Longitudinal Dynamics of Mattering Constructs in Chinese Adolescents: Gender Differences in Patterns of Stability and Change

The longitudinal dynamics of mattering, including measurement invariance across time and patterns of stability versus change within individuals, remain largely unexplored. This study investigated these properties for three mattering dimensions (general mattering, anti-mattering, and fear of not-mattering) among Chinese adolescents across different contexts, assessing their psychometric validity, test-retest reliability, developmental trajectories, and gender-specific patterns. The General Mattering Scale, Anti-Mattering Scale, and Fear of Not-Mattering Inventory were administered (<i>N</i> = 645; <i>M</i>_age = 17.02, SD = 0.63; 49.6% female) at three time points over a 5-month period. Longitudinal measurement invariance was assessed using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). Temporal stability was evaluated through test-retest reliability. Hierarchical Linear Modeling (HLM) examined intraindividual changes. Gender differences were tested using gender-stratified CFAs, stability analyses, and trajectory models. As result, the longitudinal measurement invariance was supported for all three scales across time points and genders. Test-retest reliability showed moderate-to-good stability, with females consistently higher than males. HLM revealed linear increases in general mattering for both genders, but only females showed significant anti-mattering changes, peaking at school reentry. Fear of not mattering remained stable for both genders. Findings reveal gender-specific mattering dynamics: females showed higher stability with synchronized responses to transitions, whereas males displayed lower stability and more idiosyncratic fluctuations.