Clarity and Emotional Regulation as Protective Factors for Adolescent Well-Being: A Moderated Mediation Model Involving Depression
Introduction: Adolescent well-being is influenced by emotional regulation and clarity, particularly in contexts of depression, stress, and anxiety. Objective: This study explores how depression mediates the relationship between emotional regulation and well-being and whether emotional clarity modera...
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2025-07-01
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| Series: | European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2254-9625/15/7/130 |
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| author | Jonathan Martínez-Líbano María-Mercedes Yeomans-Cabrera Axel Koch Roberto Iturra Lara Patrícia Torrijos Fincias |
| author_facet | Jonathan Martínez-Líbano María-Mercedes Yeomans-Cabrera Axel Koch Roberto Iturra Lara Patrícia Torrijos Fincias |
| author_sort | Jonathan Martínez-Líbano |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: Adolescent well-being is influenced by emotional regulation and clarity, particularly in contexts of depression, stress, and anxiety. Objective: This study explores how depression mediates the relationship between emotional regulation and well-being and whether emotional clarity moderates this interaction, providing a comprehensive model to understand adolescent mental health. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 636 Chilean adolescents aged 10–18. Emotional clarity and regulation were assessed using the TMMS-24 scale, depression with the DASS-21 scale, and subjective well-being with the Personal Well-Being Index (PWI). Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, and moderated mediation models (PROCESS Macro, Models 4 and 7). Results: Emotional regulation positively correlated with subjective well-being (r = 0.373, <i>p</i> < 0.01) and negatively with depression (r = −0.251, <i>p</i> < 0.01). Depression partially mediated the relationship between emotional regulation and well-being (B = 0.149, 95% CI [0.082, 0.225]), with regulation explaining 86.41% of the effect. Emotional clarity moderated the regulation-depression link, with higher clarity amplifying the protective impact of regulation (index = 0.008, 95% CI [0.0017, 0.0149]). Conclusions: Emotional regulation and clarity are vital for adolescent well-being and enhance the protective role of regulation against depression. Interventions targeting both constructs could improve mental health outcomes in vulnerable populations. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-80bd7e7b0b194ee68488089b0f706768 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2174-8144 2254-9625 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education |
| spelling | doaj-art-80bd7e7b0b194ee68488089b0f7067682025-08-20T03:07:54ZengMDPI AGEuropean Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education2174-81442254-96252025-07-0115713010.3390/ejihpe15070130Clarity and Emotional Regulation as Protective Factors for Adolescent Well-Being: A Moderated Mediation Model Involving DepressionJonathan Martínez-Líbano0María-Mercedes Yeomans-Cabrera1Axel Koch2Roberto Iturra Lara3Patrícia Torrijos Fincias4Facultad de Educación y Ciencias Sociales, Universidad Andres Bello, Concepción 4030000, ChileEscuela de Psicología, Facultad de Salud y Ciencias Sociales, Universidad de Las Américas, Santiago 2531098, ChileFacultad de Educación y Ciencias Sociales, Universidad Andres Bello, Concepción 4030000, ChileFacultad de Ciencias para el Cuidado de la Salud, Universidad San Sebastián, Concepción 4080871, ChileFaculty of Education, University of Salamanca, 37008 Salamanca, SpainIntroduction: Adolescent well-being is influenced by emotional regulation and clarity, particularly in contexts of depression, stress, and anxiety. Objective: This study explores how depression mediates the relationship between emotional regulation and well-being and whether emotional clarity moderates this interaction, providing a comprehensive model to understand adolescent mental health. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 636 Chilean adolescents aged 10–18. Emotional clarity and regulation were assessed using the TMMS-24 scale, depression with the DASS-21 scale, and subjective well-being with the Personal Well-Being Index (PWI). Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, and moderated mediation models (PROCESS Macro, Models 4 and 7). Results: Emotional regulation positively correlated with subjective well-being (r = 0.373, <i>p</i> < 0.01) and negatively with depression (r = −0.251, <i>p</i> < 0.01). Depression partially mediated the relationship between emotional regulation and well-being (B = 0.149, 95% CI [0.082, 0.225]), with regulation explaining 86.41% of the effect. Emotional clarity moderated the regulation-depression link, with higher clarity amplifying the protective impact of regulation (index = 0.008, 95% CI [0.0017, 0.0149]). Conclusions: Emotional regulation and clarity are vital for adolescent well-being and enhance the protective role of regulation against depression. Interventions targeting both constructs could improve mental health outcomes in vulnerable populations.https://www.mdpi.com/2254-9625/15/7/130emotional regulationemotional clarityadolescent well-beingdepressionmoderated mediation model |
| spellingShingle | Jonathan Martínez-Líbano María-Mercedes Yeomans-Cabrera Axel Koch Roberto Iturra Lara Patrícia Torrijos Fincias Clarity and Emotional Regulation as Protective Factors for Adolescent Well-Being: A Moderated Mediation Model Involving Depression European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education emotional regulation emotional clarity adolescent well-being depression moderated mediation model |
| title | Clarity and Emotional Regulation as Protective Factors for Adolescent Well-Being: A Moderated Mediation Model Involving Depression |
| title_full | Clarity and Emotional Regulation as Protective Factors for Adolescent Well-Being: A Moderated Mediation Model Involving Depression |
| title_fullStr | Clarity and Emotional Regulation as Protective Factors for Adolescent Well-Being: A Moderated Mediation Model Involving Depression |
| title_full_unstemmed | Clarity and Emotional Regulation as Protective Factors for Adolescent Well-Being: A Moderated Mediation Model Involving Depression |
| title_short | Clarity and Emotional Regulation as Protective Factors for Adolescent Well-Being: A Moderated Mediation Model Involving Depression |
| title_sort | clarity and emotional regulation as protective factors for adolescent well being a moderated mediation model involving depression |
| topic | emotional regulation emotional clarity adolescent well-being depression moderated mediation model |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2254-9625/15/7/130 |
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