The Double-Edged Effect of Social Mobility Belief on Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Adolescents' Health: The Mediating Role of Intentional Self-Regulation

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the double-edged effect of social mobility belief on socioeconomically disadvantaged adolescents' mental and physical health and further explore whether intentional self-regulation is the common psychological mechanism of social mobility belief affecting physical and mental health. Method: A total of 469 adolescents (Mage = 13.96 years, 49.3% boys) from two rural public schools in China were included in this study. Adolescents completed questionnaires measuring social mobility belief and mental health (life satisfaction, self-esteem, and depression). Physical health (allostatic load) was reflected by six indicators (resting diastolic and systolic blood pressure, body mass index, epinephrine, norepinephrine, and cortisol). Results: Social mobility belief was positively correlated with adolescents' life satisfaction and self-esteem but negatively correlated with depression. Intentional self-regulation mediated the relationships between social mobility belief and mental health. In addition, the results showed that intentional self-regulation mediated the relationship between social mobility belief and adolescents' physical health. Conclusions: Social mobility belief may be a "skin-deep" resilience resource positively related to mental health but negatively correlated with physical health through intentional self-regulation among socioeconomically disadvantaged adolescents. Propósito: Este estudio tuvo como objetivo examinar el efecto de doble filo de la creencia en la movilidad social en la salud mental y física de los adolescentes socioeconómicamente desfavorecidos y explorar más a fondo si la autorregulación intencional es el mecanismo psicológico común de la creencia en la movilidad social que afecta la salud física y mental. Método: En este estudio se incluyó a un total de 469 adolescentes (edad media = 13.96 años, 49.3% niños) de dos escuelas públicas rurales de China. Los adolescentes completaron cuestionarios que medían las creencias en movilidad social y la salud mental (satisfacción con la vida, autoestima y depresión). La salud física (carga alostática) se reflejó en seis indicadores (presión arterial diastólica y sistólica en reposo, índice de masa corporal, epinefrina, norepinefrina y cortisol). Resultado: La creencia en movilidad social se correlacionó positivamente con la satisfacción con la vida y la autoestima de los adolescentes, pero se correlacionó negativamente con la depresión. La autorregulación inten