TY  - EJOU
AU  - Wu, Jia 
AU  - Luo, Wei 
AU  - Xiao, Qianguo 
AU  - Xie, Qinhong 
AU  - Li, Xiaodong 
AU  - Bi, Taiyong 
AU  - Kou, Hui 

TI  - Mindfulness and internalizing/externalizing problems among adolescents: Ethnicity moderation and psychological capital mediation
T2  - Journal of Psychology in Africa

PY  - 2026
VL  - 36
IS  - 1
SN  - 1815-5626

AB  - 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. <b>The study sample comprized Chinese adolescents</b> (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.
KW  - Ethnic minority adolescent; mindfulness; positive psychological capital; internalizing problems; externalizing problems

DO  - 10.32604/jpa.2026.072761