Mindfulness and internalizing/externalizing problems among adolescents: Ethnicity moderation and psychological capital mediation

Jia Wu^1,#, Wei Luo^2,#, Qianguo Xiao¹, Qinhong Xie¹, Xiaodong Li¹, Taiyong Bi^1,*, Hui Kou^1,*
1 Research Center of Humanities and Medicine, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
2 The Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Beijing, China
* Corresponding Author: Taiyong Bi. Email: email ; Hui Kou. Email: email
# These authors are the co-first authors

Journal of Psychology in Africa https://doi.org/10.32604/jpa.2026.072761

Received 03 September 2025; Accepted 06 January 2026; Published online 05 February 2026

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Abstract

This study examines the mediating role of positive psychological capital and the moderating role of ethnicity in the relationship between mindfulness and internalizing/externalizing problems among adolescents. The study sample comprized Chinese adolescents (N = 637 ethnic minority; females = 40.97%, meam age = 12.68, SD = 0.49 years; N = 636 Han; females = 49.06%, mean age = 12.71, SD = 0.47 years). The participants completed the Child and Adolescent Mindfulness Measure, the Positive Psycap Questionnaire, and the Youth Self-Report. Results from the moderated mediation analysis showed mindfulness was negatively associated with both internalizing and externalizing problems. Ethnicity moderated the relationship between mindfulness and internalizing problems to be stronger for Han adolescents compared to ethnic minority adolescents. Psychological capital mediated the relationship between mindfulness and internalizing problems in both groups, with a negative direction. Findings support the Conservation of Resources theory and highlight mindfulness as a personal resource fostering adolescent well-being in multicultural contexts.