When Saying "Yes" Hurts: The Relationship Between Compliance and Psychological Distress Across Cultural Values in China.

Dan Dong, Ziyi Yan, Yi Feng, Aiyi Liu, Zhihong Qiao

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Article in Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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5 · Who and what money

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5 authors.

Dan DongSchool of Psychology, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350117, China.ORCID 0000-0001-6757-5667

Ziyi YanNational Demonstration Center for Experimental Psychology Education, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100089, China.ORCID 0009-0008-6831-5152

Yi FengMental Health Center, Central University of Finance and Economics, Beijing 100089, China.ORCID 0000-0002-7083-0697

Aiyi LiuState Key Laboratory of Cognitive Science and Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100089, China.ORCID 0009-0000-3811-4802

Zhihong QiaoNational Demonstration Center for Experimental Psychology Education, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100089, China.ORCID 0000-0002-9664-7516

Funding

Humanities and Social Sciences Research Project of Ministry of Education, in China No. 24YJC190007National Natural Science Foundation of China No. 20&ZD153

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundYoung adult mental health is a critical global concern. This study aims to investigate the relationship between compliance and psychological distress in young adults, paying particular attention to the mediating role of affect and the moderating role of cultural values in China.

methodsA large-scale cross-sectional study was conducted, with 11,038 (Mage = 20.58 ± 4.11) young adults recruited. A series of self-reported questionnaires was used, including measures of psychological distress, cultural factors, and compliance. Latent structural equation modelling was applied to investigate how the compliance trait links to psychological distress.

resultsFindings revealed a positive association between compliance and psychological distress. The analysis further demonstrated that both positive and negative affect served as significant mediators in this association. Additionally, the association was moderated by cultural factors, particularly individualism. Individualism significantly buffered both the direct effect of compliance on psychological distress and the mediating effect of negative affect.

conclusionsThese results contribute to a deeper understanding of the social and psychological determinants of youth mental health, a key priority for public health practice.

Indexed as

complianceindividualism-collectivismnegative affectpositive affectpsychological distress

Identifiers

PMID42510308

DOI10.3390/bs16071187

PMCPMC13405851

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