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How Does Social Class Affect Need for Structure during the COVID-19 Pandemic? A Moderated Mediating Model Analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Ting-Ting Rao

    (School of Humanities and Social Science, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Shen-Long Yang

    (School of Humanities and Social Science, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Xiaowen Zhu

    (School of Humanities and Social Science, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic is profoundly affecting the minds and behaviors of people worldwide. This study investigated the differences in the need for structure among people from different social classes and the psychological mechanisms underlying this need, as well as the moderating effect of the threat posed by the pandemic. Using data collected from non-student adults in China, we found that the lower an individual’s social class, the lower their need for structure, and this effect was based on the mediating role of perceived control. However, the mediating effect was moderated by pandemic threat, and the above relationship existed only when this threat was low. When the level of pandemic threat was higher, neither the effect of social class nor of perceived control on the need for structure were significant. Specifically, in higher-threat situations, the need for structure among individuals from higher social classes and who had a higher sense of control increased significantly, meaning the mediating effect was no longer significant. This finding showed that under the threat of a pandemic, individuals who have a lower need for structure will still pursue and prefer structure and order. The theoretical and practical implications of the research are also discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Ting-Ting Rao & Shen-Long Yang & Xiaowen Zhu, 2022. "How Does Social Class Affect Need for Structure during the COVID-19 Pandemic? A Moderated Mediating Model Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(2), pages 1-16, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:2:p:932-:d:725007
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ma, Anyi & Kay, Aaron C., 2017. "Compensatory control and ambiguity intolerance," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 140(C), pages 46-61.
    2. Keisha M. Cutright, 2012. "The Beauty of Boundaries: When and Why We Seek Structure in Consumption," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 38(5), pages 775-790.
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