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Sheng W, Fang S. Impact of Moral Elevation on College Students' Sense of Meaning of Life: The Mediating Roles of Gratitude and Perceived Social Support. Psychol Res Behav Manag 2024; 17:1103-1114. [PMID: 38505348 PMCID: PMC10949382 DOI: 10.2147/prbm.s441272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose The current study examined the association between moral elevation and college students' sense of meaning of life, along with the potential mediating effects of gratitude and perceived social support on this relationship. Methods Using the convenience sampling method, the Moral Elevation Scale, the Sense of Meaning of Life Questionnaire, the Gratitude Questionnaire, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support were used to conduct questionnaire surveys on 1088 college students (Mage=19.59 years, SD=1.46). SPSS25.0 data statistics software was used to analyze the data, and the PROCESS macro for SPSS was used to conduct the mediation effect test. Results (1) Moral elevation was significantly and positively associated with college students' sense of meaning of life (β = 0.43,p < 0.001). (2) Both gratitude and perceived social support partially mediated the relation between moral elevation and sense of meaning of life. The indirect effect of moral elevation on sense of meaning of life via gratitude was 0.11 (95% CI = [0.0709, 0.1453]), and the mediating effect accounted for 52.71%. The indirect effect of moral elevation on sense of meaning of life via perceived social support was 0.06 (95% CI = [0.0385, 0.0863]), and the mediating effect accounted for 29.41%. (3) Gratitude and perceived social support sequentially mediated the association between moral elevation and sense of meaning of life, the indirect effect through gratitude and perceived social support was 0.04 (95% CI = [0.0237, 0.0512]) and accounted for 17.88%. Conclusion This study revealed the chain mediating roles of gratitude and perceived social support in the relation between moral elevation and sense of meaning of life for Chinese college students, which is of great theoretical and practical significance for the formation of a positive sense of meaning of life and the cultivation of moral elevation among college students.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Sheng
- School of Educational Science, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shuanghu Fang
- School of Educational Science, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, People’s Republic of China
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Huang M, Fang S. Mechanisms of Self-Control in the Influence of Moral Elevation on Pro-Social Behavior: A Study Based on an Experimental Paradigm. Psychol Res Behav Manag 2024; 17:537-552. [PMID: 38374937 PMCID: PMC10875318 DOI: 10.2147/prbm.s446186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Because the mechanisms by which moral elevation triggers an individual's pro-social behavior remain unclear, this study examined the mediating role of self-control resources in the relationship between moral elevation and pro-social behavior. Methods Experiment 1 examined the effects of moral elevation on self-control resources using two task paradigms, the Stroop task and the Go/NoGo task, with 80 college students as study participants. Experiment 2 was conducted with an additional 140 college students, using both experimental and questionnaire methods to examine the mediating role of self-control resources in the effects of moral elevation on pro-social behavior. Results (1) The results of Experiment 1 showed that the self-control ability of the moral elevation induction group was significantly better than that of the non-induction group. The accuracy rate of self-control tasks in the induction group (0.94 ± 0.01) was significantly higher than that in the non-induction group (0.89 ± 0.01, F(1,79)=19.10, p <0.001, η2=0.50). The mean reaction time of the self-control tasks in the induction group (393.63 ± 3.5) was significantly lower than that in the non-induction group (415.38 ±7.30, F(1,79)=5.87, p =0.026, η2=0.24). (2) The results of Experiment 2 showed a significant positive correlation between moral elevation and self-control resources (r=0.46, p<0.001), a significant positive correlation between moral elevation and pro-social behavior (r=0.33, p<0.001), and a significant positive correlation between self-control resources and pro-social behavior (r=0.31, p<0.001). Not only did moral elevation significantly and positively predict pro-social behavior (β= 0.23, p=0.011), but it also significantly and positively predicted self-control resources (β= 0.46, p<0.001). Self-control resources significantly and positively predicted pro-social behavior (β= 0.20, p=0.025). The bootstrap test for the mediating effect of self-control resources showed that the upper and lower limits of the 95% confidence interval did not include 0 (indirect effect 0.09, 95% CI [0.023, 0.242], p<0.001), and the mediating effect accounted for 28.13%. Conclusion This study revealed the mediating role of self-control resources in the relationship between moral elevation and pro-social behavior, which has important theoretical and practical implications for cultivating pro-social behavior and moral education among college students.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingjie Huang
- School of Educational Science, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shuanghu Fang
- School of Educational Science, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, People’s Republic of China
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McGuire AP, Howard BAN, Erickson TM, Creech SK. Moral Elevation Online Intervention for Veterans Experiencing Distress Related to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Moral Injury (MOVED): Pilot Trial of a 4-Week Positive Psychology Web-Based Intervention. JMIR Form Res 2023; 7:e39894. [PMID: 36961494 PMCID: PMC10131687 DOI: 10.2196/39894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and moral injury can encounter several barriers to treatment, including limited access to care and low engagement with therapy. Furthermore, most treatment approaches focus on alleviating distress rather than cultivating positive experiences that could facilitate trauma recovery. A potential way to address these issues is through moral elevation: feeling uplifted and inspired by others' virtuous actions. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to examine the feasibility and acceptability of a novel, web-based moral elevation intervention for veterans with PTSD symptoms and moral injury distress (Moral Elevation Online Intervention for Veterans Experiencing Distress Related to PTSD and Moral Injury [MOVED]). This mixed methods study also examined potential changes in PTSD symptoms, moral injury distress, quality of life, and prosocial behavior. METHODS In this pilot trial, 48 participants were randomized to a MOVED or control condition (24 participants per condition). Both conditions included 8 sessions and lasted 1 month. The MOVED intervention and all survey components across both conditions were administered online. Participants completed self-report measures that assessed PTSD symptoms, moral injury distress, quality of life, and prosocial behavior at baseline and follow-up. Veterans in the MOVED condition also completed individual qualitative interviews at follow-up. We coded qualitative responses to interviews and identified emergent themes. RESULTS Findings suggest the MOVED intervention was largely feasible, with evidence for moderate-to-high levels of participation, engagement, and retention in MOVED sessions. Both quantitative and qualitative results suggest veterans found MOVED to be acceptable and satisfactory at the overall treatment level. Furthermore, participants reported high scores for helpfulness and engagement at the session level. Veterans who completed MOVED reported large within-person decreases in PTSD symptoms (Cohen d=1.44), approximately twice that of veterans in the control condition (Cohen d=0.78). Those in MOVED also reported medium-sized increases in physical (Cohen d=0.71) and psychological domains of quality of life (Cohen d=0.74), compared with no meaningful changes in the control condition. Unexpectedly, MOVED veterans reported no decrease in moral injury distress, whereas veterans in the control condition endorsed a medium-sized decrease in the total score. There were no changes in prosociality for either condition. Qualitative feedback further supported high levels of perceived acceptability and satisfaction and positive treatment outcomes across a range of domains, including behaviors, cognitions, emotions, and social functioning. Veterans also recommended adaptations to enhance engagement and maximize the impact of intervention content. CONCLUSIONS Overall, findings indicate that veterans with PTSD and moral injury distress were interested in an intervention based on exposure to and engagement with experiences of moral elevation. After further research and refinement guided by future trials, veterans may benefit from this novel approach, which may enhance treatment outcomes and increase treatment accessibility for those in need of additional trauma-focused care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam P McGuire
- VISN 17 Center of Excellence for Research on Returning War Veterans, Waco, TX, United States
- Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, TX, United States
- Department of Psychology and Counseling, The University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, TX, United States
| | - Binh An Nguyen Howard
- VISN 17 Center of Excellence for Research on Returning War Veterans, Waco, TX, United States
- Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, TX, United States
| | - Thane M Erickson
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Seattle Pacific University, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Suzannah K Creech
- VISN 17 Center of Excellence for Research on Returning War Veterans, Waco, TX, United States
- Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, TX, United States
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Dell Medical School of the University of Texas, Austin, TX, United States
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Wider W, Lim MX, Wong LS, Chan CK, Maidin SS. Should I Help? Prosocial Behaviour during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022; 19:ijerph192316084. [PMID: 36498158 PMCID: PMC9741476 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192316084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The Movement Control Order (MCO) enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly altered the social life and behaviour of the Malaysian population. Because the society is facing huge social and economic challenges that need individuals to work together to solve, prosocial behaviour is regarded as one of the most important social determinants. Because it is related with individual and societal benefits, participating in prosocial activities may be a major protective factor during times of global crisis. Rather than focusing only on medical and psychiatric paradigms, perhaps all that is necessary to overcome the COVID-19 risks is for individuals to make personal sacrifices for the sake of others. In reality, a large number of initiatives proven to be beneficial in decreasing viral transmission include a trade-off between individual and collective interests. Given its crucial importance, the purpose of this concept paper is to provide some insight into prosocial behaviour during the COVID-19 period. Understanding prosocial behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic is crucial because it may assist in the establishment of a post-COVID society and provide useful strategies for coping with future crises.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walton Wider
- Faculty of Business and Communications, INTI International University, Nilai 71800, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
| | - Mei Xian Lim
- Faculty of Business and Communications, INTI International University, Nilai 71800, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
| | - Ling Shing Wong
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, INTI International University, Nilai 71800, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
| | - Choon Kit Chan
- Faculty of Engineering and Quantity Surveying, INTI International University, Nilai 71800, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
| | - Siti Sarah Maidin
- Faculty of Data Science and Information Technology, INTI International University, Nilai 71800, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
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Hu H, Mo PKH, She R, Lau JTF. Understanding the Pathways from Mindfulness to COVID-19 Vaccination Intention via Positive Psychology Attributes among Health Care Workers in China. J Psychol 2022; 156:535-551. [PMID: 36170676 DOI: 10.1080/00223980.2022.2101419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The present study aims to examine the association between mindfulness and COVID-19 vaccination intention, and the mediating role of presence of meaning in life and moral elevation in such association. METHOD In a cross-sectional study design, a total of 1733 health care workers (81.1% females, Mage = 34.16 ± 9.03) from four cities in China were recruited and completed an online survey that measured mindfulness, moral elevation, presence of meaning in life and COVID-19 vaccination intention. RESULTS It has been found that 73.1% of the participants reported an intention to receive COVID-19 vaccination. Mindfulness was positively associated with COVID-19 vaccination intention; Mediation analyses using structural equation modeling showed a significant indirect effect of mindfulness on COVID-19 vaccination intention, accounting for 42.4% of the total effect. Mindfulness was positively associated with COVID-19 vaccination intention directly via presence of meaning in life, and indirectly via moral elevation and presence of meaning in life. CONCLUSIONS The findings add knowledge of how mindfulness may increase COVID-19 vaccination intention, and underscore the potential need for mindfulness training, positive emotion promotion, presence of meaning in life interventions to improve acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination among health care workers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Rui She
- The Chinese University of Hong Kong
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Li M, Tan M, Wang S, Li J, Zhang G, Zhong Y. The Effect of Preceding Self-Control on Green Consumption Behavior: The Moderating Role of Moral Elevation. Psychol Res Behav Manag 2022; 14:2169-2180. [PMID: 34992478 PMCID: PMC8711736 DOI: 10.2147/prbm.s341786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Studies have shown that individuals restrain their egoistic desires to benefit others (eg, the natural world), which require a higher-order psychological process, such as self-control. Therefore, performing a preceding self-control task may subsequently decrease green consumption behavior. However, whether and how moral elevation, which is an important type of positive incidental emotion, moderates the negative effect of exerting self-control on green consumption behavior remains unknown. Purpose The present study aimed to examine how exerting self-control and moral elevation influenced green consumption behavior. Methods The product choice task that requires participants to make choices between buying environmentally friendly (eco-friendly) and cheaper (self-interest) products is an index of green consumption behavior. In Experiment 1, we adopted the incongruent Stroop task to induce the exertion of self-control, and participants were asked to make choices in the product choice task. In Experiment 2, participants were provided with moral elevating videos to elicit moral elevation during the interval between the Stroop and product choice tasks. Results Experiment 1 indicated that, relative to the congruent Stroop task (the control condition), completing the incongruent Stroop task led to less environmentally friendly choices. Experiment 2 indicated that the participants who watched the elevating video in the incongruent Stroop task condition chose environmentally friendly products with greater frequency compared to those who watched the neutral video. Furthermore, the analyses showed that self-reported moral elevation partly moderated the effect of the exertion of self-control on green consumption behavior. Conclusion Our findings indicate that the exertion of self-control has a negative effect on green consumption behavior; however, moral elevation can counteract this negative effect of exerting self-control on green consumption behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Li
- Department of Psychology, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China.,Cognition and Human Behavior Key Laboratory of Hunan Province, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Min Tan
- Department of Psychology, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China.,Cognition and Human Behavior Key Laboratory of Hunan Province, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Shibei Wang
- Department of Psychology, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China.,Cognition and Human Behavior Key Laboratory of Hunan Province, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Jin Li
- Department of Psychology, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China.,Cognition and Human Behavior Key Laboratory of Hunan Province, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Guanfei Zhang
- Department of Psychology, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China.,Cognition and Human Behavior Key Laboratory of Hunan Province, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yiping Zhong
- Department of Psychology, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China.,Cognition and Human Behavior Key Laboratory of Hunan Province, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
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van de Ven N, Archer ATM, Engelen B. More important and surprising actions of a moral exemplar trigger stronger admiration and inspiration. J Soc Psychol 2018; 159:383-397. [PMID: 30235063 DOI: 10.1080/00224545.2018.1498317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Admiring a moral role model has been found to inspire people to become better persons themselves. But what are the antecedents that trigger admiration and thus make inspiration more likely? In three studies, we tested the effect of perceived importance and perceived surprisingness of the moral action on resulting admiration and inspiration. Study 1 finds that perceived importance, and to a lesser extent, the perceived surprisingness of a moral action, are related to stronger admiration. Manipulating the perceived importance of the same moral action by only providing a little more detail about the moral action, could increase the admiration and inspiration the role models elicit (Studies 2 and 3). Our findings help the understanding of how moral exemplars trigger inspiration and provide valuable insights into further investigation toward the causes of admiration.
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Ding W, Shao Y, Sun B, Xie R, Li W, Wang X. How Can Prosocial Behavior Be Motivated? The Different Roles of Moral Judgment, Moral Elevation, and Moral Identity Among the Young Chinese. Front Psychol 2018; 9:814. [PMID: 29892249 PMCID: PMC5985326 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2016] [Accepted: 05/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Prior research has shown that moral judgment, moral elevation, and moral identity contribute to prosocial behavior. However, how these three motivating factors interact in predicting prosocial behaviors is not yet clear. The current study proposed and examined a moderated mediation model to illustrate the specific process of how prosocial behavior is motivated by these factors. A total of 264 Chinese undergraduate and graduate students participated in the present study (140 females; age range 17–26, M = 20.25, SD = 1.57). Moral judgment competence, intensity of moral elevation, and moral identity were measured by self-reported scales, and the tendency to engage in prosocial behavior was assessed in a simulated “Ask for help” situation. The multiple regressive results showed that moral elevation mediated the effect of moral judgment on prosocial behavior, and moral identity moderated this mediation through interacting with moral elevation. However, within the proposed model, the mediating effect of moral elevation was stronger in women than in men, while the moderating role of moral identity appeared only in women. These findings imply different methods for men and women to enhance their prosocial behaviors, including the need to pay more attention to developing moral reasoning in men while putting more emphasis on evoking moral emotion and moral traits in women. Together, these results supported the assumptive model and provided a comprehensive framework to explain prosocial behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wan Ding
- College of Teacher Education, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
| | - Yanhong Shao
- College of Teacher Education, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
| | - Binghai Sun
- College of Teacher Education, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
| | - Ruibo Xie
- Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Weijian Li
- College of Teacher Education, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
| | - Xiaozhen Wang
- College of Teacher Education, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
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Abstract
Two studies were designed to test whether moral elevation should be conceptualized as an approach-oriented emotion. The studies examined the relationship between moral elevation and the behavioral activation and inhibition systems. Study 1 (N = 80) showed that individual differences in moral elevation were associated with individual differences in behavioral activation but not inhibition. Study 2 (N = 78) showed that an elevation-inducing video promoted equally high levels of approach orientation as an anger-inducing video and significantly higher levels of approach orientation than a control video. Furthermore, the elevation-inducing stimulus (vs. the control condition) significantly promoted prosocial motivation and this effect was sequentially mediated by feelings of moral elevation followed by an approach-oriented state. Overall the results show unambiguous support for the proposal that moral elevation is an approach-oriented emotion. Applied and theoretical implications are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Van de Vyver
- Centre for the Study of Group Processes, School of Psychology, University of Kent , Canterbury , UK
| | - Dominic Abrams
- Centre for the Study of Group Processes, School of Psychology, University of Kent , Canterbury , UK
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