Zhiguang Fan

Psychological entitlement is often associated with maladaptive traits and negative behaviors and leads to interpersonal problems. This study examined the validity of the Psychological Entitlement Scale (PES) in the older adult population and its equivalence across age groups. In Study 1, we surveyed 1826 older adults. and conducted item analysis, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), Cronbach’s alpha, and McDonald’s omega. Building on Study 1, we surveyed an additional sample of 3730 adults and 2374 emerging adults in Study 2 to examine the measurement invariance of the PES across the adult lifespan. EFA extracted a single factor explaining 70.91% of the variance, with factor loadings ranging from 0.75 to 0.88 and communalities from 0.56 to 0.78. CFA showed that the single-factor model fit well (χ²/df = 4.821, RMSEA = 0.067, SRMR = 0.018, CFI = 0.988, IFI = 0.988, TLI = 0.978). In Study 2, we found that the PES exhibits measurement equivalence across different age groups. Moreover, the psychological privilege of older adults is significantly higher than that of adults and emerging adults. The PES has good reliability and validity and can be used as a valid tool to assess the psychological privilege of Chinese older adults.

Background: International students encounter multiple acculturative stressors that challenge their psychological adaptation, and although self-control has been shown to promote psychological well-being in general populations, how its adaptive effects may be moderated by beliefs about being alone in intercultural transition contexts remains underexamined. This study investigated the association between self-control and intercultural psychological adaptation among international students, and whether beliefs about being alone moderate this relationship differently under positive versus negative belief conditions. Methods: This study used convenience sampling to recruit 174 international students in China. A hybrid experimental-correlational design was adopted, with self-control as the measured independent variable, beliefs about being alone as the experimentally manipulated moderator, and intercultural psychological adaptation as the dependent variable. Hierarchical regression analysis and simple slope analysis were conducted. Results: Self-control was closely associated with psychological adaptation (B = 0.648, p < 0.001). Beliefs about being alone moderated this relationship (interaction B = −0.442, p = 0.06). Simple slope analysis revealed a buffering interaction pattern: the self-control—adaptation association was stronger under negative beliefs (B = 0.879, p < 0.001) than under positive beliefs (B = 0.405, p = 0.02). Conclusions: This study provides evidence that self-control is associated with intercultural psychological adaptation, and beliefs about being alone moderate this relationship in a dual pattern: positive beliefs buffer the disadvantage associated with lower self-control, whereas negative beliefs heighten the reliance on self-control for adaptation. These findings extend the Strength Model of Self-Control and Cognitive Appraisal Theory to intercultural contexts, and suggest that reframing being alone as an opportunity for restoration may offer a low-cost, scalable strategy for supporting at-risk intercultural populations.

Objective: International students frequently face psychological adaptation difficulties while studying and living abroad. As an effective psychological resource, positive solitude has been identified as a potential factor for improving psychological well-being, but the underlying mechanism linking the two has not been fully explored. The current study aims to explore the relationship between positive solitude and psychological adaptation of international students, with particular emphasis on the intermediary roles of authenticity and loneliness. Methods: A total of 529 international tertiary students (Mage = 23.76, SD = 5.08; 60.68% male) were surveyed using the Positive Solitude Scale (PSS), Authenticity Scale (AS), 6-item UCLA Loneliness Scale (ULS-6), and Brief Psychological Adaptation Scale (BPAS). SPSS27.0 was used for descriptive statistical analysis and Pearson correlation analysis. PROCESS macro (Model 6) was employed to test a serial mediation model, in which authenticity and loneliness function as intermediary variables between positive solitude and psychological adaptation. Results: The correlation analysis indicated significant associations among positive solitude, authenticity, loneliness, and psychological adaptation (r = −0.544~0.511). Positive solitude was directly and positively related to psychological adaptation (β = 0.132, t = 3.609, p < 0.001) and indirectly related to psychological adaptation through two pathways: a single mediation via authenticity (indirect effect = 0.089) and a serial mediation through authenticity and loneliness (indirect effect = 0.062). Loneliness did not serve as a significant mediator (indirect effect = –0.015, 95% CI [–0.049, 0.019]). The total indirect effect was 0.136. Conclusions: Interventions targeting international students’ capacity for experiencing positive solitude and authenticity can help to reduce loneliness and increase psychological adaptation. The findings derived from this study are conducive to understanding the relationship between positive solitude and psychological adaptation, as well as its underlying mechanisms. In addition, the study offers a new perspective for educational management and psychological counseling services for international students.

Background: Stigma can not only threaten the self-identity of secondary vocational students, but also have negative effects on their mental health and behavior. Objective: This study aimed to develop the Self-Stigma Scale for Secondary Vocational Students (SSS-SVS) and test its reliability and validity. Patients and Methods: This study formed a scale based on the stigma conceptualization model and open questionnaire. The formal survey was divided into two stages. In the first stage, a preliminary questionnaire was administered to 328 secondary vocational students to develop a formal SSS-SVS according to the results of the data check. In the second stage, the SSS-SVS, Social Recognition of Secondary Vocational Students (SR-SVS), Intensity of Willingness to Become a Secondary Vocational Student (IWB-SVS), Stigma-Consciousness Scale (SCS), Learning Adjustment Scale (LAS), Professional Identity Scale for Secondary Vocational Students (PIS-SVS), and the Self-Compassion Scale (SCoS) were administered to 1079 vocational secondary school students. Results: The SSS-SVS consisted of 21 items which were divided into three dimensions of negative characteristics, self-deprecation, and opportunity loss, reflecting secondary vocational students’ perception of negative public evaluation, self-feeling under the influence of stigma, and cognition of negative impact on their identity. The confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) shows that the three-factor model has good fit indices. The total score and the scores of each dimension of the SSS-SVS were significantly and positively correlated with Stigma Consciousness; they were significantly and negatively correlated with SA-SVS, IDB-SVS, SVS-PIS, Learning Adjustment, and Self-Compassion. Both the Cronbach’s α coefficients of the total scale and each dimension and the McDonald’s ω coefficients were satisfactory. Additionally, the scale had measurement equivalence across gender and grade levels. The SSS-SVS has limitations and may be affected by cultural background. Future studies should expand the sample and conduct cross-cultural verification. Conclusion: The SSS-SVS is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing secondary vocational students’ self-stigma, providing support for developing relevant programs and policies. It also advances secondary vocational education and enhances students’ mental health.

Objective: Loneliness and psychological distress are serious challenges for older adults to cope with and factors threatening life quality and happiness during their remaining years. Older people’s attitudes and evaluations towards loneliness potentially affect psychological distress. Therefore, the current study aimed to examine the relationship between the stigma of loneliness and the psychological distress of older adults, further exploring the mediating effect of distress disclosure and loneliness. Methods: Conducted during February and March 2024, the questionnaire survey included 933 older adults (age 65– 89) using the Stigma of Loneliness Scale (SLS), Distress Disclosure Index (DDI), UCLA Loneliness scale (ULS-6), and 6-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6). The obtained data were for descriptive statistical analysis, correlation analysis, and chain mediation model testing. Results: Stigma of loneliness was significantly positively correlated with loneliness and psychological distress (r=0.61– 0.69, p< 0.01), and distress disclosure was negatively correlated with stigma of loneliness, loneliness, and psychological distress (r=− 0.37–− 0.48, p< 0.01). Stigma of loneliness can not only directly affect the psychological distress of older adults (effect value=0.38), but also indirectly affect psychological distress through the mediating roles of distress disclosure (effect value=0.04) and loneliness (effect value=0.20), and the chain mediating effect of the two (effect value=0.05). Conclusion: The study redounds to the in-depth understanding of the effect of the stigma of loneliness on psychological distress among older people and its internal mechanism. The research results contribute to theoretical reference in explaining the formation background of psychological distress among older cohorts, which intends to provide empirical evidence for intervention studies of reducing psychological distress.

Loneliness is a common emotional experience among international students that can affect their mental health, cultural adaptation, and academic development. Therefore, the present study aimed to explore the relationship between a sense of power and loneliness among international students, and to examine the mediating role of loneliness stigma and perceived discrimination. The study used the generalized sense of power scale, experiences with discrimination scale, stigma loneliness scale (SLS), and UCLA loneliness scale-6 (ULS -6) for 529 international students in China. The study conducted descriptive statistical analysis, Pearson correlation analysis, Spearman correlation analysis, and chain mediation model test on the obtained data using SPSS 20.0 and PROCESS v4.0. The sense of power was significantly negatively related to perceived discrimination, and loneliness stigma, with the result that loneliness, and perceived discrimination, loneliness stigma, and loneliness were significantly positively related. The sense of power can directly affect international students’ loneliness (β = -0.167, t = -4.298, p < 0.01), or indirectly affect loneliness through three paths: the mediating role of perceived discrimination, the mediating role of loneliness stigma, and the chain mediating role of perceived discrimination and loneliness stigma. The total indirect effect value was -0.234, and the indirect effect values for each pathway were -0.153, -0.059, and -0.022, respectively. A sense of power can directly affect loneliness in international students and indirectly by reducing perceived discrimination and loneliness stigma. The results of this study contributed to a better understanding of the relationship between a sense of power and loneliness and its mechanism, providing a reference for carrying on mental health education work for international students.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to translate and validate the adolescents’ ageism toward older adults scale (AGES) in the Chinese cultural context and examine its psychometric properties among Chinese adolescents. Methods: The study consists of two phases with two separate samples. In phase one (sample 1: n = 407), exploratory factor analysis (EFA) is conducted to determine the factor structure of the C-AGES. In phase two (sample 2: n = 379), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) is performed to confirm the factor structure and assess the model fit of the C-AGES. Results: EFA reveals a two-factor structure consisting of 17 items for the C-AGES. CFA in sample 2 confirms the factor structure and demonstrates good model fit. The C-AGES also exhibits high criterion validity, internal consistency, and cross-gender invariance. Discussion: The results suggest that the C-AGES is a valid measurement tool for assessing agism among Chinese adolescents.

Background: Individuals who initiate the concealment of their adverse or distressing thoughts from others can trigger off negative psychological experiences and social isolation, and lead to poorer health. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the psychometric properties of the Self-Concealment Scale (SCS) in Chinese older adults. Methods: A questionnaire was administered to 1085 elderly people using convenience sampling and snowball sampling. Scales used included the SCS, Distress Disclosure Index (DDI), Revised Cheek and Buss Shyness Scale (RCBS), Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS), Social Phobia Scale (SPS), UCLA Loneliness Scale (ULS-8), and Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10). Results: The SCS consisted of 10 items with a one-dimensional structure, explaining 55.66% of the variance. The factor loading values for each item ranged from 0.68 to 0.75, and the covariance ranged from 0.46 to 0.57. Confirmatory factor analysis showed good model fit (χ 2/df=2.829, RMSEA=0.057, CFI=0.981, IFI=0.981, TLI=0.974, PNFI=0.712, PGFI=0.719). The criterion-related validity test found that the SCS was significantly and positively correlated with the RCBS, SIAS, SPS, ULS-8, K10, depression, and anxiety; and the SCS was significantly and negatively correlated with the DDI. The Cronbach’s α coefficient value for the scale was 0.923; the split-half reliability coefficient value was 0.923. In addition, the SCS had cross-gender consistency. Conclusion: The SCS has good reliability and validity in older adults and can be used as a valid tool to assess self-concealment among older people.