that intensified this effect. Specifically, the adverse impact of parent–child conflict on IGA through psychological needs satisfaction was stronger in adolescents with higher deviant peer affiliation than those with lower deviant peer affiliation. These findings highlight the need to consider family, peer, and individual factors together to prevent and intervene in adolescents’ IGA.

Enhancing children’s creative practical ability through emotionally motivated music teaching

2025-01-28T13:46:12+13:00

We used a quasi-experimental design to examine the potential of a new framework we developed, called emotionally motivated music teaching (EMMT), to cultivate creative engagement in children’s musical abilities through specific musical tasks. The sample comprised 86 fourth-grade students, who completed either a 12-lesson EMMT intervention (experimental group) or a 12-lesson traditional music curriculum (control group). We conducted analyses of variance to assess children’s pretest and posttest scores on the Assessing Children’s Creative Practice Ability in Music Scale, which evaluates multiple dimensions of musical creativity. At posttest the experimental group scored significantly higher than the control group on all five assessed dimensions of musical creativity. These findings provide music educators with evidence-based strategies for fostering creativity through emotionally resonant teaching. Future research could refine the EMMT and observe its effects on students at different grade levels to address the limitations of the current study.

Online and offline exposure predict the perceived value of sportswear brands via brand equity

2025-02-24T18:46:57+13:00

Sportswear brands are leveraging digital platforms such as social media, mobile apps, and e-commerce sites to engage with consumers. However, few studies have separately examined and compared the distinct predictive effects of online and offline brand exposure. Thus, we conducted an empirical study of 229 consumers of sportswear brands to investigate the predictive effects of online and offline brand exposure on the perceived value of sportswear products, with brand equity and value congruence as mediators. Structural equation modeling results showed that both online and offline exposure of sportswear brands predicted consumers’ perceived value of their products, and these relationships were fully mediated by brand equity. Value congruence did not have a significant mediating effect. These findings highlight the critical role of online and offline brand exposure in shaping consumer perceptions, and offer practical insights for marketers to refine their digital brand strategies.

The effect of environmental job demand on salespeople’s psychological responses

2024-08-07T20:19:25+12:00

In more complex sales environments, salespeople experience high levels of job stress. Our objectives were to examine how environmental job demand (e.g., customer demandingness) affects salespeople’s psychological responses, and to identify potential factors that can reduce the psychological costs to salespeople. We gathered data from 257 salespeople working in pharmaceutical companies in the Republic of Korea. The results indicated that customer demandingness leads to role conflict which, in turn, has a negative impact on job satisfaction. Additionally, the results showed that the collaboration between marketing and sales departments negatively predicted role conflict. As a unique highlight of this study, we identified marketing–sales collaboration as a moderator of the relationship between job demand and psychological response. This insight sheds new light on our understanding of the dynamics among these variables, and has valuable implications for both theory and practice.

Configurational paths for the enhancement of college students’ scientific research and innovation competencies

2025-02-27T16:20:05+13:00

Enhancing the research and innovation competencies of university students has become a central issue in higher education reform. This study investigated how internal factors (learning autonomy, teamwork proficiency, communication skills, knowledge accretion, and psychological safety) and external factors (institutional guidance and support, research policy, and research environment and atmosphere) influenced the improvement of students’ research and innovation competencies. Using responses from a sample of 104 students, we conducted a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis. The results showed that the research environment and atmosphere was the most significant influencing factor, followed by institutional guidance and support. We identified three distinct configurations of influencing factors: external factor dominated, internal factor dominated, and mixed. This study contributes to understanding of the potential combinations of conditions that can enhance students’ research and innovation competencies.

Does the application of artificial intelligence affect task performance in knowledge workers?

2025-02-14T04:50:38+13:00

With the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in the business sector, increasingly complex tasks are managed by AI-powered automated systems, which may lead knowledge workers to experience career uncertainty, resulting in negative work states (e.g., slacking or desiring to resign) and pessimism. Hence, this study investigated how knowledge workers’ AI awareness predicted leader–member exchange (LMX) and task performance, with affective commitment as a mediating variable, by surveying 360 knowledge workers in China. The results showed that AI awareness negatively predicted LMX and task performance, while LMX positively predicted affective commitment and task performance. LMX and affective commitment also mediated the relationship between AI awareness and task performance. The study contributes to the emerging discourse on human–AI workplace integration by delineating the psychological mechanisms underlying technological disruption, while providing empirically grounded recommendations for sustaining workforce engagement during digital transformation initiatives.

Ethnic stereotypes, metastereotypes, and intergroup attitudes of ethnic minority university students in China: Mediation of intergroup anxiety

2025-04-13T16:16:15+12:00

We examined the mediating role of intergroup anxiety in the relationships of ethnic stereotypes and metastereotypes with intergroup attitudes of 420 students who belonged to ethnic minorities and who were at universities in Hunan Province, China. The students completed measures of ethnic stereotypes, metastereotypes, intergroup anxiety, and intergroup attitudes, including the Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure and an intergroup anxiety scale. Mediation analysis revealed that intergroup anxiety significantly mediated the relationship between ethnic stereotypes and intergroup attitudes, but not between metastereotypes and intergroup attitudes. However, metastereotypes had a direct negative effect on intergroup attitudes. These findings support integrated threat theory and extend social identity theory by highlighting distinct pathways in intergroup dynamics. Results suggest that interventions targeting stereotypes and anxiety can foster positive intergroup attitudes in diverse educational settings.