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

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 exp...

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Main Authors: Mao Zhao, Yating Yu, Mei Zhong, Bingpeng Lin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer Nature 2025-05-01
Series:Humanities & Social Sciences Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-05005-5
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author Mao Zhao
Yating Yu
Mei Zhong
Bingpeng Lin
author_facet Mao Zhao
Yating Yu
Mei Zhong
Bingpeng Lin
author_sort Mao Zhao
collection DOAJ
description 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.
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institution DOAJ
issn 2662-9992
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Springer Nature
record_format Article
series Humanities & Social Sciences Communications
spelling doaj-art-53f912967a02431dba0ca6765a0e4c2c2025-08-20T03:08:24ZengSpringer NatureHumanities & Social Sciences Communications2662-99922025-05-0112111110.1057/s41599-025-05005-5Challenge-hindrance stressors and innovative performance among dental graduate students in China: a moderated mediation modelMao Zhao0Yating Yu1Mei Zhong2Bingpeng Lin3Chengdu Normal UniversityUniversity of MacauGuangzhou Medical UniversityGuangzhou Medical UniversityAbstract 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.https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-05005-5
spellingShingle Mao Zhao
Yating Yu
Mei Zhong
Bingpeng Lin
Challenge-hindrance stressors and innovative performance among dental graduate students in China: a moderated mediation model
Humanities & Social Sciences Communications
title Challenge-hindrance stressors and innovative performance among dental graduate students in China: a moderated mediation model
title_full Challenge-hindrance stressors and innovative performance among dental graduate students in China: a moderated mediation model
title_fullStr Challenge-hindrance stressors and innovative performance among dental graduate students in China: a moderated mediation model
title_full_unstemmed Challenge-hindrance stressors and innovative performance among dental graduate students in China: a moderated mediation model
title_short Challenge-hindrance stressors and innovative performance among dental graduate students in China: a moderated mediation model
title_sort challenge hindrance stressors and innovative performance among dental graduate students in china a moderated mediation model
url https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-05005-5
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AT meizhong challengehindrancestressorsandinnovativeperformanceamongdentalgraduatestudentsinchinaamoderatedmediationmodel
AT bingpenglin challengehindrancestressorsandinnovativeperformanceamongdentalgraduatestudentsinchinaamoderatedmediationmodel