Confucian ideal personality traits (Junzi personality) and mental health: The serial mediating roles of self-control and authenticity

Abstract

classic Confucian propositions and related empirical studies, this paper proposes the hypothesis that a Junzi personality has a positive effect on mental health, in which self-control and authenticity play serial mediating roles. To examine the above hypothesis, four studies were conducted. In Study 1 ( N = 207), the self-rated questionnaires of Junzi personality, self-control, authenticity, and mental health were used. Study 2 ( N = 425) involved manipulating self-control using the scenario simulation method and looking into its effects on mental health and authenticity. In Study 3 ( N = 317), authenticity, which was manipulated using the method of recall priming, was investigated for its effects on mental health. Participants were also asked to recall real-life instances involving a decision that may or may not have involved self-control to support the external validity. In Study 4 ( N = 220), participants were subjected to four different tests with 2-month intervals for each that measured Junzi personality, self-control, and authenticity, with the final test measuring self-esteem, core self-evaluation, affect balance, and mental symptoms as overall indicators of mental health. Results showed that when measured simultaneously, Junzi personality positively predicted mental health. When measured after 6 months, Junzi personality also positively predicted self-esteem, core self-evaluation, and affect balance but negatively predicted mental symptoms. Junzi personality positively predicted the trait of self-control and decisions involving self-control, whether in situations provided in the experiment or as were recalled by the participants. Manipulated self-control positively affected both mental health and authenticity while manipulated authenticity positively affected mental health. Results also provided evidence to the serial mediating effect of self-control and authenticity in the positive effect of Junzi personality on mental health through simultaneous measurement and cross-temporal measurement. In addition, results of experimental manipulation also provided indirect evidence for this. This research sought to explore the positive relationship between Junzi personality and mental health and to help in the understanding of the internal mechanism of this relationship. The results are consistent with previous studies on the relationship between personality and mental health, self-control and mental health, and authenticity and mental health. In addition, this paper also discusses the practical value of Junzi personality and Confucianism in today’s China.