Mediating role of regulatory focus in the relation between filial piety and youths’ life satisfaction and psychological distress

The purpose of this study was to examine the mediating role of regulatory focus in the relation between filial piety beliefs and life outcomes, including life satisfaction and psychological distress. A total of 1,431 Taiwanese youths, aged 15 through 24 years, were recruited in the study. Results of structural equation modelling indicated that reciprocal filial piety can be associated with stronger promotion regulatory focus, which in turn contributes to greater life satisfaction and less psychological distress. In addition, reciprocal filial piety and authoritarian filial piety can relate to stronger prevention regulatory focus, which subsequently links to lower life satisfaction and more psychological distress.