Work

Challenge-hindrance stressors and innovative performance among dental graduate students in China: a moderated mediation model

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Improving the academic innovative performance of dental graduate students is vital for the development of dentistry. Given that dental graduate students face intense academic competition, the mechanisms of challenge and hindrance stress on innovative performance have not been thoroughly explored in this context. The aim of the study is to determine the influence mechanisms between challenge-hindrance stressors and innovative performance among Chinese dental graduate students. The results of an innovation performance survey conducted with 822 dental graduate students from 13 public medical colleges show that there exists a significant association between challenge stressors and innovative performance, and a negative correlation is shown between hindrance stressors and innovative performance. Both types of stressors have indirect relationships with emotional exhaustion and learning engagement. Additionally, physical exercise moderates the indirect impacts of two stressors on innovative performance by emotional exhaustion and learning engagement. Overall, the findings suggest that increasing the frequency of physical exercise is an effective way to reduce stress and enhance innovation capacity. These results are useful in terms of raising students’ level of competition in the medical field.

Source: Humanities and Social Sciences Communications

DOI: 10.1057/s41599-025-05005-5

Authors: Mao Zhao, Yating Yu, Mei Zhong, Bingpeng Lin

Institutions: Chengdu Normal University, University of Macau, Guangzhou Medical University

Language: English

Topic: Stress and Burnout Research

Subfield: Social Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Quality education

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,890