2026-10-14T06:31:08Z https://api.figshare.com/v2/oai

oai:figshare.com:article/33771661 2026-09-15T05:34:08Z category_173 portal_316 item_type_3 month_year_09_2026

Supplementary file 1_Perceived societal meritocratic climate and self-stigma among adolescents in conflict with the law: the mediating role of collective self-esteem and social disconnection.docx Xiaoyi Wang (90589) Wanlu Li (7164596) Rong Liu (202610) Xue Zhang (166886) Weijie Meng (18775204) Applied Psychology perceived societal meritocratic climate self-stigma adolescents in conflict with the law social disconnection collective self-esteem Introduction<p>This research investigated the relationship between perceived meritocratic climate and self-stigma among adolescents in conflict with the law across two studies.</p>Methods<p>Study 1 (N = 322) employed a cross-sectional survey; Study 2 (N = 254) used an experimental manipulation of perceived (non)meritocratic climate.</p>Results<p>In Study 1, perceived meritocratic climate positively predicted self-stigma, and an exploratory serial mediation via collective self-esteem and social disconnection was observed. In Study 2, the serial mediation was not replicated; instead, the effect was mediated solely by social disconnection.</p>Discussion<p>These findings suggest that perceived meritocratic climate, as a subjective manifestation of structural social evaluation, reinforces a dual stigmatized identity of being both an offender and a failure. Short-term interventions should focus on enhancing social connectedness to buffer against self-stigma, while long-term efforts should facilitate integration into socially valued and accepting groups, thereby elevating collective self-esteem, strengthening social connection, and ultimately reducing self-stigma.</p> 2026-09-15T05:34:08Z Dataset Dataset 10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1852343.s001 https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/Supplementary_file_1_Perceived_societal_meritocratic_climate_and_self-stigma_among_adolescents_in_conflict_with_the_law_the_mediating_role_of_collective_self-esteem_and_social_disconnection_docx/33771661 CC BY 4.0