Social Behavior and Personality

Emotional intelligence and turnover intention among Chinese primary and secondary school principals: Chain mediation analysis

Jinshan Zhou, Chunyu Zhang, Jun Wang, Zijun Wang — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +1300

We applied conservation of resources theory to investigate the relationship between emotional intelligence and turnover intention among primary and secondary school principals, incorporating the independent and chain mediating effects of conflict stress and job satisfaction. Structural equation modeling of data from 415 principals in Mainland China revealed both positive and negative associations of emotional intelligence with turnover intention. Principals with high emotional intelligence managed stress better and thereby enhanced their job satisfaction. However, they also had a clearer perception of their level of satisfaction and career options, which increased the likelihood of them leaving their position. Conflict stress and job satisfaction mediated this relationship, both independently and as chain mediators. Our study deepens understanding of the intricate mechanisms of emotional intelligence within the school principal population.

Factors driving consumers’ intention to purchase virtual clothing: Applying cognition–affect–conation theory

Taisheng Gong, Chen Zhang, Luping Kang — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +1300

Virtual clothing, which exists solely in digital environments and is tradeable, has become the mainstay of digital transformation in the apparel industry. We applied cognition–affect–conation theory and used structural equation modeling to analyze questionnaire data from 402 consumers regarding their intention to purchase virtual clothing. This study found that perceived enjoyment and perceived sociability significantly predicted intention to purchase; social influence directly predicted intention to purchase and indirectly predicted intention to purchase through perceived enjoyment and sociability; and innovation identification, although not a direct predictor of intention to purchase, indirectly influenced intention to purchase through its predictive effect on perceived enjoyment and perceived sociability. Exploratory factor analysis revealed that compatibility moderated the mediating effects of perceived enjoyment and perceived sociability, with high compatibility potentially weakening the predictive effect of the mediators. The study offers marketers insight into virtual clothing market segmentation and consumer behavioral factors.

Artificial intelligence animation advertising influences tourists’ travel intention

Yufu Chen, Dongjuan Lyu — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +1300

We used the extended theory of planned behavior model to analyze the effect of artificial intelligence (AI) animation advertising on tourists’ travel intention, incorporating attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control as mediators. Convenience sampling was used to recruit 312 participants, who completed an online survey. The results indicated that the relationship between AI animation advertising and tourist travel intention was mediated by attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. Our comprehensive framework for exploring the role of AI animation advertising in influencing tourists’ attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control provides a new perspective to improve tourists’ travel intention. Future research could take a random sampling approach to select respondents from organizations across different industries to increase the generalizability of the results.

Career doubt and career decision-making difficulties among Chinese college students: A moderated mediation model

Xia Sheng, Shuyu Gao, Xinpei Bao, Kuru Ratnavelu — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +1300

The recent deceleration in global economic growth, inadequate domestic demand, and diminished public expectations for economic prospects have exacerbated the career decision-making difficulties of Chinese college students. To assist them in making better career decisions, we examined the mechanisms by which career doubt affects career decision-making difficulties, with career exploration as a mediator and career-related parental support as a moderator. The results of a survey of 1,737 college students revealed significant associations among career doubt, career exploration, and career-related parental support. Career exploration mediated the relationship between career doubt and career decision-making difficulties, and the negative connection of career doubt to career exploration was buffered by career-related parental support. Our findings deepen understanding of the process from career doubt to career decision-making difficulties.

Social support and subjective well-being of left-behind children in China: Chain mediation of grit and hope

Yumin Liu, Lu Li, Xinya Cao, Xiaomin Liu, Xiaofei Fang — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +1300

Left-behind rural children are a special group that has emerged as a result of the rapid advancement of industrialization and urbanization in China. We adopted a positive perspective to examine the relationship between social support and subjective well-being among 343 rural left-behind children, incorporating the mediating roles of grit and hope. The results showed that social support significantly and positively predicted the subjective well-being of left-behind children. Further, grit and hope acted as both independent and chain mediators of this relationship. Therefore, to enhance the subjective well-being of left-behind children, it is crucial to focus on integrating external social support resources and simultaneously activate their internal psychological strength so that they learn to discover and proactively harness the positive psychological traits of hope and grit. This internal–external synergy intervention model can tangibly elevate their sense of happiness.

The differential effects of facial expressions on behavior: Conscious and automatic processing

Hong Wang, Tong Yue, Huajun Luo, Zuoshan Li, Daifang Hu — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +1300

Emotional information helps human beings produce corresponding behavioral responses, namely, approach and avoidance. However, it remains unclear whether emotion can activate approach and avoidance responses at both conscious and automatic processing levels. We conducted two experiments to compare the impact of happy, sad, and fearful faces on behavior (assessed using a joystick task) and found that happiness was associated with approach and fear with avoidance, regardless of whether emotional expressions were evaluated consciously or processed automatically (assessed via a gender judgment task). However, sad faces elicited approach responses at the conscious processing level, but no significant tendency emerged when conscious evaluation was reduced. Thus, facial emotional expressions can trigger approach–avoidance tendencies at both conscious and automatic processing levels. However, the specific patterns of these effects vary, suggesting that the underlying mechanisms may operate differently. Implications of the findings are discussed.

Physical exercise and online aggressive behavior among college students: The mediating role of self-control

Jinming Tian, Qing Tang, Jie Wei, Yulong Zhu — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +1300

Physical exercise may be an important measure for the prevention and control of online aggressive behavior. On this basis, we surveyed 516 students from two universities in Harbin, China, investigating their levels of physical exercise, online aggressive behavior, and self-control. We used SPSS 25.0 software for statistical analysis, employing Pearson correlation analysis and mediation effect testing. The results showed that, after controlling for relevant demographic variables, there was a significant correlation between physical exercise and online aggressive behavior, and self-control played a potential mediating role in the relationship between these variables. This suggests that by enhancing the self-control ability of college students through physical exercise, the occurrence of online aggressive behavior may be reduced.

Linking square dancing to psychological well-being: Perceived social support as a mediator

Xiaoman Kang, Qiuping Xu, Ran Zhao — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +1300

Square dancing has gained popularity among middle-aged and older adults in China, and recent research has highlighted its potential benefits for psychological well-being. This study investigated the relationship between square dancing and psychological well-being among middle-aged and older adults in China, with a focus on perceived social support as a potential mediator. We conducted a cross-sectional survey involving 226 participants from China and found a positive relationship between square-dancing participation and both perceived social support and psychological well-being. Furthermore, perceived social support partially mediated the positive relationship of square-dancing participation with psychological well-being. This study underscores the significance of square dancing as an effective strategy for promoting mental health among middle-aged and older adults, particularly through the enhancement of social support. Consequently, we advocate for the promotion of square-dancing programs as a viable mental health intervention for this demographic.

Childhood adversity and malevolent creativity in college students: Resilience and the Dark Triad as mediators

Junru Wang, Weijia Yan, Jia Xu, Shujie Zheng, Xiao Guan, Minghao Zhang — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +1300

To explore the relationships among childhood adversity, malevolent creativity, resilience, and the Dark Triad personality traits, we conducted a survey with 1,319 college students. Respondents completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, the Malevolent Creativity Behavior Scale, the Short Dark Triad Scale, and the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale. Results showed that childhood adversity was negatively correlated with resilience and positively correlated with malevolent creativity and the Dark Triad traits. Mediation analysis revealed no direct effect of childhood adversity on malevolent creativity. Instead, resilience and the Dark Triad acted as both independent and chain mediators of this relationship. Thus, by enhancing psychological resilience and decreasing the likelihood of developing maladaptive personality traits, educators can reduce the risk of malevolent creativity among individuals who have experienced childhood adversity.

The influence of psychological suzhi on relational aggression in Chinese adolescents: The mediating role of perceived social support

Xu Chen, Huijuan Jiang, Jing Chen, Dajun Zhang, Jun Sun — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +1300

Relational aggression refers to a type of adolescent aggressive behavior that seriously endangers adolescents’ mental health and development. The aim of this study was to reveal the role of perceived social support in the relationship between psychological suzhi and adolescents’ relational aggressive behavior. A total of 502 adolescents from Southwestern China participated in the questionnaire survey, including 252 boys, 230 girls, and 20 adolescents who did not disclose their gender. Their mean age was 13.20 years. The results showed that there were significant correlations between psychological suzhi, perceived social support, and relational aggression among adolescents. Psychological suzhi had both direct and indirect effects on adolescents’ relational aggression, and perceived social support was an important mediator between psychological suzhi and adolescent aggressive behavior. Psychological suzhi could enable adolescents to perceive more social support and thus reduce the risk of them attacking others’ interpersonal relationships.

Longitudinal linkages between sensation seeking and internet gaming addiction: Three-wave moderated mediation modeling

Yiwen Xu, Bin Gao, Bingci Dou — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +1300

There have been few longitudinal studies of the relationship between sensation seeking and internet gaming addiction (IGA), and the underlying mechanisms remain inadequately elucidated. Thus, we conducted a three-wave longitudinal study by applying the interaction of person–affect–cognition–execution model to examine the link between sensation seeking and IGA, concurrently considering the mediating role of self-control and the moderating role of fear of missing out. We gathered data from a cohort of Chinese college students over 12 months and conducted correlation and moderated mediation analyses. Results revealed a positive relationship between sensation seeking and IGA, with self-control partially mediating this association. Moreover, fear of missing out positively moderated the links between sensation seeking and IGA, and between self-control and IGA. These findings have implications for developing targeted measures aimed at mitigating IGA among young adults.

How and when digitalization sparks team resilience: A moderated mediation model

Jingli Xue, Chunhong Liu — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +1300

Previous research has found that digitalization can bring new tools and resources to teams in the workplace, positively affecting team resilience. However, the enhancement of team resilience also requires interpersonal interactions within teams. In this study, which was based on team process theory, we administered a three-wave time-lagged questionnaire on the effects of digitalization to 343 employees across 71 teams. The results indicated that digitalization intensity within teams positively affected team reflexivity, which led to increased team resilience. Furthermore, cooperative team goals strengthened the effect of team digitalization intensity on team reflexivity, fostering the indirect effect of team digitalization intensity on team resilience through team reflexivity. These findings offer a new perspective on the antecedents of team resilience and the impact of digitalization, and may serve as a reference for managers seeking to enhance team resilience.

From social standing to self: Unraveling the psychological pathways to professional identity

Lyuqi He, Rosila Bee Mohd Hussain — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +1300

The mechanisms and boundary conditions by which perceived social status shapes individual professional identity are still not well understood. Drawing on social identity theory and conservation of resources theory, we developed a moderated mediation model to investigate the effect of perceived social status on professional identity, with self-efficacy as a mediator and resilience as a moderator. We conducted a three-stage survey with 476 women in China who were artistic painters. The findings indicated that perceived social status significantly and positively predicted professional identity, but the mediating role of self-efficacy was not supported. Further analysis revealed that resilience enhanced the direct and indirect effects of perceived social status on professional identity. This study broadens scholarly perspectives on establishing professional identity and delivers practical recommendations for enhancing the career development and psychological health of women working as artists.

Factors influencing the intention and behavior of Generation MZ golf participants

Jae Moon Lee, Yong-Gun Lee, Hyunsuk Park — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +1300

Applying the extended theory of planned behavior to explore factors influencing the intention and behavior of Generation MZ (Millennials and Generation Z) regarding golf participation, we surveyed 250 Generation MZ golfers in South Korea. Educational and escapist experiences enhanced functional value, while entertainment and aesthetic experiences boosted emotional value. Positive antecedents of attitude included emotional value and both educational and aesthetic experiences. Therefore, behavioral intention was favorably influenced by attitude, subsequently affecting actual golf behavior. These findings highlight the distinct effect of experience economy factors on perceived value and attitude, thereby improving understanding of golf participation among Generation MZ players. By integrating experience economy theory and perceived value into the theory of planned behavior, we have extended the applicability of this theoretical model to the leisure sports activity context.

Healthcare leisure perception, general self-efficacy, and psychological happiness among South Korean baby boomers

Jeong Il Lee, Sua Im — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +1300

As South Korea enters a super-aged society, understanding the health and psychological well-being of aging baby boomers has become increasingly important. In this study we investigated the relationships among healthcare leisure perception, general self-efficacy, and psychological happiness within the context of engagement in leisure sports. Our sample consisted of 220 baby boomers who actively participated in leisure sports at indoor and outdoor facilities in Korea. Employing structural equation modeling, we identified significant relationships among the examined variables. Healthcare leisure perception was positively related to both general self-efficacy and psychological happiness. Moreover, general self-efficacy had a positive relationship with psychological happiness. Our findings provide foundational data for promoting the health and happiness of this specific demographic.

Working memory and sleep quality in Chinese adolescents

Tianyi Wang, Huipan Wu, Jinxian Wang, Yuanyuan Ma, Yi Wang, Dingkun Xu — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +1300

This study explored the relationship between working memory and sleep quality among Chinese adolescents to provide a basis for forming cognitive development and sleep intervention strategies. Our sample comprised 5,018 adolescents aged 13–18 years from seven cities in China, whom we recruited between September and December 2023 using whole-cluster random sampling. We tested adolescents’ sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Scale (PSQI) and tested working memory using the N-back task. Total PSQI scores were significantly higher for girls than for boys. Age had a significant effect on working memory performance. Total PSQI scores were positively correlated with response time, and sleep quality had a significant effect on response time during the 1-back task but not the 2-back task. Those adolescents with better sleep quality performed better on the working memory task.

How employees’ job dissatisfaction triggers proactive person–environment fit behavior: A three-way interaction model

Ying Wang, Yiheng Xi, Xiao Yuan — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +1300

How to change employees’ negative perception of their work environment into intrinsic motivation is a much-debated issue in organizational behavior research. We constructed a three-way interaction model to explore the relationship between employees’ job dissatisfaction and proactive person–environment fit behavior (PPEFB), incorporating organizational commitment and labor relations climate as moderators, and conducted a two-wave study with 501 employees of 15 firms in China. The results revealed that job dissatisfaction was negatively related to PPEFB. Employees’ organizational commitment alone did not predict PPEFB in dissatisfying situations; however, the interaction between organizational commitment and labor relations climate significantly moderated the relationship between job dissatisfaction and PPEFB, such that strong organizational commitment and a harmonious labor relations climate strengthened this link. These findings resolve inconsistencies in the proactive behavior and person–environment fit literature, and provide practical guidance for organizations seeking to transform employee dissatisfaction into constructive change.