Social Behavior and Personality

Stress and life satisfaction of Chinese rural older adults: Sense of self-worth and consumption as mediators

2023-04-26T02:40:32+12:00

The life satisfaction of older adults in rural China has aroused widespread attention from policymakers and in academia. In this study we examined whether sense of self-worth and consumption mediate the association between stress and life satisfaction among rural older adults in China. We analyzed data from 586 surveys completed by people aged 60 years and over living in Zhejiang Province. The results showed that stress had a significant negative effect on life satisfaction, and sense of self-worth and consumption partially mediated this relationship. Our findings have implications for improving the life satisfaction of older adults who live in rural areas in China.

Reinforcement or satiation: Consumers’ repurchase intention on fresh food e-commerce platforms

2024-02-06T11:58:36+13:00

Consumers’ intention to repurchase on fresh food e-commerce platforms has decreased significantly since China adjusted its pandemic policies. The consumption habits that the COVID-19 pandemic drove consumers to form on fresh e-commerce platforms have not persisted in China. This study examined the relationships between consumer perception, behavioral habit, behavioral attitude, and repurchase intention. We surveyed 391 consumers of fresh food e-commerce platforms. Our results showed that consumers’ perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness predicted their repurchase intention. Behavioral attitude played a mediating role in the relationships between consumer perception variables (i.e., perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness) and repurchase intention. Behavioral habit had a dual effect on the formation of repurchase intention. Our research results contribute to a deeper understanding of the factors driving consumer repurchase intention.

Integrating corporate social responsibility with organizational dynamics: Employee behavior and economic returns in hospitality

2024-05-28T16:51:59+12:00

This research explored the link between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and economic performance in the Chinese hospitality sector, along with the mediating role of employee green behavior and the moderating role of green organizational culture. I recruited a sample (N = 318) of hotel employees from major urban centers and distributed questionnaires to employees at various levels within each organization to capture a broad range of perspectives. My results indicated that the implementation of CSR practices, which involves employees in the process and also creates an organizational culture, not only promoted sustainable practices but also positively influenced economic development. This points to the necessity of incorporating CSR, human resources strategies, and cultural management into company policies to increase the returns from CSR investments.

Exploring gender differences in psychological motivation and effectiveness evaluation for college sports adherence

2024-07-03T21:04:59+12:00

This study examined gender differences in psychological motivation and effectiveness evaluation and how these variables relate to sports adherence among college students. We analyzed data from 782 participants (335 men, 447 women) using multiple regression, revealing that psychological motivation and evaluations of effectiveness were predictors of adherence to physical activity, with differences between genders. These insights underscore the necessity for tailored physical education strategies that cater to the distinct needs of students of different genders, thereby fostering ongoing engagement and adherence to physical activities.

Linking dual filial piety consciousness and mental health in Chinese adult children

2024-07-13T16:22:47+12:00

Previous studies have reported on the effect of filial piety on mental health among adult children. We hypothesized a detailed mechanism for this effect and conducted descriptive and correlation analyses using data from the 2017 Chinese General Social Survey. Results showed that among adult children, dual filial piety (i.e., authoritarian and reciprocal) consciousness had a positive effect on mental health. Further, bidirectional intergenerational support partially mediated this effect, and mobility (i.e., local vs. migrant) moderated this effect, with migrants being more susceptible than were locals. Our findings offer theoretical insight and practical recommendations for improving the mental health of adult children.

Physical exercise and social anxiety in college students: Cell phone addiction tendency and self-control as mediators

2024-08-12T16:42:37+12:00

Physical exercise plays an important role in improving college students’ social anxiety. This study explored the relationship between these variables, as well as the mediating roles of cell phone addiction tendency and self-control. We recruited 1,209 college students using stratified cluster random sampling and asked them to complete the Physical Activity Scale, the Social Anxiety Scale, the Mobile Phone Addiction Scale, and the Self-Control Scale. The results showed that physical exercise was negatively correlated with college students’ social anxiety. Further, cell phone addiction tendency and self-control had both independent and chain mediating effects between physical exercise and social anxiety among college students. Our findings have great significance for improving social anxiety among college students.

Factors affecting the intention to use online mental health services

2024-08-19T15:51:44+12:00

Online mental health services have emerged as essential alternatives to traditional care, particularly post-COVID-19, due to their accessibility, anonymity, and convenience. However, user adoption and continued use depend on various factors. We employed the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) framework to investigate the factors influencing users’ willingness to continue using these services, with performance expectancy as a mediator. A survey of 288 users found positive relationships between continuous behavioral intention and factors such as performance expectancy, effort expectancy, price value, trust level, social influence, and facilitating conditions. Conversely, perceived risk was negatively correlated with intention and trust. Performance expectancy partially mediated the association between effort expectancy and continuous behavioral intention. Furthermore, fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) identified three configuration pathway types: subjective expectation dominant, internal–external interaction, and external condition matching. This mixed-method study provides valuable insights into the sustained behavior of online mental health service users.

Work stress and depressive symptoms of employees in the logistics industry: Willingness to communicate and rumination as parallel mediators

2024-08-07T23:58:48+12:00

To explore the relationship between work stress and depressive symptoms, as well as the dual mechanisms of willingness to communicate and rumination, we surveyed 520 logistics employees who completed the Work Stress Questionnaire, the Willingness to Communicate Scale, the Rumination Responses Scale, and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Questionnaire–Short Version. The results revealed that work stress was significantly and positively associated with depressive symptoms and rumination, whereas it was significantly and negatively associated with willingness to communicate. Further, willingness to communicate was significantly and negatively associated with depressive symptoms, and rumination was significantly and positively associated with depressive symptoms. Finally, willingness to communicate and rumination acted as parallel mediators between work stress and depressive symptoms. These results have theoretical implications and offer practical references for managers and employees in logistics organizations.

Customers’ shopping values mediate the relationship between perception of store music and shopping well-being

2024-08-19T20:08:30+12:00

Understanding the influence of store music on customers’ shopping well-being has become a critical concern for retailers. This study explored the relationship between customers’ perception of the pleasantness of store music and their shopping well-being, with a particular focus on the potential mediating effect of shopping values. We conducted a paper-based survey involving 272 shoppers at a department store in China. The findings indicated that perceived pleasantness of store music was positively associated with both hedonic and utilitarian shopping values, which, in turn, were positively related to customers’ shopping well-being. Notably, both hedonic and utilitarian shopping values served as full mediators of the relationship between perceived pleasantness of store music and shopping well-being. We suggest that, to enhance customers’ shopping well-being, retailers should select store music carefully to align with their target customers’ shopping values.

Career learning experiences affect career decision-making difficulties: Career decision-making self-efficacy as a mediator

2024-09-03T19:07:49+12:00

This study examined the mechanisms by which career learning experiences affect Chinese college students’ career decision-making difficulties, incorporating the mediating role of career decision-making self-efficacy. A sample of 1,737 college students completed Chinese versions of the Career Exploration and Decision Learning Experiences Scale, the Career Exploration and Decision Self-Efficacy–Brief Decision Scale, and the Career Decision-Making Difficulties Questionnaire. The results indicated that there were significant associations among career learning experiences, career decision-making self-efficacy, and career decision-making difficulties. Meanwhile, the mediating model offered a good fit to the data. Most career learning experiences had both direct and indirect effects on students’ career decision-making difficulties. The implications of these findings are discussed for further research and practice.

Principals’ transformational leadership and teachers’ intention to use digital technology: A chain mediation model

2024-08-26T18:43:19+12:00

Studies have shown that school principals’ transformational leadership impacts teachers’ intention to use digital technology in their teaching practice. As the underlying mechanism of this impact remains unclear in ethnic minority areas of China, we explored the effect of principals’ transformational leadership on the intention of teachers in these regions to use digital technology, incorporating teachers’ perception of the organizational innovation climate and their technological pedagogical content knowledge as mediators. We conducted a survey with 476 teachers in ethnic minority areas in China. The findings showed that principals’ transformational leadership directly increased teachers’ intention to use digital technology for teaching, and also indirectly enhanced this intention through the individual and chain mediators of perception of the organization’s innovation climate and technological pedagogical content knowledge. Our results enhance understanding of the relationship between principals’ transformational leadership and teachers’ intention to use digital technology in China’s ethnic minority areas.

The relationship between parent–child communication and adolescent physical exercise: A chain mediation model

2024-08-30T05:52:47+12:00

This study explored the relationship between parent–child communication and adolescent physical exercise, analyzing the chain mediation effect of social support and psychological resilience. We collected data from 361 adolescents through a survey measuring four variables: parent–child communication, social support, psychological resilience, and adolescent physical exercise. The results indicated that parent–child communication significantly and positively predicted adolescent physical exercise, with social support and psychological resilience serving as both independent and chain mediators of this relationship. We have revealed the intrinsic mechanisms by which parent–child communication can predict adolescent physical exercise behavior, providing theoretical support and practical evidence to effectively promote adolescent physical exercise behavior.

The effect of idiosyncratic deals on employee innovative behavior: An integrated framework of cognition and affection

2024-09-19T02:47:08+12:00

Millennials and subsequent generations of employees seek unique value and growth, which can be fulfilled through idiosyncratic deals (i-deals) that provide personalized employment relationships and enriched psychological resources. Using conservation of resources theory, this study examined how i-deals influence employees’ innovative behavior, specifically through the mediating roles of job autonomy and relational energy and the moderating effect of leader creativity expectations. We conducted a survey of 475 high-tech manufacturing employees. The results showed that i-deals significantly enhanced innovative behavior and that this relationship was mediated by job autonomy and relational energy. Furthermore, leader creativity expectations strengthened the positive effect of relational energy on innovative behavior but weakened that of job autonomy on innovative behavior. These findings imply that effectively designing and implementing i-deals can promote employee innovation by leveraging cognitive and affective resources. This study expands conservation of resources theory and deepens understanding of the antecedents of innovative behavior.

Promotion or suppression? Effect of perceived algorithmic control on service performance of gig workers

2024-09-30T15:12:00+13:00

Gig workers have been managed using algorithmic control for years, but gaps remain in research on and knowledge about how algorithmic control affects their service quality. Combining the job demands–resources model with conservation of resources theory, we examined the relationship between perceived algorithmic control and service performance through an empirical study with 475 gig workers. The results showed that work engagement played a mediating role between gig workers’ perceived algorithmic control and their service performance, with burnout playing a mediating role in this relationship. The indirect effects of (a) perceived algorithmic control on service performance via work engagement and (b) perceived algorithmic control on service performance via burnout were weaker when there was high (vs. low) algorithmic transparency. Overall, our research results provide theoretical and practical implications for managing gig workers.

Error management culture and university teachers’ trust in colleagues and direct leaders

2025-01-12T17:59:38+13:00

The establishment and improvement of trust mechanisms is crucial for the sustainability of organized groups within higher education institutions. This study examined the relationship between error management culture and university teachers’ trust in their colleagues and direct leaders. We collected quantitative data from 958 public university teachers in Gansu Province, China. The results indicated that a positive error management culture was positively related to university teachers’ trust in their colleagues and direct leaders, and that professional ethics mediated this relationship. In addition, ethical pressures were seen to moderate the relationship between error management culture and teachers’ professional ethics. The results of this study provide theoretical guidance and practical recommendations for establishing a positive error management culture in higher education institutions, thus enhancing university teachers’ trust in their colleagues and direct leaders.

Effects of professional identity and psychological capital on academic self-efficacy: Learning engagement as a mediator

2025-01-27T20:39:04+13:00

This study explored the effects of professional identity and psychological capital on the academic self-efficacy of university students majoring in preschool education, as well as the mediating role of learning engagement. University students majoring in preschool education (N = 986) completed the University Student Professional Identity Questionnaire, the Psychological Capital Questionnaire for Adolescent Students, the University Student Academic Self-Efficacy Questionnaire, and the University Student Learning Engagement Questionnaire. There were significant positive correlations among professional identity, psychological capital, learning engagement, and academic self-efficacy. Learning engagement partially mediated the relationships of both professional identity and psychological capital with academic self-efficacy. Therefore, at universities the professional identity education of students majoring in preschool education should be strengthened, their psychological capital level should be improved, and they should be encouraged to actively participate in learning, so as to gain more academic self-efficacy.

Can leaders use humor to foster employee voice behavior? The mediating role of leader–member exchange

2025-02-05T15:55:27+13:00

Leader humor is effective in enhancing superior–subordinate relationships in the workplace, and plays a crucial role in stimulating employee voice behavior. In this study we investigated the impact of leader humor on employee voice behavior, along with the mediating role of leader–member exchange. Through analysis of data obtained from 321 employees in China, the results showed that leader humor had a significant positive impact on both promotive and prohibitive employee voice behavior. Furthermore, leader–member exchange served as a mediator of the relationship between leader humor and both promotive and prohibitive employee voice behavior. These findings not only contribute to expanding empirical research on leader humor but also offer leaders a new perspective for effective promotion of employee voice behavior.