Zhenhong Wang^1,2, Hailong Wu^3,*

Journal of Psychology in Africa, Vol.35, No.6, pp. 863-869, 2025, DOI:10.32604/jpa.2025.073522 - 30 December 2025

Abstract We examined the direct relationship between childhood emotional abuse and depression in adolescents and the mediating roles of resilience and self-efficacy in that relationship. Using a cross-sectional study design, 636 Chinese adolescents (Girls = 48.6%, mean years of service = 15.8, SD = 1.9) completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), the Ego-Resiliency Scale (ERS), the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Mediation analysis revealed that childhood emotional abuse significantly predicted higher levels of depression. Moreover, resilience and self-efficacy were found to mediate this relationship both independently and sequentially. Specifically, resilience accounted More >

Fan Deng^*

Journal of Psychology in Africa, Vol.35, No.6, pp. 797-805, 2025, DOI:10.32604/jpa.2025.068735 - 30 December 2025

Abstract This study investigated the relationship between customer-employee exchange (CEX) and employee work engagement (vigor, dedication, absorption), and the role of psychological safety and self-efficacy mediate that relationship. Survey data were collected from 329 Chinese hotel employees (females = 52.9%, tenure: 1–3 years = 50.5%). The results following ordinary least squares regression and the SPSS PROCESS macro indicate that higher customer-employee exchange is associated with employee vigor, dedication, and absorption. Psychological safety and self-efficacy mediate the relationship between customer-employee exchange and vigor and dedication to be stronger, while the work absorption mediating effect is not significant. More >

Yezi Zeng^1,*, Yufei Cong²

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.27, No.11, pp. 1663-1679, 2025, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2025.072125 - 28 November 2025

Abstract Background: Academic stress is a critical factor influencing university students’ well-being. However, research has shown that stress is not a unidimensional construct; different types of stressors (challenge vs. hindrance) may lead to distinct outcomes. This study constructed a structural equation model (SEM) to examine the relationships between challenge and hindrance academic stressors and students’ well-being, as well as the mediating mechanisms. Methods: Data were collected from 836 undergraduates at six universities in China (58.4% female, 41.6% male; Mean age = 20.47 ± 1.46 years). Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, and SEM with 5000 bootstrap resamples were conducted… More >

Zhijun Liu^*, Junlong Zhang

Journal of Psychology in Africa, Vol.35, No.5, pp. 575-586, 2025, DOI:10.32604/jpa.2025.067476 - 24 October 2025

Abstract This study examined the relationships among social support, career decision-making self-efficacy, goal orientation, and career adaptability, highlighting the bridging roles of career decision-making self-efficacy and goal orientation. A total of 1433 Chinese university students (female = 70.7%; urban = 55.3%, mean age = 19.73 years, SD = 1.60 years) completed validated measures of career adaptability, social support, career decision-making self-efficacy, and goal orientation. Network analysis revealed that social support was associated with higher career adaptability indirectly through career decision-making self-efficacy and goal orientation, which function as key bridging mechanisms. Moreover, urban college students demonstrated greater More >

Ye Tao^*, Ilyana Jalaluddin, Zalina Mohd Kasim

Journal of Psychology in Africa, Vol.35, No.5, pp. 671-679, 2025, DOI:10.32604/jpa.2025.066530 - 24 October 2025

Abstract This study investigated the role of self-efficacy and motivation in the relationship between perfectionism and writing performance. Participants were 500 Chinese EFL (English as a Foreign Language) undergraduates (females = 34%, Mage = 21.56 years, SD = 2.27). The students completed the Self-Reported Writing Proficiency Scale, the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale for Chinese, the Second Language Writer Self-Efficacy Scale, and the English Writing Motivation Questionnaire. Results from Structural Equation Modeling (SEM, Amos 29.0) revealed that perfectionism predicted writing performance positively for students with positive (adaptive) perfectionism, but negatively for those with negative (maladaptive) perfectionism. Self-efficacy and More >

Xiao Hu^1,#, Biao Li^2,#, Jun Qin^2,*

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.27, No.8, pp. 1203-1220, 2025, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2025.066297 - 29 August 2025

Abstract Objectives: Suicidal ideation is a strong predictor of suicide deaths, which refers to the consideration or desire to give up one’s own life. Left-behind children in rural China are more vulnerable to psychological problems and suicidal ideation compared to their non-left-behind peers. The aim of the current study was to examine two potential protective factors, negotiable fate belief and coping self-efficacy, and to test the mediating role of coping self-efficacy in the relationship between negotiable fate belief and suicidal ideation. We also analyzed gender differences in this mediation model. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted… More >

Zhiying Sun¹, Guolong Zhao^2,3, Feng Hu^1,*

Journal of Psychology in Africa, Vol.35, No.4, pp. 513-521, 2025, DOI:10.32604/jpa.2025.070126 - 17 August 2025

Abstract This study examined the relationship between transformational leadership and employee bootleg innovation through the mediating role of creative self-efficacy and the moderating role of leader-member exchange (LMX). Data were collected from 279 employees and 56 matched supervisors within a large Chinese digital transformation group. A moderated mediation model analysis found that transformational leadership predicts higher employee bootleg innovation. Creative self-efficacy mediated the positive relationship between transformational leadership and employee bootleg. Additionally, leader-member exchange significantly moderated the relationship between transformational leadership and creative self-efficacy, for a further enhancement of bootleg innovation. These findings underscore the importance More >

Huan Ma¹, Jinmei Zou^1,*, Ying Zhong²

Journal of Psychology in Africa, Vol.35, No.4, pp. 481-487, 2025, DOI:10.32604/jpa.2025.070066 - 17 August 2025

Abstract This study explored the role of learning engagement in the relationship between academic self-efficacy and self-directed learning ability among nursing students. Participants were 328 Chinese nursing students (male = 11.3%, female = 88.7%; mean age = 20.86 years; SD = 1.75 years). The participants completed surveys on academic self-efficacy (Academic Self-efficacy Scale), learning engagement (Learning Engagement Scale), and self-directed learning ability (Self-directed Learning Instrument). Hayes regression-based PROCESS macro analysis revealed that learning engagement mediated the relationship between academic self-efficacy and self-directed learning ability. The hierarchical regression analysis showed higher academic self-efficacy to be associated with More >

Yunsheng Ruan^*, Li Chen, Zibin Cao, Lina Xu, Chao Han, Qianlu Sun

Journal of Psychology in Africa, Vol.35, No.3, pp. 319-325, 2025, DOI:10.32604/jpa.2025.068970 - 31 July 2025

Abstract This study investigated proactive personality effects on employment preparation and the mediating roles of self-efficacy and career exploration behaviors in this relationship. The study sample comprised 445 university students (68.3% female; aged 20 to 24) from a university in central China. The participants completed measures to assess proactive personality, employment preparation, self-efficacy, and career exploration behaviors. Structural equation modeling analysis results indicated that proactive personality predicted higher employment preparation; Self-efficacy and career exploration behaviors partially mediated this relationship. Specifically, career exploration behaviors had a stronger mediating effect than self-efficacy on the total effect (34.71% vs. More >

Zhijun Liu^*, Jiaxin Liang

Journal of Psychology in Africa, Vol.35, No.3, pp. 361-368, 2025, DOI:10.32604/jpa.2025.068059 - 31 July 2025

Abstract We examined the relationship between social support and career adaptability, as well as the mediating roles of proactive personality and career decision-making self-efficacy in this process. A total of 1354 Chinese college students (female = 964; mean age = 19.53 years, SD = 1.33 years) completed an online questionnaire. Path analysis indicated that social support was positively associated with higher levels of career adaptability. Both proactive personality and career decision-making self-efficacy served as parallel mediators, strengthening the relationship between social support and career adaptability. The complete chain mediation analysis revealed that social support influences career More >