Impact of perceived scarcity on delay of gratification: meditation effects of self-efficacy and self-control

Abstract

Most people worldwide suffer from resource scarcity in their lives. Perceived scarcity plays an important role in cognitive abilities and decision-making. This study employed the perceived scarcity, self-control, self-efficacy, and delayed gratification scales to explore the relationship among perceived scarcity, self-efficacy, self-control, and delayed gratification as well as the mediating role of self-efficacy and self-control between perceived scarcity and delayed gratification. A cross-sectional survey was conducted via an online survey platform with 1,109 Chinese college students. The results showed that perceived scarcity was negatively correlated with individual self-efficacy, self-control, and delayed gratification, while self-efficacy and self-control played a partial parallel-mediated role between perceived scarcity and delayed gratification. The mediation model accounted for 28% of the variance in delayed gratification. Moreover, the results indicated that perceived scarcity can reduce the delay in gratification through its negative impact on individual self-efficacy and self-control. To some extent, this result explains how perceived scarcity delays gratification from the perspective of motivation and cognition and provides support for further research on the intervention of perceived scarcity’s psychological and behavioral consequences.

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“…Octalysis, incorporating social elements (social influence and relatedness), leverages social influence to enhance self-efficacy. The system creates scarcity, increasing self-efficacy to overcome limitations (scarcity and impatience), fostering patience and persistence (Yu et al, 2023). By presenting novel situations, it builds self-efficacy, increasing motivation (unpredictability and curiosity).…”

Study on the Relationship between Self-Control and CET-4 from the Perspective of Positive Psychology

“…On the other hand, there is also a wealth of research on self-efficacy Feng. 2019;Zhang et al, 2021;Yu et al, 2023;Deniz et al, 2023).…”

“…Similarly, Zhang et al ( 2021) also validated the findings of Feng Shui (2019) on the mediation of self-efficiency and further supplemented its conclusions. Yu et al (2023) investigated the connection between perceived scarcity, self-efficacy, self-control, and delayed gratification; and the role that self-efficacy and self-control play as mediators between perceived scarcity and delayed gratification. The findings revealed a negative relationship between perceived scarcity and self-efficacy, self-control, and delayed gratification, with selfefficacy and self-control serving as partial parallel mediators between perceived scarcity and delayed gratification.…”