Multigroup Structural Equation Modeling Research Articles

The Impact of Non-Normality on Causal Effect Estimates in Structural Equation Models with Ordered Categorical Variables

Multilevel structural equation models (SEM) are widely used for estimating causal effects in social and behavioral sciences. However, the impact of non-normality on these estimates, particularly with ordered categorical variables, remains unclear. This study investigates how non-normality affects causal effect estimation in path and multigroup SEMs with ordered categorical variables. Using the Vine-to-Anything approach, we simulated multivariate distributions by independently varying marginals and copulas. We compared maximum likelihood (ML), robust ML, and diagonally weighted least squares (DWLS) estimators across various non-normal conditions in three simulation studies. Results show that bias in effect estimates critically depends on the combination of copulas and marginal distributions in treatment and control groups. DWLS generally outperformed ML, especially for average treatment effects and interaction effects. However, all methods were sensitive to distributional misspecifications. These findings highlight the importance of considering distributional assumptions when using ordered categorical data in causal inference studies.

Understanding Fatigue, Insomnia, and COVID-19 PTSS Among Mainland Chinese During Initial Post-Zero-COVID Infection Wave: A Multi-Group Analysis

In early 2023, China experienced its first widespread COVID-19 outbreak after a policy shift. This study examines the relationship between fatigue and COVID-19-related post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) in infected and uninfected individuals, exploring the potential mediating role of insomnia symptoms. An online survey of 5953 Chinese participants was conducted from 10 to 16 January 2023. Participants reported their COVID-19 infection status, fatigue, insomnia symptoms, and PTSS. Multi-group structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test whether the mediation paths differed between infected and uninfected groups. The prevalence of fatigue, insomnia symptoms, and COVID-19 PTSS were 30.0%, 36.4%, and 5.8%. The SEM based on the bootstrapping showed that after controlling for demographics, chronic fatigue positively associated with COVID-19 PTSS in a significant way, with insomnia symptoms playing a mediating role. The multi-group analyses further revealed a partial mediation effect of insomnia symptoms on the relationship between fatigue and COVID-19 PTSS in the uninfected group (UG). However, for the infected group (IG), insomnia symptoms fully mediated the relationship between fatigue and COVID-19 PTSS. Infected individuals were more subject to the aforementioned mechanism than uninfected individuals. Addressing chronic fatigue, insomnia, and developing targeted interventions are crucial for supporting mental health across different infection statuses.

Influencing factors of kinesiophobia in knee arthroplasty patients under the social cognitive theory: A structural equation model

ObjectiveTo analyze the path relationships among influencing factors for kinesiophobia in knee arthroplasty patients through a structural equation model. BackgroundThe occurrence of kinesiophobia significantly impacts the rehabilitation process of knee arthroplasty patients. However, there is still a need to determine factors that contribute to reducing kinesiophobia. DesignA cross-sectional study was conducted and reported following the STROBE guideline. MethodsBetween February 2022 to October 2022, 162 total knee arthroplasty (TKA) patients and 81 unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) patients completed a survey. A structural equation modeling (SEM) approach was utilized to analyze the relationships between kinesiophobia and influencing factors (social support, pain resilience, and rehabilitation self-efficacy). Furthermore, multi-group SEM analysis was conducted to examine whether the model equally fitted patients in different types of knee arthroplasty. ResultsThe direct negative effects of rehabilitation self-efficacy (β = −0.535) and pain resilience (β = −0.293) on kinesiophobia were observed. The mediating effect (β = −0.183) of pain resilience and rehabilitation self-efficacy between social support and kinesiophobia was also significant. The SEM model achieved an acceptable model fit (χ2 = 35.656, RMSEA = 0.031, χ2/df = 1.230, GFI = 0.972, NFI = 0.982, IFI = 0.997, CFI = 0.996). In multicohort analysis, no significant differences were observed among knee arthroplasties (TKA, UKA) (Δχ2 = 4.213, p = 0.648). ConclusionsSatisfactory social support enhances pain resilience and rehabilitation self-efficacy, so as to reduce kinesiophobia. Future interventions that directly target the assessment and management of kinesiophobia, available social support may help reduce kinesiophobia, and pain resilience and rehabilitation self-efficacy may be critical factors in managing kinesiophobia. Relevance to Clinical PracticeReducing kinesiophobia in knee arthroplasty patients requires satisfactory social support, pain resilience, and rehabilitation self-efficacy. Therefore, healthcare organizations may implement initiatives to reduce kinesiophobia by taking these factors into account.

Eating Problems Among Adolescent Boys and Girls Before and During the Covid-19 Pandemic.

Studies suggest that adolescents reported more eating problems during the pandemic. Using a population-based sample, we compared eating problems-and how they associate with a range of personal characteristics and genetic factors-among adolescents before (June 2017-April 2020) versus during (April 2020-December 2022) the pandemic. Based on a preregistered analysis plan, we used cross-sectional data collected from 22,706 14-16-year-olds over 6 years (55% during the pandemic) in the Norwegian Mother, Father, and Child Cohort. We used measurement invariance analyses to compare the level of eating restraint and body concern before and during the pandemic, and multi-group structural equation models to estimate pre-pandemic and pandemic patterns of associations. Pandemic responders generally reported more eating problems than pre-pandemic responders, specifically on dieting and body dissatisfaction. However, after adjusting for a general linear increase in eating problems across all 6 years of data collection, the pandemic itself seems to be associated with more eating problems only among girls, reporting more eating restraints (meanΔ = 0.14 [CI: 0.07, 0.20]) and body concern (meanΔ = 0.17 [CI: 0.11, 0.23]). Associations between eating problems and a range of other characteristics did not differ across the pandemic and pre-pandemic groups. There was a general increase in eating problems among 14-16-year-oldsover time. Adjusting for this trend, the pandemic seems to exacerbate problems among girls. Although the mechanisms are unclear, our results point to factors susceptible to change that could have been intensified during the pandemic (e.g., screen time, mental distress). Our results highlight the importance of recognizing sex-specific differences in eating problems.

Mediation of enjoyment and burnout in the link between teacher-student relationships and foreign language achievement and its gender differences

ABSTRACT The significance of teacher-student relationships in foreign language (FL) learning has been well-established. However, the intricacies of how teacher-student relationships indirectly influence FL achievement, particularly through the lens of emotional experience, remain to be fully understood. Grounded in attachment theory and control value theory, this study dissected the mediating roles of enjoyment and burnout in the link between teacher-student relationships and FL achievement, and further explored the gender differences in these mediation effects. The survey encompassed 4,900 English learners from Hainan Province, China. Student-reported scales for enjoyment and burnout in English learning were utilized, complemented by an English achievement test. Structural equation modeling (SEM) elucidated that enjoyment and burnout served as partial mediators in the link between teacher-student relationships and English achievement. Furthermore, multi-group SEM revealed gender-specific variations in these mediation effects, with stronger mediation observed in boys than girls. This study offers theoretical, methodological, and pedagogical insights for FL teaching and learning.

Can you bear with me? A comparison study of multifaceted discrepancy–brand avoidance relationships between China and the USA

PurposeBrand information is ubiquitous online and offline; consumers exhibit brand avoidance tendencies towards brand stimuli when there is a discrepancy between a brand image/personality and one’s self-concept. Given the multifaceted culturally constituted self-domains and self-importance, this research investigates how cultural variation affects reactions to self-brand discrepancy, considering two types of narcissist orientations.Design/methodology/approachUsing national culture as proxy for cultural orientation, sample data were collected through surveys administered to 410 participants (210 in China and 200 in the USA). A multi-group structural equation model was adopted to examine the conceptual model and proposed hypotheses. The follow-up qualitative study was conducted to allow further discussion of the quantitative results.FindingsThe results show that self-brand discrepancy can only be converted into brand avoidance tendency through the activation of cognitive dissonance for both Americans and Chinese. Specifically, for Chinese consumers only (ideal) social identity self-brand discrepancies can activate avoidance behaviour. In addition, grandiose and vulnerable narcissism orientations co-exist for both Chinese and Americans, these negatively moderate the relationship between social self-brand discrepancies and cognitive dissonance. For US consumers, idealised identity discrepancies mitigate dissonance; only those with a vulnerable narcissistic orientation would act on avoidance when experiencing dissonance.Originality/valueBy incorporating cultural variations in the investigations of self-brand discrepancy, this paper advances existing knowledge on dissonance and coping mechanisms. In addition, by bringing narcissistic orientations to the fore, it allows for a deeper understanding of how these cultural variations operate. In addition, our research provides important guidelines for brand practitioners to better leverage their marketing campaigns in offline and online contexts and to reduce brand avoidance tendencies across the international marketplace.

Social participation and depression among resettled Syrian refugees: examining a moderated mediation of social support and bonding or bridging social capital.

Aspects of social capital, including social participation and social support, are among the factors influencing refugee mental health after resettlement. However, the mechanisms by which these aspects interact with one another and affect mental health remain unclear. This study investigates whether social participation influences depressive symptoms via social support and whether this influence is more prominent for Syrian refugees participating primarily in coethnic (bonding) networks compared to cross-ethnic (bridging) networks during the early stages of resettlement. Using data from a cohort of 464 Syrian refugees recently resettled in Sweden, a moderated mediation analysis was conducted with multigroup structural equation modelling to investigate the mediatory role of social support in the association between social participation and depressive symptoms as well as the moderating role of bonding networks (social participation with other Syrians) versus bridging networks (social participation with Swedes) in this relationship. Frequent social participation, compared to rare or no participation, was significantly associated with lower depressive symptoms, regardless of whether participation included a broad or limited range of activities. Social support only mediated this relationship for those with primarily bonding networks, indicating that the mediation itself was moderated by network type. While participating in both bridging and bonding networks was associated with lower depressive symptoms, bonding networks amplified the effect of social participation on depressive symptoms via increased social support, resulting in an overall twofold decrease in depressive symptoms compared to those with bridging networks. These findings indicate that the frequency of social participation may be a more important consideration for fostering mental well-being in recently resettled refugees than the specific types of activities. Furthermore, while both bonding and bridging social networks confer mental health benefits, access to coethnic networks in early resettlement appears to provide a particularly crucial source of social support.

Multiindustry Group SEM Analysis for the Roles of Managerial Accountants in a New and Sustainable Episode

This study aims to investigate the roles and responsibilities of management accountants in Thailand, in a new and sustainable episode that has been disrupted by internal and external factors. Specifically, it also identifies the key factors that drive the changing roles of managerial accountants to be more innovative and business-strategy-oriented. Secondary data were employed in this study via the posted questionnaire to accountants who work in three industry sectors, namely manufacturing, retail and wholesale, and services. Multigroup structural equation modeling (multigroup SEM) was administered from the data. A sample set of 182 was gathered and used in the study’s analysis. 45% of the sample were accountants who worked in manufacturing, 22% in retail and wholesale, and 33% in service companies. The study proposed a structural equation modeling approach to determine key factors-digital technology force, leadership, digital technology readiness, digital technology competency, and attitude-that influence the changing roles of managerial accountants. The study finds that the factors that influenced the changing roles of managerial accountants differ from sector to sector. The digital technology force was found to have a weak influence on the changing roles of accountants, but moderately strong in retail and wholesale services. While the attitude of the accountants themselves was very strong to influence the changing roles, it was moderately strong for retail and wholesale, and rather weak for the services sector. Other factors-leadership, digital technology readiness, and digital technology competency-were found to have a mediating effect. Keywords: changing roles, managerial accountants, digital disruption, attitude, digital technology, sustainable

Lookism, a Leak in the Career Pipeline? Career Perspective Consequences of Lookism Climate and Workplace Incivility.

Despite strides toward gender equality in the workforce, women continue to face significant challenges, including the "glass ceiling" and the "leaky pipeline", partially stemming from low occupational self-confidence. This study examined whether a climate of lookism leads to workplace mistreatment, undermining employees' perceptions of job competence and career potential, with a focus on gender differences. Using a cross-sectional design, data from 699 Italian workers (42.8% male, 56.3% female) were analyzed through multi-group structural equation modeling. The model explored relationships between lookism climate, workplace incivility, imposter syndrome, and perceived employability. The results revealed a full serial mediation for women; lookism climate was positively related to workplace incivility, which in turn was related to imposter syndrome, negatively impacting perceived employability. For men, no serial mediation was found; lookism climate was directly related to both incivility and imposter syndrome, with no significant relationship between the two. Like women, men experienced a negative relationship between imposter syndrome and perceived employability, yet this relationship was stronger for men. This study highlights that identifying and addressing workplace climates that foster subtle mistreatment can prevent larger issues like the leaky pipeline, suggesting targeted organizational-level intervention and prevention strategies can enhance job competence perceptions and career potential for both genders.

Digital Immigrants Versus Digital Natives: Decoding Their E-commerce Adoption Behavior

It is easier to assume that educated older adults will find digital gadgets or the Internet as simple to use as the young generation does. However, it is not as simple as that. The generation that was not born into the digital world but has had to make an effort to learn to use digital technologies during their middle or late middle age is referred to as Digital Immigrants (DIs). Most of these individuals were forced to adapt to information technologies due to environmental pressure to survive and thrive at their workplace. The objective of this study is to investigate if the proposed “digital divide” that differentiates digital immigrants from digital natives (DNs) exists among e-commerce users in India, and if so, are digital immigrants less likely to adopt and use e-commerce services? Data was collected through a self-administered survey questionnaire from 432 Indian Internet users aged 19 to 65. Multigroup structural equation modeling analysis (M-SEM) of data revealed that DIs and DNs perceive e-commerce services differently. Though digital immigrants find e-commerce services challenging to use, their higher perception of its usefulness propels them to adopt and use e-commerce. This study contributes to the existing body of literature by extending our understanding of the technology adoption behavior of digital immigrants. The study’s implications and the scope for future research are discussed at the end of the article.

Human–nature connectedness is positively correlated with the perceived value of nature regardless of urbanization levels

AbstractUrbanization has affected the economy, ecosystem, and human health. In addition to these direct and physical impacts, urbanization is suggested to affect our preferences and valuation with respect to nature, including people’s perceived values of nature and human–nature connectedness (HNC). Perceived values of nature and HNC are essential for constructing and maintaining sustainable cities. However, the relationship between urbanization, HNC, and perceived values of nature has not been sufficiently elucidated. This study aimed to quantitatively examine this relationship and to generate new insights into methods for enhancing people’s perceived values of nature. The study focused on the following research questions: (1) How different is residents’ HNC under varying urbanization levels? (2) How different is the relationship between HNC and the perceived values of nature under varying urbanization levels? This study categorized perceived values of nature into “relational values” and “instrumental values”. A questionnaire was administered to the residential population in three study areas in Nagareyama City, Japan, each representing a rural, urbanizing, and urban area. The data were subjected to factor analysis, structural equation modeling (SEM), and multi-group SEM. The results indicate that residents’ HNC is weaker in urbanizing and urban areas than in rural areas. The findings also suggest that HNC positively correlates with the perceived values of nature, regardless of urbanization levels. These results indicate that considering HNC is crucial in nature management to understand people’s value perceptions and conservation attitudes as well as to enhance their value perceptions toward surrounding nature under varying urbanization levels.

Insomnia symptoms as long-term predictors of anxiety symptoms in middle-aged and older adults from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA), and the role of systemic inflammation

Insomnia, i.e., difficulties in sleep onset and sleep maintenance, may increase the risk of anxiety symptoms, although long-term follow-up studies are rarely reported. Here, we examined whether insomnia symptoms may predict anxiety symptoms in a 9-year follow-up, and whether inflammation may play a mediating role. Data from 1355 participants (63.44 ± 7.47 years, 55.1 % females) from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) were analysed. Insomnia symptoms were assessed in 2012/13. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), a marker of systemic inflammation, was measured in 2016/17. Anxiety symptoms were assessed in 2020/21. After adjusting for confounders and baseline levels, structural equation modelling (SEM) revealed that insomnia symptoms significantly predicted anxiety symptoms (β = 0.357, p < .001) but not hs-CRP (β = −0.016, p = .634). Similarly, hs-CRP was not related to anxiety symptoms (β = −0.024, p = .453). The hs-CRP mediation hypothesis was therefore rejected (β = 0.0004; 95 % BCI -0.001 to 0.005), and multi-group SEM showed that sex did not moderate these paths. However, baseline diagnoses of anxiety disorders prospectively predicted higher hs-CRP (B = 0.083, p = .030). Results of the current study suggest that individuals with baseline anxiety disorders may be at higher risk of developing low-grade chronic inflammation. Several alternative psychophysiological mechanisms linking insomnia and anxiety symptoms should be explored, including autonomic and cortical pre-sleep arousal, cortisol reactivity, and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Finally, insomnia symptoms may be a treatment target to lower the risk of anxiety symptoms in elderly.

Cutting in line ahead of us: the role of group relative deprivation in shaping gatekeeping attitudes across different immigrant integration contexts in Europe

ABSTRACT Although research shows that anti-immigrant sentiments are generally lower in liberal integration policy contexts, popular backlash against immigrants become salient in many pro-immigration and inclusive integration policy contexts in Europe today. Developing a contextualized mediation model, this research suggests that feelings of deprivation vis-à-vis immigrants influence attitudes toward selective immigrant admission in Europe. From a cross-country analysis of the 2014–2015 European Social Survey through multigroup structural equation modeling, our findings reveal that sentiments of group relative deprivation translate into stronger gatekeeping attitudes throughout Europe by developing threat perceptions from immigration. Relative deprivation-driven threat perceptions influence gatekeeping attitudes more potently in countries where integration policies grant immigrants more comprehensive and equal rights, while they remain relatively dormant in countries with exclusionary integration policies. These findings contribute to our understanding of how and to what extent relative deprivation sentiments vis-à-vis immigrants shape gatekeeping attitudes while shedding light on the unintended impacts of liberal integration policies on public opinion regarding immigration.

Mixture multigroup structural equation modeling: A novel method for comparing structural relations across many groups.

Behavioral scientists often examine the relations between two or more latent variables (e.g., how emotions relate to life satisfaction), and structural equation modeling (SEM) is the state-of-the-art for doing so. When comparing these "structural relations" among many groups, they likely differ across the groups. However, it is equally likely that some groups share the same relations so that clusters of groups emerge. Latent variables are measured indirectly by questionnaires and, for validly comparing their relations among groups, the measurement of the latent variables should be invariant across the groups (i.e., measurement invariance). However, across many groups, often at least some measurement parameters differ. Restricting these measurement parameters to be invariant, when they are not, causes the structural relations to be estimated incorrectly and invalidates their comparison. We propose mixture multigroup SEM (MMG-SEM) to gather groups with equivalent structural relations in clusters while accounting for the reality of measurement noninvariance. Specifically, MMG-SEM obtains a clustering of groups focused on the structural relations by making them cluster-specific, while capturing measurement noninvariances with group-specific measurement parameters. In this way, MMG-SEM ensures that the clustering is valid and unaffected by differences in measurement. This article proposes an estimation procedure built around the R package "lavaan" and evaluates MMG-SEM's performance through two simulation studies. The results demonstrate that MMG-SEM successfully recovers the group-clustering as well as the cluster-specific relations and the partially group-specific measurement parameters. To illustrate its empirical value, we apply MMG-SEM to cross-cultural data on the relations between experienced emotions and life satisfaction. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

A multigroup SEM analysis of mediating role of enjoyment, anxiety, and boredom in the relationships between L2 motivational self-system, L2 proficiency, and intercultural communication competence

This study aims to test a mediation model to understand how the second language motivational self-system (L2MSS) affects second language (L2) proficiency and intercultural communication competence (ICC) through the mediating effects of foreign language enjoyment, anxiety, and boredom among English as a foreign language (EFL) learners in China. A total of 2,713 Chinese EFL learners, comprising 1,376 English majors and 1,337 non-English majors, voluntarily participated in the present study. Structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis was conducted to analyse the collected data. Additionally, a multigroup SEM approach was applied to compare potential differences between the two major types in the hypothesized relationships. The results revealed that the impacts of the ideal self and learning experience positively and directly predicted L2 proficiency and ICC, whereas the ought-to self had a direct and negative influence. Foreign language enjoyment, anxiety, and boredom mediated the relationships between L2MSS, L2 proficiency, and ICC. Also, L2 proficiency positively affected ICC. Moreover, the multigroup SEM analysis revealed that these two groups did not differ significantly in the hypothesized pathways, suggesting that these relationships were not moderated by students’ majors. These research findings may present significant implications for EFL learners and teachers.

Rejuvenating Mind and Soul: Psychological Benefits of Camping Experiences and the Moderating Role of Psychological Distress

ABSTRACTThis study examines the extent to which camping experiences influence campers' restoration, psychological capital, and life satisfaction and the role psychological distress plays in this process. Survey data were collected from 420 Chinese campers and analyzed using multigroup structural equation modeling. Four categories of experiences (i.e., escapist, entertainment, esthetic, and educational experiences) positively impacted restoration, which then contributed positively to psychological capital and life satisfaction. Psychological capital influenced life satisfaction and mediated the relationship between restoration and life satisfaction. The association between restoration and psychological capital was weaker in the group with higher psychological distress. The study calls for a broader application of psychological capital in outdoor recreation and tourism research.

Understanding pathways from feeding difficulties of children to mental health risks of mothers at critical stages of childrearing: Does social support make a difference?

BackgroundIdentifying the factors influencing mental health of mothers at critical stages of childrearing is significant for the implementation of effective promotion policies and counselling activities. ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the relationships between children's feeding difficulties, marital quality, parenting quality and maternal mental health risks amidst Chinese mothers with high and low social support using a multi-group structural equation modelling approach. ParticipantsA cross-sectional study was conducted in Wenzhou, China and a total of 772 mothers with children aged 0–3 were surveyed by using purposive sampling. FindingsResults showed that of the 772 participants, 23.6 % reported anxiety, 50.1 % reported depression, 91.2 % reported insomnia, and 24 % reported feeding difficulties. The joint occurrence of multiple forms of mental problems is the most commonly reported features of mental health risks among mothers. The positive association between feeding difficulties of children and mental health risks of mothers was mediated by marital quality and parenting quality. In addition, feeding difficulties were not related to mental health risks in high social support group but all the relationships were significant in low social support group. ConclusionsThese findings highlight the importance of the specific interventions to enhance social support, marital quality and parenting quality for improving mental health of mothers of children with feeding difficulties.

The role of brand identity, brand lifestyle congruence, and brand satisfaction on repurchase intention: a multi-group structural equation model

This study investigated the relationship between brand identity, brand lifestyle congruence, brand satisfaction, and repurchase intention. In addition, this study examined how the primary reference group’s family and peer/friend affected individuals’ perceptions of brand identity, brand-lifestyle congruence, brand satisfaction, and purchase intention through a multi-group structural equation model. A total of 610 valid and useable responses, collected from a social media channel, were analyzed. Grounded in social identity theory and self-congruity theory, a set of hypotheses was examined within a research model. The findings show that brand identity significantly affects brand lifestyle congruence, brand satisfaction, and repurchase intentions. In addition, brand-lifestyle congruence significantly affects brand satisfaction and repurchase intentions, with brand satisfaction also significantly affecting purchase intentions. Also, high-income and elderly consumers tend to ignore the family and peer effects. Middle-aged, middle-income men who value product origin show a strong brand perception, and are less influenced by family. In contrast, women, typically lower-income and price-focused, are more receptive to family and peer effects and generally indifferent to product origin. This research advances brand identity literature by examining the effects of brand brand-lifestyle congruence, brand satisfaction, and purchase intention. It suggests that the synergy between brand identity, brand lifestyle congruence, and brand satisfaction significantly enhances repurchase intentions. Besides, examining profiles in the context of brands, consumers, and reference groups contributes additional value to the field.

Higher Education in China during the Pandemic: Analyzing Online Self-Learning Motivation Using Bayesian Networks

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an unprecedented shift towards online learning, compelling university students worldwide to engage in self-directed learning within remote environments. Despite the increasing importance of online education, the factors driving students’ motivation for self-directed online learning, particularly those involving economic incentives, have not been thoroughly explored. This study aims to address this gap by analyzing large-scale data collected from 19,023 university students across China during the pandemic. Using mixed Bayesian networks and multigroup structural equation modeling, the study explores the complex relationships between personal characteristics, academic characteristics, the academic environment, and students’ motivation for self-directed online learning. The results reveal significant associations between online self-directed learning motivation and personal characteristics. such as gender and age, academic characteristics, such as education level and learning incentives, and the geographic location of the school within the academic environment. Moreover, the causal relationship between school location and online self-directed learning motivation varies by gender and educational level. This research not only provides new empirical support for the theoretical framework of online learning motivation but also contributes to the broader fields of educational psychology and online learning research.

Multiple Identities as Buffer or Catalyst? An Investigation of Psycho-Behavioral Effects of Sports Fans’ Exposure to Abusive Social Media Content

ABSTRACT Sports, traditionally pregnant with aggression and violence, are now a breeding ground for online abuse, where toxicity and malicious campaigns on social media have even afflicted national sports role models together with their huge fan base. Drawing on an online survey of 917 Chinese volleyball enthusiasts, this study investigated the psycho-behavioral outcomes of sports fans’ social media exposure to abusive messages about their idols through the lens of rejection-(dis)identification theory. Findings indicate that fans’ subjective frequency of negative social media exposure is significantly negatively associated with their sport-related well-being but has no direct connection with their offline sport engagement. The study particularly delves into the mediating roles of fans’ multiple identities, namely sport identity as a competitive mediator and national identity as a complementary mediator. Furthermore, with multi-group structural equation modeling and mediation analyses on gender sub-groups, gender differences were determined such that male fans, compared with female fans, were more likely to marshal their identity capital, which effectively enhanced their well-being and participation in sports. By linking classic theoretical propositions, this study offers a nuanced understanding of the sociopsychological consequences of online abuse in sports for ordinary social media users, contributing to both theoretical insights and practical implications.