Social Behavior and Personality

Editors’ Newsroom: Preparing your manuscript for submission—An editor Q&A

2025-11-26T19:43:29+13:00

In our latest edition from the Editors’ Newsroom, Managing Editor Alex Cheyne speaks with Assistant Editor Annaliese Ludwig, who shares some tips on preparing a strong and compelling submission package. Annaliese has reviewed hundreds of manuscripts and knows what makes a strong submission stand out!

Moral identity and online altruism in Chinese young adults: Interpersonal trust and social responsibility as chain mediators

2025-12-21T05:44:39+13:00

I explored the predictive mechanism of moral identity for online altruistic behavior among young adults aged 18–35 years in the collectivist cultural context of China, incorporating interpersonal trust and social responsibility as mediators. Participants (N = 1,230) completed a survey of moral identity, online altruism, online interpersonal trust, and online social responsibility. The analysis results showed that moral identity directly and positively predicted online altruistic behavior, and also exerted a predictive effect through online interpersonal trust and online social responsibility as both independent and chain mediators. The study findings reveal the intrinsic psychological mechanism underlying the effect of moral identity on online altruistic behavior, providing practical guidance for improving the level of online altruism among young adults and constructing a healthy online ecology.

Developing a scale measuring need for cognition among medical and healthcare students and professionals

2025-05-10T20:13:24+12:00

This study developed the Need for Cognition Scale for Medical and Healthcare Students and Professionals (NFCS-MHC-SP) to address the lack of a domain-specific scale for medical and healthcare professionals in Taiwan. We carried out a pilot study with 701 participants, with 386 undergoing exploratory factor analysis and 315 undergoing confirmatory factor analysis to assess the scale’s psychometric properties. These analyses identified four factors comprising 31 items: ambition for academic and professional growth (11 items), diverse thinking in problem-solving orientation (nine items), passion for rigorous inquiry and critical analysis (six items), and intellectual curiosity for exploration (five items). These factors demonstrated adequate validity, reliability, and goodness-of-fit indices, providing empirical evidence that the NFCS-MHC-SP is a reliable and culturally grounded tool for assessing the need for cognition in medical and healthcare education and training settings.

Arts engagement and depression among Chinese emerging adults: Loneliness and self-esteem as mediators

2025-09-29T23:39:28+13:00

As most studies on the influence of arts engagement on psychological well-being have been conducted among vulnerable populations, it is unclear whether the diverse positive impacts of arts engagement apply to the general population. We collected data from 1,007 undergraduate and graduate students at two universities in China and examined the mediating effects of loneliness and self-esteem on the association of participatory arts engagement and depression. The results showed that arts engagement was associated with a lower level of depression, with both loneliness and self-esteem mediating this link. Our findings add evidence to the diverse positive impacts of arts engagement for emerging adults. Implications for theory and practice, including the development of arts-based programs, are discussed.

Meaning in life among military hospital nurses: A latent profile analysis

2025-09-14T20:36:09+12:00

A sense of meaning in life is an essential psychological asset for nurses, as it promotes resilience and well-being. With this cross-sectional study, conducted from January to June 2025, we examined meaning in life among military hospital nurses in Hubei Province, China. Using latent profile analysis, we classified nurses into three subgroups based on their meaning-in-life scores, and examined the link between life meaning and professional mission, along with how factors like gender, level of education, organizational structure, and psychological resilience predicted self-perceived meaning in life. The results revealed considerable differences in how nurses perceived meaning of life. Given these findings, nursing managers are encouraged to design targeted interventions that fit the demographic and psychological characteristics of each subgroup, with the goal of strengthening this essential psychological resource in clinical practice.

Social support and creativity among art students in China: Creative self-efficacy as a mediator

2025-09-15T15:18:51+12:00

This study investigated whether social support from friends and family can predict creativity through the mediating role of creative self-efficacy (CSE) among art undergraduate students in China. Guided by social cognitive theory, we tested the proposed framework using survey responses from 358 participants. Results showed that family support directly predicted creativity, while friend support did not. CSE served as a positive mediator of both paths, fully mediating the link between friend support and creativity, and partially mediating that between family support and creativity. These findings highlight the central role of family in shaping students’ psychological resources and creativity within the Chinese sociocultural context and suggest the importance of addressing both internal beliefs and culturally rooted external support.

How does indirect trauma moderate tourist coping strategies and travel intentions?

2025-08-04T19:25:30+12:00

This study applied the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to investigate how four coping strategies (problem focused, emotion focused, avoidance, and social support seeking) predict travelers’ attitude and behavioral intention in aviation disaster contexts. We conducted a survey of 633 Korean air travelers with media-based exposure to aviation accidents and analyzed the data using structural equation modeling and multigroup analysis. Results showed that emotion-focused coping strategies positively affected attitude, and all TPB components—attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control—positively predicted behavioral intention. Moreover, perceived indirect trauma moderated the effect of avoidance coping and the TPB variables on behavioral intention. These findings expand the TPB framework by incorporating psychological coping and media-induced trauma. Practical implications include the importance of establishing emotional support systems and media exposure management for airline crisis communication during aviation-related disasters.

Acculturative stress, national consciousness, and subjective well-being among minority adolescents from Xinjiang

2025-10-01T00:52:11+13:00

While migration, acculturation, and well-being are key research areas, the impact of acculturative stress and national consciousness on well-being is still not fully understood. To shed light on this relationship, this study examined mediation models that can help elucidate the roles of these factors among Chinese minority adolescents. We assessed levels of acculturative stress, national consciousness, and well-being among 131 Chinese adolescents, administering well-validated self-report questionnaires. Results showed that acculturative stress was negatively associated with national consciousness and subjective well-being, whereas national consciousness was positively associated with well-being. We found that national consciousness can mediate the relationship between acculturative stress and well-being, and that acculturative stress can mediate the connection between national consciousness and well-being. These results underscore the importance of promoting national consciousness and reducing acculturative stress to enhance the well-being of Chinese minority adolescents.

Factors driving organizational members’ continuance intention for use of generative artificial intelligence

2025-09-20T19:22:12+12:00

It is important both academically and practically to understand the factors predicting organizational members’ continuance intention for use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI). We incorporated privacy concerns and self-efficacy into an expectation–confirmation model of GenAI usage continuance intention, and tested this model using partial least squares analysis with data from 172 members of organizations who had experience using GenAI. The results showed that user satisfaction was not significantly associated with continuance intention, while perceived usefulness was a significant predictor of continuance intention, and perceived enjoyment was significantly associated with user satisfaction. These results indicated that privacy concerns played an important role in reducing perceived usefulness. Finally, self-efficacy played a role in the decision of whether to continue using GenAI. With regard to successful adoption and leverage of GenAI, our findings offer insights for companies aiming to establish operational strategies and information protection policies.

Leisure arts participation and social–emotional competence: Resilience and social support as chain mediators

2025-09-13T00:24:49+12:00

We explored the association between leisure arts participation and social–emotional competence among college students, focusing on the chain mediating roles of psychological resilience and social support. Students (N = 978) at nine universities in Fujian Province, China, completed a survey. Analysis showed there were significant positive correlations between leisure arts participation and psychological resilience, social support, and social–emotional competence. Leisure arts participation was positively associated with social–emotional competence both directly and indirectly through the serial mediators of psychological resilience and social support. That is, higher levels of leisure arts participation were associated with stronger psychological resilience and greater perceived social support, which were, in turn, associated with higher levels of social–emotional competence. This research provides a theoretical basis and practical implications for arts-based initiatives at universities to help students enhance their social–emotional competence and psychological well-being.

Linking paradoxical leadership to employee creativity: Testing a three-way interaction model

2025-09-03T20:37:29+12:00

This paper examined the relationship between paradoxical leadership and employee creativity with special reference to workplaces in South Korea. We also explored the conditions under which this relationship is strongest, focusing on core self-evaluation and organizational diversity as moderators. We conducted a survey of 215 Korean employees, applying a hierarchical regression analysis to test our hypotheses. The empirical results indicated that paradoxical leadership was positively related to employees’ creativity. Moreover, core self-evaluation and organizational diversity strengthened the positive effects of paradoxical leadership on creativity. These findings have implications for organizational leaders seeking to deepen their understanding of the conditions that maximize the positive effects of paradoxical leadership and improve employee creativity.

How teacher creativity shapes student creativity: Self-efficacy as a mediator and teacher–student relationship as a moderator

2025-10-13T18:18:20+13:00

As student creativity represents a critical educational outcome, investigating the mechanisms by which educators foster students’ creative development is of paramount importance. In this study based on social cognitive theory, we examined the positive association between teacher creativity and student creativity, incorporating student self-efficacy as a mediator and teacher–student relationships as a moderator. Empirical analysis of survey data obtained from 349 Chinese university students provided support for these hypothesized relationships. The results highlight the importance of developing teachers’ creative competencies and cultivating supportive learning environments to facilitate student creativity. These findings contribute to the literature by elucidating the psychological and relational processes underlying the teacher–student creativity connection.

How identity leadership encourages bootlegging: The role of work meaningfulness and independent self-construal

2025-08-18T14:02:18+12:00

Bootlegging has been recognized as a critical pathway to radical innovation. Drawing on data from 228 employees, this study examined how identity leadership promotes bootlegging. The results indicated that identity leadership enhanced employees’ work meaningfulness, encouraging bootlegging behavior. Moreover, individuals with stronger (vs. weaker) independent self-construal were less responsive to identity leadership in deriving work meaningfulness. Further, independent self-construal moderated the indirect effect of identity leadership on bootlegging through work meaningfulness. These findings contribute to the growing literature on bootlegging by uncovering the mechanisms through which identity leadership fosters informal innovation. In addition, this study has advanced understanding of the boundary conditions of leadership effectiveness, offering new insights into the role of self-construal in shaping employee-driven innovation.

Perceived artificial intelligence threat and artificial intelligence technology resistance: A moderated mediation model

2025-08-01T17:20:45+12:00

Employees’ perception of artificial intelligence (AI) as a threat to their job stability and future career development may reduce their willingness to embrace AI technologies. Drawing on conservation of resources theory and regulatory focus theory, this study investigated the psychological mechanism through which perceived AI threat is associated with AI technology resistance behavior, emphasizing the mediating role of job-related anxiety and the moderating role of organizational training. We used a three-wave survey to obtain data from 271 respondents. Results showed that perceived AI threat was positively related to job-related anxiety, which, in turn, predicted stronger AI technology resistance behavior. Moreover, organizational training moderated the positive relationship between perceived AI threat and job-related anxiety. By incorporating emotional and motivational perspectives, this study provides a comprehensive understanding of AI resistance, offering actionable insights for organizations seeking to foster employee adaptation in AI-integrated environments.

Prevalence and predictive factors of problematic social media use: A regression analysis

2025-07-15T12:22:17+12:00

Problematic social media use (PSMU) is a growing societal concern; however, its prevalence remains uncertain due to differences in research tools and assessment criteria employed. Therefore, we evaluated the prevalence and predictive factors of PSMU through a comprehensive survey of 400 college students, assessing depression, anxiety, the personality traits of extraversion and neuroticism, fear of missing out (FOMO), childhood psychological neglect, and PSMU. Correlation and regression analyses were used to investigate the factors associated with PSMU. The prevalence of PSMU was found to be 1.5%. Anxiety, neuroticism, FOMO, and childhood psychological neglect predicted PSMU in our hierarchical regression model. Hence, reducing anxiety and FOMO may help alleviate PSMU tendencies. We recommend that parents prioritize the provision of high-quality companionship and proactively address their children’s psychological needs.

Team psychological safety influences work performance: The roles of psychological capital and team knowledge heterogeneity

2025-08-19T21:07:05+12:00

Using signaling theory and social cognitive theory, in this study I explored the impact of employees’ sense of team psychological safety on their work performance, incorporating psychological capital as a mediator and team knowledge heterogeneity as a moderator. I analyzed survey data from 576 employees across enterprises in Shandong Province, China, using regression and moderated mediation analyses. Results indicated that team psychological safety significantly and positively predicted work performance, and psychological capital partially mediated this relationship. Furthermore, team knowledge heterogeneity negatively moderated both the direct effect of team psychological safety on work performance and the indirect effect via psychological capital; that is, higher heterogeneity weakened these positive relationships. These findings elucidate the mechanisms and boundary conditions linking team psychological safety to performance, offering insights for enhancing organizational effectiveness.

How live streaming social commerce influences impulsive buying in China

2025-08-08T15:23:18+12:00

Social commerce is increasingly driving global economic growth, but shifting consumer behavior in a competitive environment makes rapid expansion a challenge. This study examined how aspects of live streaming social commerce in China predict impulsive buying within the framework of the stimulus–organism–response (SOR) model. We conducted a survey of 262 active Taobao Live users and found that visibility significantly enhanced immersion and presence, while metavoicing and guidance shopping affected only immersion. Immersion boosted both perceived persuasiveness and impulsive buying, whereas presence influenced only persuasiveness. Perceived persuasiveness also drove impulsive buying. These findings highlight key engagement factors in live e-commerce, offering insights for both scholars and practitioners.

Are happy workers more innovative? A time-lagged moderated mediation model

2025-07-12T20:58:07+12:00

This research applied broaden-and-build theory to examine whether the trait of positive affectivity influences employees’ innovative behavior. We tested this through three mediating mechanisms: problem-solving ability, ego resilience, and perceived supervisor support. We also examined whether employees’ openness to experience could moderate these three mechanisms. The results indicated that employees’ positive affectivity was positively associated with their problem-solving ability and ego resilience, both of which predicted their innovative behavior. However, the mediation effect of perceived supervisor support was not significant. Openness to experience strengthened the mediating effect of ego resilience in this relationship. To foster innovative behavior in the workplace, managers may use tools such as personality assessments or situational interviews to evaluate candidates’ positive affectivity and openness to experience.

Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and aggressive beliefs among adolescents: A chain mediation model

2024-09-22T17:50:18+12:00

This study investigated the relationship between moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and aggressive beliefs in adolescents, with a focus on the mediating roles of regulatory emotional self-efficacy and self-disclosure. Participants were 433 secondary school students in Jiangsu Province, China, who completed measures of MVPA, regulatory emotional self-efficacy, self-disclosure, and aggressive beliefs. Results indicated that higher levels of MVPA were positively associated with regulatory emotional self-efficacy and self-disclosure, which, in turn, were negatively associated with aggressive beliefs. Regulatory emotional self-efficacy and self-disclosure individually mediated this relationship and also exerted a chain mediating effect. These findings suggest that engaging in regular physical activity can help adolescents manage emotions and express themselves, thereby reducing aggressive beliefs. This study offers practical insights for educators and policymakers aiming to foster safer, more supportive school environments.

Subjective well-being and psychological distress predict self-esteem through personal growth initiative and meaning in life

2025-12-15T15:41:03+13:00

We applied the dual-factor model of mental health to examine how Chinese university students’ subjective well-being and psychological distress predict their self-esteem through personal growth initiative and meaning in life. Participants were 3,908 undergraduates from 24 universities in China. Results of structural equation modeling showed that subjective well-being positively predicted self-esteem, whereas psychological distress negatively predicted self-esteem, with personal growth initiative mediating both relationships. Meaning in life contributed to self-esteem only through the sequential pathway of personal growth initiative to meaning in life. Latent profile analysis identified five mental health profiles, including a paradoxical group with high psychological problems and high self-esteem, suggesting adversity may coexist with growth-related resources within a Confucian context. These findings refine the dual-factor model of mental health by showing that well-being and distress can coexist dialectically.

Social presence and online learning satisfaction: Serial mediation by flow experience and learning engagement

2025-12-11T04:31:18+13:00

Although cross-sectional studies have documented a close association between social presence and online learning satisfaction (OLS), evidence from multiwave survey studies remains limited, and the psychological processes underlying this relationship have not been sufficiently clarified. Guided by the cognitive–affective–social theory of learning in digital environments, we conducted a three-wave survey study to examine whether social presence predicts subsequent OLS, incorporating the mediating roles of flow experience and learning engagement. We gathered data from 687 Chinese university students in three monthly assessments over a 3-month period. Higher social presence was positively associated with higher subsequent OLS, and flow experience and learning engagement acted as serial mediators of this association. These results provide valuable implications for designing interventions to enhance OLS among college students.