Social Behavior and Personality

Physical activity and sleep quality: A moderated mediation model

Qingkun Feng, Bo Yang, Guihua Huang — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +1200

This study sought to explore the effect of physical activity on sleep quality. We surveyed 1,076 college students using the Physical Activity Rating Scale, the Brief Resilience Scale, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Scale. The findings revealed a negative relationship between physical activity levels and incidences of poor sleep quality. Ruminative thinking served as a partial mediator in the relationship between physical activity and sleep quality. The interaction term of ruminative thinking and psychological resilience also influenced sleep quality, suggesting psychological resilience had moderating effect on the relationship between ruminative thinking and sleep quality. Specifically, ruminative thinking had a stronger effect on the sleep quality of college students with lower psychological resilience than those with higher psychological resilience. The study discovered a mechanism that potentially mediates the relationship between physical activity and sleep quality, yielding valuable strategies to enhance the sleep of college students.

Revision and validation of the Chinese version of the Intensive Care Unit Nurses’ Alarm Fatigue Questionnaire

Xiufeng Ming, Peizhi Tan — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +1200

This study aimed to translate and adapt the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Nurses’ Alarm Fatigue Questionnaire for use in China, and to assess its reliability and validity in this context. Initially, 180 ICU nurses were surveyed, resulting in 175 valid responses, which were subjected to item analysis and exploratory factor analysis to finalize the scale. Subsequently, 290 ICU nurses participated in the formal assessment, yielding 281 valid responses. We conducted confirmatory factor analysis and internal consistency reliability tests. The Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey was used to explore the correlation between burnout and alarm fatigue. A subgroup of 150 participants was retested after two weeks to evaluate test–retest reliability. The final Chinese version of the questionnaire included 13 items and demonstrated good structural validity and reliability, with an internal consistency coefficient of .89 and a test–retest reliability of .82. This revised questionnaire is a reliable tool for measuring alarm fatigue in Chinese ICU nurses.

Distinctive decisions: How social exclusion influences consumer choices based on relationship orientation

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +1200

While existing research has identified the influence of social exclusion on individual decision making, further studies are needed to obtain a nuanced understanding of the relationship between the excluder and the excluded (friend vs. stranger). We addressed this gap in the literature by examining the impact of social exclusion on consumer choice through a relational lens. Drawing on self-discrepancy and uniqueness theories, we posited that individuals with a communal relational orientation (emphasizing connection and belonging) would exhibit a stronger preference for distinctive choices when experiencing social exclusion compared to social inclusion, whereas individuals with an exchange relational orientation (prioritizing benefits and reciprocity) would demonstrate a weaker preference for distinctiveness under similar conditions. To test these hypotheses, we conducted two empirical studies. The results offer valuable insights for individuals navigating the complexities of social interactions and for decision making.

Physical activity and suicidal ideation: Ruminative thinking and depression as chain mediators

Qingkun Feng, Yao Tong, Yanying Liu — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +1200

Physical activity is associated with a decrease in suicidal ideation, but the mechanism of this effect is still under investigation. We surveyed 1,011 college students regarding their physical activity, ruminative thinking, depression, and suicidal ideation. Results showed that physical activity was negatively correlated with ruminative thinking, depression, and suicidal ideation, and that ruminative thinking and depression were positively associated with suicidal ideation. Ruminative thinking and depression had both independent and chain mediating effects on the relationship between physical activity and suicidal ideation. Thus, physical activity may directly affect college students’ suicidal ideation and also indirectly affect it through ruminative thinking and depression. Implications of the findings are discussed.

Childhood trauma as a predictor of interpersonal distress: The roles of social avoidance and self-identity

Yi Fei Dong, Hua Cao — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +1200

Adolescents in junior high school are increasingly becoming self-aware, and the establishment and maintenance of interpersonal relationships have a profound impact on their future interpersonal communication patterns, mental health, and social adaptability. Individuals with traumatic experiences often face certain difficulties in interpersonal communication, making it difficult for them to grow through social interaction and overcome their trauma. Therefore, this study analyzed the effect of social avoidance behavior on the link between childhood trauma and distress in interpersonal relationships among 820 Chinese junior high school students, and also examined the moderating role of self-identity. We found that childhood trauma positively predicted social avoidance, which predicted distress in the interpersonal relationships of junior high school students. Social avoidance played a partial mediating role between childhood trauma and interpersonal relationships, and self-identity moderated this mediating effect, such that higher self-identity weakened the relationship between social avoidance and interpersonal distress.

Influence of team member innovation on leadership sabotage: Insights from social dominance framework

Qixiang Tian, Danfeng Han, Shaobao Liu — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +1200

This research utilized the framework of social dominance theory to investigate how team member innovation influences leadership sabotage behaviors, with a particular focus on the mediating role of perceived status risk and the moderating effect of leaders’ status concern. Employing a two-phase investigation involving 281 employees and their leaders from a retail chain, this study confirmed that perceived status risk mediated the relationship between team member innovation and leadership sabotage. In addition, leaders’ status concern significantly strengthened the impact of team member innovation on perceived status risk, especially when leaders placed a high value on their status within the organizational hierarchy. The findings enhance our understanding of the dynamic interplay between subordinate innovation and leader responses, emphasizing the critical role of status perception in workplace interactions. The study contributes to business management by delineating the psychological and organizational mechanisms through which innovative behaviors potentially trigger disruptive leadership actions.

Helping hand or hindering hand? Matching cognitive styles with intelligent assistants influences hospitality employees’ work well-being

Fang Liu, Han Wang, Siyu Yan — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +1200

With the rapid development of digital intelligence technology, intelligent assistants have become a key technology driving social progress and affecting various industries, including hospitality. This study used the job demands–resources model as the basis of three progressive experiments (N = 150, 202, and 314, respectively) to explore the impact of the degree of cognitive style matching between intelligent assistants and hospitality employees on work well-being and its underlying mechanisms. The findings indicated that employees with both adaptor and innovator cognitive styles perceived greater work well-being when the cognitive style of the intelligent assistant matched (vs. mismatched) theirs; moreover, cognitive dissonance and work energy played mediating roles in the aforementioned relationships. Our results enrich the literature on intelligent assistants in the hospitality industry from a management perspective and provide practical references for hospitality managers to effectively use intelligent assistants and guide employee management.

Maternal gatekeeping influences young children’s social adaptability: The mediating role of father involvement

Yutong Li, Yan Wang — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +1200

Although previous research has shown that maternal gatekeeping and father involvement are important factors that affect children’s social adaptability, there have been few studies on the mechanisms of their interaction. Thus, this study examined the impact of maternal gatekeeping on the social development of young children and the mediating role of father involvement between these aspects. For this purpose, we recruited a sample of 355 participants, comprising children aged 3–5 years and their parents, and asked them to complete three self-reported scales. We found that maternal gatekeeping exerted a dual influence on the social development of young children, not only by directly affecting children’s social adaptability, but also by indirectly influencing the development of such adaptability through the mediating effect of father involvement. Understanding maternal gatekeeping and its interplay with father involvement is paramount to fostering the social adaptation and mental well-being of preschoolers.

Teachers’ enthusiasm, grit, resilience, and creativity: Exploring a structural model

Wen Cheng, Jingfeng Xu — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +1200

Given the complex nature of the teaching profession, investigating the factors that influence teachers’ creativity represents a fruitful area of research. Consistent with this research agenda, we constructed and examined a structural model of creativity by incorporating teacher enthusiasm, grit, and resilience. Participants were 454 Chinese teachers who completed a paper-based survey. The results revealed positive associations of teacher enthusiasm, grit, and resilience with creativity, underscoring the significance of these teacher attributes in fostering creative practices. Additionally, teacher enthusiasm exerted an indirect influence on creativity through the mediating roles of grit and resilience. These findings carry significant implications for the design of interventions and programs intended to enhance teacher creativity.

Enhancing moral courage through a positive school moral atmosphere: A moderated mediation model

Gaixia Fan, Ruolin Yang — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +1200

School bullying is an issue of increasing concern across various sectors of society. To address school bullying among primary school students and implement effective interventions, we investigated the relationships between school moral atmosphere, dispositional moral sensitivity, gender, and the moral courage of primary school students. Participants were 1,028 students in Grades 5 to 6 from three primary schools in Hefei, China. The results showed that the school’s moral atmosphere directly predicted students’ moral courage, with dispositional moral sensitivity mediating this relationship. Further, gender moderated the effect of dispositional moral sensitivity on moral courage. Specifically, the positive predictive effect of dispositional moral sensitivity on moral courage was more pronounced among boys than among girls. Educators can enhance the presence of moral courage and, in turn, reduce school bullying by fostering a favorable moral atmosphere and promoting dispositional moral sensitivity in their schools.

Double-edged sword: How does civil servants’ perceived overqualification affect their proactive behavior?

Wenzheng Qiu, Xinyu Dong, Chenhui Liu, Ning Ma — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +1200

Perceived overqualification has been identified among civil servants, but rarely examined in any detail, especially regarding its association with behaviors that benefit public organizations. Utilizing conservation of resources theory, this study investigated the dual role of perceived overqualification in relation to proactive behavior among this demographic. By conducting a survey with 527 Chinese civil servants, we found that perceived overqualification was negatively associated with proactive behavior via negative affect and positively associated with proactive behavior through role breadth self-efficacy. The negative effect of perceived overqualification on proactive behavior via negative affect was stronger when mission valence was low, and the positive effect of perceived overqualification on proactive behavior via role breadth self-efficacy was stronger when mission valence was high. Our study elucidates the complex relationship between perceived overqualification and civil servants’ proactive behavior, offering strategies for public organizations to foster proactivity.

Physical exercise and subjective well-being: Peer relationships and perceived social support as mediators

Qinglei Mu, Yong Tang — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +1200

We examined the effects of physical exercise on college students’ subjective well-being and tested the chain mediating effects of peer relationships and perceived social support. The participants consisted of 951 college students who completed the Physical Exercise Rating Scale, Subjective Well-Being Scale, Peer Relationships Scale, and the Perceived Social Support Scale. Our study found that physical exercise was positively related to subjective well-being. Peer relationships and perceived social support had independent and interlocking mediating effects on the link between physical exercise and subjective well-being. These findings explain the mechanisms underlying the relationship between physical exercise and subjective well-being, and they provide practical insights for promoting subjective well-being among college students.

The double-edged effect of exploitative leadership on employees’ innovative behavior: Evidence from China

Zhe Liu, Shuyu Man — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +1200

Exploitative leadership significantly impacts employees’ attitude and behavior, underscoring the need to explore its effects on employee innovation. In this study we analyzed responses to a survey of 378 employees in China using Mplus 8.0. The results showed that exploitative leadership was negatively related to employees’ innovative behavior, with knowledge hiding and self-efficacy acting as mediators of this relationship. In addition, the sense of personal traditionality moderated the relationship between exploitative leadership and employees’ innovative behavior. These findings offer valuable implications for enhancing organizational practices and fostering a more innovative workplace environment.

Job demands, negative affect, and incivility toward customers: The moderating effect of self-compassion

Miaoying Fang, Peng Fan — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +1200

This study explored how job demands can affect incivility toward customers, building upon conservation of resources theory. We collected survey data from 345 elder care workers at retirement communities in China. The results showed that job demands were positively related to incivility toward customers. Additionally, negative affect mediated this relationship, and self-compassion moderated the link between job demands and negative affect. On the basis of our findings, we recommend that organizations implement self-compassion training programs to help employees better manage job demands and reduce uncivil behavior toward customers.

Linking academic engagement to sense of coherence: Life satisfaction and social support as chain mediators

Jiaxin Ren, Yee Hock Tan, Huanxi Li, Juncheng Guo — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +1200

We examined the chain mediating effect of life satisfaction and social support on the relationship between academic engagement and sense of coherence among 614 Chinese undergraduates. The results were as follows: (a) there were significant positive correlations among academic engagement, sense of coherence, life satisfaction, and social support; (b) life satisfaction mediated the relationship between academic engagement and sense of coherence, while social support mediated the relationship between life satisfaction and sense of coherence; and (c) life satisfaction and social support served as significant chain mediators of the link between academic engagement and sense of coherence. Thus, academic engagement not only directly influenced undergraduates’ sense of coherence but also indirectly affected it through life satisfaction and social support. To enhance undergraduates’ sense of coherence, educators should focus on strengthening students’ academic engagement, improving their life satisfaction, and enhancing the social support they receive.

Effects of a 24-form tai chi exercise intervention on road rage: A randomized controlled trial

Zhiduo Chen, Yuge Tian, Xixi Zhang, Shangjian Yang — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +1200

This study investigated the influence of demographic factors on road rage, and explored the effect of a 12-week, 24-form tai chi intervention. We enrolled 60 road-rage-prone drivers aged 27–52 years in a 12-week randomized controlled trial, randomly assigning them to either the intervention group (n = 30) or the control group (n = 30). The intervention group completed 24 tai chi exercises three times a week for 60 minutes each time, while the control group did not participate in any physical activities. All respondents rated their road rage using the Driving Anger Scale. The results showed higher levels of road rage among men, younger respondents, those with less driving experience, and those with lower levels of education. Further, the tai chi exercise intervention was an effective and feasible way to reduce driving anger. Implications of the findings are discussed.

Self-efficacy for self-regulated learning and blended learning intention: Mediation analysis based on the technology acceptance model

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +1200

Blended learning, a key driver of higher education’s digital evolution, demands attention to students’ psychological readiness for its effective adoption. This study explored the critical link between self-efficacy for self-regulated learning and the intention to engage in blended learning among Chinese university students. We focused on the mediating effects of perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use as postulated by the technology acceptance model. We collected data from 1,118 Chinese university students through anonymous questionnaires, assessing their self-efficacy for self-regulated learning, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and blended learning intention. The findings revealed significant predictive effects of self-efficacy for self-regulated learning on blended learning intention, partially mediated by perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use. The implications of these findings and potential directions for future research are discussed.