The role of perceived social mobility in shaping youth’s sense of gain

The role of perceived social mobility in shaping youth’s sense of gain | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article The role of perceived social mobility in shaping youth’s sense of gain Yingxu Hou, Miao Lv, Qing Yang This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-6939703/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract The perception of social mobility within the youth directly affects their subjective evaluations of society and their assessments of life quality. Investigating the impact mechanisms of youth perceived social mobility on the sense of gain is essential for nurturing a positive social mindset, guiding youth to actively integrate into national strategic development, and inspiring them to persistently strive for improvement. This research comprised two experimental studies: Study 1 manipulated the perceived social mobility of youth participants through material interventions, while Study 2 introduced attributions of wealth and poverty as a moderating variable, concurrently manipulating both perceived social mobility and attributions of wealth and poverty to explore the effects of youth perceived social mobility on their sense of gain and the associated psychological mechanisms. The results indicated that: (1) Perceived social mobility positively predicts the sense of gain; (2) Social trust serves as a mediator between perceived social mobility and the sense of gain, with heightened perceived social mobility leading to increased levels of social trust among youth, which in turn enhances their sense of gain; (3) Attributions of wealth and poverty moderate the effect of individual perceived social mobility on the sense of gain. External attributions of wealth and poverty further intensify the negative influence of diminished perceived social mobility on social trust compared to internal attribution tendencies. Thus, perceived social mobility affects the sense of gain through the mediating role of social trust, with this mechanism being moderated by attributions of wealth and poverty. The findings provide valuable psychological insights and reflections on the interactive relationship between the psychological states of youth and their social environment, offering empirical support for fostering a positive and healthy social mindset among youth and promoting harmonious and stable social development. Social science/Psychology Social science/Sociology Sense of Gain Perceived Social Mobility Social Trust Attributions of Wealth and Poverty Figures Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Introduction “Sense of gain” is a novel, localized concept proposed within the context of Chinese society. It denotes an individual’s cognitive appraisal of the content, pathways, and requisite conditions for fulfilling their needs, along with the relatively stable psychological experiences or feelings that emerge throughout this process (Dong et al., 2019 ; Tan et al., 2020 ). Since its introduction, the sense of gain has become a common focal point for cross-disciplinary research, with investigations primarily centered around the conceptual clarification, generative mechanisms, influencing factors, measurement techniques, and enhancement strategies associated with this concept (Feng & Zhong, 2021 ; Huo et al., 2022 ; Tan et al., 2020 ; Wang et al., 2020 ). Regarding studies on the sense of gain among youth, researchers have progressively broadened their focus from the academic sense of gain experienced by university students to a more extensive examination within the sphere of social governance (Ji et al., 2022; Xu et al., 2021 ; Yang et al., 2024 ). The sense of gain has become an essential criterion for evaluating the effectiveness of social governance and the quality of social life experienced by the populace (Tan et al., 2018 ). From an individual perspective, there exists a significant positive correlation between the sense of gain and improvements in well-being, satisfaction, and feelings of security (Feng & Zhong, 2021 ; Ye et al., 2018 ; Zheng, 2020 ), positioning it as a critical factor in individuals’ pursuit of a fulfilling life (Zhang, 2021 ). Furthermore, at a societal level, enhancing the sense of gain contributes to fostering a positive social mindset (Tian, 2018 ), facilitating social stability and development, and improving societal expectations (Ji et al., 2022). The enhancement of the sense of gain is directly influenced by structural social factors, necessitating a relative unity between subjective and objective elements (Sun, 2015 ). Changes in social class and individuals’ perceptions of their positions within the social hierarchy have become critical factors driving people to seek a higher quality of life and actively participate in socio-economic activities (Tan & Lv, 2023 ). Numerous previous studies have indicated that the evolution of the social environment impacts the social mentality of the youth population (Liu et al., 2022 ). Within the intricate and fluctuating realities of social mobility, the public’s perception of social mobility is likely to exert a significant influence on their sense of gain (Tan & Lv, 2023 ). More specifically, individuals’ perceptions of the overall social situation and their future prospects may affect social trust due to perceived discrepancies in available resources, which could indirectly influence their sense of gain (Brandt et al., 2015 ). Additionally, the way individuals attribute wealth and poverty may similarly affect their social cognition (Zhao & Chen, 2025 ). When individuals attribute wealth and poverty to personal capability, they may be encouraged to concentrate on their own efforts and improvements, thereby reducing negative emotions and enhancing their sense of gain (Ng & Allen, 2005 ; Sanjuán & Magallares, 2014). This psychological mechanism not only illustrates the inherent connection between perceptions of social mobility and social mentality but also offers a new perspective for bolstering the sense of gain among the public (Li et al., 2018 ; Yang & Ni, 2025 ). Given that youth represent a cornerstone of social development, enhancing their sense of gain is crucial for guiding them to align their personal growth with national development and nurturing a positive social mentality. Consequently, this research focuses on the youth, situating their sense of gain within the dynamic evolution of social mobility, and elucidating the potential mediating and moderating mechanisms through which perceptions of social mobility impact the sense of gain. The Impact of Perceived Social Mobility on the Sense of Gain Objective social mobility exposes the reality of social resource allocation and serves as a crucial reference for evaluating individuals’ benefits and losses within the existing system (Sheng, 2013 ). The subjective assessment of this mobility by individuals not only affects their internal cognition and behavioral motivations but also molds specific behavioral response patterns (Shariff et al., 2016 ; Rao et al., 2022 ). While there exists a close connection between subjective and objective social mobility, they do not always correspond with one another (Davidai & Gilovich, 2015 ; Kraus & Tan, 2015). This is because subjective social mobility has a more stable and direct relationship with individuals’ psychological and behavioral aspects compared to objective social mobility (Alesina et al., 2018 ; Huang et al., 2017 ). The perceived social mobility, which refers to individuals’ subjective evaluations of the overall mobility of society and their own class transitions (Kraus & Keltner, 2013 ), is a significant psychological metric for assessing the degree of openness and mobility within social systems (Day & Fiske, 2017 ). This type of perception not only indicates individuals’ sensitivity to changes in social structures but also acts as a critical driving force for motivating people to seek higher living standards and actively participate in socio-economic activities (Tan & Lv, 2023 ). In previous studies concerning the perception of social mobility, researchers have approached the topic from two angles: the general perception of social class mobility and the individual perception of changes in one’s own circumstances (Day & Fiske, 2017 ; Dong & Wang, 2025 ; Du et al., 2021 ). The perceived social mobility that arises from the broader social environment is termed “mobility belief,” which is affected by the objective social context (Chen & Zhang, 2018 ). Individuals with higher mobility beliefs are more inclined to believe in the openness and permeability of society, and they exhibit greater support for and commitment to social institutions (Day & Fiske, 2017 ). This is beneficial for fostering social stability and development (Sagioglou et al., 2018 ). Furthermore, a strong mobility belief leads individuals to pursue future growth, resulting in a deeper sense of life meaning and psychological happiness (Huang et al., 2017 ; Lin et al., 2022 ; Schneider, 2012 ). Perceived mobility based on personal circumstances can be categorized into mobility experience and mobility expectation. Improving individuals’ mobility experiences and expectations not only aids in maintaining the stability of social order but also stimulates social vitality and nurtures a positive societal mindset (Katic & Ingram, 2018 ; Zhang & Wang, 2024 ). The mechanisms through which perceived social mobility operates differ depending on the perspective taken; this study primarily examines how the perception of social mobility based on overall class movement influences the sense of gain. Self-Determination Theory highlights that humans have the potential for growth and development, which can guide individuals to engage in activities that interest them and facilitate their talent development (Ryan & Deci, 2000 ). As a crucial extension of Self-Determination Theory, Basic Psychological Needs Theory asserts that individuals are proactive organisms who seek opportunities to satisfy their key psychological needs and possess an innate tendency to pursue personal growth and happiness (Deci & Ryan, 2000 ). This tendency is specifically expressed through three fundamental psychological needs: autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Autonomy refers to the psychological quest for freedom and the desire to have control over one's actions, reflecting an intrinsic inclination toward achieving a sense of autonomy; competence involves the need for a sense of mastery over the external environment, aimed at completing directed and challenging tasks through personal effort, which in turn reinforces one’s sense of existence and value; relatedness signifies the expectation for positive interpersonal relationships and the need for support from others. These three basic psychological needs elucidate the intrinsic relationship between social environments and individuals’ psychological health and well-being (Deci & Ryan, 2012 ). Promoting the mobility of social and economic status is advantageous for increasing the public’s sense of gain (Wang et al., 2020 ). A robust framework for social mobility can effectively mitigate the social hostility caused by low social status (Day & Fiske, 2017 ; Sagioglou et al., 2018 ). Higher levels of perceived social mobility lead individuals to be more inclined to believe that they can obtain opportunities to change their social status through personal effort, thus fostering a more optimistic social mindset (Li et al., 2018 ). When youth can cultivate a positive perception of social mobility in China during their endeavors, they will come to recognize that the country offers equitable and open opportunities, resulting in increased social support and a sense of belonging, which in turn enhances their hope and confidence for the future (Lu, 2004 ). Prior research has also indicated that reasonable social class mobility is a critical component of social equity, and a heightened sense of social fairness aids in strengthening individuals’ sense of gain (Yang & Ni, 2025 ). Moreover, if individuals believe that upward mobility can be achieved through their own efforts, they will experience the fulfillment of the need for autonomy in their actions, along with a sense of competence and achievement throughout the goal pursuit process, as well as a sense of belonging to a fair and open society. The essence of the sense of gain is the public’s subjective perception, emotional experience, and behavioral response to the satisfaction of their needs during the processes and outcomes of social reform and development (Tan et al., 2020 ; Wang, 2018 ). Thus, the need satisfaction derived from high mobility beliefs can enhance individuals’ sense of gain. Accordingly, this study proposes Hypothesis 1: Perceived social mobility positively predicts the sense of gain (H1). The Mediating Role of Social Trust Social trust, as a fundamental aspect of social capital, reflects individuals’ trust in strangers or the general populace and serves as a critical indicator of social harmony (Putnam, 1995 ). It represents individuals’ evaluations of the credibility of the majority, as well as their expectations regarding the general cooperativeness and supportiveness of individuals and organizations (Hardin, 2002 ). Social trust is not confined to specific interactions; rather, it reflects a cognitive inclination towards trust (Schilke et al., 2021 ). The foundation of social trust lies in social institutions (Luhmann, 1979 ), and robust institutions play a vital role in maintaining and safeguarding social trust (Rothstein & Stolle, 2008 ), shaping members’ cognitive and thought processes, which in turn affect social behavior (Delhey et al., 2011 ; Sako & Helper, 1998 ). Enhancing social trust helps to reduce the uncertainty and anxiety individuals face and provides psychological support (Gao & Lu, 2010 ), thereby improving mental health and subjective well-being levels (Bassett & Moore, 2013 ; Lu et al., 2020 ). There is a significant positive correlation between subjective well-being and the sense of gain (Feng & Zhong, 2021 ). In environments characterized by high trust, individuals are more willing to actively engage in social activities and experience greater life satisfaction (Wang et al., 2019 ), which subsequently enhances their sense of gain. Furthermore, social trust facilitates cooperation and resource sharing (Zhang, 2024 ), which may also contribute to increased individual happiness and sense of gain (Weinstein & Ryan, 2010 ). The level of social trust may be influenced by perceptions of social mobility. From the standpoint of risk theory, individuals’ attitudes and behaviors in the face of uncertainty and potential losses are shaped by their resource ownership (Beck, 1992 ). This implies that disparities in resource possession can affect social trust levels; individuals with more abundant social resources tend to exhibit higher levels of social trust (Brandt et al., 2015 ; Delhey & Newton, 2005 ). This occurs because individuals with more social resources are better positioned to absorb potential losses when faced with the risk of trusting strangers (Hamamura, 2012 ; Navarro-Carrillo et al., 2018 ). Individuals with a high perception of social mobility believe they have greater opportunities to improve their social status and acquire resources, enabling them to better navigate the costs and risks associated with trust, which in turn leads to higher levels of social trust. From another perspective, individuals with higher perceptions of social mobility are more likely to perceive society as fair and open, resulting in lower social differentiation and greater social trust (Day & Fiske, 2017 ; Ren et al., 2022 ; Zuckerman & Gerbasi, 1977 ). Thus, individuals with high perceptions of social mobility are inclined to demonstrate higher levels of social trust, which in turn enhances their sense of gain. Accordingly, we propose Hypothesis 2: Perceived social mobility positively predicts the sense of gain through the mediating role of social trust (H2). The Moderating Role of Attributions of Wealth and Poverty Attributions of wealth and poverty refer to the processes through which individuals explain social wealth disparities (Kraus et al., 2009 ), which can be divided into internal and external attribution tendencies. Internal attribution of wealth and poverty involves individuals attributing wealth and poverty to personal attitudes and abilities, consistent with the “labor-gain” logic of the sense of gain and the internal logic emphasizing individual effort (Zhang, 2018 ). Conversely, external attribution refers to individuals attributing wealth and poverty to external factors such as social environments (Hussak & Cimpian, 2015 ; Guo et al., 2015 ). Individuals with an external attribution tendency tend to blame poverty or wealth on structural factors, including inequality in social systems, education, employment opportunities, and unfair resource distribution, leading them to feel powerless to change their circumstances and lacking an internal locus of control (Hussak & Cimpian, 2015 ). This can result in a range of negative consequences, such as increased feelings of relative deprivation (Smith et al., 2012 ), heightened negative emotions (Arslan et al., 2009 ), diminished self-efficacy (Frazier et al., 2011 ), learned helplessness in adverse situations, and a loss of motivation to strive (Mueller & Dweck, 1998 ). Additionally, external attribution tendencies can reduce individuals’ sense of social fairness (Schneider & Castillo, 2015 ), which subsequently impacts their levels of social trust (Ren et al., 2022 ; Yang et al., 2023 ). In contrast, individuals with an internal attribution tendency towards wealth and poverty are likely to experience fewer negative emotions, possess a higher sense of fairness, and maintain beliefs in a fair system (Hafer & Correy, 1999 ; Hussak & Cimpian, 2015 ; Yang Shenlong et al., 2016). Moreover, prior research has shown that individuals with a greater tendency towards internal attribution exhibit higher levels of trust (Navarro-Carrillo et al., 2018 ). The attribution of wealth and poverty may influence the relationship between perceptions of social mobility and the sense of gain. Previous studies have found that attribution styles regarding wealth can moderate the effect of income on subjective well-being; attributing wealth status to external structural factors can lead to greater feelings of deprivation and lower life satisfaction among low-income groups (Zhao & Chen, 2025 ). Therefore, we hypothesize that individuals inclined towards external attribution of wealth and poverty may exacerbate the negative effects of low perceptions of social mobility. When they perceive that the pathways to upward mobility are narrowing or opportunities are diminishing, they are more likely to experience intense feelings of unfairness and frustration (Wang, 2011 ; Whyte & Han, 2008 ), further diminishing the social trust of individuals with low social mobility perceptions. Moreover, the low sense of control and self-efficacy associated with external attribution tendencies can make it more difficult for individuals with low perceptions of social mobility to bear the costs and risks of trusting others, thus lowering their levels of social trust (Qiang et al., 2021 ; Samson & Zaleskiewicz, 2020 ). In contrast, the internal attribution tendency towards wealth and poverty encourages individuals to focus on their own efforts and improvements. When individuals find themselves in disadvantaged situations, attributing their achievements and successes to their abilities and efforts can help them maintain self-esteem, reduce negative emotions, and enhance well-being (Campbell & Sedikides, 1999 ; Ng & Allen, 2005 ; Sanjuán & Magallares, 2014). Therefore, the internal attribution tendency regarding wealth and poverty may act as a protective factor, positively influencing the social trust levels of individuals with low perceptions of social mobility. Accordingly, this study proposes Hypothesis 3: Attributions of wealth and poverty moderate the relationship between perceptions of social mobility and the sense of gain. Compared to internal attribution tendencies, external attribution tendencies will further amplify the negative impact of low social mobility perceptions on social trust (H3). Study 1: The Mediating Effect of Social Trust Study 1 aims to manipulate perceptions of social mobility to examine the effect of perceived social mobility on the sense of gain and the mediating effect of social trust. Methods Participants and Procedures One-factor between-subjects design was utilized, and the necessary sample size for this study was determined to be 128 using G*power software (α = 0.05, power (1 − β err prob) = 0.8). The survey was administered online via “Credamo”, obtained 128 valid responses (93.4%) after the exclusion of 9 invalid questionnaires. Among the participants, 36 were male, and 92 were female, with ages ranging from 18 to 45 years. This research received approval from the Ethics Committee of QuFu Normal University (No. 2023065). The experimental process commenced with participants undergoing the manipulation of perceived social mobility. Subsequently, a manipulation check was conducted to ensure the effectiveness of this procedure. Next, participants were administered the social trust scale and the sense of gain scale in sequence. Finally, participants completed the subjective social status scale and provided the necessary demographic information. Measures Perceived social mobility The manipulation of perceived social mobility was performed using the method developed by Day & Fiske ( 2017 ). Participants were randomly assigned to either a high perceived social mobility group or a low perceived social mobility group. Each group was instructed to read one of two simulated articles published in the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Journal. The high perceived social mobility group read the simulated article titled “We Are in a Society with High Mobility” (see Fig. 1 ), which depicted an optimistic scenario regarding social class mobility in China, while the low perceived social mobility group read another simulated article titled “We Are in a Society with Low Mobility” (see Fig. 2 ), which illustrated a more pessimistic view of social mobility in China. Following this, participants completed two questions to verify the effectiveness of the manipulation. The manipulation check items were “The social environment we are born into determines our entire life” and “In contemporary society, it is difficult for a person’s social status to improve throughout their life.” Participants were asked to rate these statements on a 7-point Likert scale, with higher scores indicating a lower perception of social mobility. Sense of Gain The sense of gain scale developed by Shao ( 2017 ) was used in this study. This scale consists of 15 items and is scored on a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 (severely deteriorated) to 5 (significantly improved). The total score ranges from 0 to 24 points. The mean score of the 15 items was used as the overall score for the sense of gain, with higher scores indicating a stronger sense of gain. In this study, the Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for this scale was 0.89. Social Trust Social trust was assessed using four items: “People are, in most cases: A. Helpful; B. Self-interested and indifferent to others,” “Most people in society: A. Can be trusted; B. Should be approached with caution,” “Most people in society will: A. Treat others as fairly as possible; B. Take advantage of others whenever possible,” and “Most people in society trust strangers.” The first three items were reverse-scored, employing a 7-point Likert scale (from “1 = Strongly Agree A” to “4 = Neutral” to “7 = Strongly Agree B”); the fourth item also utilized a 7-point Likert scale (from “1 = Strongly Disagree” to “7 = Strongly Agree”). The average score of these four items was calculated as the score for social trust, with higher scores indicating greater social trust. The Cronbach’s α coefficient of the scale in this study was 0.88. Control Variables To better control for biases resulting from differences in social status, our study included subjective social status as a control variable. Subjective social status was measured using the item “Which level do you think you currently occupy?” from the MacArthur Scale of Subjective Social Status (Adler et al., 2000 ). Participants were shown a 10-level social ladder that reflects the social class positions of various members of society, where a higher position on the ladder signifies greater wealth, higher educational attainment, and better living conditions. Participants were required to select their position on this ladder. Additional control variables included demographic information such as gender, age, household registration type, and monthly family income. Results Manipulation Check for Perceived Social Mobility An independent samples t-test was conducted to evaluate the manipulation check results for the high and low perceived social mobility groups. The results indicated a significant difference in the scores on the perceived social mobility scale between the two groups ( t = 18.641, p < 0.001, Cohen’s d = 3.3). The high perceived social mobility group ( M = 2.34, SD = 1.051) exhibited significantly higher perceived social mobility than the low perceived social mobility group ( M = 5.63, SD = 0.943). This finding confirms that the manipulation of perceived social mobility was successful. Descriptive Statistics and Correlation Analysis Table 1 presents the mean and standard deviations for the main variables in Study 1. The sense of gain was significantly positively correlated with perceived social mobility ( r = 0.27, p < 0.01) and social trust ( r = 0.56, p < 0.01). Perceived social mobility was significantly positively correlated with social trust ( r = 0.25, p < 0.01). Table 1 Mean, Standard Deviation, and the Correlation Matrix of Variable in Study 1 (n = 128) Variable M SD 1 2 3 1.perceived social mobility 0.50 0.502 1 2. social Trust 4.69 1.308 0.246** 1 3. sense of gain 4.10 0.512 0.272** 0.558** 1 Notes: * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01. Mediation Analysis Model 4 from the SPSS macro PROCESS developed by Hayes ( 2013 ) was employed to analyze the mediating effect of social trust on the relationship between perceived social mobility and sense of gain. The results (see Table 2 and Fig. 3 ) indicated that perceived social mobility had a significant positive predictive effect on sense of gain (β = 0.252, p < 0.01). Perceived social mobility was found to have a significant positive predictive effect on social trust (β = 0.477, p < 0.011). When the mediating variables were introduced, the predictive effect of social trust on sense of gain remained significant (β = 0.491, p < 0.001), while the direct predictive effect of perceived social mobility on sense of gain also retained significance (β = 0.268, p < 0.05). The mediating effect of social trust(see Table 2 ), indicated by a coefficient of 0.234 ( p < 0.05) and a 95% bootstrap confidence interval of (0.067, 0.482), suggests that social trust mediates the relationship between perceived social mobility and sense of gain. Table 2 Analysis of the Mediating Effect of Social Trust sense of gain social trust sense of gain model 1 model 2 model 3 SE β t SE β t SE β t Control Variables gender 0.189 0.087 1.025 0.192 0.062 0.325 0.194 0.163 0.840 age 0.144 0.089 0.983 0.141 0.318 2.255* 0.146 -0.014 -0.099 household registration type 0.084 -0.04 -0.434 0.077 -0.113 -1.464 0.085 0.019 0.224 monthly family income 0.035 0.008 0.092 0.030 0.011 0.351 0.031 -0.002 -0.064 subjective social status 0.072 0.252 2.882** 0.080 0.157 1.958 0.069 0.130 1.894 Independent Variable perceived social mobility 0.168 0.252 2.983** 0.166 0.477 2.873** 0.130 0.268 2.064* social trust 0.114 0.491 4.305*** R² 0.164 0.194 0.358 F 3.950*** 4.831** 6.816** Notes: The variables in the model are standardized, * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001. Study 2: The Moderating Effect of Attributions of Wealth and Poverty Study 1 established the influence of perceived social mobility on sense of gain, as well as the mediating role of social trust in this relationship. Study 2 further incorporates the concept of attributions of wealth and poverty, aiming to investigate how individuals’ tendencies to attribute wealth and poverty moderate the effects of high and low perceived social mobility on sense of gain. Methods Participants and Procedures 2 (perceived social mobility: high/low) × 2 (Attributions of wealth and poverty: internal/external) between-subjects design was utilized. The required sample size for this study was calculated to be 128 using G*power software (α = 0.05, power (1 − β err prob) = 0.8). Participants were recruited via the Credamo platform, resulting in a final sample of 130 valid participants. The sample comprised 39 males and 91 females, with ages ranging from 18 to 45 years. The experimental procedure was initiated with the manipulation of perceived social mobility, which was verified by a manipulation check. Next, participants underwent the manipulation of attributions of wealth and poverty, with another manipulation check conducted to confirm the efficacy. Following these steps, participants sequentially completed the social trust scale and the sense of gain scale. The experiment concluded with participants filling out the subjective social class scale and providing their demographic information. Measures Perceived Social Mobility The manipulation method and manipulation check for perceived social mobility were conducted in the same manner as in Study 1. Sense of Gain The Sense of Gain scale developed by Dong et al ( 2019 ) was used in this study. The scale consists of 15 items and is scored on a 7-point Likert scale, ranging from1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree). An example item is, “The social security system has alleviated many of my concerns”. The average score of the 15 items was computed as the score for sense of gain, with higher scores indicating a stronger sense of gain. In this study, the Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for this scale was 0.89. Social Trust The measurement approach was consistent with that used in Study 1. In this study, the Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for this scale was 0.85. Attributions of Wealth and Poverty The manipulation of participants’ attributions of wealth and poverty was performed using the method described by Bai ( 2019 ). Participants in the external attribution group read a text indicating that wealth and poverty arise from industry differences, government-enforced unbalanced development strategies, and unequal educational opportunities. In contrast, participants in the internal attribution group read a different text stating that wealth and poverty are caused by varying mindsets and behavioral habits, such as beliefs about fate, passion for work, levels of effort, emphasis on creativity, and frugality. A single-choice question, “Based on the reading materials above, can you determine whether wealth and poverty are caused by internal factors (e.g., hard work) or external environmental factors (e.g., unbalanced development strategies)?” was employed to assess the effectiveness of the manipulation of attributions of wealth and poverty. Control Variables Subjective social status was measured using the item “At which level do you believe you currently stand?” from the MacArthur Scale of Subjective Social Status (Adler et al., 2000 ). Additional control variables included demographic information such as gender, age, household registration type, and monthly family income. Manipulation Check An independent samples t-test was conducted to evaluate the manipulation check results for the high and low perceived social mobility groups. The findings revealed a significant difference in scores on the perceived social mobility scale between the two groups ( t = 20.154, p < 0.001, Cohen’s d = 3.54). Specifically, the high perceived social mobility group ( M = 2.29, SD = 1.042) had significantly higher perceived social mobility scores compared to the low perceived social mobility group ( M = 5.63, SD = 0.831). This indicates that the manipulation of participants’ perceived social mobility was effective. A chi-square test was employed to assess the manipulation of attributions of wealth and poverty, resulting (see Table 3 ) in χ² = 130.00, p < 0.001, which confirms the success of the manipulation. Table 3 Manipulation Check of Attributions of Wealth and Poverty Selection of Internal Factors Selection of External Factors Overall Count χ² p Internal attributions 67 0 72 130.00 0.000 Expected Frequencies 34.5 32.5 67 External attributions 0 63 57 Expected Frequencies 32.5 30.5 57 Descriptive Statistics and Correlation Analysis Table 4 presents the mean and standard deviations for the main variables in Study 2. The sense of gain was significantly positively correlated with perceived social mobility ( r = 0.2, p < 0.05) and social trust ( r = 0.65, p < 0.01) and attributions of wealth and poverty ( r = 0.3, p < 0.01). Perceived social mobility was significantly positively correlated with social trust ( r = 0.27, p < 0.01). Attributions of wealth and poverty was significantly positively correlated with social trust ( r = 0.28, p < 0.01). Table 4 Mean, Standard Deviation, and the Correlation Matrix of Variable in Study 2 (n = 130) Variables M SD 1 2 3 4 1. perceived social mobility 0.508 0.502 1 2. social trust 5.017 1.089 0.271** 1 3. attributions of wealth and poverty 0.515 0.502 0.000 0.278** 1 4. sense of gain 5.549 0.682 0.199* 0.649** 0.297** 1 Notes: * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01. Moderated Mediation Analysis Model 7 from the SPSS macro PROCESS developed by Hayes ( 2013 ) was employed to test the moderated mediation model. The results (see Table 5 and Fig. 4 ) indicated that perceived social mobility positively predicted social trust (β = 0.516, p < 0.01). Conversely, attributions of wealth and poverty emerged as a significant predictor of social trust (β = 0.457, p < 0.001). Additionally, the interaction term between perceived social mobility and attributions of wealth and poverty significantly predicted social trust (β = -0.661, p < 0.05). The results demonstrate that attributions of wealth and poverty significantly moderated the relationship between perceived social mobility and sense of gain. Table 5 Analysis of the Moderating Effect of Attributions of Wealth and Poverty sense of gain social trust sense of gain Model 1 Model 2 Model 3 SE β t SE β t SE β t Control Variables gender 0.113 -0.191 -2.506* 0.161 -0.458 -2.846** 0.093 -0.14 -1.509 age 0.087 0.274 3.625*** 0.112 -0.158 -1.410 0.084 0.207 2.469* household registration type 0.058 -0.137 -1.804 0.102 -0.051 -0.504 0.055 -0.076 -1.364 family monthly income 0.022 0.103 1.249 0.042 -0.033 -0.803 0.025 0.028 1.129 subjective social status 0.045 0.273 3.264*** 0.083 0.220 2.641** 0.061 0.047 1.129 Independent Variable perceived social mobility 0.102 0.161 2.161* 0.171 0.516 3.015** 0.086 0.063 0.737 social trust 0.051 0.305 5.968*** attributions of wealth and poverty 0.169 0.457 2.697** INTI 0.330 -0.661 -1.999* R² 0.348 0.374 0.511 F 10.922*** 10.147*** 17.867*** Notes: The variables in the model are standardized, * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001. INTI means the interaction of perceived social mobility and attributions of wealth and poverty. A further simple slope analysis (Aiken & West, 1991 ) reveals (see Fig. 5 ) that participants with external attribution tendencies regarding wealth and poverty exhibit a significant positive predictive relationship between their perceived social mobility and social trust (β = 0.261, 95% CI = [0.109, 0.476]). In contrast, for participants with internal attribution tendencies regarding wealth and poverty, the predictive effect of perceived social mobility on social trust is not significant (β = 0.06, 95% CI = [-0.051, 0.217]). Independent samples t-tests conducted for high and low perceived social mobility groups showed that in the low perceived social mobility group, the social trust scores of the internal attribution tendency group were significantly higher than those of the external attribution tendency group ( t = -3.654, p < 0.001). Conversely, in the high perceived social mobility group, no significant difference was found in social trust scores between the internal attribution tendency group ( M = 5.402, SD = 0.9) and the external attribution tendency group ( M = 5.212, SD = 0.925) ( t = -0.843, p = 0.402 > 0.05). Thus, compared to internal attribution tendencies regarding wealth and poverty, external attribution tendencies enhance perceived social mobility, reduce its negative impact on social trust, and consequently amplify the negative effect on the sense of gain. Discussion The development and growth of the youth demographic are of strategic significance for national prosperity and the rejuvenation of the nation. This study concentrates on the social mentality of Chinese youth, employing experimental manipulation to further elucidate the causal relationship between perceived social mobility and sense of gain, while also revealing the mechanisms at play between the two. This offers new insights into the intricate relationship between social structure and individual psychology. The findings indicate that perceived social mobility serves as a significant positive predictor of sense of gain; social trust mediates the relationship between perceived social mobility and sense of gain; and the attributions of wealth and poverty moderate the mediating role of social trust in the connection between individual perceived social mobility and sense of gain. Specifically, external attribution tendencies amplify the negative effect of perceived social mobility on social trust, whereas internal attribution tendencies act as a protective factor that increases the social trust levels of individuals with low perceived social mobility. In practice, the notion of self-responsibility, which asserts that individuals can shape their destinies through personal effort, is frequently emphasized. While this perspective can inspire individual ambition to a certain extent, it may oversimplify the complexities inherent in social phenomena (Chetty et al., 2014 ). It is true that some individuals manage to rise above their social class through hard work; however, such successes usually occur within specific social structures and conditions of resource distribution (Li, 2020). The challenges faced by those in disadvantaged positions cannot be solely blamed on a lack of personal effort, as factors such as the entrenchment of social classes, unequal resource allocation, and systemic barriers significantly constrain the ability of individual effort to yield tangible results (Corak, 2013 ). In alignment with previous studies (Tan & Lv, 2023 ), this research confirms that perceived social mobility positively influences sense of gain, indicating that individuals with a high perception of social mobility possess a greater sense of gain. This finding highlights the critical role of perceiving the openness of social classes and the accessibility of resources in enhancing the sense of gain among youth. Such perceptions not only impact individuals’ understanding of social mobility but also shape their expectations and psychological dispositions regarding the future. Moreover, the results linking perceived social mobility to an increased sense of gain are consistent with the principles of basic psychological needs theory (Vansteenkiste & Ryan, 2013 ). Individuals with a strong sense of social mobility typically believe in their capacity to alter their circumstances through effort and feel competent in undertaking various tasks. This conviction not only bolsters their sense of autonomy and competence but also fosters a sense of belonging through their recognition of social equity and openness (Chen et al., 2022 ). The enhancement of autonomy, competence, and belonging further amplifies individuals’ sense of gain (Tan & Lv, 2023 ). The perception of social mobility indirectly affects the sense of gain through social trust, indicating that individuals with a high perception of social mobility tend to possess higher social trust, which subsequently leads to a greater sense of gain. This finding highlights the role of social trust as a bridge between individual psychology and social structure, consistent with the tenets of risk theory. Individuals with ample resources, when confronted with risks, have greater buffer capacities and coping skills, allowing them to manage and recover from trust crises effectively; thus, they are more inclined to exhibit elevated levels of social trust (Beck, 1992 ; Sapienza et al., 2013 ; Zhao, 2016 ). Those with a strong perception of social mobility believe in an open and fair society, which affords them enhanced opportunities to improve their social status and acquire more resources, enabling them to take risks in trusting strangers, thereby fostering higher social trust. This trust reflects not only confidence in personal capabilities but also optimistic expectations about the social environment. They hold the belief that social institutions can protect their rights and that social resources can be equitably distributed, which further reinforces their social trust (Li & He, 2022 ). When individuals find themselves in a high-trust social environment, they are more likely to perceive social justice and warmth, leading to more positive emotions and, consequently, a heightened sense of gain (Helliwell et al., 2014 ; Tokuda et al., 2010 ). The emergence of these positive emotions is not merely a psychological response but also a positive feedback loop from the social environment to the individual. Social trust is dynamically adjusted in response to individuals’ perceptions of changes in the social environment (Uslaner, 2002 ). This dynamic process indicates that the establishment and maintenance of social trust require a foundation of fairness and openness within the social environment, while the enhancement of social trust can further promote social fairness and openness, creating a virtuous cycle. This cycle not only enhances individuals’ sense of gain but also contributes to social harmony and progress. This study also identifies the moderating effect of attributions of wealth and poverty between perceived social mobility and social trust, revealing how individuals’ cognitive frameworks regarding wealth and poverty influence their levels of social trust and, in turn, their sense of gain. Building on this foundation, the study focuses on analyzing the pathways through which social trust can be enhanced among youth with low perceived social mobility, revealing that external attribution tendencies regarding wealth and poverty are a critical factor contributing to the low levels of social trust in this demographic. Compared to internal attribution tendencies regarding wealth and poverty, external attribution tendencies exacerbate the negative impact of diminished perceived social mobility on social trust. When young individuals attribute the wealth and poverty to external factors such as social injustice or unequal distribution of educational resources, they may develop a pessimistic view of “effort is futile,” leading to heightened dissatisfaction and disappointment with the social system, ultimately resulting in decreased social trust levels (Frazier et al., 2011 ; Hussak & Cimpian, 2015 ). This attribution tendency may lead them to feel helpless when they maintain a low perception of social mobility, undermining their motivation to strive and fostering skepticism towards society and others, thus reducing their sense of gain and enthusiasm. This phenomenon creates a negative cycle in which individuals are unable to change their circumstances through effort, leading to a diminished sense of gain, which further erodes their motivation and proactivity (Tan et al., 2020 ). This cycle not only impacts individuals’ psychological states and behaviors but may also exert negative effects on social stability and development. Conversely, internal attribution tendencies regarding wealth and poverty can act as a protective factor, enhancing the social trust levels of individuals with low perceived social mobility. This viewpoint provides new insights into understanding the psychological adjustment mechanisms individuals employ when faced with challenges related to social mobility, while also revealing the positive implications of internal attribution tendencies in specific contexts. Individuals who are inclined to internal attribution tend to attribute wealth and poverty to personal factors, such as insufficient effort or limited abilities. This mindset not only prevents feelings of unfairness but may also transform into a motivation for self-improvement, encouraging them to strive for change through personal development. Individuals with low perceived social mobility often perceive changes in social status as challenging, which typically reduces their happiness and life satisfaction (Huang et al., 2017 ; Li et al., 2019). However, when these individuals believe that their personal effort and ability are key factors, it stimulates a high level of autonomy and motivation for self-improvement. This “internal regulatory process” alleviates negative emotions, enhances social trust, and aligns with the fulfillment of their internal needs, specifically their sense of gain (Sansone & Tang, 2021 ). Therefore, if efforts can be made to shift the external attribution tendencies regarding wealth and poverty of youth with low perceived social mobility to internal attribution tendencies, it can effectively stimulate their initiative and enhance both social trust and sense of gain within the youth population. To enhance the sense of gain, a collaborative effort from various sectors of society is essential. This can be accomplished through initiatives such as providing equitable educational and employment opportunities and improving the social security system, thereby promoting social equity and individual development. By establishing and implementing fair educational and employment policies, along with refining the social security framework, we can offer institutional support for the openness of social classes and the availability of resources. Additionally, by promoting fair competition and eliminating discrimination, we can create a more inclusive and open social environment that facilitates the equitable distribution of resources. Moreover, initiatives such as public awareness campaigns and psychological counseling can aid youth with low perceptions of social mobility in developing appropriate attribution styles, mitigating the negative belief that “effort is futile,” and steering them to concentrate on their own efforts and capabilities rather than being overly fixated on the injustices of the external environment. Enhancing their motivation to strive and their sense of social engagement is vital for breaking the negative cycle and fostering social harmony and development. This study also has certain limitations. First, it concentrates on perceived social mobility within the broader societal context and does not investigate individual-level perceptions of social mobility, such as the influence of mobility experiences and expectations on the sense of gain. Future research could broaden the scope to analyze how various perceptions of social mobility impact the sense of gain. Second, this study employs a cross-sectional design; future studies could adopt longitudinal research designs to more accurately track changes in variables over time and gain deeper insights into how perceived social mobility affects individuals’ sense of gain. Lastly, the research sample is limited to Chinese youth, and the findings may be influenced by specific cultural values and social structures. Future research could be conducted across different cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds to evaluate the model’s universality and applicability, thereby enriching the theoretical framework of related studies. Conclusion The conclusions of this study are as follows. First, perceived social mobility significantly positively predicts the sense of gain. Second, social trust serves as a mediator between perceived social mobility and the sense of gain, where an increase in perceived social mobility enhances individuals’ social trust levels, subsequently improving their sense of gain. Third, attributions of wealth and poverty moderate the effect of individual perceived social mobility on the sense of gain. External attributions of wealth and poverty further intensify the negative influence of diminished perceived social mobility on social trust compared to internal attribution tendencies. Declarations Data Sharing Statement The datasets used during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request. Author contributions YXH and ML contributed to the conception and design of the study, data analysis, manuscript writing, and critical revision of the article. These authors contributed equally to this work. QY contributed to revising the article critically. All authors approved the final version of the manuscript for submission. Competing interests The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work. Ethics Statement All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of QuFu Normal University (No. 2023065). Informed consent Informed consent was obtained from all participants. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-6939703","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":516758724,"identity":"9ad2f223-9434-44e8-ba14-ed4b02424477","order_by":0,"name":"Yingxu Hou","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Qufu Normal University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Yingxu","middleName":"","lastName":"Hou","suffix":""},{"id":516758728,"identity":"0cea81b9-b9ea-4d24-8256-0188e35631bc","order_by":1,"name":"Miao 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1","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":823690,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eMaterials for Manipulating High Perception of Social Mobility\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"floatimage1.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6939703/v1/6d3207cb19d684064f3d62f9.png"},{"id":91739196,"identity":"64656757-c010-4167-91d4-09730b8574cd","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-09-19 18:15:54","extension":"png","order_by":2,"title":"Figure 2","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":854653,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eMaterials for Manipulating High Perception of Social Mobility\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"floatimage2.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6939703/v1/5152690f8f6ac629e054f585.png"},{"id":91740215,"identity":"65210d8e-1a73-443d-b95b-b9345d703f80","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-09-19 18:23:54","extension":"png","order_by":3,"title":"Figure 3","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":16254,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eMediation Model of Social Trust\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNotes: all path coefficients are standardized, *\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e \u0026lt; 0.05, ** \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026lt; 0.01, ***\u003cem\u003ep \u003c/em\u003e\u0026lt; 0.001.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"floatimage3.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6939703/v1/5a35802e9e557eab9f535d3c.png"},{"id":91740217,"identity":"55b54da4-e755-45e3-89c5-8d97ae9404c1","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-09-19 18:23:54","extension":"png","order_by":4,"title":"Figure 4","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":24130,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eModerated Mediation Model\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNotes: Dashed lines indicate paths that are not significant (\u003cem\u003ep \u003c/em\u003e\u0026gt; 0.05) and all path coefficients are standardized, *\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e \u0026lt; 0.05, ** \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026lt; 0.01, ***\u003cem\u003ep \u003c/em\u003e\u0026lt; 0.001.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"floatimage4.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6939703/v1/93d4fa39aa9984083432fd63.png"},{"id":91739197,"identity":"ae8eb139-97e8-47d8-8c3e-cd8fef0702f0","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-09-19 18:15:54","extension":"png","order_by":5,"title":"Figure 5","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":31046,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eSimple Slope Analysis\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"floatimage5.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6939703/v1/f8898fc6a5208927fc30207d.png"},{"id":96602777,"identity":"c64a8405-ef72-4d83-b044-25c8ede8cbde","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-11-24 09:01:24","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":2810732,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6939703/v1/e26d29bc-d824-48c3-b572-55051670f01a.pdf"},{"id":91737757,"identity":"0273f9cf-94aa-4114-a87d-df4725719df7","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-09-19 18:07:54","extension":"csv","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"supplement","size":15799,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Study1.csv","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6939703/v1/904ddc75adfcf1b74d01db11.csv"},{"id":91739193,"identity":"3921bf8b-da8b-4b04-92c5-c4124dbacaa1","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-09-19 18:15:54","extension":"csv","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"supplement","size":12702,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Study2.csv","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6939703/v1/7803c19e3016c130ca17f746.csv"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"The role of perceived social mobility in shaping youth’s sense of gain","fulltext":[{"header":"Introduction","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u0026ldquo;Sense of gain\u0026rdquo; is a novel, localized concept proposed within the context of Chinese society. It denotes an individual\u0026rsquo;s cognitive appraisal of the content, pathways, and requisite conditions for fulfilling their needs, along with the relatively stable psychological experiences or feelings that emerge throughout this process (Dong et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e; Tan et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR71\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e). Since its introduction, the sense of gain has become a common focal point for cross-disciplinary research, with investigations primarily centered around the conceptual clarification, generative mechanisms, influencing factors, measurement techniques, and enhancement strategies associated with this concept (Feng \u0026amp; Zhong, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR23\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2021\u003c/span\u003e; Huo et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR33\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e; Tan et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR71\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e; Wang et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR80\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e). Regarding studies on the sense of gain among youth, researchers have progressively broadened their focus from the academic sense of gain experienced by university students to a more extensive examination within the sphere of social governance (Ji et al., 2022; Xu et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR83\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2021\u003c/span\u003e; Yang et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR85\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2024\u003c/span\u003e). The sense of gain has become an essential criterion for evaluating the effectiveness of social governance and the quality of social life experienced by the populace (Tan et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR70\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e). From an individual perspective, there exists a significant positive correlation between the sense of gain and improvements in well-being, satisfaction, and feelings of security (Feng \u0026amp; Zhong, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR23\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2021\u003c/span\u003e; Ye et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR88\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e; Zheng, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR95\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e), positioning it as a critical factor in individuals\u0026rsquo; pursuit of a fulfilling life (Zhang, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR89\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2021\u003c/span\u003e). Furthermore, at a societal level, enhancing the sense of gain contributes to fostering a positive social mindset (Tian, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR73\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e), facilitating social stability and development, and improving societal expectations (Ji et al., 2022).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe enhancement of the sense of gain is directly influenced by structural social factors, necessitating a relative unity between subjective and objective elements (Sun, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR69\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2015\u003c/span\u003e). Changes in social class and individuals\u0026rsquo; perceptions of their positions within the social hierarchy have become critical factors driving people to seek a higher quality of life and actively participate in socio-economic activities (Tan \u0026amp; Lv, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR72\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e). Numerous previous studies have indicated that the evolution of the social environment impacts the social mentality of the youth population (Liu et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR43\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e). Within the intricate and fluctuating realities of social mobility, the public\u0026rsquo;s perception of social mobility is likely to exert a significant influence on their sense of gain (Tan \u0026amp; Lv, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR72\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e). More specifically, individuals\u0026rsquo; perceptions of the overall social situation and their future prospects may affect social trust due to perceived discrepancies in available resources, which could indirectly influence their sense of gain (Brandt et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2015\u003c/span\u003e). Additionally, the way individuals attribute wealth and poverty may similarly affect their social cognition (Zhao \u0026amp; Chen, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR94\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2025\u003c/span\u003e). When individuals attribute wealth and poverty to personal capability, they may be encouraged to concentrate on their own efforts and improvements, thereby reducing negative emotions and enhancing their sense of gain (Ng \u0026amp; Allen, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR49\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2005\u003c/span\u003e; Sanju\u0026aacute;n \u0026amp; Magallares, 2014). This psychological mechanism not only illustrates the inherent connection between perceptions of social mobility and social mentality but also offers a new perspective for bolstering the sense of gain among the public (Li et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR40\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e; Yang \u0026amp; Ni, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR86\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2025\u003c/span\u003e). Given that youth represent a cornerstone of social development, enhancing their sense of gain is crucial for guiding them to align their personal growth with national development and nurturing a positive social mentality. Consequently, this research focuses on the youth, situating their sense of gain within the dynamic evolution of social mobility, and elucidating the potential mediating and moderating mechanisms through which perceptions of social mobility impact the sense of gain.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Impact of Perceived Social Mobility on the Sense of Gain\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eObjective social mobility exposes the reality of social resource allocation and serves as a crucial reference for evaluating individuals\u0026rsquo; benefits and losses within the existing system (Sheng, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR67\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2013\u003c/span\u003e). The subjective assessment of this mobility by individuals not only affects their internal cognition and behavioral motivations but also molds specific behavioral response patterns (Shariff et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR65\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2016\u003c/span\u003e; Rao et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR52\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e). While there exists a close connection between subjective and objective social mobility, they do not always correspond with one another (Davidai \u0026amp; Gilovich, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2015\u003c/span\u003e; Kraus \u0026amp; Tan, 2015). This is because subjective social mobility has a more stable and direct relationship with individuals\u0026rsquo; psychological and behavioral aspects compared to objective social mobility (Alesina et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e; Huang et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR32\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2017\u003c/span\u003e). The perceived social mobility, which refers to individuals\u0026rsquo; subjective evaluations of the overall mobility of society and their own class transitions (Kraus \u0026amp; Keltner, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR37\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2013\u003c/span\u003e), is a significant psychological metric for assessing the degree of openness and mobility within social systems (Day \u0026amp; Fiske, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2017\u003c/span\u003e). This type of perception not only indicates individuals\u0026rsquo; sensitivity to changes in social structures but also acts as a critical driving force for motivating people to seek higher living standards and actively participate in socio-economic activities (Tan \u0026amp; Lv, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR72\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn previous studies concerning the perception of social mobility, researchers have approached the topic from two angles: the general perception of social class mobility and the individual perception of changes in one\u0026rsquo;s own circumstances (Day \u0026amp; Fiske, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2017\u003c/span\u003e; Dong \u0026amp; Wang, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR21\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2025\u003c/span\u003e; Du et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR22\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2021\u003c/span\u003e). The perceived social mobility that arises from the broader social environment is termed \u0026ldquo;mobility belief,\u0026rdquo; which is affected by the objective social context (Chen \u0026amp; Zhang, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e). Individuals with higher mobility beliefs are more inclined to believe in the openness and permeability of society, and they exhibit greater support for and commitment to social institutions (Day \u0026amp; Fiske, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2017\u003c/span\u003e). This is beneficial for fostering social stability and development (Sagioglou et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR56\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e). Furthermore, a strong mobility belief leads individuals to pursue future growth, resulting in a deeper sense of life meaning and psychological happiness (Huang et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR32\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2017\u003c/span\u003e; Lin et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR42\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e; Schneider, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR62\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2012\u003c/span\u003e). Perceived mobility based on personal circumstances can be categorized into mobility experience and mobility expectation. Improving individuals\u0026rsquo; mobility experiences and expectations not only aids in maintaining the stability of social order but also stimulates social vitality and nurtures a positive societal mindset (Katic \u0026amp; Ingram, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR36\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e; Zhang \u0026amp; Wang, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR92\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2024\u003c/span\u003e). The mechanisms through which perceived social mobility operates differ depending on the perspective taken; this study primarily examines how the perception of social mobility based on overall class movement influences the sense of gain.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSelf-Determination Theory highlights that humans have the potential for growth and development, which can guide individuals to engage in activities that interest them and facilitate their talent development (Ryan \u0026amp; Deci, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2000\u003c/span\u003e). As a crucial extension of Self-Determination Theory, Basic Psychological Needs Theory asserts that individuals are proactive organisms who seek opportunities to satisfy their key psychological needs and possess an innate tendency to pursue personal growth and happiness (Deci \u0026amp; Ryan, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2000\u003c/span\u003e). This tendency is specifically expressed through three fundamental psychological needs: autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Autonomy refers to the psychological quest for freedom and the desire to have control over one's actions, reflecting an intrinsic inclination toward achieving a sense of autonomy; competence involves the need for a sense of mastery over the external environment, aimed at completing directed and challenging tasks through personal effort, which in turn reinforces one\u0026rsquo;s sense of existence and value; relatedness signifies the expectation for positive interpersonal relationships and the need for support from others. These three basic psychological needs elucidate the intrinsic relationship between social environments and individuals\u0026rsquo; psychological health and well-being (Deci \u0026amp; Ryan, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2012\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePromoting the mobility of social and economic status is advantageous for increasing the public\u0026rsquo;s sense of gain (Wang et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR80\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e). A robust framework for social mobility can effectively mitigate the social hostility caused by low social status (Day \u0026amp; Fiske, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2017\u003c/span\u003e; Sagioglou et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR56\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e). Higher levels of perceived social mobility lead individuals to be more inclined to believe that they can obtain opportunities to change their social status through personal effort, thus fostering a more optimistic social mindset (Li et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR40\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e). When youth can cultivate a positive perception of social mobility in China during their endeavors, they will come to recognize that the country offers equitable and open opportunities, resulting in increased social support and a sense of belonging, which in turn enhances their hope and confidence for the future (Lu, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR46\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2004\u003c/span\u003e). Prior research has also indicated that reasonable social class mobility is a critical component of social equity, and a heightened sense of social fairness aids in strengthening individuals\u0026rsquo; sense of gain (Yang \u0026amp; Ni, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR86\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2025\u003c/span\u003e). Moreover, if individuals believe that upward mobility can be achieved through their own efforts, they will experience the fulfillment of the need for autonomy in their actions, along with a sense of competence and achievement throughout the goal pursuit process, as well as a sense of belonging to a fair and open society. The essence of the sense of gain is the public\u0026rsquo;s subjective perception, emotional experience, and behavioral response to the satisfaction of their needs during the processes and outcomes of social reform and development (Tan et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR71\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e; Wang, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR78\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e). Thus, the need satisfaction derived from high mobility beliefs can enhance individuals\u0026rsquo; sense of gain. Accordingly, this study proposes Hypothesis 1: Perceived social mobility positively predicts the sense of gain (H1).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Mediating Role of Social Trust\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSocial trust, as a fundamental aspect of social capital, reflects individuals\u0026rsquo; trust in strangers or the general populace and serves as a critical indicator of social harmony (Putnam, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR50\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1995\u003c/span\u003e). It represents individuals\u0026rsquo; evaluations of the credibility of the majority, as well as their expectations regarding the general cooperativeness and supportiveness of individuals and organizations (Hardin, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR29\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2002\u003c/span\u003e). Social trust is not confined to specific interactions; rather, it reflects a cognitive inclination towards trust (Schilke et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR64\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2021\u003c/span\u003e). The foundation of social trust lies in social institutions (Luhmann, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR45\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1979\u003c/span\u003e), and robust institutions play a vital role in maintaining and safeguarding social trust (Rothstein \u0026amp; Stolle, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR54\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2008\u003c/span\u003e), shaping members\u0026rsquo; cognitive and thought processes, which in turn affect social behavior (Delhey et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR19\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2011\u003c/span\u003e; Sako \u0026amp; Helper, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR57\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1998\u003c/span\u003e). Enhancing social trust helps to reduce the uncertainty and anxiety individuals face and provides psychological support (Gao \u0026amp; Lu, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR25\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2010\u003c/span\u003e), thereby improving mental health and subjective well-being levels (Bassett \u0026amp; Moore, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2013\u003c/span\u003e; Lu et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR44\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e). There is a significant positive correlation between subjective well-being and the sense of gain (Feng \u0026amp; Zhong, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR23\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2021\u003c/span\u003e). In environments characterized by high trust, individuals are more willing to actively engage in social activities and experience greater life satisfaction (Wang et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR79\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e), which subsequently enhances their sense of gain. Furthermore, social trust facilitates cooperation and resource sharing (Zhang, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR92\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2024\u003c/span\u003e), which may also contribute to increased individual happiness and sense of gain (Weinstein \u0026amp; Ryan, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR81\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2010\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe level of social trust may be influenced by perceptions of social mobility. From the standpoint of risk theory, individuals\u0026rsquo; attitudes and behaviors in the face of uncertainty and potential losses are shaped by their resource ownership (Beck, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1992\u003c/span\u003e). This implies that disparities in resource possession can affect social trust levels; individuals with more abundant social resources tend to exhibit higher levels of social trust (Brandt et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2015\u003c/span\u003e; Delhey \u0026amp; Newton, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2005\u003c/span\u003e). This occurs because individuals with more social resources are better positioned to absorb potential losses when faced with the risk of trusting strangers (Hamamura, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR28\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2012\u003c/span\u003e; Navarro-Carrillo et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR48\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e). Individuals with a high perception of social mobility believe they have greater opportunities to improve their social status and acquire resources, enabling them to better navigate the costs and risks associated with trust, which in turn leads to higher levels of social trust. From another perspective, individuals with higher perceptions of social mobility are more likely to perceive society as fair and open, resulting in lower social differentiation and greater social trust (Day \u0026amp; Fiske, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2017\u003c/span\u003e; Ren et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR53\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e; Zuckerman \u0026amp; Gerbasi, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR96\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1977\u003c/span\u003e). Thus, individuals with high perceptions of social mobility are inclined to demonstrate higher levels of social trust, which in turn enhances their sense of gain. Accordingly, we propose Hypothesis 2: Perceived social mobility positively predicts the sense of gain through the mediating role of social trust (H2).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Moderating Role of Attributions of Wealth and Poverty\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAttributions of wealth and poverty refer to the processes through which individuals explain social wealth disparities (Kraus et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR38\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2009\u003c/span\u003e), which can be divided into internal and external attribution tendencies. Internal attribution of wealth and poverty involves individuals attributing wealth and poverty to personal attitudes and abilities, consistent with the \u0026ldquo;labor-gain\u0026rdquo; logic of the sense of gain and the internal logic emphasizing individual effort (Zhang, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR90\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e). Conversely, external attribution refers to individuals attributing wealth and poverty to external factors such as social environments (Hussak \u0026amp; Cimpian, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR34\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2015\u003c/span\u003e; Guo et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR26\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2015\u003c/span\u003e). Individuals with an external attribution tendency tend to blame poverty or wealth on structural factors, including inequality in social systems, education, employment opportunities, and unfair resource distribution, leading them to feel powerless to change their circumstances and lacking an internal locus of control (Hussak \u0026amp; Cimpian, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR34\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2015\u003c/span\u003e). This can result in a range of negative consequences, such as increased feelings of relative deprivation (Smith et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR68\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2012\u003c/span\u003e), heightened negative emotions (Arslan et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2009\u003c/span\u003e), diminished self-efficacy (Frazier et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR24\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2011\u003c/span\u003e), learned helplessness in adverse situations, and a loss of motivation to strive (Mueller \u0026amp; Dweck, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR47\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1998\u003c/span\u003e). Additionally, external attribution tendencies can reduce individuals\u0026rsquo; sense of social fairness (Schneider \u0026amp; Castillo, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR63\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2015\u003c/span\u003e), which subsequently impacts their levels of social trust (Ren et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR53\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e; Yang et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR84\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e). In contrast, individuals with an internal attribution tendency towards wealth and poverty are likely to experience fewer negative emotions, possess a higher sense of fairness, and maintain beliefs in a fair system (Hafer \u0026amp; Correy, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR27\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1999\u003c/span\u003e; Hussak \u0026amp; Cimpian, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR34\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2015\u003c/span\u003e; Yang Shenlong et al., 2016). Moreover, prior research has shown that individuals with a greater tendency towards internal attribution exhibit higher levels of trust (Navarro-Carrillo et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR48\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe attribution of wealth and poverty may influence the relationship between perceptions of social mobility and the sense of gain. Previous studies have found that attribution styles regarding wealth can moderate the effect of income on subjective well-being; attributing wealth status to external structural factors can lead to greater feelings of deprivation and lower life satisfaction among low-income groups (Zhao \u0026amp; Chen, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR94\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2025\u003c/span\u003e). Therefore, we hypothesize that individuals inclined towards external attribution of wealth and poverty may exacerbate the negative effects of low perceptions of social mobility. When they perceive that the pathways to upward mobility are narrowing or opportunities are diminishing, they are more likely to experience intense feelings of unfairness and frustration (Wang, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR77\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2011\u003c/span\u003e; Whyte \u0026amp; Han, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR82\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2008\u003c/span\u003e), further diminishing the social trust of individuals with low social mobility perceptions. Moreover, the low sense of control and self-efficacy associated with external attribution tendencies can make it more difficult for individuals with low perceptions of social mobility to bear the costs and risks of trusting others, thus lowering their levels of social trust (Qiang et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR51\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2021\u003c/span\u003e; Samson \u0026amp; Zaleskiewicz, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR58\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e). In contrast, the internal attribution tendency towards wealth and poverty encourages individuals to focus on their own efforts and improvements. When individuals find themselves in disadvantaged situations, attributing their achievements and successes to their abilities and efforts can help them maintain self-esteem, reduce negative emotions, and enhance well-being (Campbell \u0026amp; Sedikides, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1999\u003c/span\u003e; Ng \u0026amp; Allen, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR49\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2005\u003c/span\u003e; Sanju\u0026aacute;n \u0026amp; Magallares, 2014). Therefore, the internal attribution tendency regarding wealth and poverty may act as a protective factor, positively influencing the social trust levels of individuals with low perceptions of social mobility. Accordingly, this study proposes Hypothesis 3: Attributions of wealth and poverty moderate the relationship between perceptions of social mobility and the sense of gain. Compared to internal attribution tendencies, external attribution tendencies will further amplify the negative impact of low social mobility perceptions on social trust (H3).\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Study 1: The Mediating Effect of Social Trust","content":"\u003cp\u003eStudy 1 aims to manipulate perceptions of social mobility to examine the effect of perceived social mobility on the sense of gain and the mediating effect of social trust.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMethods\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eParticipants and Procedures\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne-factor between-subjects design was utilized, and the necessary sample size for this study was determined to be 128 using G*power software (\u0026alpha;\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.05, power (1\u0026thinsp;\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;\u0026beta; err prob)\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.8). The survey was administered online via \u0026ldquo;Credamo\u0026rdquo;, obtained 128 valid responses (93.4%) after the exclusion of 9 invalid questionnaires. Among the participants, 36 were male, and 92 were female, with ages ranging from 18 to 45 years. This research received approval from the Ethics Committee of QuFu Normal University (No. 2023065).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe experimental process commenced with participants undergoing the manipulation of perceived social mobility. Subsequently, a manipulation check was conducted to ensure the effectiveness of this procedure. Next, participants were administered the social trust scale and the sense of gain scale in sequence. Finally, participants completed the subjective social status scale and provided the necessary demographic information.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMeasures\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePerceived social mobility\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe manipulation of perceived social mobility was performed using the method developed by Day \u0026amp; Fiske (\u003cspan class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2017\u003c/span\u003e). Participants were randomly assigned to either a high perceived social mobility group or a low perceived social mobility group. Each group was instructed to read one of two simulated articles published in the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Journal. The high perceived social mobility group read the simulated article titled \u0026ldquo;We Are in a Society with High Mobility\u0026rdquo; (see Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e), which depicted an optimistic scenario regarding social class mobility in China, while the low perceived social mobility group read another simulated article titled \u0026ldquo;We Are in a Society with Low Mobility\u0026rdquo; (see Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e), which illustrated a more pessimistic view of social mobility in China. Following this, participants completed two questions to verify the effectiveness of the manipulation. The manipulation check items were \u0026ldquo;The social environment we are born into determines our entire life\u0026rdquo; and \u0026ldquo;In contemporary society, it is difficult for a person\u0026rsquo;s social status to improve throughout their life.\u0026rdquo; Participants were asked to rate these statements on a 7-point Likert scale, with higher scores indicating a lower perception of social mobility.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSense of Gain\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe sense of gain scale developed by Shao (\u003cspan class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2017\u003c/span\u003e) was used in this study. This scale consists of 15 items and is scored on a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 (severely deteriorated) to 5 (significantly improved). The total score ranges from 0 to 24 points. The mean score of the 15 items was used as the overall score for the sense of gain, with higher scores indicating a stronger sense of gain. In this study, the Cronbach\u0026rsquo;s alpha coefficient for this scale was 0.89.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSocial Trust\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSocial trust was assessed using four items: \u0026ldquo;People are, in most cases: A. Helpful; B. Self-interested and indifferent to others,\u0026rdquo; \u0026ldquo;Most people in society: A. Can be trusted; B. Should be approached with caution,\u0026rdquo; \u0026ldquo;Most people in society will: A. Treat others as fairly as possible; B. Take advantage of others whenever possible,\u0026rdquo; and \u0026ldquo;Most people in society trust strangers.\u0026rdquo; The first three items were reverse-scored, employing a 7-point Likert scale (from \u0026ldquo;1\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;Strongly Agree A\u0026rdquo; to \u0026ldquo;4\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;Neutral\u0026rdquo; to \u0026ldquo;7\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;Strongly Agree B\u0026rdquo;); the fourth item also utilized a 7-point Likert scale (from \u0026ldquo;1\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;Strongly Disagree\u0026rdquo; to \u0026ldquo;7\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;Strongly Agree\u0026rdquo;). The average score of these four items was calculated as the score for social trust, with higher scores indicating greater social trust. The Cronbach\u0026rsquo;s \u0026alpha; coefficient of the scale in this study was 0.88.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eControl Variables\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo better control for biases resulting from differences in social status, our study included subjective social status as a control variable. Subjective social status was measured using the item \u0026ldquo;Which level do you think you currently occupy?\u0026rdquo; from the MacArthur Scale of Subjective Social Status (Adler et al., \u003cspan class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2000\u003c/span\u003e). Participants were shown a 10-level social ladder that reflects the social class positions of various members of society, where a higher position on the ladder signifies greater wealth, higher educational attainment, and better living conditions. Participants were required to select their position on this ladder.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAdditional control variables included demographic information such as gender, age, household registration type, and monthly family income.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eResults\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eManipulation Check for Perceived Social Mobility\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn independent samples t-test was conducted to evaluate the manipulation check results for the high and low perceived social mobility groups. The results indicated a significant difference in the scores on the perceived social mobility scale between the two groups (\u003cem\u003et\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;18.641, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001, Cohen\u0026rsquo;s \u003cem\u003ed\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;3.3). The high perceived social mobility group (\u003cem\u003eM\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;2.34, \u003cem\u003eSD\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;1.051) exhibited significantly higher perceived social mobility than the low perceived social mobility group (\u003cem\u003eM\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;5.63, \u003cem\u003eSD\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.943). This finding confirms that the manipulation of perceived social mobility was successful.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDescriptive Statistics and Correlation Analysis\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTable\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e presents the mean and standard deviations for the main variables in Study 1. The sense of gain was significantly positively correlated with perceived social mobility (\u003cem\u003er\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.27, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.01) and social trust (\u003cem\u003er\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.56, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.01). Perceived social mobility was significantly positively correlated with social trust (\u003cem\u003er\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.25, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.01).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"colspec\" align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ctable id=\"Tab1\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 1\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMean, Standard Deviation, and the Correlation Matrix of Variable in Study 1 (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;128)\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/caption\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"height: 35px;\"\u003e\n\u003cth style=\"height: 35px;\" align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVariable\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003cth style=\"height: 35px;\" align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eM\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003cth style=\"height: 35px;\" align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSD\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003cth style=\"height: 35px;\" align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003cth style=\"height: 35px;\" align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003cth style=\"height: 35px;\" align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003c/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"height: 35px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"height: 35px;\" align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e1.perceived social mobility\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"height: 35px;\" align=\"char\" char=\".\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e0.50\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"height: 35px;\" align=\"char\" char=\".\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e0.502\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"height: 35px;\" align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"height: 35px;\" align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"height: 35px;\" align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"height: 35px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"height: 35px;\" align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2. social Trust\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"height: 35px;\" align=\"char\" char=\".\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e4.69\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"height: 35px;\" align=\"char\" char=\".\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1.308\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"height: 35px;\" align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e0.246**\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"height: 35px;\" align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"height: 35px;\" align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"height: 35px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"height: 35px;\" align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e3. sense of gain\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"height: 35px;\" align=\"char\" char=\".\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e4.10\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"height: 35px;\" align=\"char\" char=\".\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e0.512\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"height: 35px;\" align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e0.272**\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"height: 35px;\" align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e0.558**\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"height: 35px;\" align=\"char\" char=\".\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003c/tbody\u003e\n\u003ctfoot\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"height: 13px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"height: 13px;\" colspan=\"6\"\u003eNotes: *\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05, ** \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.01.\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003c/tfoot\u003e\n\u003c/table\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMediation Analysis\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eModel 4 from the SPSS macro PROCESS developed by Hayes (\u003cspan class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2013\u003c/span\u003e) was employed to analyze the mediating effect of social trust on the relationship between perceived social mobility and sense of gain. The results (see Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e and Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e) indicated that perceived social mobility had a significant positive predictive effect on sense of gain (\u0026beta;\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.252, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.01). Perceived social mobility was found to have a significant positive predictive effect on social trust (\u0026beta;\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.477, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.011). When the mediating variables were introduced, the predictive effect of social trust on sense of gain remained significant (\u0026beta;\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.491, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001), while the direct predictive effect of perceived social mobility on sense of gain also retained significance (\u0026beta;\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.268, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05). The mediating effect of social trust(see Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e), indicated by a coefficient of 0.234 (\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05) and a 95% bootstrap confidence interval of (0.067, 0.482), suggests that social trust mediates the relationship between perceived social mobility and sense of gain.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"colspec\" align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ctable id=\"Tab2\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 2\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnalysis of the Mediating Effect of Social Trust\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/caption\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth rowspan=\"2\" align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003cth colspan=\"3\" align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003esense of gain\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003cth colspan=\"3\" align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003esocial trust\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003cth colspan=\"3\" align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003esense of gain\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth colspan=\"3\" align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003emodel 1\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003cth colspan=\"3\" align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003emodel 2\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003cth colspan=\"3\" align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003emodel 3\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003c/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSE\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026beta;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003et\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSE\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026beta;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003et\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSE\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026beta;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003et\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd colspan=\"10\" align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eControl Variables\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003egender\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e0.189\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e0.087\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1.025\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e0.192\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e0.062\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e0.325\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e0.194\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e0.163\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e0.840\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eage\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e0.144\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e0.089\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e0.983\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e0.141\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e0.318\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2.255*\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e0.146\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e-0.014\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e-0.099\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ehousehold registration type\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e0.084\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e-0.04\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e-0.434\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e0.077\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e-0.113\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e-1.464\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e0.085\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e0.019\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e0.224\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003emonthly family income\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e0.035\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e0.008\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e0.092\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e0.030\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e0.011\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e0.351\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e0.031\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e-0.002\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e-0.064\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003esubjective social status\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e0.072\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e0.252\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2.882**\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e0.080\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e0.157\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1.958\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e0.069\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e0.130\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1.894\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd colspan=\"10\" align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIndependent Variable\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eperceived social mobility\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e0.168\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e0.252\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2.983**\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e0.166\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e0.477\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2.873**\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e0.130\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e0.268\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2.064*\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003esocial trust\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e0.114\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e0.491\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e4.305***\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eR\u0026sup2;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd colspan=\"3\" align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e0.164\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd colspan=\"3\" align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e0.194\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd colspan=\"3\" align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e0.358\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eF\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd colspan=\"3\" align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e3.950***\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd colspan=\"3\" align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e4.831**\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd colspan=\"3\" align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e6.816**\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003c/tbody\u003e\n\u003ctfoot\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd colspan=\"10\"\u003eNotes: The variables in the model are standardized, *\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05, ** \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.01, *** \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001.\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003c/tfoot\u003e\n\u003c/table\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n"},{"header":"Study 2: The Moderating Effect of Attributions of Wealth and Poverty","content":"\u003cp\u003eStudy 1 established the influence of perceived social mobility on sense of gain, as well as the mediating role of social trust in this relationship. Study 2 further incorporates the concept of attributions of wealth and poverty, aiming to investigate how individuals\u0026rsquo; tendencies to attribute wealth and poverty moderate the effects of high and low perceived social mobility on sense of gain.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMethods\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eParticipants and Procedures\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2 (perceived social mobility: high/low) \u0026times; 2 (Attributions of wealth and poverty: internal/external) between-subjects design was utilized. The required sample size for this study was calculated to be 128 using G*power software (\u0026alpha;\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.05, power (1\u0026thinsp;\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;\u0026beta; err prob)\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.8). Participants were recruited via the Credamo platform, resulting in a final sample of 130 valid participants. The sample comprised 39 males and 91 females, with ages ranging from 18 to 45 years.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe experimental procedure was initiated with the manipulation of perceived social mobility, which was verified by a manipulation check. Next, participants underwent the manipulation of attributions of wealth and poverty, with another manipulation check conducted to confirm the efficacy. Following these steps, participants sequentially completed the social trust scale and the sense of gain scale. The experiment concluded with participants filling out the subjective social class scale and providing their demographic information.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMeasures\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePerceived Social Mobility\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe manipulation method and manipulation check for perceived social mobility were conducted in the same manner as in Study 1.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSense of Gain\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Sense of Gain scale developed by Dong et al (\u003cspan class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e) was used in this study. The scale consists of 15 items and is scored on a 7-point Likert scale, ranging from1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree). An example item is, \u0026ldquo;The social security system has alleviated many of my concerns\u0026rdquo;. The average score of the 15 items was computed as the score for sense of gain, with higher scores indicating a stronger sense of gain. In this study, the Cronbach\u0026rsquo;s alpha coefficient for this scale was 0.89.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSocial Trust\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe measurement approach was consistent with that used in Study 1. In this study, the Cronbach\u0026rsquo;s alpha coefficient for this scale was 0.85.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAttributions of Wealth and Poverty\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe manipulation of participants\u0026rsquo; attributions of wealth and poverty was performed using the method described by Bai (\u003cspan class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e). Participants in the external attribution group read a text indicating that wealth and poverty arise from industry differences, government-enforced unbalanced development strategies, and unequal educational opportunities. In contrast, participants in the internal attribution group read a different text stating that wealth and poverty are caused by varying mindsets and behavioral habits, such as beliefs about fate, passion for work, levels of effort, emphasis on creativity, and frugality. A single-choice question, \u0026ldquo;Based on the reading materials above, can you determine whether wealth and poverty are caused by internal factors (e.g., hard work) or external environmental factors (e.g., unbalanced development strategies)?\u0026rdquo; was employed to assess the effectiveness of the manipulation of attributions of wealth and poverty.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eControl Variables\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSubjective social status was measured using the item \u0026ldquo;At which level do you believe you currently stand?\u0026rdquo; from the MacArthur Scale of Subjective Social Status (Adler et al., \u003cspan class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2000\u003c/span\u003e). Additional control variables included demographic information such as gender, age, household registration type, and monthly family income.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eManipulation Check\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn independent samples t-test was conducted to evaluate the manipulation check results for the high and low perceived social mobility groups. The findings revealed a significant difference in scores on the perceived social mobility scale between the two groups (\u003cem\u003et\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;20.154, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001, Cohen\u0026rsquo;s \u003cem\u003ed\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;3.54). Specifically, the high perceived social mobility group (\u003cem\u003eM\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;2.29, \u003cem\u003eSD\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;1.042) had significantly higher perceived social mobility scores compared to the low perceived social mobility group (\u003cem\u003eM\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;5.63, \u003cem\u003eSD\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.831). This indicates that the manipulation of participants\u0026rsquo; perceived social mobility was effective.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA chi-square test was employed to assess the manipulation of attributions of wealth and poverty, resulting (see Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e) in \u0026chi;\u0026sup2; = 130.00, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001, which confirms the success of the manipulation.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\n \u003cdiv class=\"colspec\" align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/div\u003e\n \u003ctable id=\"Tab3\" border=\"1\"\u003e\n \u003ccaption\u003e\n \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 3\u003c/div\u003e\n \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eManipulation Check of Attributions of Wealth and Poverty\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/div\u003e\n \u003c/caption\u003e\n \u003cthead\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003cth align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e\n \u003cth align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSelection of\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eInternal Factors\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/th\u003e\n \u003cth align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSelection of\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eExternal Factors\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/th\u003e\n \u003cth align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eOverall Count\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/th\u003e\n \u003cth align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026chi;\u0026sup2;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/th\u003e\n \u003cth align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/th\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/thead\u003e\n \u003ctbody\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eInternal attributions\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e67\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e72\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd rowspan=\"4\" align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e130.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd rowspan=\"4\" align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.000\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExpected Frequencies\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e34.5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e32.5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e67\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExternal attributions\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e63\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e57\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExpected Frequencies\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e32.5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e30.5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e57\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/tbody\u003e\n \u003c/table\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"111\" style=\"line-height: 200%;\"\u003eDescriptive Statistics and Correlation Analysis\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTable\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e presents the mean and standard deviations for the main variables in Study 2. The sense of gain was significantly positively correlated with perceived social mobility (\u003cem\u003er\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.2, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05) and social trust (\u003cem\u003er\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.65, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.01) and attributions of wealth and poverty (\u003cem\u003er\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.3, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.01). Perceived social mobility was significantly positively correlated with social trust (\u003cem\u003er\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.27, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.01). Attributions of wealth and poverty was significantly positively correlated with social trust (\u003cem\u003er\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.28, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.01).\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\n \u003cdiv class=\"colspec\" align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/div\u003e\n \u003ctable id=\"Tab4\" border=\"1\"\u003e\n \u003ccaption\u003e\n \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 4\u003c/div\u003e\n \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMean, Standard Deviation, and the Correlation Matrix of Variable in Study 2 (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;130)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/div\u003e\n \u003c/caption\u003e\n \u003cthead\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003cth align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eVariables\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/th\u003e\n \u003cth align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eM\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/th\u003e\n \u003cth align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSD\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/th\u003e\n \u003cth align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/th\u003e\n \u003cth align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/th\u003e\n \u003cth align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/th\u003e\n \u003cth align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/th\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/thead\u003e\n \u003ctbody\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e1. perceived social mobility\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.508\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.502\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2. social trust\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e5.017\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.089\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.271**\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e3. attributions of wealth and poverty\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.515\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.502\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.000\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.278**\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e4. sense of gain\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e5.549\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.682\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.199*\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.649**\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.297**\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/tbody\u003e\n \u003ctfoot\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd colspan=\"7\"\u003eNotes: *\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05, ** \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.01.\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/tfoot\u003e\n \u003c/table\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eModerated Mediation Analysis\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eModel 7 from the SPSS macro PROCESS developed by Hayes (\u003cspan class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2013\u003c/span\u003e) was employed to test the moderated mediation model. The results (see Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e and Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e) indicated that perceived social mobility positively predicted social trust (\u0026beta;\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.516, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.01). Conversely, attributions of wealth and poverty emerged as a significant predictor of social trust (\u0026beta;\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.457, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001). Additionally, the interaction term between perceived social mobility and attributions of wealth and poverty significantly predicted social trust (\u0026beta; = -0.661, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05). The results demonstrate that attributions of wealth and poverty significantly moderated the relationship between perceived social mobility and sense of gain.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\n \u003cdiv class=\"colspec\" align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/div\u003e\n \u003ctable id=\"Tab5\" border=\"1\"\u003e\n \u003ccaption\u003e\n \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 5\u003c/div\u003e\n \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eAnalysis of the Moderating Effect of Attributions of Wealth and Poverty\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/div\u003e\n \u003c/caption\u003e\n \u003cthead\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003cth rowspan=\"2\" align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e\n \u003cth colspan=\"3\" align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003esense of gain\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/th\u003e\n \u003cth colspan=\"3\" align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003esocial trust\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/th\u003e\n \u003cth colspan=\"3\" align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003esense of gain\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/th\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003cth colspan=\"3\" align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eModel 1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/th\u003e\n \u003cth colspan=\"3\" align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eModel 2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/th\u003e\n \u003cth colspan=\"3\" align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eModel 3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/th\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/thead\u003e\n \u003ctbody\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSE\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026beta;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003et\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSE\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026beta;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003et\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSE\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026beta;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003et\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd colspan=\"10\" align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eControl Variables\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003egender\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.113\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-0.191\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-2.506*\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.161\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-0.458\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-2.846**\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.093\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-0.14\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-1.509\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eage\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.087\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.274\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3.625***\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.112\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-0.158\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-1.410\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.084\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.207\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2.469*\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ehousehold registration type\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.058\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-0.137\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-1.804\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.102\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-0.051\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-0.504\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.055\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-0.076\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-1.364\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003efamily monthly income\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.022\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.103\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.249\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.042\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-0.033\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-0.803\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.025\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.028\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.129\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003esubjective social status\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.045\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.273\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3.264***\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.083\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.220\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2.641**\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.061\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.047\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.129\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd colspan=\"10\" align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIndependent Variable\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eperceived social mobility\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.102\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.161\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2.161*\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.171\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.516\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3.015**\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.086\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.063\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.737\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003esocial trust\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.051\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.305\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e5.968***\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eattributions of wealth\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eand poverty\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.169\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.457\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2.697**\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eINTI\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.330\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-0.661\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-1.999*\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eR\u0026sup2;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd colspan=\"3\" align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.348\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd colspan=\"3\" align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.374\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd colspan=\"3\" align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.511\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eF\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd colspan=\"3\" align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e10.922***\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd colspan=\"3\" align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e10.147***\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd colspan=\"3\" align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e17.867***\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/tbody\u003e\n \u003ctfoot\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd colspan=\"10\"\u003eNotes: The variables in the model are standardized, *\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05, ** \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.01, *** \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001. INTI means the interaction of perceived social mobility and attributions of wealth and poverty.\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/tfoot\u003e\n \u003c/table\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA further simple slope analysis (Aiken \u0026amp; West, \u003cspan class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1991\u003c/span\u003e) reveals (see Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e) that participants with external attribution tendencies regarding wealth and poverty exhibit a significant positive predictive relationship between their perceived social mobility and social trust (\u0026beta;\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.261, 95% \u003cem\u003eCI\u003c/em\u003e = [0.109, 0.476]). In contrast, for participants with internal attribution tendencies regarding wealth and poverty, the predictive effect of perceived social mobility on social trust is not significant (\u0026beta;\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.06, 95% \u003cem\u003eCI\u003c/em\u003e = [-0.051, 0.217]). Independent samples t-tests conducted for high and low perceived social mobility groups showed that in the low perceived social mobility group, the social trust scores of the internal attribution tendency group were significantly higher than those of the external attribution tendency group (\u003cem\u003et\u003c/em\u003e = -3.654, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001). Conversely, in the high perceived social mobility group, no significant difference was found in social trust scores between the internal attribution tendency group (\u003cem\u003eM\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;5.402, \u003cem\u003eSD\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.9) and the external attribution tendency group (\u003cem\u003eM\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;5.212, \u003cem\u003eSD\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.925) (\u003cem\u003et\u003c/em\u003e = -0.843, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.402\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;0.05). Thus, compared to internal attribution tendencies regarding wealth and poverty, external attribution tendencies enhance perceived social mobility, reduce its negative impact on social trust, and consequently amplify the negative effect on the sense of gain.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Discussion","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe development and growth of the youth demographic are of strategic significance for national prosperity and the rejuvenation of the nation. This study concentrates on the social mentality of Chinese youth, employing experimental manipulation to further elucidate the causal relationship between perceived social mobility and sense of gain, while also revealing the mechanisms at play between the two. This offers new insights into the intricate relationship between social structure and individual psychology. The findings indicate that perceived social mobility serves as a significant positive predictor of sense of gain; social trust mediates the relationship between perceived social mobility and sense of gain; and the attributions of wealth and poverty moderate the mediating role of social trust in the connection between individual perceived social mobility and sense of gain. Specifically, external attribution tendencies amplify the negative effect of perceived social mobility on social trust, whereas internal attribution tendencies act as a protective factor that increases the social trust levels of individuals with low perceived social mobility.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn practice, the notion of self-responsibility, which asserts that individuals can shape their destinies through personal effort, is frequently emphasized. While this perspective can inspire individual ambition to a certain extent, it may oversimplify the complexities inherent in social phenomena (Chetty et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2014\u003c/span\u003e). It is true that some individuals manage to rise above their social class through hard work; however, such successes usually occur within specific social structures and conditions of resource distribution (Li, 2020). The challenges faced by those in disadvantaged positions cannot be solely blamed on a lack of personal effort, as factors such as the entrenchment of social classes, unequal resource allocation, and systemic barriers significantly constrain the ability of individual effort to yield tangible results (Corak, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2013\u003c/span\u003e). In alignment with previous studies (Tan \u0026amp; Lv, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR72\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e), this research confirms that perceived social mobility positively influences sense of gain, indicating that individuals with a high perception of social mobility possess a greater sense of gain. This finding highlights the critical role of perceiving the openness of social classes and the accessibility of resources in enhancing the sense of gain among youth. Such perceptions not only impact individuals\u0026rsquo; understanding of social mobility but also shape their expectations and psychological dispositions regarding the future. Moreover, the results linking perceived social mobility to an increased sense of gain are consistent with the principles of basic psychological needs theory (Vansteenkiste \u0026amp; Ryan, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR76\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2013\u003c/span\u003e). Individuals with a strong sense of social mobility typically believe in their capacity to alter their circumstances through effort and feel competent in undertaking various tasks. This conviction not only bolsters their sense of autonomy and competence but also fosters a sense of belonging through their recognition of social equity and openness (Chen et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e). The enhancement of autonomy, competence, and belonging further amplifies individuals\u0026rsquo; sense of gain (Tan \u0026amp; Lv, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR72\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe perception of social mobility indirectly affects the sense of gain through social trust, indicating that individuals with a high perception of social mobility tend to possess higher social trust, which subsequently leads to a greater sense of gain. This finding highlights the role of social trust as a bridge between individual psychology and social structure, consistent with the tenets of risk theory. Individuals with ample resources, when confronted with risks, have greater buffer capacities and coping skills, allowing them to manage and recover from trust crises effectively; thus, they are more inclined to exhibit elevated levels of social trust (Beck, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1992\u003c/span\u003e; Sapienza et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR61\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2013\u003c/span\u003e; Zhao, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR93\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2016\u003c/span\u003e). Those with a strong perception of social mobility believe in an open and fair society, which affords them enhanced opportunities to improve their social status and acquire more resources, enabling them to take risks in trusting strangers, thereby fostering higher social trust. This trust reflects not only confidence in personal capabilities but also optimistic expectations about the social environment. They hold the belief that social institutions can protect their rights and that social resources can be equitably distributed, which further reinforces their social trust (Li \u0026amp; He, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR41\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e). When individuals find themselves in a high-trust social environment, they are more likely to perceive social justice and warmth, leading to more positive emotions and, consequently, a heightened sense of gain (Helliwell et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR31\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2014\u003c/span\u003e; Tokuda et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR74\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2010\u003c/span\u003e). The emergence of these positive emotions is not merely a psychological response but also a positive feedback loop from the social environment to the individual. Social trust is dynamically adjusted in response to individuals\u0026rsquo; perceptions of changes in the social environment (Uslaner, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR75\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2002\u003c/span\u003e). This dynamic process indicates that the establishment and maintenance of social trust require a foundation of fairness and openness within the social environment, while the enhancement of social trust can further promote social fairness and openness, creating a virtuous cycle. This cycle not only enhances individuals\u0026rsquo; sense of gain but also contributes to social harmony and progress.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis study also identifies the moderating effect of attributions of wealth and poverty between perceived social mobility and social trust, revealing how individuals\u0026rsquo; cognitive frameworks regarding wealth and poverty influence their levels of social trust and, in turn, their sense of gain. Building on this foundation, the study focuses on analyzing the pathways through which social trust can be enhanced among youth with low perceived social mobility, revealing that external attribution tendencies regarding wealth and poverty are a critical factor contributing to the low levels of social trust in this demographic. Compared to internal attribution tendencies regarding wealth and poverty, external attribution tendencies exacerbate the negative impact of diminished perceived social mobility on social trust. When young individuals attribute the wealth and poverty to external factors such as social injustice or unequal distribution of educational resources, they may develop a pessimistic view of \u0026ldquo;effort is futile,\u0026rdquo; leading to heightened dissatisfaction and disappointment with the social system, ultimately resulting in decreased social trust levels (Frazier et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR24\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2011\u003c/span\u003e; Hussak \u0026amp; Cimpian, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR34\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2015\u003c/span\u003e). This attribution tendency may lead them to feel helpless when they maintain a low perception of social mobility, undermining their motivation to strive and fostering skepticism towards society and others, thus reducing their sense of gain and enthusiasm. This phenomenon creates a negative cycle in which individuals are unable to change their circumstances through effort, leading to a diminished sense of gain, which further erodes their motivation and proactivity (Tan et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR71\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e). This cycle not only impacts individuals\u0026rsquo; psychological states and behaviors but may also exert negative effects on social stability and development.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eConversely, internal attribution tendencies regarding wealth and poverty can act as a protective factor, enhancing the social trust levels of individuals with low perceived social mobility. This viewpoint provides new insights into understanding the psychological adjustment mechanisms individuals employ when faced with challenges related to social mobility, while also revealing the positive implications of internal attribution tendencies in specific contexts. Individuals who are inclined to internal attribution tend to attribute wealth and poverty to personal factors, such as insufficient effort or limited abilities. This mindset not only prevents feelings of unfairness but may also transform into a motivation for self-improvement, encouraging them to strive for change through personal development. Individuals with low perceived social mobility often perceive changes in social status as challenging, which typically reduces their happiness and life satisfaction (Huang et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR32\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2017\u003c/span\u003e; Li et al., 2019). However, when these individuals believe that their personal effort and ability are key factors, it stimulates a high level of autonomy and motivation for self-improvement. This \u0026ldquo;internal regulatory process\u0026rdquo; alleviates negative emotions, enhances social trust, and aligns with the fulfillment of their internal needs, specifically their sense of gain (Sansone \u0026amp; Tang, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR60\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2021\u003c/span\u003e). Therefore, if efforts can be made to shift the external attribution tendencies regarding wealth and poverty of youth with low perceived social mobility to internal attribution tendencies, it can effectively stimulate their initiative and enhance both social trust and sense of gain within the youth population.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTo enhance the sense of gain, a collaborative effort from various sectors of society is essential. This can be accomplished through initiatives such as providing equitable educational and employment opportunities and improving the social security system, thereby promoting social equity and individual development. By establishing and implementing fair educational and employment policies, along with refining the social security framework, we can offer institutional support for the openness of social classes and the availability of resources. Additionally, by promoting fair competition and eliminating discrimination, we can create a more inclusive and open social environment that facilitates the equitable distribution of resources. Moreover, initiatives such as public awareness campaigns and psychological counseling can aid youth with low perceptions of social mobility in developing appropriate attribution styles, mitigating the negative belief that \u0026ldquo;effort is futile,\u0026rdquo; and steering them to concentrate on their own efforts and capabilities rather than being overly fixated on the injustices of the external environment. Enhancing their motivation to strive and their sense of social engagement is vital for breaking the negative cycle and fostering social harmony and development.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis study also has certain limitations. First, it concentrates on perceived social mobility within the broader societal context and does not investigate individual-level perceptions of social mobility, such as the influence of mobility experiences and expectations on the sense of gain. Future research could broaden the scope to analyze how various perceptions of social mobility impact the sense of gain. Second, this study employs a cross-sectional design; future studies could adopt longitudinal research designs to more accurately track changes in variables over time and gain deeper insights into how perceived social mobility affects individuals\u0026rsquo; sense of gain. Lastly, the research sample is limited to Chinese youth, and the findings may be influenced by specific cultural values and social structures. Future research could be conducted across different cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds to evaluate the model\u0026rsquo;s universality and applicability, thereby enriching the theoretical framework of related studies.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Conclusion","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe conclusions of this study are as follows. First, perceived social mobility significantly positively predicts the sense of gain. Second, social trust serves as a mediator between perceived social mobility and the sense of gain, where an increase in perceived social mobility enhances individuals\u0026rsquo; social trust levels, subsequently improving their sense of gain. Third, attributions of wealth and poverty moderate the effect of individual perceived social mobility on the sense of gain. External attributions of wealth and poverty further intensify the negative influence of diminished perceived social mobility on social trust compared to internal attribution tendencies.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eData Sharing Statement\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe datasets used during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor contributions\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYXH and ML contributed to the conception and design of the study, data analysis, manuscript writing, and critical revision of the article. These authors contributed equally to this work. QY contributed to revising the article critically. All authors approved the final version of the manuscript for submission.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompeting interests\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEthics Statement\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of QuFu Normal University (No. 2023065).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eInformed consent\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInformed consent was obtained from all participants.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFunding\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis study was supported by the Major Project of the Key Research Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences of Ministry of Education (NO. 25JJD880001), and the Youth Project of Shandong Province Educational Teaching Research (NO. 2023JXQ012).\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAdler NE, Epel ES, Castellazzo G, Ickovics JR (2000) Relationship of subjective and objective social status with psychological and physiological functioning: preliminary data in healthy white women. 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J Res Pers 11(3):306\u0026ndash;317\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":true,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Sense of Gain, Perceived Social Mobility, Social Trust, Attributions of Wealth and Poverty","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6939703/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6939703/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eThe perception of social mobility within the youth directly affects their subjective evaluations of society and their assessments of life quality. Investigating the impact mechanisms of youth perceived social mobility on the sense of gain is essential for nurturing a positive social mindset, guiding youth to actively integrate into national strategic development, and inspiring them to persistently strive for improvement. This research comprised two experimental studies: Study 1 manipulated the perceived social mobility of youth participants through material interventions, while Study 2 introduced attributions of wealth and poverty as a moderating variable, concurrently manipulating both perceived social mobility and attributions of wealth and poverty to explore the effects of youth perceived social mobility on their sense of gain and the associated psychological mechanisms. The results indicated that: (1) Perceived social mobility positively predicts the sense of gain; (2) Social trust serves as a mediator between perceived social mobility and the sense of gain, with heightened perceived social mobility leading to increased levels of social trust among youth, which in turn enhances their sense of gain; (3) Attributions of wealth and poverty moderate the effect of individual perceived social mobility on the sense of gain. External attributions of wealth and poverty further intensify the negative influence of diminished perceived social mobility on social trust compared to internal attribution tendencies. Thus, perceived social mobility affects the sense of gain through the mediating role of social trust, with this mechanism being moderated by attributions of wealth and poverty. The findings provide valuable psychological insights and reflections on the interactive relationship between the psychological states of youth and their social environment, offering empirical support for fostering a positive and healthy social mindset among youth and promoting harmonious and stable social development.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"The role of perceived social mobility in shaping youth’s sense of gain","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-09-19 18:07:49","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6939703/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"827b0b07-a41f-4cd2-9536-0cd8a8028411","owner":[],"postedDate":"September 19th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[{"id":54906621,"name":"Social science/Psychology"},{"id":54906622,"name":"Social science/Sociology"}],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2025-11-11T07:24:06+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2025-09-19 18:07:49","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-6939703","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-6939703","identity":"rs-6939703","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}