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Article History

Received: 28 May 2024

Accepted: 11 September 2025

First Online: 10 November 2025

Competing interests

: The authors declare no competing interests.

: This study involved a non-interventional social science survey that did not include any medical procedures, collection of biological samples, or personally identifiable sensitive information. An exemption from ethical review was formally obtained in September 2020, prior to the commencement of data collection. Such anonymous, non-interventional social science surveys were widely regarded in the research location as minimal-risk and generally exempt from full ethical review. The exemption was granted in accordance with the ethical guidelines of Jiangsu University and was confirmed internally by the School of Management under the authority of the Dean. A research protocol was prepared and internally reviewed within the institution prior to data collection. Article 32 of the Measures for the Ethical Review of Life Science and Medical Research Involving Humans (National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China, 2023) now provides explicit legal recognition for such exemptions, thereby aligning this study with both prevailing practice at the time and current national regulations. The study was conducted in compliance with the Declaration of Helsinki and the Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct of the American Psychological Association (APA). Anonymity and confidentiality were strictly maintained, and no personally identifiable data were collected. Participant data were stored securely, with restricted access only granted to authorized researchers. Data were stored in password-protected files and managed in compliance with national data protection regulations, specifically the Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL). All researchers received appropriate ethics training and are qualified to conduct human participant research in accordance with institutional and national guidelines. Regulation citation: Measures for the Ethical Review of Life Science and Medical Research Involving Humans (2023), Article 32. Published by: National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China. URL: .

: Informed consent was obtained from all participants involved in the study. Because the study employed an offline, paper-based questionnaire distributed through designated enterprise liaisons, oral rather than written consent was used to avoid concerns that signed documents could compromise anonymity and reduce participation willingness. To ensure procedural consistency and ethical compliance, all enterprise liaisons responsible for distributing and collecting the questionnaires received standardized training from the research team. This training included detailed instructions on how to communicate consent information accurately and neutrally. A standardized oral consent script, prepared in advance by the research team, was used to ensure that all participants received identical information. The process of obtaining consent began in September 2020, prior to the distribution of questionnaires. Before receiving the questionnaire, participants were verbally informed of the study’s purpose, procedures, the voluntary nature of participation, and their right to decline or withdraw at any time without negative consequences. They were explicitly assured of anonymity and confidentiality, informed that no personally identifiable information would be collected, and told that their data would be used solely in aggregate form for academic analysis and publication. The scope of consent therefore covered survey participation, use of anonymized data for analysis, and publication of findings in scholarly outlets. Participants were further informed that the study posed no foreseeable risks beyond the minimal burden of completing the questionnaire, and contact details for the research team at Jiangsu University were provided for any questions or concerns. Only individuals who confirmed their willingness to participate after receiving the consent information were given the questionnaire. Enterprise liaisons documented the number of individuals who provided oral consent within each team but did not record names or other identifying details, thereby safeguarding both participant anonymity and the integrity of the consent process. No vulnerable populations (e.g., minors, patients, or other protected groups) were involved in this research, and therefore no additional safeguards were required. This procedure ensured that all participants were fully informed and voluntarily agreed to participate, in accordance with institutional ethical guidelines and recognized standards for minimal-risk, non-interventional research.