Relative deprivation and forgiveness among Chinese college students: a moderated mediation model of ego depletion and psychological capital

Background Psychological education among college students has been receiving considerable attention in China. Forgiveness, as a key positive psychological trait, is widely acknowledged as a pivotal element in reducing the presence of adverse affective states and maladaptive conduct, and is concurrently observed alongside higher psychological well-being. Previous research on forgiveness has primarily centered on individual-level factors, particularly in relation to interpersonal offenses, while relatively few studies have examined broader social factors that may constrain forgiveness. This research sought to investigate the association between relative deprivation, an inhibitor rooted in the broader social environment, and forgiveness, highlighting the mediating role of ego depletion and the moderating role of psychological capital. Method This research employed a survey questionnaire including scales measuring relative deprivation, forgiveness, ego depletion, psychological capital and relevant control variables. A total of 823 college students across four grade levels completed on-site surveys in Shandong Province, China. Result The survey results confirmed the negative relationship between relative deprivation and forgiveness and highlighted the mediating role of ego depletion in this connection. Additionally, psychological capital played a significant moderating role in the association between relative deprivation and ego depletion. Specifically, relative deprivation was more strongly related to ego depletion among Chinese college students with higher levels of psychological capital compared to those with lower levels. Moreover, psychological capital also moderated the indirect pathway from relative deprivation to forgiveness via ego depletion, highlighting its context-dependent nature in shaping these dynamics. Conclusion Relative deprivation was linked to forgiveness via ego depletion as a partial mediator. Psychological capital moderated both the association between relative deprivation and ego depletion and ego depletion’s mediating role in the link between relative deprivation and forgiveness.