Abstract
Although relative deprivation is associated with well-being in adults, the concept is yet to be examined in the understudied population of Chinese migrant adolescents. This study developed two integrated models to examine the potential mediating effect of perceived control and moderating effect of personal belief in a just world (PBJW) and general belief in a just world (GBJW) on the association between relative deprivation and life satisfaction in different adolescent age groups. In total, 1727 Chinese rural-to-urban migrant adolescents (48% female; Mage = 12.3, SD = 1.7) completed measures of relative deprivation, perceived control, PBJW, GBJW, and life satisfaction. Relative deprivation was significantly negatively associated with life satisfaction; this link was mediated by perceived control. Moreover, PBJW moderated the relationship between relative deprivation and life satisfaction in younger migrant adolescents (aged 10–12 years). Further, both the direct effect of relative deprivation on life satisfaction and the mediation effect via perceived control were moderated by GBJW in younger migrant adolescents. The effects were stronger in migrant adolescents with lower PBJW or GBJW. These findings may prove useful for developing appropriate interventions to improve migrant adolescents’ life satisfaction by increasing their perceived control and BJW.
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Data Availability
The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
Notes
The personal contract stipulates that children agree to withhold their immediate impulses to, instead, pursue maximum returns in the long run.
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We thank all of the school partners and adolescents who participated in our study. We also would like to thank Editage for their professional English language editing and polishing.
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This research was supported by a grant from the Major Project for Philosophy and Social Science Research of Hubei Province in China (No.19ZD020).
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Meng Xiong conceived and designed the study, performed the survey, authored and reviewed drafts of the paper. Hong Zou analyzed the data, prepared figures and tables, and wrote it into the article. All authors were involved in developing, editing, reviewing, and providing feedback for this manuscript and have given approval of the final version to be published.
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Xiong, M., Zou, H. How does relative deprivation influence Chinese migrant adolescents’ life satisfaction? Testing two integrated models of perceived control and two types of belief in a just world. Curr Psychol 42, 15261–15276 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-022-02821-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-022-02821-9