Table 1_Associations between parental psychological control and negative emotions in early adolescents: a moderated mediation model.xlsx

IntroductionPrevious research on negative emotions has primarily focused on middle and high school students. Based on the cumulative risk model framework, this study targeting early adolescents integrates parental psychological control, peer rejection and aggressive behavior to investigate their associations with negative emotions, while also examining the protective moderation of awe of life.
MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, a total of 1,163 early adolescents (Mage = 11.28 ± 0.80 years) completed self-report measures: the Parental Psychological Control Scale, Peer Rejection Scale, Aggressive Behavior Scale, and Awe of Life Scale. A moderated mediation model was tested to examine the mechanisms underlying the association between parental psychological control and negative emotions.
Results(1) Parental psychological control was significantly positively correlated with peer rejection, aggressive behavior, and negative emotions. (2) Parental psychological control showed a direct positive association with negative emotions (β = 0.179, p < 0.001), accounting for 31.57% of the total association. (3) Parental psychological control was associated with negative emotions through the serial mediation of peer rejection and aggressive behavior. The mediating pathways via peer rejection (β = 0.144, p < 0.001), aggressive behavior (β = 0.124, p < 0.001), and the serial mediation pathway (β = 0.120, p < 0.001) accounted for 25.40%, 21.87%, and 21.16% of the total association, respectively. (4) Awe of life significantly moderated only the direct association, with this association being more pronounced under low levels of awe.
DiscussionThe chained accumulation of family, peer, and individual risk factors constitutes a core mechanism underlying negative emotions, with parental psychological control emerging as the primary influencing factor. Awe of life, meanwhile, provides buffering protection by moderating the direct pathway. Systemic disruption of this risk accumulation process can be achieved by reducing parental psychological control, improving peer relationships, and cultivating awe of life. These insights offer actionable strategies for families and educators to design targeted interventions aimed at enhancing mental health in early adolescence.

引言 既往有关负性情绪（negative emotions）的研究多以中学生为研究对象。本研究基于累积风险模型（cumulative risk model）框架，以早期青少年（early adolescents）为研究对象，整合父母心理控制（Parental Psychological Control）、同伴拒绝（Peer Rejection）与攻击行为（Aggressive Behavior），探讨其与负性情绪的关联，并检验生命敬畏感（Awe of Life）的保护性调节作用。
方法 本项横断面研究共纳入1163名早期青少年（平均年龄Mage=11.28±0.80岁），所有被试均完成自我报告量表测评，包括父母心理控制量表（Parental Psychological Control Scale）、同伴拒绝量表（Peer Rejection Scale）、攻击行为量表（Aggressive Behavior Scale）以及生命敬畏感量表（Awe of Life Scale）。本研究采用有调节的中介模型（moderated mediation model），检验父母心理控制与负性情绪之间关联的内在作用机制。
结果 （1）父母心理控制与同伴拒绝、攻击行为及负性情绪均呈显著正相关。（2）父母心理控制对负性情绪具有直接正向关联（β=0.179，p<0.001），该直接效应占总关联的31.57%。（3）父母心理控制可通过同伴拒绝与攻击行为的序列中介路径对负性情绪产生影响。其中，仅通过同伴拒绝的中介路径（β=0.144，p<0.001）、仅通过攻击行为的中介路径（β=0.124，p<0.001）以及序列中介路径（β=0.120，p<0.001）分别占总关联的25.40%、21.87%与21.16%。（4）生命敬畏感仅对上述直接关联具有显著调节作用，且当个体生命敬畏感水平较低时，父母心理控制与负性情绪的直接关联更为显著。
讨论 家庭、同伴与个体风险因素的链式累积构成了负性情绪产生的核心机制，其中父母心理控制是首要影响因素。与此同时，生命敬畏感可通过调节直接路径发挥缓冲保护作用。通过降低父母心理控制、改善同伴关系以及培育生命敬畏感，可系统性打破这一风险累积过程。上述研究结果为家庭与教育工作者设计旨在提升早期青少年心理健康水平的针对性干预方案提供了可操作的实践策略。