Serial Multiple Mediation Model Research Articles

Investigating the importance of social presence on intentions to adopt an AI romantic partner

ABSTRACT Artificial intelligence (AI) technology has created the possibility of a machine agent serving as a relationship partner. Though this may sound like a radical idea, this type of technology is already available. To understand this new and unique phenomenon, the present study investigates perceptions of an AI romantic partner in a serial multiple mediator model. Based on data collected from male, undergraduate students, the study finds that the perceived social presence of an AI romantic partner leads to greater perceived realism of interacting with the AI, which fosters more favorable attitudes toward the AI. Finally, more favorable attitudes lead to greater intentions to adopt the AI. Collectively, the findings suggest the need to further investigate how people perceive personalized AI agents in relation to their personal and social life.

EVALUATING THE EFFECT OF WISDOM ON CORPORATE MANAGERS’ INTENTIONS TO CONTRIBUTE TO NON-STATE SOCIAL PROTECTION IN THE FUTURE

Topicality: Management literature largely frames business contributions to a society based on concepts of ‘responsibility’ and ‘business case’. Even though the ‘responsibility’ discourse is considered less effective, experiments on the ‘business case’ did not result in a strong positive intention of corporate managers towards society. The underpinnings of these two concepts are called into question in periods of crisis and uncertainty, where wisdom is especially required for decision-making. The research aim: This study aims to assess the effects of wisdom on corporate managers’ intentions to contribute to non-state social protection in the future. Methodology: The authors conducted a survey and mediation analysis of a serial multiple mediation model using Andrew Hayes’s PROCESS Macro as an add-in SPSS. Findings: The research finds a strong relationship between wisdom and corporate managers’ good intentions and concludes that wise corporate managers have good intentions to contribute to non-state social protection in the future. Wise corporate managers have good intentions towards society. Novelty: This research pushes the boundaries of SPW theory by empirically showing that wisdom also leads to good intentions. In addition, the study contributes to the scant literature on wise management decision-making and on non-state social protection. Keywords: Decision-making, non-state social protection, health crisis, social responsibility, wisdom, intentions. JEL Code: M140 Paper classification: Research paper

The influence of meaning in life on psychological distress among men: A serial multiple mediation model involving resilience and loneliness

Although studies have reported a significant inverse association between meaning in life and psychological distress, little is known about this association, specifically among men, or its potential underlying mechanisms. Accordingly, this study investigated prospective pathways connecting meaning in life to men's psychological distress through the serial mediation effects of resilience and loneliness. In total, 364 male respondents provided demographic data and completed an online survey to assess meaning in life, resilience, loneliness, and psychological distress. Simple and serial mediation models were tested to examine whether resilience and loneliness mediated the association between meaning in life and men's psychological distress, both separately and jointly. Direct and indirect effects of meaning in life on men's psychological distress were found. As predicted, both resilience and loneliness independently mediated the association between meaning in life and men's psychological distress. In addition, serial mediation analysis indicated that resilience and loneliness mediated the association between meaning in life and men's psychological distress via a sequential process. The findings advance knowledge concerning the influence of meaning in life on men's psychological distress and two critical underlying mechanisms in this relationship. Clinical interventions for men that enhance meaning in life may help bolster resilience and reduce loneliness, diminishing psychological distress.

대학 졸업예정자의 희망, 진로적응성, 진로구성행동, 진로만족 간의 관계

Objectives The purpose of this study was to verify whether career adaptability and career construction behavior were double-mediated in the relationship between hope and career satisfaction of prospective college graduates using a serial multiple mediation model. It was to apply the model of career adaptation of Savicaks(2013, 2020) to college students who are about to transition from school to work.
 Methods A survey was conducted on hopes, career adaptability, career construction behavior, and career satisfaction for 260 prospective graduates of four-year universities nationwide. Data were analyzed using SPSS 27.0 and SPSS PROCESS MACRO Model 4 and 6 were used for simple mediation model and serial multiple mediation model analysis.
 Results A significant positive correlation was found between hope, career adaptability, career construction behavior, and career satisfaction. In addition, career adaptability and career construction behavior double-mediated the relationship between hope and career satisfaction. That is, the results showed that career adaptability and career construction sequentially mediate the relationship between hope and career satisfaction.
 Conclusions The research results support the career adaptation model of Savickas (2013, 2020), and examine the roles of hope, career adaptability, and career construction behavior for career satisfaction of prospective college graduates. The implications and limitations of this study are discussed.

A Study on the Relationship between Disability Support of Workplace and Job Satisfaction for Youth with Developmental Disabilities: Examination of the Double Mediation Effect of Occupational Ability and Job Adaptation

본 연구는 발달장애 청년을 대상으로 실시한 직장의 장애 관련 지원이 직무만족에 미치는 영향에서 직업적 능력과 직무적응의 이중매개효과를 검증하는 데 목적이 있다. 이를 위해 ｢2020년 발달장애인 일과 삶 실태조사｣ 응답 자료를 활용하였으며, 만 19세 이상 만 40세 미만의 발달장애 청년 중 현재 취업상태인 576명의 자료를 최종 분석에 활용하였다. 분석은 SPSS PROCESS macro 프로그램을 활용하여 매개변수가 2개인 직렬다중 매개모형 검증을 통해 이중매개효과를 확인하였으며, 부트스트랩을 활용하여 매개효과의 유의성을 검증하였다. 본 연구의 주요 결과는 다음과 같다. 첫째, 발달장애청년에 대한 직장의 장애 관련 지원은 직업적 능력에, 직업적 능력은 직무 적응에, 직무 적응은 직무만족에 정적으로 유의한 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났으나, 직업 관련 직장의 지원이 발달장애 청년의 직무만족에 미치는 직접 효과는 통계적으로 유의하지 않은 것으로 나타났다. 둘째, 직장의 장애 관련 지원이 발달장애 청년의 직무만족에 이르는 경로에서 직업적 능력과 직무 적응을 순차적으로 경유하는 간접효과 경로만이 유의한 것으로 나타나 이중매개효과가 확인되었다. 이러한 결과를 토대로 취업한 발달장애 청년의 직무만족을 높이고, 직무 능력과 직무적응도를 높임으로써 사측에도 긍정적인 영향을 미치는 직장의 장애 관련 지원 확대의 필요성을 제시하였다The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of disability-related support at work for youth with developmental disabilities on job satisfaction and verify double mediation effect of occupational ability and job adaptation. We used the data of ｢2020 Survey on Work and Life Survey for Developmental Disabilities｣and the responses of 576 people who are currently employed among young people with developmental disabilities aged 19 to 39 were used for the analysis. As analysis methods, the double mediation effect was confirmed through serial multiple mediation model verification and the significance of the double mediation effect was verified by bootstrap using the SPSS PROCESS macro program. The main results of this study are as follows. First, it was found that workplace disability-related support for young people with developmental disabilities had a positively significant effect on occupational ability, occupational ability on job adaptation, and job adaptation on job satisfaction. but the direct effect of disability- related support of workplace on job satisfaction was not significant. Second, in the path that disability-related support at work leads to job satisfaction of youth with developmental disabilities, only the indirect effect of sequentially passing through job ability and job adaptation was significant, confirming the double mediating effect. Based on these results, we suggested the necessity of expanding disability-related support in the workplace which has a positive effect on job satisfaction by increasing the job ability and job adaptability of working youth with developmental disabilities.

Gender role attitudes and work-family conflict: A multiple mediating model including moderated mediation analysis.

With the fierce labor market competition, the family population's size continues to expand, and the conflict between work and family requirements for individual roles becomes increasingly intense. Most studies focus on work-family conflict as an antecedent variable, and few studies use work-family conflict as an outcome variable. This study aimed to explore the underlying mechanism of the relationship between gender role attitudes and work-family conflict. Two models were tested using conditional process analysis for testing direct and indirect effects on a sample of 324 employees: A serial multiple mediation model, and the multiple mediation model including the moderating role of education level and subjective socioeconomic status. The results suggested that (1) gender role attitudes significantly and positively predicted work-family conflict. (2) Parental sacrifice and subjective well-being played multiple mediating roles between gender role attitudes and work-family conflict. (3) Education level moderated the relationship between gender role attitudes and parental sacrifice, as evidenced by the fact that low education level amplified the positive predictive effect of gender role attitudes on parental sacrifice. (4) Subjective socioeconomic status moderated the relationship between gender role attitudes and subjective well-being, suggesting that high subjective socioeconomic status amplified the negative predictive effect of gender role attitudes on subjective well-being. This work contributes to the understanding of the process underlying the relationship between gender role attitudes and work-family conflict, and to the literature reporting the possible moderated role of education level and subjective socioeconomic status on the influence outcomes of gender role attitudes. Theoretical and practical implications are also discussed.

Cultural values and energy-saving attitude-intention-behavior linkages among urban residents: a serial multiple mediation analysis based on stimulus-organism-response model

PurposeBased on stimulus-organism-response (S-O-R) theory and a serial multiple mediation model, this study aims to examine the relationships between cultural values and energy-saving behaviors as well as the mediation mechanisms of attitudes towards energy-saving and energy-saving intentions underlying these links.Design/methodology/approachA sample of 1,514 urban residents collected in five big cities in Vietnam and Structural Equation Modeling were employed to test the hypothesized model.FindingsThe study yields that energy-saving behaviors can be directly influenced by long-term orientation, but not by collectivism, while both collectivism and long-term orientation work as stimulus which immediately inspire attitude towards energy-savings and energy-saving intentions. Interestingly, attitudes towards energy-saving and energy-saving intentions not only serve as the most crucial predictors of entrepreneurial behaviors but also cooperate a serial mediation role in the impacts of cultural values on energy-saving behaviors.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings of this research can be valuable for policymakers to inspire urban residents’ energy conservation behavior for sustainable development goals.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the pro-environment literature by adopting the S-O-R theory to investigate the impacts of cultural values on the energy-saving attitude-intention-behavior relationships, explain the underlying mediation mechanism of energy-saving attitudes and intentions in transferring the influences of cultural values on energy-saving behaviors, and bridge the attitude-intention-behavior gap in the energy-saving research.

Relationships among perception of teacher autonomy support, achievement motivations, intellectual risk-taking, and science academic performance: a serial mediation model

ABSTRACT Based on self-determination theory and achievement goal theory, this study provided a serial multiple mediation model that examined how students’ perceptions of teacher autonomy support (PTAS) relate to different achievement motivations (mastery and performance-approach goals), and further associate with students’ intellectual risk-taking (IRT) engagement and academic performance (AP). A self-report questionnaire and a standardised science academic test were completed by 520 primary school students from China. The structural equation modelling revealed that the positive association between PTAS and students’ AP was serially mediated by achievement motivations and then intellectual risk-taking engagement. Though the unexpected negative direct effects of PTAS on AP suggested the need to optimise autonomous instructional practices, the positive indirect and total effects highlighted the contributions of PTAS to students’ achievement motivation and IRT engagement. The findings instantiated how autonomy support may promote students’ achievement motivations and further influence their learning engagement and academic performance in science. This study would be valuable for educational researchers and practicing teachers as it extends our understanding of what factors are influential in promoting students’ learning outcomes and how they correlate in science learning processes.

The Effects of Internal Market Orientation on Service Providers’ Service Innovative Behavior: A Serial Multiple Mediation Effect on Perceived Social Capital on Customers and Work Engagement

The purpose of this study is to understand the process through which internal market orientation leads to service innovative behavior via a serial multiple mediator model, with perceived social capital on customers and work engagement. It set and verified perceived social capital on customers and work engagement as serial multiple mediation factors between internal market orientation and service innovative behavior. To achieve this, surveys targeting service providers working in the finance and insurance industries in South Korea were conducted. A total of 270 data were collected and used for analysis. The analysis showed that internal market orientation significantly increased perceived social capital on customers, and that perceived social capital on customers positively improved work engagement. In addition, it appeared that work engagement improved service innovative behavior. Regarding the serial multiple mediation effect, the direct effect of internal market orientation on service innovative behavior was not significant, but the serial multiple effect through perceived social capital and work engagement was significant. Thus, perceived social capital and work engagement fully mediated the relationship between internal market orientation and service innovative behavior.

Heart disease symptoms, cognitive functioning, health communication, treatment anxiety, and health-related quality of life in paediatric heart disease: a multiple mediator analysis.

The objective was to investigate the serial mediating effects of perceived cognitive functioning, patient health communication, and treatment anxiety in the relationship between heart disease symptoms and overall generic health-related quality of life in children with heart disease from the patient perspective. Heart Disease Symptoms, Cognitive Problems, Communication and Treatment Anxiety Scales from Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory™ (PedsQL™) Cardiac Module and PedsQL™ 4.0 Generic Core Scales were completed by 278 children with CHD ages 8-18. A serial multiple mediator model analysis was conducted to test the sequential mediating effects of perceived cognitive functioning, patient health communication, and treatment anxiety as intervening variables in the relationship between the heart disease symptoms predictor variable and overall generic health-related quality of life. Heart disease symptoms predictive effects on overall generic health-related quality of life were serially mediated in part by cognitive functioning, patient health communication, and treatment anxiety. In a predictive analytics model with age and gender demographic covariates, heart disease symptoms, perceived cognitive functioning, patient health communication, and treatment anxiety accounted for 67% of the variance in patient-reported overall generic health-related quality of life (p < 0.001), representing a large effect size. Perceived cognitive functioning, patient health communication, and treatment anxiety explain in part the mechanism of heart disease symptoms predictive effects on overall generic health-related quality of life in paediatric heart disease. Identifying the mediators of heart disease symptoms on overall generic health-related quality of life from the patient perspective may inform targeted clinical interventions and future patient-centred clinical research to improve overall daily functioning.

Relationship between active seniors’ job change and life satisfaction: Serial multiple mediation effects of person–job fit and job satisfaction

AbstractWith older workers staying in or re‐entering the workforce post‐retirement, there has been growing interest in the aging workforce. This study examines how active seniors’ job changes impact life satisfaction through person–job fit and job satisfaction. Drawing on conservation of resources, person–job fit, and spillover theories, we developed and tested a serial multiple mediation model on 2183 active seniors using the Korean Labor and Income Panel Study data. The results of PROCESS macro analysis showed that (a) job change negatively affects life satisfaction, (b) both person–job fit and job satisfaction parallelly mediate the job change and life satisfaction relationship, and (c) there is a serial multiple mediation effect of person–job fit and job satisfaction on the job change and life satisfaction relationship. Our study reveals the link between work and nonwork domains as informed by the three theories, extends the existing literature on life satisfaction from a bottom‐up perspective, and considers cultural characteristics.

Abstract 12704: Race And Quality of Life Among Patients With Heart Failure—A Serial Multiple Mediator Model

BACKGROUND: Black patients have worse quality of life than Whites. Depression and sleep quality are associated with quality of life (QoL). However, the manner in which depression and sleep quality influence the relationship between race and QoL in patients with HF is unclear. Objective: To explore whether depressive symptoms and/or sleep quality mediate the relationship between race and QoL among patients with HF. METHOD: We performed a secondary analysis of data from 271 adults with HF in this descriptive study. Participants were enrolled from out-patient settings in the Northeastern US. Self-reported race (White or Black), depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire), sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), and QoL (Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire) were collected at baseline. A serial multiple mediator analysis was conducted with a regression framework, using the PROCESS macro for SPSS. Results: Ninety-six patients (35.4%) were Black. Race was directly associated with depressive symptoms and sleep quality. Black patients had more depressive symptoms and poorer sleep quality than White patients. Depressive symptoms were directly associated with sleep quality and QoL. Sleep quality was directly associated with QoL. Race was not directly associated with QoL; but indirectly associated with QoL through the following three paths: 1) depressive symptoms; 2) sleep quality; 3) depressive symptoms and sleep quality. Due to more depressive symptoms and/or poorer sleep quality, Black patients had poorer QoL than Whites (Figure). Conclusion: Depressive symptoms and sleep quality independently and in combination mediated the relationship between race and QoL. These findings suggest that screening for depressive symptoms and sleep quality could identify patients at risk for poor QoL, especially in racial minority groups.

Frailty and Quality of Life among Older Adults in Communities: The Mediation Effects of Daily Physical Activity and Healthy Life Self-Efficacy.

As the global population ages, frailty, which has been shown to affect and predict the quality of life (QoL) of older adults, has become a central issue. The aim of this study was to explore the mediating effects of daily physical activity (DPA) and healthy life self-efficacy (HLSE) on the relationship between frailty and QoL in older adults using a serial multiple mediation model. The cross-sectional study was conducted among 210 community-dwelling older adults in Taiwan. Data were collected using the Taiwanese version of the Tilburg Frailty Indicator, the EuroQoL visual analog scale, the Kihon Checklist, and the Chronic Disease Self-Efficacy Scales. The PROCESS macro for SPSS based on the bootstrap method was used to determine the mediating effects of DPA and HLSE on the relationship between frailty and QoL. The results showed that frailty was found to have both direct and indirect effects on QoL. As predicted, DPA and HLSE partially mediated the relationship between frailty and quality of life (DPA: B = -0.71, p &lt; 0.001; HLSE: B = -0.32, p &lt; 0.001). In addition, serial mediation analyses indicated that the association between frailty and QoL was partially mediated by DPA and HLSE in a sequential manner (B = -0.16, p &lt; 0.001). The serial mediation has a causal chain linking DPA and HLSE, with a specified direction of causal flow. According to the results of the serial multiple mediation model, the elderly should be encouraged to continue their activities in daily life, which not only improves self-efficacy and confidence in maintaining health but also reduces the negative impact of frailty on QoL.

Self-perceived burden predicts lower quality of life in advanced cancer patients: the mediating role of existential distress and anxiety

BackgroundSelf-perceived burden (SPB) is an important predictor of quality of life (QoL) in patients with advanced cancer. However, the mechanism how SPB affects patients’ QoL remains unclear. This study aimed to examine the potential mediating roles of existential distress (ED) and anxiety in the relationship between SPB and QoL.MethodsA multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted. 352 advanced cancer patients were recruited from three hospitals in southeast of China. The Self-perceived Burden Scale, the Existential Distress Scale, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Quality-of-Life Concerns in the End of Life Questionnaire were adopted to collect data. Hayes’s bootstrapping method was used to analyze the data.ResultsSPB was negatively associated with QoL (P < 0.01). ED and anxiety partially mediated the relationship between SPB and QoL (P < 0.01). Moreover, ED had direct effects on anxiety, and sequentially QoL (P < 0.01). The serial multiple mediation model of SPB accounted for 73.25% of the variance in QoL in advanced cancer patients.ConclusionsED and anxiety are important mediating factors between SPB and QoL in advanced cancer patients. To improve patients’ QoL, comprehensive interventions for reducing anxiety and ED are highly recommended in clinical practices.

Can audience involvement stimulate visit intention in Chinese Kung Fu? Using a serial multiple mediation model to explore film tourism.

The popularity of film and television causes audiences to flock to the location of filming, and thus film tourism is widely been used as an efficient tool in destination branding and marketing. Accordingly, this study takes Chinese Kung Fu film and television as an example, using the method of regression model to study audience involvement, cognitive destination image, tourists’ anticipated experiences, and visit intention into an overall framework. Findings illustrate a significant positive correlation among these four factors. Specifically, cognitive destination image and tourists’ anticipated experiences have a partial mediating effect on the relationship between audience involvement and visit intention. This study provides three suggestions for the development of film tourism, namely maximizing the marketing effect, strengthening the unity of film and images of destinations, and making full use of modern marketing tools.

The association between meat consumption and muscle strength index in young adults: the mediating role of total protein intake and lean mass percentage.

The aim of this study was to analyse the associations between the consumption of different types of meat and the muscle strength index (MSI) and to examine whether this relationship is mediated by total protein intake (TPI) and lean mass percentage (LM%) in young adults. We conducted a cross-sectional study with first-year university students from Castilla-La Mancha, Spain. Different types of meat consumption (total, red, processed, and white and fish) were separately evaluated using a Food-Frequency Questionnaire. MSI was determined from the handgrip and standing long jump tests. ANCOVA models were used to test the mean differences in MSI by categories of meat consumption. Serial multiple mediation models were used to explore the mediating role of TPI and LM% in the relationship between meat consumption and MSI. All analyses were adjusted for age, sex, and socioeconomic level, identified through a directed acyclic graph. Additional analyses were performed with a small subsample including alcohol intake, tobacco smoking, physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness, and total energy intake as covariates in the multiple mediation models. A total of 230 students (mean age 21.1 ± 2.1years, 66.5% women) were included in the analysis. Young adults with higher meat consumption (total, red, and white and fish) had higher MSI adjusted means than their peers with lower meat consumption (p < 0.05). These associations did not remain after controlling for TPI and LM%. In adjusted mediation analyses, a significant indirect effect was observed through TPI and LM% in the associations between each of the types of meat consumption and MSI. In the additional analyses, a greater effect of white and fish meat consumption on muscle strength through mediation of TPI and LM% was reported compared to red or processed meat consumption, and no significant effects were observed between processed meat consumption and MSI. Higher consumption of total, red, and white and fish meat was associated with increased MSI in young adults. TPI and LM% mediated this relationship.

Pain, pain interference, social and school/work functioning in youth with spinal cord injury: A mediation analysis

Context/Objective The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of pain severity, pain interference and social functioning in a serial multiple mediator model predicting school/work functioning in youth with spinal cord injury (SCI) from their perspective. Design Explanatory or mechanistic study. Setting Pediatric specialty hospital. Participants 125 youth with SCI ages 8–24. Outcome Measures The Pain Severity Item and Pain Interference Scale from the PedsQL™ Spinal Cord Injury Module, and the Social Functioning and School/Work Functioning Scales from the PedsQL™ 4.0 Generic Core Scales Short Form SF15 were completed. Results Hierarchical multiple regression and serial multiple mediator model analyses were conducted to test the percent variability accounted for and the mediating effects of pain interference and social functioning in the association between pain severity and school/work functioning. Pain predictive effects on school/work functioning were serially mediated by pain interference and social functioning. In a predictive analytics model conducted with hierarchical multiple regression analysis, age, sex, pain, pain interference and social functioning accounted for 45% of the variance in youth-reported school/work functioning (P < 0.001), demonstrating a large effect size. Conclusion The mechanisms of the predictive effects of pain severity on school/work functioning in youth with SCI are explained in part by the serial multiple mediator effects of pain interference and social functioning. Identifying the multiple mediators of SCI pain on school/work functioning from the perspective of youth with SCI may facilitate future clinical research and practice to ameliorate impaired daily functioning and improve overall well-being.

Explaining the Relation Between Perceived Social Support and Psychological Well-Being Among Chinese Nursing Students: A Serial Multiple Mediator Model Involving Integrative Self-Knowledge and Self-Integrity.

Addressing numerous calls for understanding the theoretical mechanisms that explain the relationship between perceived social support and psychological well-being to enhance nursing students' mental health. This study focused on how integrative self-knowledge and self-integrity mediate the relationship between perceived social support and psychological well-being. The Structural Equation Model (SEM) was used to estimate the mediation effects on the relationship between perceived social support and psychological well-being among 487 undergraduate nursing students. To examine the directionality of effects, the present study also tested the reverse serial mediation model. Multi-group SEM (MGSEM) was used to test gender differences in the mediation model. Integrative self-knowledge and self-integrity, in sequence, mediated the association between perceived social support and psychological well-being among nursing students. In addition, there was no gender difference in these associations. Improving nursing students' perceived social support, integrative self-knowledge, and self-integrity is beneficial for promoting their mental health.

Mental Health Problems amongst Left-behind Adolescents in China: Serial Mediation Roles of Parent-Adolescent Communication and School Bullying Victimisation

AbstractBackgroundAdolescent mental health is a global public health concern and parental migration has been identified as a risk factor. However, the effect mechanism remained unclear.MethodsA total of 2,737 participants (mean = 11.93, SD = 1.23) were recruited from twelve schools in migrant-sending areas in Zhejiang and Anhui provinces. The participants responded to items in Child Depression Inventory, Parent–Adolescent Communication Scale, Olweus Bully or Victim Questionnaire and socio-demographic questions. Serial multiple mediation models were analysed using the bootstrapping method.ResultsCurrent and previous left-behind (LB) experience were significantly associated with higher risks of depression, non-suicidal self-injury and suicidal ideation (p &amp;lt; 0.05). Mother–adolescent communication and school bullying victimisation, in serial order, mediated the effect of current LB status on mental health (p &amp;lt; 0.05). In terms of previously LB adolescents, parent–adolescent communication was a standalone mediator (p &amp;lt; 0.01) and the serial mediation effect of parent–adolescent communication and school bullying victimisation was significant.ConclusionsLack of parent–adolescent communication and school bullying victimisation acted as risk factors for the negative effect of LB status or experience on adolescent mental health. The importance of these two interpersonal factors motivates future intervention initiatives to support the mental health of LB adolescents from an integrated perspective.

Discrimination and victimization as mediators between social support and psychological distress in autistic adults

BackgroundThe mental health of autistic adults is a critical concern. The aim of this study is to gain a better understanding of how access to professional and social support combines with the experience of discrimination and victimization to explain psychological distress in autistic adults. MethodA cross-sectional online survey was conducted to provide information on psychological distress (Kessler K6), characteristics of the personal social support network, utilization and access to social and professional support, diagnosis and health conditions, and socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents. Two-hundred and twenty-two (222) autistic adults from Quebec (Canada) completed the survey. ResultThe results indicate high rates of psychological distress (51%), significant unmet support needs and many barriers to accessing psychosocial and health services. Four independent serial multiple mediator models confirm that social support and experiences of discrimination and victimization statistically mediate the relationship between professional support and psychological distress. ConclusionsThis study contributes to the understanding of the role of social support in the development of mental health difficulties in autistic people. Several courses of action are proposed, such as the implementation of structural corrective measures for access to services (e.g., limiting waiting times), design of service settings to limit possible sources of hypersensitivity, diversification of appointment methods (telehealth), making general service providers aware of the specific realities and characteristics of autism, greater consideration of the social aspects that influence mental health, the development of peer support programs, and the adoption of a positive and non-ableist view of autism in training programs.