Social Behavior and Personality

Editors’ Newsroom: A behind-the-scenes look at the copyediting process

Sarah L. Krivan, Alexandra Cheyne — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +1200

In this edition of Editors’ Newsroom, we take a look behind the scenes of the copyediting process with an interview of Senior Copyeditor, Sarah Krivan. Managing Editor, Alex Cheyne, asks what authors can expect from this stage of manuscript publication, and we get Sarah’s tips for authors to take advantage of the comprehensive in-house support.

The relationship between childhood trauma and mobile phone addiction: A chain mediated model

Xiao Fan Yuan, Feng Yuan Liu, Jun Cheng Qiao, Xiang Lan Zhang — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +1200

Mobile phone addiction has become a prominent social issue. This study investigated the association between childhood trauma and mobile phone addiction, using a sample of 728 Chinese college students who completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Life History Strategy Scale, Delay of Gratification Scale, and Mobile Phone Addiction Scale. The results indicated that childhood trauma had a positive correlation with mobile phone addiction, and negative correlations with life history strategy and delayed gratification. Life history strategy exhibited a positive correlation with delayed gratification and a negative correlation with mobile phone addiction. Delayed gratification demonstrated a negative correlation with mobile phone addiction. Furthermore, childhood trauma positively predicted mobile phone addiction, with life history strategy and delay of gratification serving as chain mediators in this relationship. This study provides important insights for developing strategies to prevent mobile phone addiction among college students.

Mechanisms by which childhood adversity influences problem behavior in deaf adolescents

Kai Zhang, Xuefeng Wei, Xiaodi Wang, Yuying Zou — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +1200

Deaf youth with problem behaviors often say they have experienced childhood adversity. In order to explore the mechanisms by which childhood adversity affects problem behavior, this study administered a questionnaire to 700 deaf youth, comprising the Childhood Environment Scale, Life History Strategies Scale, Intertemporal Choice Questionnaire, and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. The findings revealed a strong and positive correlation between childhood adversity and behavioral issues. In addition, life history strategy and intertemporal choice acted as chain mediators of the link between childhood adversity and problem behavior. Thus, life history strategy and intertemporal choice interventions could offer effective approaches to addressing behavioral issues in deaf adolescents.

Relationship between the honesty–humility personality trait and criminal choice: Parallel mediation analysis

Xinyue Li, Liping Wang, Shujie Zheng — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +1200

The process of criminal choice is a key step in individual criminal behavior. In this study we explored the relationship between the honesty–humility personality trait and criminal choice within different mental processing modes. We developed four crime scenarios and administered them to 341 college students in China, who then completed measures of negative affect, honesty–humility, risk-perception, and criminal-choice variables. The results showed honesty–humility, negative affect, risk-perception, and criminal-choice elements were all significantly correlated with each other. Additionally, negative affect and risk perception played a parallel mediating role in the relationship between honesty–humility characteristics and criminal choice. These findings contribute to understanding of the potential mechanism underlying the link between honesty–humility characteristics and criminal choice, and provide new insights into strategies for reducing criminal activities.

Social desirability and life satisfaction in Chinese students: Positive affect and self-esteem as the mediators and necessary conditions

Shaobo Liang, Wenchao Li, Evangelina Zhang, Philip Coleman — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +1200

Many studies in this field have focused on social desirability bias while neglecting the substance of social desirability. To address this gap, this study investigated the essence of social desirability and its relationship with life satisfaction among Chinese university students. We placed a particular emphasis on the mediating roles of positive affect and self-esteem, and on their roles in creating necessary conditions for life satisfaction. The cognitive appraisal and motivational theory of emotion and self-determination theory provided theoretical frameworks for understanding these relationships, along with their potential pathways. Our study offers substantive, rather than artifactual, interpretations suggesting that individuals with higher social desirability may exhibit higher life satisfaction, as they are more likely to adopt a path of self-deception.

Virtual streamer anthropomorphism affects consumers’ purchase intention: The mediating role of social presence

Xiaoli Liu, Lei Zhang — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +1200

This study examined the effect of virtual streamer anthropomorphism on consumers’ purchase intention from the perspective of social presence in live streaming commerce (LSC). We collected survey data from 362 Chinese consumers who had watched virtual streamers in the context of LSC. Our results revealed that virtual streamer anthropomorphism had a positive impact on consumers’ purchase intention in LSC and that this relationship was mediated by social presence. This study expands on current theoretical research regarding LSC and offers practical insights for operators in the field.

Supervisor–subordinate guanxi, face consciousness, and facades of conformity in post-90s subordinates: Absolute and relative perspectives

Wang Ping, Huang Yan, Chen Jie — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +1200

In the current era of diverse values, managers face the crucial task of facilitating employees’ adaption to their organization’s values. Previous studies have found that high-quality supervisor–subordinate guanxi (SSG) negatively influences subordinates’ facades of conformity. However, these studies did not compare the characteristics of employees born in the 1990s and later with those of other team members in examining SSG. On the basis of conservation of resources theory and social comparison theory, we found an inverted U-shaped relationship between SSG and facades of conformity among post-90s subordinates (N = 360), with subordinates’ face consciousness not playing a significant moderating role. In contrast, relative SSG negatively influenced subordinates’ facades of conformity and was weakened by the moderator of face consciousness. These results offer theoretical and practical implications for managers to re-examine the relationship of SSG and facades of conformity from absolute and relative perspectives.

Predictors of depression in middle adulthood: A longitudinal machine learning model

Xiaowen Li, Ling Ding, Hao Xu — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +1200

This study aimed to predict the risk of depression, influencing factors, and gender differences in middle adulthood through applying machine learning models. We selected 2,674 middle-adult-aged participants from the China Family Panel Studies and used a combination of long short-term memory and machine learning models for prediction. Combining long short-term memory modeling with machine learning models significantly enhanced depression prediction among individuals in middle adulthood. Among the six models we examined, the eXtreme Gradient Boosting model performed the best. Further analysis of influencing factors revealed that happiness, self-rated health, and awareness of social issues were the most impactful factors in predicting the risk of depression. Further, the influencing factors varied between genders: for men, happiness, frequency of physical exercise, and job-income satisfaction were paramount, while for women, happiness, job-promotion satisfaction, and self-rated health were the key factors. Implications of the findings are discussed for theory and practice.

Physical exercise and externalizing problem behavior of junior middle school students: Peer relationships and self-esteem as chain mediators

Kelei Guo, Feng Guo, Hui Zhen, Yayi Ou — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +1200

In this study we examined the relationship between physical exercise and externalizing problem behavior and further analyzed the mediating effect of peer relationships and self-esteem on this link. Our sample comprised 1,292 junior middle school students recruited via stratified cluster random sampling. We assessed physical exercise, peer relationships, self-esteem, and externalizing problem behavior by using standardized scales. The results showed that physical exercise had a significant negative correlation with externalizing problem behavior, and that peer relationships and self-esteem had both independent and chain mediating effects on this link. Our findings provide a theoretical basis for designing interventions to address externalizing problem behavior in junior high school students.

Perceived overqualification and innovative behavior in Chinese employees

Chao-Yang Li, Yuan-Han Fang, Hui-Tao Li — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +1200

We examined the influence mechanism of individual employees’ perceived overqualification on their innovative behaviors, focusing on the mediating role of the pressure to maintain face in terms of capability, and the moderating effect of team overqualification. Empirical analysis of data from 327 employees of logistics companies revealed a positive relationship between individual employees’ perceived overqualification and their innovative behaviors, in which the pressure to maintain face played a critical mediating role. Individual employees with overqualification engaged in innovative behaviors to avoid any decline in the perception of their professional status or significance as viewed by others. Furthermore, team overqualification suppressed the positive effect of individual employees’ perceived overqualification on innovative behaviors. This study enriches existing theoretical frameworks and provides new perspectives and strategic recommendations for managers on how to effectively utilize and adjust the capabilities of overqualified employees.

Daily exposure to a violent environment and aggressive behavior among special-school students: Impulsiveness as a mediator

Xiaodi Wang, Xuefeng Wei, Kai Zhang, Yuying Zou, Xiaomeng Li — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +1200

We explored the mediating role of impulsiveness in the relationship between daily exposure to a violent environment and aggressive behavior among 780 special-school students. Participants completed the Chinese versions of the Community Experiences Questionnaire, the Buss–Perry Aggression Questionnaire, and the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale. The results showed that exposure to an environment where there is violence every day and impulsiveness were positively correlated with aggressive behavior, and that daily exposure to a violent environment and impulsiveness were significantly and positively associated. Furthermore, the relationship between daily exposure to a violent environment and aggressive behavior was mediated by impulsiveness. Our findings indicate that lowering the level of exposure to a violent environment can help special-school students reduce their aggressive behavior.

Effects of shift-and-persist on depressive symptoms among adolescents in rural China: Physical exercise as a mediator

Guanghui Yang, Ningdan Wang, Yuan Tian — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +1200

We examined the effect of the shift-and-persist strategy on the depressive symptoms of adolescents in rural areas in China and the mechanism of physical exercise as a mediator of this relationship. We conducted a survey with 533 rural adolescents in China, who completed the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, the Shift-and-Persist Questionnaire, and the Physical Exercise Attitude Scale. The results showed that there were significant differences in depressive symptoms by gender, subjective family social class, and perception of parental marital quality. Further, shift-and-persist and physical exercise were negatively correlated with depressive symptoms, and shift-and-persist was positively correlated with physical exercise. In addition, shift-and-persist negatively predicted adolescent depressive symptoms and a partial mediating role of physical exercise between these variables was established. The study findings suggest that improving adolescents' ability to shift and persist and increasing their physical exercise will reduce their depressive symptoms.

Sense of achievement from a side hustle and interpersonal conflict in the primary workplace

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +1200

Little research attention has been paid to whether and how working a side hustle in addition to a primary job predicts employees’ interpersonal relationships with others at their main job. Drawing on social exchange theory and research on the gig economy, we investigated how an employee’s sense of achievement from a side hustle predicts relationship conflict with leaders and coworkers at their main job. We analyzed data obtained from 239 employees who had a side hustle and found that psychological entitlement mediated the link between sense of achievement from a side hustle and relationship conflict with leaders and coworkers at the main job. Competence attribution played a moderating role, strengthening the positive relationship between sense of achievement from the side hustle and psychological entitlement. Theoretical and practical implications for the relationship between side hustles and primary employment are discussed.

Impact of health-related comparative advertising on willingness to pay organic food price premiums

Guo Cheng, Xiaoyun Han, Weiping Yu, Dongyang Si, Wenjie Li — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +1200

Health information in advertising settings significantly shapes consumers’ perceptions and choices, especially as food safety concerns grow in the modern world. This study investigated how two types of health-related comparative advertising—statistical versus narrative—influence consumers’ willingness to pay price premiums (WTP) for organic food. Through three online experiments involving organic tomatoes, corn, and germ rice, which were completed by 328 participants cumulatively, we found that statistical, compared to narrative, comparative advertising led to higher WTP and enhanced brand credibility. Furthermore, consumers’ food safety concerns positively moderated the relationship between health-related comparative advertising and WTP. This research has introduced and empirically tested two novel levels of comparative advertising, enriching the literature on both consumer behavior and advertising. The findings offer valuable insights for firms in designing their brand communication and marketing strategies.

The impact of paternalistic leadership on employees’ proenvironmental behavior

Tongtong Jiang, Haiqing Wang, Long Zhang — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +1200

We applied social learning theory in investigating the predictive effect of paternalistic leadership on employees’ proenvironmental behavior (EPEB), with green self-efficacy as a mediator of this link and green psychological atmosphere as a moderator of the relationship between green self-efficacy and EPEB. The results of an empirical study with 310 employees of manufacturing enterprises in China indicated that authoritarian leadership negatively predicted EPEB, with green self-efficacy acting as a mediator. Benevolent leadership positively predicted EPEB, and green self-efficacy mediated this relationship. Furthermore, green psychological atmosphere moderated the relationship between green self-efficacy and EPEB. The research findings enrich theoretical understanding of paternalistic leadership and EPEB, and also provide references for organizations to effectively stimulate EPEB.

Despotic leadership and workplace status of textile workers in Pakistan: A moderated mediation model

Yun Sheng, Ying Wang, Mahnoor Farooq, Sarmad Ejaz, Faisal Ejaz — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +1200

We explored how despotic leadership influences employees’ workplace status, incorporating ingratiatory behavior as a mediator and psychological capital as a moderator. Data were gathered from 521 employees in the textile sector in Pakistan. Contrary to our expectation, the results revealed a positive influence of despotic leadership on employees’ workplace status. In contrast, despotic leadership was positively related to ingratiatory behavior, and ingratiatory behavior was positively related to employees’ workplace status. Further, ingratiatory behavior mediated the relationship between despotic leadership and employees’ workplace status. A moderating effect analysis showed that the relationship between despotic leadership and ingratiatory behavior weakened when psychological capital was higher (vs. lower). These findings highlight the intricate dynamics of workplace interactions, demonstrating how ingratiatory behavior in response to despotic leadership can elevate employee status, while psychological capital can buffer the negative effects of such leadership, fostering resilience and adaptive behavior among employees.

Philip Silva: August 22, 1940–June 12, 2025

Robert A. C. Stewart — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +1200

We note, with sadness, the passing of Dr. Philip Silva, the founder and emeritus director of the influential Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study. As a New Zealand-based publishing team, we want to acknowledge the remarkable work of this New Zealand psychologist and researcher, which continues to have worldwide impact. Our founding editor, Dr. Bob Stewart, comments on Dr. Silva’s contributions to the fields of health, child development, psychology, and more.