# Emotional regulation and mental health profiles among Chinese junior middle school students: evidence for the dual-factor model

## TL;DR

This study identifies three mental health profiles among Chinese junior middle school students and finds that emotional regulation strategies influence these profiles.

## Contribution

The study introduces a three-profile mental health model differing from the traditional dual-factor model in adolescent populations.

## Key findings

- Three mental health profiles were identified: Troubled, complete mental health, and more troubled.
- Cognitive reappraisal positively predicts complete mental health and negatively predicts the more troubled profile.
- Expressive suppression correlates with poorer mental health outcomes.

## Abstract

This study explored latent mental health profiles among adolescents in southwestern China and the association with emotional regulation using the dual-factor model framework.

1,682 junior middle school students completed the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ), Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), and Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS). Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) identified mental health profiles, and 3-step multinomial logistic regression examined the relationship between emotion regulation and the profiles recognized by LPA.

LPA revealed three profiles: Troubled (31.51%, high negative symptoms/low well-being), complete mental health (61.30%, low negative symptoms/high well-being), and more troubled (7.19%, severe negative symptoms/extremely low well-being). Cognitive reappraisal positively predicted complete mental health (vs. Troubled; OR = 1.096, p < 0.001) and negatively predicted more troubled (OR = 0.899, p < 0.001). Expressive suppression negatively predicted complete mental health (OR = 0.863, p < 0.001) and positively predicted more troubled (OR = 1.092, p < 0.001).

Three distinct profiles emerged, differing from the traditional dual-factor model. Cognitive reappraisal protects mental health, while expressive suppression correlates with poorer outcomes, highlighting the need for targeted interventions promoting cognitive reappraisal.