Perceived self-society moral discrepancies concerning fairness predict depression and paranoid ideation

The relationship between physical exercise and sense of social fairness among college students: the chain-mediated role of perceived social support and life satisfaction

Background

The development of a stable society is closely linked to a prevalent sense of social fairness. Participating in physical activities, which are inherently social, plays a crucial role in fostering mental stability within social contexts.

Objective

This study aims to examine how physical exercise influences the sense of social fairness among college students, focusing on the potential mediating effects of perceived social support and life satisfaction.

Methods

The study surveyed 496 Chinese college students using several scales: the Physical Activity Rating Scale-3 (PARS-3), Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS), Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), and Social Justice Scale (SJS).

Results

(1) A positive correlation was found between physical exercise and sense of social fairness (r = 0.151, p < 0.01). A significant direct effect of physical exercise on sense of social fairness was also observed (β = 0.151, t = 3.971, p < 0.01). (2) Physical exercise was a positive predictor of perceived social support (β = 0.113, t = 4.062, p < 0.01), which in turn positively influenced both life satisfaction (β = 0.333, t = 18.047, p < 0.01) and sense of social fairness (β = 0.485, t = 6.931, p < 0.01). Additionally, life satisfaction had a positive effect on sense of social fairness (β = 0.431, t = 3.247, p < 0.01). (3) Both perceived social support and life satisfaction significantly mediated the relationship between physical exercise and sense of social fairness through two pathways: physical exercise → perceived social support → sense of social fairness (mediating effect: 0.055); and physical exercise → perceived social support → life satisfaction → sense of social fairness (mediating effect: 0.016).

Conclusion

(1) Physical exercise enhances both perceived social support and the sense of social fairness among college students, suggesting that it not only directly contributes to an enhanced sense of social fairness but also fosters supportive social relationships. (2) The influence of physical exercise on the sense of social fairness operates both directly and indirectly through the mediating roles of perceived social support and, sequentially, life satisfaction.

Cross-Cultural Values: A Meta-Analysis of Major Quantitative Studies in the Last Decade (2010–2020)

Since 2010, scholars have made major contributions to cross-cultural research, especially regarding similarities and differences across world regions and countries in people’s values, beliefs, and morality. This paper accumulates and analyzes extant multi-national and quantitative studies of these facets of global culture. The paper begins with a summary of the modern history of cross-cultural research, then systematically reviews major empirical studies published since 2010, and next analyzes extant approaches to interpret how the constructs of belief, morality, and values have been theorized and operationalized. The analysis reveals that the field of cross-cultural studies remains dominated by Western approaches, especially studies developed and deployed from the United States and Western Europe. While numerous surveys have been translated and employed for data collection in countries beyond the U.S. and Western Europe, several countries remain under-studied, and the field lacks approaches that were developed within the countries of interest. The paper concludes by outlining future directions for the study of cross-cultural research. To progress from the colonialist past embedded within cross-cultural research, in which scholars from the U.S. and Western Europe export research tools to other world regions, the field needs to expand to include studies locally developed and deployed within more countries and world regions.