Abstract
Numerous studies have found a negative and strong association between low socioeconomic status and academic achievement. However, the underlying mechanism in this link remains an open question. The present study tested the mediating effect of future time perspective and the moderating effect of Chinese cultural beliefs about adversity. A total of 586 Chinese adolescents (56.1% girls; Mage = 13.16 years, SD = 1.21) anonymously completed questionnaires regarding socioeconomic status, future time perspective, academic achievement, and Chinese cultural beliefs about adversity. Results showed that low socioeconomic status was negatively linked with academic achievement. Future time perspective served as a mediating variable in this relationship. Furthermore, Chinese cultural beliefs about adversity could buffer the negative effects of low socioeconomic status on future time perspective. These results underscore the potential importance of increasing adolescents’ Chinese cultural beliefs about adversity and future time perspective for promoting their higher levels of academic performance.
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Data Availability
The datasets generated for this study are available on request to the corresponding author.
Notes
Up to date, the exchange rate between USD and CNY (RMB) is 1:6.95.
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Funding
This research was supported by Key project of Chongqing Social Science Planning Fund (2021NDZD09); the Chongqing Education Science “14th five-year plan” Key Project (2021-GX-003); the Major Program of National Social Science Fund of China (22&ZD184); the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (SWU1909027), and the Chongqing Humanities and Social Science Key Research Base Project (18SKB02).
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Li **aobao and Lyu Houchao designed the study idea and research framework. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by Li **aobao. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Li **aobao. Lyu Houchao contributed to manuscript writing and modification. Zhang **nyue contributed to data collection and analysis. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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This study was approved by the ethics committee of Faculty of Psychology at Southwest University. The participants signed an informed consent form stating the aim of the study and explaining that they could withdraw from the study, and the data would be anonymous.
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LI, X., Zhang, X. & LYU, H. Low socioeconomic status and academic achievement: A moderated mediation model of future time perspective and chinese cultural beliefs about adversity. Curr Psychol 43, 3669–3681 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-023-04532-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-023-04532-1