Social Behavior and Personality

Leaders’ contingent punishment behavior influences subordinates’ ingratiation behavior based on the perception of power

2024-02-19T17:03:15+13:00

Drawing upon leader–member exchange theory, this study investigated the relationship between leaders’ contingent punishment behavior and subordinates’ ingratiation behavior, focusing on the mediating role of subordinates’ subjective sense of power and the moderating role of power distance. We surveyed 681 employees and managers in southwestern China working across various sectors. The results showed a positive correlation between leaders’ contingent punishment behavior and subordinates’ ingratiation behavior. Subordinates’ subjective sense of power mediated this relationship, while power distance acted as a moderator. These findings underscore the significance of cultural and contextual factors in shaping leader–subordinate relationships, contributing to a holistic understanding with implications across various settings.

College students’ career adaptability and career exploration behavior: Career self-efficacy as a mediator and proactive personality as a moderator

2024-02-06T13:09:22+13:00

We conducted a survey with 728 college students in the Pearl River Delta region of China to study the relationship between career adaptability and career exploration behavior. We also evaluated whether career self-efficacy played a mediating role in this relationship and whether proactive personality played a moderating role. The results showed that career adaptability had a significant positive predictive effect on career exploration behavior, and career self-efficacy mediated this relationship. Further, proactive personality moderated the relationships between career adaptability and career exploration behavior, and between career self-efficacy and career exploration behavior. That is, career self-efficacy in choosing a job was an important psychological mechanism between college students’ career adaptability and career exploration behavior, and proactive personality was an intervening factor in the relationship between career self-efficacy in choosing a job and college students’ career exploration behavior. This study introduces psychological traits such as career self-efficacy, career adaptability, and proactive personality into the study of college students’ behavior, which not only expands the field of research, but also provides empirical support for how colleges and universities can support students to develop these psychological traits.

Alexithymia and aggression: A multicountry meta-analysis

2024-02-07T19:24:47+13:00

Despite increasing scholarly attention, there is still not a consensus within the academic community regarding the relationship between alexithymia and aggression. We selected 38 articles published during the last 25 years from several databases and performed a meta-analysis. The results revealed a significant positive correlation between alexithymia and aggression. Moreover, we found that this relationship was influenced by the geographic world region in which the study was conducted, the age of participants, and which measure of aggression was used. Our results are more reliable, representative, and authentic than those derived from a single-sample study.

Interpersonal trust and depression in female adolescents: Negative attributional style and self-esteem as mediators

2024-02-09T02:06:37+13:00

In this study we explored the complex relationship between interpersonal trust and depression in female adolescents, aiming to provide a new understanding of the predictive effect of interpersonal trust on depression. Examining 166 adolescent female inpatients with depression, the research identified negative attributional style and self-esteem as crucial mediating factors in this connection. Notably, these factors not only individually mediated the link between interpersonal trust and depression, but also exhibited a chain mediating effect. The implications of these findings extend to psychological treatment, advocating for targeted interventions that address negative attributional style and self-esteem in addition to interpersonal trust. This insight is particularly relevant for female adolescents with depression, suggesting a comprehensive approach to enhancing social relationships and mental health. Furthermore, parents and teachers are encouraged to foster positive attributional styles and self-esteem alongside trust to contribute to the overall well-being of teenagers.

Subjective socioeconomic status and vocational outcome expectations: A moderated mediation model

2024-02-20T19:15:54+13:00

Through exploring the psychological dynamics within career development, this study investigated how subjective socioeconomic status (SSS) influences vocational outcome expectations (VOE) among university students. We hypothesized that (a) career adaptability would mediate this relationship, enhancing the positive impact of SSS on VOE, and (b) proactive personality would moderate the relationship between career adaptability and VOE. We used established scales for measuring the main variables with a sample of 834 Chinese undergraduates. The results supported our hypotheses, with career adaptability mediating the relationship between SSS and VOE, and proactive personality moderating the relationship between career adaptability and VOE. These findings provide valuable insights into enhancing career-development interventions, highlighting the importance of psychological resources and personal traits in shaping career expectations. Our research offers practical implications for educational institutions to more effectively support students’ career development.

Consumption behavior intention of geographical indication products: An extension of the theory of planned behavior

2024-02-21T20:17:56+13:00

As indicators of reputation or other regional characteristics, geographical indication (GI) products are easily recognized by consumers and are more likely to be purchased than are non-GI products; further, they play an important role in promoting the development of a local economy. In this article we built a model of the mechanism of GI products to consumer behavior intention by introducing product perceived value and origin image as predictors. We empirically analyzed 316 questionnaires from Chinese consumers using structural equation modeling. Results showed that subjective norm, behavioral attitude, and perceived behavioral control all predicted consumption behavioral intentions for GI products. Furthermore, perceived product value and image of origin were identified as important factors driving consumer behavioral intention of GI products through behavioral attitude. This study provides a new perspective for understanding consumer behavioral intentions regarding GI products.

Interpreting cyberbullying within fan culture: The relationship between celebrity worship and cyberbullying

2024-02-23T03:47:16+13:00

With the development of the entertainment industry and the widespread use of electronic devices, worship of celebrities has become increasingly prevalent and fervent, accompanied by a rise in cyberbullying. Applying the general aggression model, our focus in this study was on the role of fans’ reactive anger and maternal rejection in the link between celebrity worship and cyberbullying. The participants were 847 college students. Analysis of data from a survey showed that reactive anger and maternal rejection both moderated the relationship between celebrity worship and cyberbullying. That is, when the level of reactive anger was high, the predictive effect of fans’ celebrity worship on cyberbullying was enhanced. Similarly, when the level of maternal rejection was high, the predictive effect of celebrity worship on cyberbullying also increased. Future research should explore comprehensive interventions integrating emotional regulation strategies and familial support systems to effectively address the issue of cyberbullying exacerbated by celebrity worship among college students.

Workplace digitalization and employee innovation behavior: Analysis from the employee perspective

2024-03-04T20:44:23+13:00

We developed a two-stage moderated mediation model of proactive motivation and employee innovation proactiveness to explore the mechanisms and boundary conditions of how workplace digitalization perceptions influence employee innovation behavior. Through hierarchical regression analysis, we tested our hypotheses by surveying 385 manager–employee dyads in China. The results indicated that workplace digitalization was positively associated with innovation behavior through the mediator of employees’ proactive goal setting. Employees’ perception of labor rights protection enhanced the indirect relationship between workplace digitalization and innovation behavior. Conversely, when their perception of information privacy infringement was strong, the indirect relationship between workplace digitalization and innovation behavior was weaker. This study offers a new perspective for organizations to enhance innovation behavior through digitalization, deepening understanding of employee innovation behavior in the digital age.

Anthropomorphism effect of virtual influencers on purchase intention in social commerce: A presence perspective

2024-03-15T20:40:23+13:00

The rise of social commerce has drawn attention from scholars and practitioners, but the role of virtual influencers (VIs) remains underexplored. Utilizing the computers as social actors paradigm, our study examined how the anthropomorphism of VIs influences consumer behavior, with brand credibility as a moderator. We analyzed survey data from 408 consumers using partial least squares structural equation modeling. Findings showed that the anthropomorphism of VIs enhanced social presence and telepresence, boosting consumers’ purchase intention. Additionally, brand credibility moderated the effect of telepresence on purchase intention. The study concludes with a summary of implications for research and practice.

Multitasking and procrastination at work: Moderating and mediating effects of internal control and harmonious versus obsessive work passion

2024-03-20T05:01:25+13:00

Multitasking has garnered interest from scholars as a method to boost daily efficiency at work. In this research we developed a model of multitasking based on the opportunity–threat framework and the binary work passion model. We proposed that multitasking could either reduce procrastination through harmonious work passion (opportunity) or increase it through obsessive work passion (burden), and examined the moderating role of employees’ internal control in these two pathways. We obtained self-reported data from 450 employees of firms based in Shanxi, Sichuan, Chongqing, and Xinjiang, China, at two time points. Using the bootstrapping method, we tested the hypotheses. The results showed that internal control positively moderated the relationship between multitasking and harmonious work passion, and negatively moderated the relationship between multitasking and obsessive work passion. These findings indicate that multitasking can stimulate harmonious work passion and reduce procrastination, and can intensify obsessive work passion and procrastination. Theoretical insights and practical recommendations are provided for effective management and utilization of multitasking.

Upward social comparison predicts the consumption intention of e-sports among Chinese college students

2024-03-25T18:57:54+13:00

College students are one of the most active consumer groups in the e-sports industry as well as a demographic vulnerable to social pressure, making their consumption intentions and behaviors an important research area. We surveyed 442 Chinese college students with experience in e-sports gaming to measure how upward social comparison and materialism influenced their e-sports purchase intentions. The results showed that upward social comparison positively influenced college students’ e-sports consumption intentions with materialism playing a mediating role and the incremental theory of personality and social support acting as moderators. These findings can help college administrators and e-sports industry stakeholders promote the sustainable development of the e-sports industry as well as ensure the mental and physical well-being of students.

Physical activity, emotional intelligence, weight bias internalization, and body image concerns among emerging adult women in China

2024-03-27T09:13:49+13:00

Exposure to idealized body images online has led to the internalization of unrealistic beauty standards among young women, resulting in decreased self-body satisfaction, which can affect individuals’ well-being and career prospects. In this study we used a survey to examine the link between physical activity and the body image concerns of 355 women aged 20–29 years, who were living in Changsha City, China. Analysis of the data revealed a negative correlation between physical activity and body image concerns. Furthermore, weight bias internalization and emotional intelligence were identified as mediating factors in the association between physical activity and body image concerns. Specifically, women who engaged in more physical activity scored lower on weight bias internalization and higher on emotional intelligence, and exhibited lower levels of body image concerns. To address these concerns, healthy aesthetic values should be promoted on social media, and governments and families should encourage physical activity among young women.

Childhood neglect influences smartphone addiction among college students: The mediating role of self-esteem

2024-03-29T16:22:04+13:00

This study assessed the relationships among childhood neglect, self-esteem, and smartphone addiction in a cohort of 531 college students. Employing structural equation modeling alongside the bootstrapping technique, I discovered that childhood neglect influenced smartphone addiction both directly and indirectly, with self-esteem acting as a mediator of this relationship. The analysis demonstrated correlations between every facet of childhood neglect and both self-esteem and smartphone addiction. Furthermore, I identified a significant association between self-esteem and smartphone addiction. The results indicated that self-esteem served as a partial mediator in the nexus between childhood neglect and smartphone addiction, accounting for 56.34% of the overall effect. Implications of the findings are discussed.

Effect of inclusive leadership on the diversity sensitivity and innovative behavior of hotel employees

2024-04-12T16:29:57+12:00

This study investigated the effect of inclusive leadership on the diversity sensitivity and innovative behavior of hotel employees. Food and beverage employees of three-star or higher hotels in Korea (N = 337) completed online surveys at a single time point. The results showed that inclusive leadership positively influenced the innovative behavior of employees, while diversity sensitivity played a mediating role in this relationship. The findings have implications for human resource management in hotels, indicating that innovation can be driven by respecting and utilizing the diversity of employees through inclusive leadership.

Crescendos of support: The leadership–burnout nexus among Chinese music teachers

2024-04-22T15:51:03+12:00

This study investigated the relationship between transformational leadership and burnout among music teachers in China, examining two mediators (harmonious passion and work vitality) and a moderator (peer support). We used a three-wave survey to collect data from 315 music teachers. The results showed that transformational leadership had significant effects on burnout. Harmonious passion and work vitality mediated this relationship, while peer support played a moderating role. Through highlighting the central role of transformational leadership and peer support in mitigating burnout, these findings provide useful information for music education policy making and management practices aimed at improving the working conditions and efficacy of music teachers.

Smartphone addiction as a moderator of undergraduates’ sense of coherence, social support, and satisfaction with life

2024-04-26T21:18:54+12:00

The ubiquity of smartphones has introduced an addiction phenomenon, which may attenuate the role of sense of coherence in enhancing social support and satisfaction with life. Utilizing self-regulation theory, in this study we examined the mediating role of social support in the relationship between sense of coherence and satisfaction with life, as well as the moderating role of smartphone addiction in the relationship between sense of coherence and social support. Survey results from 547 undergraduate students in China indicated that social support partially mediated the relationship between sense of coherence and satisfaction with life. Furthermore, as the frequency of smartphone use increased, the positive impact of sense of coherence on social support diminished. The practical implications of these findings are discussed in depth.