The Relationship Of Machiavellian Tendency And Aloneness In Adolescents:the Role Of Mediator And Moderator

Objectives:This research attempted to explore the adaptiveness of adolescents with machiavellian tendency in junior high school. Specifically speaking, it was about peer relation and aloneness in adolescents, and these differences from two different genders. Simutaneously, the present study also aimed at investigating the relation between machiavellianism and aloneness by adding2"third variables", namely, mediator and moderator.Methods:The whole group of extraction of843junior high school students in two middle schools in Zhengzhou were assessed. The Chinese Revised Edition of Kiddie Machiavellianism Scale(KMS), emotional adjustment inventory, Children’s Loneliness Scale(CLS) and peer nomination were employed to collect the effective observed data, which was processed statistically by using t test, correlation analysia, moderated and mediated effectResults:(1). There were no significant and gender differences in the levels of machiavellian tendency, emotional adjustment, social influence and aloneness in adolescents, but girls scored strongly bigger than boys in social preference (t=-6.143,p<0.001).(2). Machiavellian tendency was positively correlated with aloneness in adolescents (r=0.262,p＜0.001). but there were significant and negativele correlation between emotional adjustment and machiavellian tendency (r=-0.198,＜0.001), aloneness (r=-0.352,p<0.001).(3). Partial mediating effect of emotional adjustment between machiavellianism and aloneness was significant, and the ratio of mediating effect to total effect was23.51%.(4). There were no significant differences between high machiavellian tendency and low machiavellian tendency in the levels of peer relationship (social influence and social preference) in adolescents, but high machiavellian tendency scored strongly higher than low machiavellian tendency in aloneness (t=-6.268,p＜0.001).(5). The social status moderated the effect of emotional adjustment on aloneness and detailedly it moderated the strength of the effect. Regression analysis showed that the neglected could account for12%of the variance of aloneness, the rejected9%, the common and the popular6%, the controversed0%.(6). Social influence moderated the mediating effect caused by emotional adjustment. In different levels of social influence, the regression coefficients was different.conclusions:Machiavellianism was positively correlated with aloneness, and machiavellianism partially influenced aloneness by emotional adjustment, and the social status moderated the effect of emotional adjustment on aloneness. Social influence moderated the mediating effect caused by emotional adjustment. So it must be necessary for school to enhance students’ emotional adjustment and interpersonal relationship.