Table 1_The role of psychological strengths in the relationship between self- and external- regulation of behavior and psychological well-being of university students.docx

BackgroundPrevious research has identified associations among regulatory processes, psychological strengths, and well-being. However, empirical evidence regarding the predictive and mediating mechanisms underlying these relationships is limited. The present study aimed to (1) examine the predictive relationships between self-external regulation of behavior and psychological strengths and (2) analyze the mediating role of psychological strengths in the relationship between self-external regulation and psychological well-being.
MethodsA sample of 453 university students completed validated self-report instruments. An ex post facto, cross-sectional design was used to conduct correlational analyses, hierarchical regression models, and structural equation modeling to test the proposed hypotheses.
ResultsHigher levels of self- and external regulation significantly and positively predicted psychological strengths, both globally and across specific dimensions. Nonregulation and dysregulation, on the other hand, showed negative associations. In turn, psychological strengths significantly predicted psychological well-being and accounted for a substantial proportion of its variance. Structural equation modeling confirmed the mediating role of psychological strengths in the relationship between regulatory factors and well-being. Regulation demonstrated stronger predictive weight than nonregulatory and dysregulatory factors.
ConclusionThese findings provide empirical support for the Self- vs. External-Regulation Behavior Theory by clarifying its predictive and mediational mechanisms. The results underscore the importance of considering personal and contextual regulatory processes when examining psychological strengths and well-being. They also suggest implications for preventive, educational, clinical, and health-related interventions.

研究背景
过往研究已明确调节过程、心理优势（psychological strengths）与幸福感之间存在关联。然而，针对这些关联背后的预测与中介机制的实证证据仍较为有限。本研究旨在完成两项目标：（1）探究行为的自我-外部调节与心理优势之间的预测性关系；（2）分析心理优势在自我-外部调节与心理幸福感（psychological well-being）之间关系中的中介作用。

研究方法
共招募453名大学生作为被试，完成经信效度检验的自我报告测评工具。本研究采用事后回溯横断面设计，通过相关分析、层级回归模型以及结构方程模型对所提出的研究假设进行检验。

研究结果
在整体层面及各具体维度上，较高的自我与外部调节水平均能显著正向预测心理优势；而非调节（nonregulation）与调节失调（dysregulation）则表现出负向关联。进一步分析显示，心理优势可显著预测心理幸福感，并能解释其相当一部分变异量。结构方程模型证实了心理优势在调节因素与幸福感之间关系中的中介作用，且调节因素的预测权重显著高于非调节与调节失调因素。

研究结论
本研究通过阐明自我-外部行为调节理论的预测与中介机制，为该理论提供了实证支持。研究结果强调，在探究心理优势与幸福感时，应综合考量个体与情境层面的调节过程。此外，本研究结果对预防性、教育性、临床及健康相关干预实践均具有一定的启示意义。