From Warmth to Well-Being: A Longitudinal Moderated Mediation Study of Parental Emotional Warmth, Psychological Capital, and Social Anxiety in Chinese Emerging Adults

Background This longitudinal study explores the relationships between parental emotional warmth, psychological capital, and social anxiety in Chinese emerging adults, with a focus on the mediating role of psychological capital and the moderating effects of gender and leadership role. The study aims to investigate how these factors evolve over time and interact with one another. Methods A sample of 552 Chinese emerging adults (ages 18–24) participated in this study, with data collected across three time points (T1, T2, T3). Parental emotional warmth, psychological capital, and social anxiety were assessed using well-established scales. PROCESS macro was employed to conduct regression analyses, testing the mediating role of psychological capital in the relationship between parental emotional warmth and social anxiety, while also examining the moderating effects of gender and leadership role. Results The findings indicate that parental emotional warmth has a significant and negative impact on social anxiety over time. Psychological capital partially mediates the longitudinal relationship between parental emotional warmth and social anxiety. Gender and leadership role were found to moderate this relationship, with male emerging adults showing a stronger positive association between parental emotional warmth and psychological capital compared to female emerging adults, particularly at earlier time points. Furthermore, leadership role also moderated the relationship between parental emotional warmth and psychological capital. Conclusions This study enhances our understanding of the long-term impact of parental emotional warmth on social anxiety through psychological capital, with gender and leadership status (i.e., class monitor role) acting as significant moderators. The findings emphasize the importance of fostering psychological capital and emotional warmth as potential strategies for alleviating social anxiety over time. The study provides valuable insights for families and youth development practitioners on creating supportive environments to promote psychological well-being.