Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41316453›Full record

ArticleBMC psychology2025

Maximizing tendency and meaning in life: a cross-cultural network analysis of Chinese and American samples.

Min Ma, Jiaxin Deng, Shenglin Zhai, Keke Jia, Jiahui Sui, Nansheng Lin, Mengcheng Wang, Li Zhang

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC psychology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Min MaDepartment of Psychology, School of Sociology and Psychology, Central University of Finance and Economics, 39 South College Road, Beijing, China.
Jiaxin DengDepartment of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath, UK.
Shenglin ZhaiDepartment of Psychology, School of Sociology and Psychology, Central University of Finance and Economics, 39 South College Road, Beijing, China.
Keke JiaDepartment of Psychology, School of Sociology and Psychology, Central University of Finance and Economics, 39 South College Road, Beijing, China.
Jiahui SuiDepartment of Psychology, School of Sociology and Psychology, Central University of Finance and Economics, 39 South College Road, Beijing, China.
Nansheng LinSchool of Science, China University of Mining and Technology-Beijing, Beijing, China.
Mengcheng WangDepartment of Psychology, School of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, China.
Li ZhangDepartment of Psychology, School of Sociology and Psychology, Central University of Finance and Economics, 39 South College Road, Beijing, China. lilyking_0717@126.com.

Funding

Central University of Finance and Economics Program for Innovation ResearchNational Natural Science Foundation of China 31871120
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

This study examines the link between maximizing tendency and meaning in life across the cultural contexts of China and the United States, revealing the uniqueness and universality of the impact of culture on this relation. Survey data from 1,288 Chinese participants and 1,008 American participants underwent cross-cultural comparison and network analysis. The findings revealed [1] differences in the network structure and core characteristics of maximizing tendency across the two cultural contexts; [2] a consistent positive correlation between maximizing tendency and meaning in life across the two cultures; and [3] cultural differences in the network structure and core characteristics of the relation between maximizing tendency and meaning in life. Maximizing goal was more strongly connected to meaning in the Chinese sample, whereas both maximizing goal and strategy were central in the American sample. These findings provide theoretical and practical insights into how culturally shaped decision-making styles influence the pursuit of meaning in life.

Indexed as

Cross-Cultural ComparisonGoalsAdolescentAdultChinaDecision MakingEast Asian PeopleFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedUnited StatesYoung AdultCross-cultural comparisonMaximizing tendencyMeaning in lifeNetwork analysis

Identifiers

PMID41316453
PMCPMC12664142

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.