Social Behavior and Personality

Academic resilience and learning engagement: Peer relationships and learning motivation as mediators

2023-10-30T14:43:00+13:00

In the postpandemic era of COVID-19, researchers are paying attention to the quality and sustainability of education. By applying self-determination theory, we examined the relationship between students’ academic resilience and learning engagement, with peer relationships and learning motivation acting as mediators. We conducted an online survey and obtained valid responses from 710 students of large universities in eastern China. The results showed that academic resilience positively predicted learning engagement, both directly and indirectly through the individual and chain mediators of peer relationships and learning motivation. Our study has enriched the application of self-determination theory and enhanced understanding of how to improve students’ academic resilience.

Vocational students’ career-planning clarity and learning engagement: A moderated mediation model

2023-10-31T21:08:23+13:00

This study investigated the effect of career-planning clarity on learning engagement within higher vocational education. We conducted an online survey of 1,216 higher vocational college students in Guangdong Province, China. The results showed that career-planning clarity was positively correlated with learning engagement. In addition, learning motivation played a mediating role in this relationship, while the campus environment moderated the relationships between career-planning clarity and learning motivation, career-planning clarity and learning engagement, and learning motivation and learning engagement. This study enriches understanding of the learning engagement of higher vocational students and provides practical insights for educators and administrators in higher vocational education institutions.

Commitment-based human resource practices and job embeddedness: Perceived organizational support as a mediator

2024-01-29T17:42:55+13:00

When employees believe that their interests are protected, they, in return, demonstrate positive behavior. In this research we sought to provide empirical evidence concerning the effect of commitment-based human resource practices on job embeddedness, with perceived organizational support acting as a mediator. Applying social exchange theory, we analyzed data obtained from a survey conducted with 700 professionals and skilled workers in the information technology industry in Pakistan. We found that commitment-based human resource practices significantly predicted job embeddedness. Moreover, the relationship between these two factors was mediated by employees’ perceived organizational support. Careful consideration of a firm’s managerial capabilities is needed for successful promotion of job embeddedness among employees. This research has identified how commitment-based human resource practices impact employee outcomes and provides a more comprehensive understanding of the complex ways in which employees respond to organizational practices.

Photograph taking in the classroom impairs memory of learned material

2024-01-23T17:50:40+13:00

College students commonly take photographs with cell phones rather than making longhand notes during classes. Previous studies have found that this negatively impacts memory, with photographed objects being less well remembered compared to observed objects. This study examined the effect of taking photographs on college students’ classroom learning and the mechanisms of this effect. Experiment 1 examined whether taking photographs with cell phones during class negatively impacted the learning outcomes of college students, that is, whether this behavior led to the photograph-taking impairment effect. Experiment 2 examined the cognitive mechanisms underlying the photograph-taking impairment effect, comprising attentional disengagement caused by manual photograph taking, and cognitive offloading resulting from saving photographs. The results revealed that taking photographs with cell phones negatively impacted classroom learning and induced the photograph-taking impairment effect, which may be due to attentional disengagement caused by the manual capturing of photographs.

Celebrity involvement and purchase intention for dietary supplements on Chinese social media platforms

2024-02-06T14:29:12+13:00

Although interest in taking dietary supplements has increased greatly among Chinese people in the last 20 years, there is still a lack of research on the factors influencing purchase intention for these products. In this study we examined the mediating effect of the perceived health value of dietary supplements and the moderating effect of perceived vulnerability to disease in the relationship of celebrity involvement and purchase intention of dietary supplements among users of social media sites in China. Participants were 1,059 Chinese university students, who completed a survey. The results showed that celebrity involvement was positively associated with purchase intention for dietary supplements. The positive association was partially mediated by the perceived health value of the celebrity-endorsed dietary supplements. Perceived vulnerability to disease moderated the direct effect of perceived health value and the indirect effect of celebrity involvement on purchase intention for dietary supplements. Implications for theory are discussed, along with practical applications to inform marketing practices.

Upward social comparison and withdrawal behavior in scientific researchers: The roles of envy and self-esteem

2024-03-04T21:28:19+13:00

To test the relationship between upward social comparison and withdrawal behavior in a Chinese research context, we administered the Upward Social Comparison Scale, the Dispositional Envy Scale, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and the Withdrawal Behavior Scale to 450 scientific researchers. Results showed that upward social comparison had a significantly positive predictive effect on withdrawal behavior and indirect effects on withdrawal behavior through envy; further, both stages of the mediating effect of envy were moderated by self-esteem. Specifically, for scientific researchers with low self-esteem, the indirect mediating effect of envy between upward social comparison and withdrawal behavior was significant, whereas for those with high self-esteem, the effect was not significant. This suggests that upward social comparison induces scientific researchers’ withdrawal behavior through envy, but high self-esteem can alleviate this induced effect. Our findings provide further evidence of the formation mechanism for withdrawal behavior, which have potential use in prevention and intervention programs.

The role of trust in streamers and live streaming commerce in predicting customer loyalty

2024-03-03T12:38:48+13:00

In recent years live streaming commerce (LSC) has become increasingly prevalent, increasing the importance of understanding the key antecedents of customer loyalty in this new marketplace. To examine how trust in streamers and LSC can enhance customer loyalty, we developed a research model focusing on usefulness, entertainment, and ease of use as the main antecedents of trust, and conducted an online survey of 290 customers of Chinese LSC platforms. The results showed that trust in streamers and trust in LSC were significant positive predictors of customer loyalty, and attractiveness, expertise, and interactivity were significant antecedents to building trust in streamers. Furthermore, entertainment and ease of use were significantly related to trust in LSC, whereas usefulness was not. These findings provide new insight into effective strategies for increasing customer loyalty.

Independent self-construal and radical creativity: A uniqueness theory perspective

2024-03-05T21:08:18+13:00

This study developed and tested a model linking independent self-construal to radical creativity by utilizing the framework of uniqueness theory. We administered time-lagged surveys to 277 dyads of employees and their immediate supervisors. The results showed that independent self-construal had a significant and positive effect on radical creativity, while the need for uniqueness played a mediating role in this relationship. Furthermore, an error-management climate positively moderated both the relationship between independent self-construal and the need for uniqueness, and the indirect effect of independent self-construal on radical creativity through the need for uniqueness. The multiple mechanisms by which independent self-construal affects radical creativity illuminate its positive effects and indicate avenues that can be utilized to strengthen its potential impact and subsequently improve employees’ innovation and creativity. These findings provide guidance for the practice of organizational innovation management.

Employment insecurity of tourism employees amid technological change

2024-03-18T22:18:03+13:00

This study investigated negative psychological factors (emotional exhaustion, job stress, and psychological contract violation) as perceived by tourism employees in relation to three aspects of job insecurity, and examined the effect on work–family conflict due to job insecurity resulting from rapid technological development. We conducted an online survey with 326 hotel, airline, and travel agency employees, and used structural equation modeling to test the hypotheses. Although employment insecurity did not directly affect work–family conflict, it had a positive effect by completely mediating the influence of negative psychological factors. Therefore, we can conclude that employment insecurity and negative psychological factors are fundamental mechanisms that exacerbate work–family conflict. This study has theoretical and practical implications for human resource management by highlighting the effect of tourism employees’ employment insecurity on the work environment due to changes in an ultracompetitive technological environment.

Do tour guides leave their jobs because of occupational stigma?

2024-03-15T17:55:42+13:00

We explored the effect of occupational stigma on tour guides’ turnover intention, basing our research on conservation of resources theory. Our sample comprised 462 tour guides, who completed an online survey assessing their perception of occupational stigma, turnover intention, emotional exhaustion, and job crafting. Results indicated that perceived occupational stigma positively predicted both intention to leave and emotional exhaustion levels; furthermore, emotional exhaustion mediated the relationship between occupational stigma and turnover intention, while job crafting negatively moderated the influence of occupational stigma on emotional exhaustion. Thus, high job crafting can alleviate the emotional exhaustion caused by occupational stigma. These findings expand and enrich the literature related to occupational stigma and provide practical implications for related management practice.

Influence of karmic beliefs on consumers’ intention to share entrepreneur-related word of mouth

2024-04-02T12:52:17+13:00

This study examined the effect of the interaction between an entrepreneur’s behavior and consumers’ karmic beliefs on the latter’s willingness to spread entrepreneur-related word of mouth. Using the stereotype content model and dual processing theory, we conducted two scenario-based online surveys. The results showed that consumers’ information processing mode mediated the relationship between an entrepreneur’s behavior and consumers’ willingness to spread entrepreneur-related word of mouth, such that those with strong karmic beliefs were more likely to process behavioral information in an affective way and be influenced by an entrepreneur’s warmth behavior, while those with weak karmic beliefs were more likely to process the same information in a cognitive way and be influenced by an entrepreneur’s competence behavior—with either pathway contributing to a stronger willingness to spread entrepreneur-related word of mouth. Our findings extend the literature and also provide managerial insights for firms looking to shape and enhance their entrepreneurs’ image and, by extension, their corporate image.

Linking green transformational leadership to employee green behavior: The moderating role of green psychological climate

2024-03-18T14:55:59+13:00

There has been significant scholarly interest in the phenomenon of employee green behavior, largely due to its perceived impact on organizational ecological performance. In this research we examined the impact of green transformational leadership on employee green behavior, with a particular focus on the moderating effect of green psychological climate. We administered a survey to 425 part-time Master of Business Administration students, and the results demonstrated that both green transformational leadership and green psychological climate were significant predictors of employee green behavior. Furthermore, green psychological climate moderated the relationship between green transformational leadership and employee green behavior. These findings make a valuable contribution to the existing research by shedding light on the interplay among green transformational leadership, green psychological climate, and employee green behavior.

Academic pressure and perceived stress: The mediating role of life satisfaction

2024-03-25T22:08:35+13:00

The level of perceived stress of college students has been increasing steadily in recent years. This study investigated the effect of academic pressure on perceived stress and examined whether life satisfaction mediated this relationship. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 290 Chinese college students using standardized scales for measuring life satisfaction, academic pressure, and perceived stress. Pearson correlation and mediation analysis results showed that academic pressure had both direct and indirect effects on perceived stress, with life satisfaction playing a mediating role. The multiple mechanisms by which academic pressure affects perceived stress point to its harmful effects and the need to reduce its impact. Our findings suggest that health interventions aimed at improving life satisfaction may be beneficial to mitigate the severity of perceived stress both directly and indirectly among college students.

Perception of organizational politics, organizational injustice, organizational silence, and knowledge-hiding behavior in hotel employees

2024-03-22T01:43:46+13:00

We investigated the relationships between the perception of organizational politics, injustice silence, and knowledge-hiding behavior during a time of rapid change in hotel management. We conducted an online survey with 344 hotel employees. Structural equation modeling results showed that the perception of organizational politics had a positive relationship with organizational injustice. In addition, organizational injustice had a positive relationship with organizational silence and knowledge-hiding behavior, and organizational silence had a positive relationship with knowledge-hiding behavior. This result suggests that hotels need to properly harmonize the interests of members and managers of the organization, focusing on effective communication and identifying the relationship between hotel employees’ organizational and political perceptions, organizational injustice, organizational silence, and knowledge-hiding behavior due to changes in the fiercely competitive hotel environment.

College counselors’ calling and burnout: Mediation through role identity

2024-03-30T21:54:13+13:00

The detrimental effects of burnout on the mental well-being and professional efficacy of college counselors underscore the importance of exploring factors mitigating this phenomenon. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 406 Chinese college counselors to investigate the relationships between calling, role identity, and burnout, seeking to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of burnout in this population. Structural equation modeling analysis revealed a negative association between calling and burnout, with role identity serving as a pivotal mediator of this relationship. By integrating identity theory into an examination of the calling–burnout relationship, this study not only enhances theoretical understanding but also offers empirical insights for developing effective interventions to address burnout among college counselors.

Psychological capital and learning burnout in college students: The mediating role of coping styles

2024-05-06T18:00:37+12:00

This study explored the mediating effect of coping styles in the relationship between psychological capital and learning burnout. We used a cluster sampling method to recruit 647 college students, who completed the Psychological Capital Scale, the Learning Burnout Scale, and the Chinese Trait Coping Style Questionnaire. Linear regression analysis was used to explore the role of positive coping and negative coping, and a bootstrapping analysis was used to verify the mediation effect. The results showed that there were negative correlations between learning burnout and psychological capital, and between positive coping and learning burnout, and that there was a positive correlation between negative coping and learning burnout. In sum, positive coping and negative coping were partial mediators of the relationship between psychological capital and learning burnout. Implications of the findings are discussed.