Psychosocial Correlates of Network Orientation: A Cross-National Comparison of University Students in Mexico and Russia.

UNLABELLED: Network orientation reflects beliefs about whether seeking help from others is desirable, safe, and useful. Cross-national studies have often focused on differences in the mean levels of negative network orientation; however, similar help-seeking scores may conceal distinct underlying psychosocial structures.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 676 university students from Mexico (n = 422) and Russia (n = 254). Participants completed the Network Orientation Scale (NOS), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Generalized Trust Scale, and Interpersonal Sympathy Scale. Mean comparisons, Pearson correlations with Fisher's r-to-z tests, and multivariable linear interaction models were performed.

RESULTS

Mean NOS levels were similar across countries, but the psychosocial correlates differed substantially. Russian students reported higher generalized trust and higher self-esteem, whereas interpersonal sympathy was comparable between the countries. Greater interpersonal sympathy was associated with higher network avoidance in both populations, while generalized trust was associated with lower network avoidance, with a stronger effect in Russia. Self-esteem was not significantly associated with network orientation in Mexico but was significantly associated with lower network orientation in Russia. Continuous multivariable interaction models demonstrated a significant self-esteem × country interaction. Men showed higher network orientation than women in both countries.

CONCLUSIONS

Although Mexican and Russian university students showed similar average levels of negative network orientation, the psychosocial structure underlying help-seeking differed across contexts. These findings suggest that help-seeking tendencies should not be interpreted solely through mean comparisons, but also through the psychosocial configurations shaping support-seeking within each cultural setting.