The Influence of Social Environment: Behavior of Unrelated Adults Affects Future Juvenile Behaviors

The Effect of Future Time Perspective on Internet Dependence Among College Students in Pandemic Time: A Moderated Mediation Analysis

Purpose

Social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly increased the probability of Internet dependence. This study sought to examine the relation between future time perspective and college students' Internet dependence, as well as the mediating role of boredom proneness and the moderating effect of self-control in the link between boredom proneness and Internet dependence.

Materials and Methods

A questionnaire survey was carried out among college students from two universities in China. A sample of 448 participants varying from freshmen to seniors completed questionnaires on future time perspective, Internet dependence, boredom proneness and self-control.

Results

Results indicated that college students with high future time perspective were less likely to fall into Internet dependence and boredom proneness mediated this relationship. The relation between boredom proneness and Internet dependence was moderated by self-control. Boredom proneness had a greater impact on Internet dependence for students with low self-control.

Conclusion

Future time perspective could influence Internet dependence through the mediating role of boredom proneness, which is moderated by self-control. The results advanced our understanding of how future time perspective affected college students' Internet dependence, revealing that intervention strategies which could improve students' self-control would be instrumental in reducing Internet dependence.

The Relationship Between Future Time Perspective and Self-Esteem: A Cross-Cultural Study of Chinese and American College Students

The present study explored cross-cultural differences in future time perspective (FTP) and self-esteem and investigated whether the relationship between FTP and self-esteem differs between China and America. The FTP Scale and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale were administered to 460 Chinese and 340 American undergraduates. Results showed that American undergraduates scored higher on the future-negative, future-positive, future-confusion, future-perseverant, and future-perspicuity subscales than did Chinese undergraduates; American undergraduates also had higher self-esteem than did Chinese undergraduates. The dimensions of FTP (future-negative, future-positive, future-confusion, and future-perseverant) significantly predicted self-esteem in both the Chinese and American samples. These results broaden our understanding of cross-cultural differences in FTP and self-esteem. Implications and future directions are discussed.

Seasonal and geographic variation in territorial conflicts by male red-backed salamanders

We studied seasonal and geographic variation in the territorial behaviour of male red-backed salamanders, Plethodon cinereus. We examined tail loss in the forest and aggressive and submissive behaviour in the laboratory during summer (non-courtship season) and spring and autumn (courtship seasons) at two localities in Virginia, USA. In both populations, the proportion of tail loss was highest during the spring, while aggression was higher in the summer than in the spring or autumn. Thus, aggression was not directly associated with male–male contests for females or to tail loss. Secondly, we examined geographic variation using males from eight populations varying in elevation, genetic relatedness (two genetic groups), and presence/absence of similar-sized congeners. Behaviour differed based on elevation and genetic group: residents from lower elevations were more submissive and males from one genetic group were more submissive than those from a second genetic group. Therefore, resident-intruder behaviour varied seasonally and geographically.

Experimental evaluation of agonistic behaviour, chemical communication, spacing, and intersexual associations of the Eastern Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus) near its northern range limit

Territorial behaviour is the use of aggression and advertisement in the defense of a fixed area. In the Eastern Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus (Green, 1818)), territoriality is prevalent in Virginia, USA, near the southern extent of its range, but few studies have examined whether northern populations exhibit territorial behaviour. We tested for some prerequisites of territorial behaviour in P. cinereus at the northern extent its range, near North Bay, Ontario, Canada. In laboratory trials, we found that adult male P. cinereus exhibited a modest degree of aggression, and intruding salamanders attempted to escape the experimental chamber more often than residents. We also found that P. cinereus were able to differentiate between familiar and unfamiliar substrates, suggesting pheromonal communication and a potential for territorial advertisement. However, while male–female pairs were common at six sampling sites during the mating season, adult salamanders consistently exhibited a random spatial distribution during the nonmating season. Our study suggests that local P. cinereus exhibit low-level aggression but may not defend fixed areas. One possibility is that P. cinereus may generally not benefit from territorial behaviour in cooler climates, as evapotranspiration rates will be lower and foraging activity less restricted compared with more southern climates.