Expressive suppression, confucian Zhong Yong thinking, and psychosocial adjustment among Chinese young adults

Abstract

The negative effects of the habitual use of suppression on psychosocial adjustment were usually attenuated in Eastern samples compared to Western samples. However, culture is dynamic and constantly changing, and it has rarely been directly assessed in empirical studies. Further, within-culture variations have usually been ignored. In the current study, we involved a Confucian concept of Zhong Yong mode of thinking, assessed individual differences in Zhong Yong thinking, and examined the main effects of Zhong Yong thinking and whether Zhong Yong moderated the association between suppression and psychosocial adjustment within two samples of Chinese young adults. Sample 1 included 431 young college students and sample 2 included 477 college students with more diverse backgrounds. Results showed that suppression was negatively associated with psychosocial well-being (i.e., peace of mind, perceived social support, and positive affect), and positively with adjustment problems (negative affect), whereas Zhong Yong thinking showed the opposite effects. Further, Zhong Yong thinking weakened the associations between suppression and perceived social support and negative affect. Our findings indicate that Zhong Yong mode of thinking is salient for psychosocial well-being among Chinese young adults and the habitual use of suppression may become negative for Chinese people in contemporary China.