TY  - EJOU
AU  - Yang, Yifan 
AU  - Liu, Yuhan 
AU  - Fan, Zhiguang 

TI  - Self-Control and Psychological Adaptation among International Students: The Moderating Role of Beliefs about Being Alone
T2  - International Journal of Mental Health Promotion

PY  - 
VL  - 
IS  - 
SN  - 2049-8543

AB  - <b>Background:</b> International students encounter multiple acculturative stressors that challenge their psychological adaptation, and although self-control has been shown to promote psychological well-being in general populations, how its adaptive effects may be moderated by beliefs about being alone in intercultural transition contexts remains underexamined. This study investigated the association between self-control and intercultural psychological adaptation among international students, and whether beliefs about being alone moderate this relationship differently under positive versus negative belief conditions. <b>Methods:</b> This study used convenience sampling to recruit 174 international students in China. A hybrid experimental-correlational design was adopted, with self-control as the measured independent variable, beliefs about being alone as the experimentally manipulated moderator, and intercultural psychological adaptation as the dependent variable. Hierarchical regression analysis and simple slope analysis were conducted. <b>Results:</b> Self-control was closely associated with psychological adaptation (B = 0.648, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). Beliefs about being alone moderated this relationship (interaction B = −0.442, <i>p</i> = 0.06). Simple slope analysis revealed a buffering interaction pattern: the self-control—adaptation association was stronger under negative beliefs (B = 0.879, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001) than under positive beliefs (B = 0.405, <i>p</i> = 0.02). <b>Conclusions:</b> This study provides evidence that self-control is associated with intercultural psychological adaptation, and beliefs about being alone moderate this relationship in a dual pattern: positive beliefs buffer the disadvantage associated with lower self-control, whereas negative beliefs heighten the reliance on self-control for adaptation. These findings extend the Strength Model of Self-Control and Cognitive Appraisal Theory to intercultural contexts, and suggest that reframing being alone as an opportunity for restoration may offer a low-cost, scalable strategy for supporting at-risk intercultural populations.
KW  - Self-control; psychological adaptation; beliefs about being alone; international students; intercultural adaptation

DO  - 10.32604/ijmhp.2026.084793