The Effect of Group Identity on Chinese College Students’ Social Mindfulness: Testing a Moderated Mediation Model

Xinyi Guo, Lin You Center for Collaborative Innovation of Civilization Practice in New Era, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Lin You, Center for Collaborative innovation of Civilization Practice in New Era, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330022, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 791-88122985, Email 18137809001@163.comPurpose: The current study examined the effect of group identity on social mindfulness, how awe mediates this effect, and lastly how empathy may moderate the various indirect pathway.Methods: A total of 2041 Chinese college students were recruited from different universities or colleges to complete the questionnaire including group identity scale, awe scale, empathy scale and social mindfulness scale. This study was conducted using random and convenient sampling, as well as SPSS and its plugin PROCESS as a statistical tool.Results: The present study showed that group identity was positively associated with awe and social mindfulness. Awe was positively associated with social mindfulness. Empathy further moderated the relationship between group identity and awe, awe and social mindfulness, as well as group identity and social mindfulness.Conclusion: The findings of this study shed light on a correlation between group identity and social mindfulness. Furthermore, this study emphasizes the practical importance of intervening in the empathy level of students who have poor empathy in order to increase their social mindfulness.Keywords: group identity, social mindfulness, empathy, awe