Abstract The research delves into the impact of contradictory thinking on new employees’ psychosocial adaptation, emphasizing the crucial mediating role of social distance. As workplace environments evolve and become increasingly complex, effective psychosocial adaptation is essential for individual mental well-being and achieving positive organizational outcomes. Systematically explore how contradictory thinking shapes adaptation processes through a series of three studies. Study 1 identifies a positive correlation between contradictory thinking and psychosocial adaptation, observed consistently across both Eastern and Western cultural contexts, suggesting a potentially universal effect. Study 2 establishes that contradictory thinking is critical in reducing perceived social distance between new employees and their colleagues, enhancing their adaptation process. Finally, Study 3 confirms the mediating effect of social distance in the relationship between contradictory thinking and psychosocial adaptation, indicating that reduced social distance is a pathway through which contradictory thinking promotes better integration. The research findings suggest that encouraging contradictory thinking in new employees could significantly improve their psychosocial adaptation by fostering a sense of closeness and belonging, ultimately contributing to improved mental health and smoother workplace integration.
Yangying Liu (Sat,) studied this question.