ABSTRACT
Grounded in a Chinese indigenous cultural perspective, this study examines how Junzi personality—a culturally grounded personality construct rooted in Confucian philosophy—relates to the psychosocial adjustment of Chinese individuals. It further examines the mediating role of self-control and the moderating role of cultural confidence. Three substudies collected data from 2259 Chinese participants. Study 1 used longitudinal data (n = 205) to examine the effects of Junzi personality on psychosocial adjustment as both a state and a process. Study 2 employed cross-sectional data (n = 1589) to examine whether the associations among Junzi personality, self-control and psychosocial adjustment were consistent with the proposed pathway. Study 3 used longitudinal data (n = 465) to validate the overall model and examine the moderating effect of cultural confidence. The results show that Junzi personality is associated with better psychosocial adjustment; longitudinal evidence further supports the mediating role of self-control and the moderating role of cultural confidence. These findings highlight Junzi personality as a culturally grounded resource for psychosocial adjustment and clarify a multilevel pathway from culture to individual adjustment. By integrating contemporary psychological theories with Eastern Confucian thought, this study offers an indigenous cultural perspective for future research on personality and adjustment.