Parallel Mediation Model Research Articles

Achieving sustainable procurement practices: a parallel mediation model of top management support, transformational leadership, and interdepartmental collaboration

This study aims to investigate the role of purchasing in advancing a circular economy by exploring the relationship between external pressure and sustainable procurement practices. While these practices reduce costs and environmental impact, they also align with sustainable development goals. The study investigates both direct effects and the parallel mediating roles of top management support, transformational leadership, and interdepartmental collaboration. A survey of 327 procurement professionals, analyzed using structural equation modeling, reveals that external pressure has an insignificant direct effect but a significant indirect impact on sustainable procurement practices. The authors empirically demonstrate, by testing four different models, that top management support, transformational leadership, and interdepartmental collaboration act as parallel mediators between external pressure and sustainable procurement practices. The findings provide valuable insights into factors influencing sustainable procurement practices and emphasize the need for organizations to enhance their support for sustainable development, benefitting governments, industries, and other supply chain stakeholders.

Exploring aggressive emotions in women in prison: the role of empathy and perceived social support in moderating the effects of childhood discrimination experiences

BackgroundThe recent increase in the population of women in prison within the societal context of China has shifted attention towards understanding the unique psychological and social dynamics distinct from those traditionally associated with man offenders. Growing evidence suggests that childhood experiences of discrimination play a crucial role in shaping the aggressive behaviors observed among women in prison. This underscores the necessity for an in-depth examination of the psychological and societal foundations of these behaviors.ObjectiveThis study seeks to elucidate the roles of empathy and perceived social support (PSS) in moderating the effects of childhood discrimination on aggression among women in prison. It aims to provide insights that could inform effective intervention and prevention strategies. Participants and Setting: The study involved 411 women in prison from correctional facilities across two provinces in China. Data were collected through paper-based surveys distributed from May to June 2024.MethodsParticipants responded to the Everyday Discrimination Scale, Interpersonal Reactivity Index, Perceived Social Support Scale, and Aggression Questionnaire. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlations, analysis of variance, and parallel multiple mediation models. These analyses were conducted using SPSS and a PROCESS macro to test statistical hypotheses.ResultsResults demonstrated significant associations between high levels of childhood discrimination and increased aggressive emotions and behaviors in adulthood. Mediation analysis indicated that both affective empathy and PSS significantly mediated these relationships. Affective empathy was found to intensify emotional responses leading to aggression, while PSS acted as a buffering mechanism that mitigated these adverse outcomes.ConclusionsThe findings highlight the pivotal moderating roles of empathy and social support in the aggression dynamics observed among women in prison, influenced by early experiences of discrimination. The study advocates for targeted interventions that enhance empathic abilities and bolster social support networks to reduce aggression and aid in rehabilitation. These insights foster the development of nuanced approaches to addressing the needs of women in prison and have significant implications for policy and practice in correctional and rehabilitative settings.

The impact of challenge and hindrance stressors on knowledge hiding: the mediating role of job crafting and work withdrawal

The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of challenge and hindrance stressors on employees’ knowledge-hiding behavior, based on self-reported data from 493 Chinese preschool teachers. The findings indicate that both challenge and hindrance stressors significantly increase knowledge hiding, with hindrance stressors exerting a more pronounced effect. Furthermore, the study reveals the mediating roles of job crafting and work withdrawal, highlighting the distinct mechanisms involved with these stressors. Specifically, challenge stressors increase the likelihood of knowledge hiding through work withdrawal while simultaneously decreasing it through job crafting; notably, the former pathway has a greater effect. In contrast, hindrance stressors consistently exert detrimental effects, amplifying the probability of knowledge hiding through both mediators, which explains their stronger impact compared to challenge stressors. Additionally, empowering leadership plays a crucial moderating role in this relationship. The adverse influence of hindrance stressors on knowledge hiding, as mediated by job crafting, intensifies under high levels of empowering leadership. These findings not only validate the newly constructed parallel mediation model within an educational context but also provide practical strategies for kindergarten administrators regarding knowledge management. Such strategies include effectively distinguishing and managing different types of job stressors, enhancing skills to empower employees, and organizing regular knowledge-sharing activities.

Political neglect and support for the radical right: The case of rural Portugal

Why are rural voters more likely to support radical right parties? This paper examines the mechanisms behind the relationship between living in a rural area and supporting the Portuguese radical-right party Chega. Portugal's radical right is an interesting case study, not only because of its belated but very fast electoral growth but also because Portugal represents an unusual case of economic convergence between urban and rural areas in the last decade, challenging one of the traditional explanations for rural populism — economic grievances. Using data from exit polls from the 2022 and 2024 elections, we start by showing that voters living in a rural area are characterized by disproportionally high levels of support for Chega. Then, using a 2023 face-to-face national survey, we use parallel mediation models to test different mechanisms that relate rurality with the vote for the radical right. We find no evidence that cultural and economic factors play a relevant role in the relationship between rurality and the radical right vote in Portugal. Instead, rural residents are more likely to perceive the areas where they live as politically neglected, and it is this perception that feeds, in turn, into support for the radical right. Political neglect emerges as the key mediating factor, shedding light on the dynamics of radical right-wing populism in rural regions.

Role of transformational leadership in implementation of Education 4.0: a parallel mediation model in context of higher educational institutions (HEIs)

Purpose Transformational leadership has attained immense attraction in contemporary research for its positive contribution in implementation of Education 4.0. Drawing on social bond theory and employee stewardship theory, this study aims to examine the mediating roles of employee engagement and organisational citizenship behaviour between transformational leadership and Education 4.0 in higher educational institutions. Design/methodology/approach Data was collected through survey questionnaire by using three-wave time lagged study design from regular faculty members of Indian higher educational institutions. Hayes Process Macro was used for testing the parallel mediation model. Findings Transformational leadership has a positive and significant impact on Education 4.0. The results of this study indicate that employee engagement and organisational citizenship behaviour partially mediate the relationship between transformational leadership and Education 4.0. Furthermore, the analysis explains that employee engagement and organisational citizenship behaviour leveraged under transformational leadership act as parallel mediators, and there is no statistical difference between them. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is first in itself to consider more than one factor influencing the relationship between transformational leadership and Education 4.0, thus making ground for parallel mediation. This study addresses the urgent call by United Nations for achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by ensuring quality education (SDG 4) and reducing inequality (SDG 10), thereby giving peaceful and strong intuitions (SDG 16).

Mediating Effects of Depressive Symptoms and Uncertainty on Physical Symptoms and Self-Care in Korean Older Men With Heart Failure.

Heart failure is prevalent among aging populations. Given the increasing median age in many countries, sustainably improving self-care behaviors in heart failure patients is crucial. Physical symptoms predict self-care in patients with heart failure, whereas psychological factors such as depressive symptoms and uncertainty negatively affect disease management efficacy. The mediating and indirect effects of depressive symptoms and disease uncertainty regarding the relationship between physical symptoms and self-care behaviors were examined in older South Korean men with heart failure. A descriptive correlational survey design was used to collect data from 185 older men with heart failure. Data were obtained from medical records and self-reported questionnaires addressing physical symptoms, depressive symptoms severity (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), illness uncertainty (Mishel Uncertainty in Illness Scale-Community Form), and self-care behaviors (European Heart Failure Self-care Behavior Scale). The mediating effects of depressive symptoms and disease uncertainty were assessed using a bootstrapping method via PROCESS Model 4, a parallel mediation model, in SPSS. The mean age of the participants was 77.41 (SD = 5.35) years. Half (50.8%) had a diagnosis of New York Heart Association Class II heart failure, and 21.6% had a diagnosis of New York Heart Association Class III/IV heart failure. Self-care behaviors were found to correlate negatively with physical symptoms, depressive symptoms, and uncertainty. Depressive symptoms (B = -0.10, 95% confidence interval [CI] [-0.18, -0.01]) and uncertainty (B = -0.05, 95% CI [-0.09, -0.01]) were found to mediate the relationship between physical symptoms and self-care behaviors. The findings reveal depressive symptoms and disease uncertainty significantly mediate the relationship between physical symptoms and self-care behaviors in older South Korean men with heart failure. In light of this, cardiovascular nurses should join in targeted educational initiatives tailored to address the unique needs of older men with heart failure that consider psychological factors such as depressive symptoms and uncertainty as well as physical symptom management.

The harmful side of absent leaders: Multifactor leadership and employees’ job-stress-related presenteeism

Abstract This study tests the role of the full range leadership model’s leadership styles in employees’ job-stress-related presenteeism (JSRP). Further, the study tests a model that introduces mediating variables in the relationship between absent leaders and JSRP. Employees from four different types of organizations: police (N = 148), public service (N = 479, not-for-profit (N = 96), and construction (N = 214) completed the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire on their direct supervisor, as well as a self-report measures of JSRP, psychological distress, and work–life balance. Correlations and hierarchical linear regression models showed that laissez-faire leadership had the strongest influence on JSRP for all four organizations. The parallel mediation model results showed that both employee psychological distress and work–life balance partially mediated the relationship between laissez-faire leadership style and employees’ JSRP. These results underscore the importance of looking at absent leaders and how they affect employees negatively.

The Mediating Role of Physical Activity and Self-Rated Health in the Association Between Depression and Quality of Life in Older Europeans: An Analysis Differentiated by Sex.

Objectives: This study investigates the mediating role of moderate physical activity (MPA), vigorous physical activity (VPA), and self-rated health (SRH) in the association between depression and quality of life (QoL) in a large sample of Europeans aged 50 and over, differentiated by sex. Methods: Data from the 2017 Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe were analyzed, including 11,986 individuals (6843 women) aged 50 and older. All information was collected through face-to-face interviews: sociodemographic data, SRH, physical activity levels, depression (EURO-D scale), and QoL (CASP-12). Results: Comparatively, women reported a higher prevalence of depression, a lower perception of QoL, and slightly lower levels of SRH, MPA, and VPA. Parallel mediation models revealed, for both sexes, that an increase in VPA levels was more effective in benefiting SRH; and MPA proved to be a better promoter of QoL. When comparing sexes, only the path depression → VPA → QoL showed a significant difference (p < 0.001). Conclusions: These results provide valuable insights for developing physical activity interventions capable of improving mental health and promoting QoL in older European adults.

A Parallel Mediator Model to Explain the Organizational Performance Oriented to the Quality of Life of People with Intellectual Disabilities: The Employees and Family Members Perspectives

AbstractThis research examines whether employees’ perceptions of service climate are related to organizational performance oriented toward improving the quality of life (QoL) of people with intellectual disability (ID) through the mediation of service quality perceived by family members. The research was conducted in 252 centers for people with ID in Spain. Employees (N = 2.021) reported on service climate. Family members (N = 2.267) reported on service quality and organizational performance oriented toward improving QoL. We used an overall measure of service climate. Service quality was composed of two dimensions: functional (efficiency in the delivery of the core service) and relational (quality of the social interaction between employees and service users beyond the core service) service quality. Organizational performance oriented toward QoL was composed of four dimensions: overall QoL; self-determination; social inclusion; and defense of rights of people with ID. Results supported full mediation, with functional and relational service quality mediating the relationship between service climate and performance oriented toward improving QoL. Implications for research and organizations are also discussed.

The effect and mechanism of acceptance and commitment therapy for young adults’ appearance-based rejection sensitivity and social comparison based on appearances : A randomized controlled trial

This study tested the effect and mechanism of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) on young adults’ appearance-based rejection sensitivity (ARS) and social comparison based on appearance (SCBA). A sample of 190 university students (Mage = 18.35, SD = 0.78; 56.62% female) was randomly assigned to either the ACT group (n = 94) or an active control group (n = 96), which focused on interpersonal discussions about experiences of appearance-based rejection. Participants completed six weekly group interventions, as well as three surveys: a baseline assessment before the intervention (T1), a post-test immediately after the intervention (T2), and a 3-month follow-up (T3). Clinically significant decreases in ARS and SCBA were observed in the ACT group from baseline to both the post-test and follow-up. Comparisons at each phase indicated that the ACT group outperformed the control group in reducing ARS and SCBA, as well as in improving psychological inflexibility and cognitive fusion. Furthermore, the parallel mediation models supported the mediating roles of psychological inflexibility and cognitive fusion between the ACT intervention and ARS/SCBA. These findings suggest that ACT is effective in reducing ARS and SCBA by improving psychological inflexibility and cognitive fusion. Future research should further explore the effects and mechanisms of ACT on ARS and its related constructs using diversified samples and multiple long-term follow-ups.

Corrigendum to “Courageous Role Model or Threatening Villain: A Parallel Mediation Model of Corporate Activism and Citizen Political Engagement”

Corrigendum to “Courageous Role Model or Threatening Villain: A Parallel Mediation Model of Corporate Activism and Citizen Political Engagement”

Positive psychological traits in the association between family functioning and problematic behavior among secondary vocational students: a parallel mediation model

ABSTRACT The present study explored the effect of family functioning on secondary vocational students’ problematic behavior, and the mediating roles of positive psychological traits (hope, gratitude and grit). A total of 3049 secondary vocational students (15.87 ± 1.00 years old) participated in the current research by completing measures of family functioning, problematic behavior, hope, gratitude and grit. The results indicated that family functioning was negatively correlated with problematic behavior. Secondary vocational students from families with better functioning exhibited less problematic behavior. Furthermore, structural equation analysis revealed that hope, gratitude and grit played parallel mediating roles in the association between family functioning and problematic behavior. Pairwise contrasts suggested grit exerted strongest indirect effect among the three mediators. The current research highlighted the role of positive psychological traits in the comprehension of how family environment affects behavioral development among adolescents from secondary vocational school.

Mortality salience and helping behavior amidst public crisis: cross-sectional evidence during COVID-19.

As a real mortality salience, a public crisis would have a major impact on individual minds, behaviors, and lifestyles. COVID-19 provides us with a stark real-world example to understand these implications. Previous research has revealed that some individuals become more willing to help the infected at the risk of their own lives, while others become more self-centered and indifferent during COVID-19. To explain this paradoxical phenomenon, our study used two rival mediators in the relationship between mortality salience and helping behavior during COVID-19: death anxiety and death reflection. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among Chinese college students (N = 684) during the pandemic. We used a parallel mediation model to explore the mediating roles of death anxiety and death reflection in the relationship between mortality salience and helping behavior during COVID-19. The results of our study indicate two key findings. First, mortality salience is negatively related to helping behavior during COVID-19 via death anxiety. This suggests that individuals with higher levels of mortality salience experienced increased death anxiety, which in turn led to a decrease in helping behavior. Second, mortality salience is positively related to helping behavior during COVID-19 via death reflection. This indicates that individuals with higher levels of mortality salience engaged in deeper reflection on death, which subsequently resulted in an increase in helping behavior. Our study provides valuable insights into the complex relationship between mortality salience and helping behaviors in the time of public crisis, and can help lead to more positive attitudes toward public crisis events such as COVID-19.

Parallel Mediating Effects of Sleep Quality, Psychological Distress, and Self-Stigma in the Associations Between Long COVID Symptoms and Quality of Life Among Taiwanese Individuals With Mental Health Illness.

Long COVID symptoms (i.e., experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 for 3 months post-COVID-19) affect individuals' health and their quality of life (QoL). However, the pathways through which it does so are not fully known. The present study examined the mediating roles of sleep quality, psychological distress, and self-stigma in the associations between long COVID symptoms and QoL among individuals with mental illness. Individuals with mental illness (n = 333) were recruited from a psychiatric center in southern Taiwan to participate in the study. Data were collected regarding sleep quality, psychological distress, self-stigma, and QoL. Independent t-tests, Pearson correlations, and regression with Hayes' Process Macro were used to compare groups, examine relationships, and parallel mediation models, respectively. Participants with long COVID symptoms had significantly worse sleep quality, psychological distress, physical QoL, and psychological QoL compared to those without symptoms. There were significant relationships between sleep quality, psychological distress, self-stigma, and QoL. Sleep quality significantly mediated the associations between long COVID symptoms and physical and social QoL. Psychological distress significantly mediated the associations between long COVID symptoms and all domains of QoL, but not self-stigma. There are alternative pathways (e.g., sleep quality and psychological distress) through which long COVID symptoms may affect the QoL of individuals with mental illness. The findings suggest that individuals with long COVID symptoms have a higher chance of having poor QoL. Therefore, there may be the need for counseling and possible therapy for those who contract COVID-19, especially among individuals who already have mental illness.

Helping Others Facilitates Well-Being for Indigenous Peoples Living With HIV/AIDS in Canada.

Research has found that helping others facilitates well-being for Indigenous peoples living with HIV and AIDS, but limited research exists that investigates the mechanism(s) underlying this relationship. Indigenous perspectives posit that helping others facilitates well-being through the development of an individual's spiritual, physical, emotional, and mental aspects (four aspects). Similarly, self-determination theory posits that helping others facilitates well-being by satisfying basic psychological needs. In the present study, we examined if helping others facilitates well-being through the fulfillment of the spiritual, physical, emotional, and mental aspects among Indigenous peoples living with HIV and AIDS. We used a convergent parallel mixed methods design, coupled with a community-engaged approach grounded in the United Nations Greater Involvement of People Living with HIV and AIDS principles and Indigenous and decolonizing research methodologies. Survey (n = 117) and interview data (n = 9) collected by an Indigenous-led HIV/AIDS organization in Canada were employed to examine the relationship between helping, the four aspects, and well-being. Participants were primarily First Nations leaders and mentors who live with HIV/AIDS, with some Métis and Inuit. A parallel multiple mediation model and reflexive thematic analysis were used to analyze the relationship between helping, the four aspects, and well-being. Mixed-methods findings support the idea that helping others promotes well-being by fulfilling the emotional and mental aspects. Qualitative findings demonstrated this relationship for all four aspects. This research may facilitate the development of programs to support Indigenous peoples living with HIV/AIDS well-being and contribute to the literature on integrating Indigenous perspectives and methodologies within psychological research.

Verbal Weight-Related Abuse and Binge Eating Behavior: The Mediating Role of Attentional Bias to Threat Cues and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation.

Previous studies investigated the impact of weight-related abuse (WRA) on eating pathology. However, the circumstances of such an effect are still unclear. Our study aimed to examine the relationship between verbal WRA and binge eating (BE) behavior via attentional bias (AB) to threat cues and difficulties in emotion regulation. We conducted a parallel mediation model. On the basis of the purposive sampling method, 183 individuals with obesity and overweight (70.5% female and 28.4% male; Meanage=32.78), from February to June 2019, were recruited from a nutrition clinic in Tehran. The participants completed the BE scale (BES), the weight-related abuse questionnaire (WRAQ), the difficulties in emotion regulation scale (DERS), and the dot probe task (DPT). AB to threat cues had a significantly negative association with verbal WRA and BE. Difficulties in emotion regulation showed a significant positive association with verbal WRA and BE. The parallel mediation model showed a direct effect of verbal WRA on BE. Moreover, the bootstrap analysis revealed that difficulties in emotion regulation could mediate the association between verbal WRA and BE. Our findings suggest that experiences of verbal WRA can contribute to cognitive bias to negative emotion, maladaptive emotion regulation strategies, and behavioral problems like BE.

Workplace ostracism and counterproductive work behaviour: parallel mediation of felt accountability and emotional exhaustion

PurposeThe study aims to address the limited understanding on the role of cognitive mechanisms in workplace ostracism (WO) and negative workplace behaviours (such as counterproductive workplace behaviours (CWBs)) relation. Although the affective routes of this relationship have been extensively studied, the role of cognitive routes remains largely unexplored.Design/methodology/approachA parallel mediation model was developed to study the affective (emotional exhaustion) and the cognitive (felt accountability) mechanisms within the WO and CWBs relation. Regulatory focus theory was used to explain how these routes may influence CWB. Data for the study were gathered cross-sectionally, with common method bias checks. We analysed through Smart PLS for the measurement model and SPSS Hayes PROCESS macros for the structural model.FindingsStudy results corroborated the proposed model on the salience of the newly proposed cognitive pathway in relation to the affective route of the WO–CWB model.Originality/valueThis research underscores a novel cognitive pathway, felt accountability, in the WO–WB relation, expanding upon the predominantly affective-focused extant literature. Furthermore, the study outlines both theoretical and practical implications, along with highlighting limitations and potential directions for future inquiries.

Are students with high creativity skills successful writers? A parallel mediation model

The relationship between creativity and writing success is a matter of curiosity for many researchers, educators, and people in general. Many would likely expect that creative individuals would have higher writing success. This study aimed to determine the mediating roles of writing self-efficacy, writing motivation, and writing disposition in the relationship between creativity and writing success of primary school students. A relational research model was used in the study conducted with 300 primary school students. Correlational analysis and mediating variable analysis were performed with the data obtained with five data collection tools. The analysis results showed significant relationships between the variables: Creativity, writing self-efficacy, writing motivation, and writing disposition were found to significantly predict writing success. In addition, the findings revealed that writing self-efficacy, motivation, and disposition each have a parallel mediating role between creativity and writing success. The study's results are discussed in connection to the pertinent research literature, and recommendations are made.

Contrast Avoidance and Anxiety Sensitivity Mediate the Relationship Between Childhood Maltreatment and Psychological Distress in Young Adulthood.

Childhood maltreatment (CM) is associated with elevated depression and anxiety in young adulthood; however, there is a dearth of research identifying the intermediary pathways that link CM to these phenomena. The present study investigated two psychological factors-contrast avoidance, sensitivity to and avoidance of sudden negative emotional shifts, and anxiety sensitivity, the fear of arousal-related body sensations-as potential mediators of the relationship between CM and psychological distress in young adulthood. Our sample consisted of 280 undergraduate students who completed self-report measures of childhood maltreatment, anxiety sensitivity, contrast avoidance (i.e., the Contrast Avoidance Questionnaire), and psychological distress. We constructed a series of parallel mediation models to test whether contrast avoidance and anxiety sensitivity mediate the relationships between child maltreatment and psychological distress. CM was related to anxiety and stress indirectly through both contrast avoidance and anxiety sensitivity but was related to depression only through contrast avoidance. There were no significant differences in the magnitude of the indirect effects between contrast avoidance and anxiety sensitivity for the models predicting anxiety and stress. Contrast avoidance and anxiety sensitivity both appear to play important roles in understanding how early experiences of CM relate to psychological distress in young adulthood. Theoretical and clinical implications are discussed.

Self-esteem and Depression Symptoms among late Adolescents: A Parallel Mediation Model

Self-esteem and Depression Symptoms among late Adolescents: A Parallel Mediation Model