Effects of College Students’ Sluggish Cognitive Tempo (SCT) Tendency on College Adjustment: The Mediated Moderation Effect of Strengths Utilization through Depression Tendency

This study evaluated a mediated moderation model in which the interaction of sluggish cognitive tempo (SCT) tendencies and the level of strengths utilization among college students influences college adjustment through the mediation of depression tendencies. The data were analyzed using Model 1 and Model 8 of the PROCESS Macro, following the procedures to verify the mediated moderation effect. The research findings were as follows. First, the moderating effect of utilizing strengths in the relationship between SCT tendencies and college adjustment was found to be significant. College adjustment showed improvement particularly when strength utilization was high. Second, the partially mediated moderation effects resulting from the interaction between SCT tendencies and strengths utilization, depression tendencies and college adjustment, were found to be significant. Specifically, higher SCT tendencies in college students worsen depressive tendencies. However, effective utilization of their strengths appears to alleviate these depressive tendencies, consequently leading to enhanced college adjustment. To sum up, the interactions between SCT tendencies and strength utilization are anticipated to diminish depression and have a positive influence on college adjustment.