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The bridging role of belief in a just world in the culture‐psych loop

Yuwei Wang et al.

British Journal of Social Psychology2026https://doi.org/10.1111/bjso.70050article
AJG 3ABDC A
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0.50

Abstract

Beliefs, which are deeply shaped by cultural norms, play a central role in well-being, with belief in a just world (BJW) serving as a vital psychological resource. Yet, it remains unclear how cultural norms shape such beliefs and, in turn, influence emotional and psychosocial well-being. Across four studies (N = 2324), we examined the interplay among cultural tightness, BJW and well-being using surveys, cultural priming and longitudinal designs. Studies 1a-1d showed that BJW mediated the relationship between perceived tightness and well-being across different cultures and time periods. Studies 2a-2c provided causal evidence that tight (vs. loose) priming enhanced well-being through increased BJW. Study 3a revealed a sequential pathway from perceived tightness to personal BJW, to general BJW and finally to well-being. Study 3b, using a longitudinal design, revealed that personal BJW was more flexible and responsive to change, whereas general BJW was more stable and predictive of psychosocial well-being. Together, these findings highlight a dynamic pathway linking culture, belief and well-being, offering new theoretical and empirical insights into the role of BJW in supporting emotional and psychological well-being across ecologically and culturally diverse settings.

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https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/bjso.70050

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@article{yuwei2026,
  title        = {{The bridging role of belief in a just world in the culture‐psych loop}},
  author       = {Yuwei Wang et al.},
  journal      = {British Journal of Social Psychology},
  year         = {2026},
  doi          = {https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/bjso.70050},
}

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The bridging role of belief in a just world in the culture‐psych loop

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Evidence weight

0.50

Balanced mode · F 0.40 / M 0.15 / V 0.05 / R 0.40

F · citation impact0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20
M · momentum0.50 × 0.15 = 0.07
V · venue signal0.50 × 0.05 = 0.03
R · text relevance †0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20

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