Successful emotion regulation: The moderating role of psychological capital and the mediating role of cognitive change in cognitive reappraisal

Purpose: This study aims to examine when and how cognitive reappraisal (CR) leads to desirable well-being outcomes using a two-wave longitudinal design. Drawing from cognitive adaptation theory, this study hypothesized that CR is positively associated with subjective well-being through the mechanism of cognitive change, specifically enhanced positive cognition and diminished negative cognition, when the level of psychological capital (PsyCap) is high. 

Methods: A total of 507 undergraduate students in Hong Kong participated in this study. A structured questionnaire was administered at the beginning and at the end of the semester, assessing CR, PsyCap, positive and negative cognition, life satisfaction, and affective well-being. 

Results: Moderated mediation analysis indicated that CR had a positive indirect association with subjective well-being through positive cognition when the level of PsyCap was high. However, this effect was diminished when the level of PsyCap was low. Notably, the findings revealed that CR could even reduce positive cognition at low PsyCap levels. 

Conclusions: This study provides initial evidence on the cognitive process of CR, demonstrating when and how this strategy can be implemented successfully. The findings underscore the pivotal role of PsyCap in successful implementation of CR and highlight the intermediate process of cognitive change. Copyright © 2025 The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.