Self-control as a predictor of peer relationships in adolescents with rumination as a mediator and gender-role orientation as a moderator: An intervention study

Peer relationships are essential for the social development of adolescents and serve as indicators of social health. Previous research indicates that individuals with high self-control tend to engage in behaviors that strengthen peer relationships; however, the mediating and moderating factors in this relationship remain underexplored. This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of rumination and the moderating effect of gender-role orientation among Chinese adolescents. In Study 1, 1,064 adolescents (592 girls) completed questionnaires assessing self-control, rumination, gender-role orientation, and peer relationships. Results revealed that rumination significantly mediates the relationship between self-control and peer relationships, with gender-role orientation moderating the relationship between self-control and rumination-strongest in the femininity group and weakest in the androgyny group. In Study 2, a self-control intervention was implemented with 46 adolescents (26 girls). The findings indicate that while the intervention positively influences the direct relationship between self-control and peer relationships, it does not significantly impact the indirect effect via rumination. This study is the first to demonstrate the dynamic effects of self-control interventions on their association with peer relationships, highlighting the importance of addressing both mediating and moderating variables in future research.