Psychological Development and Education ›› 2025, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (3): 348-356.doi: 10.16187/j.cnki.issn1001-4918.2025.03.05

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The Relationship among College Students’ Goal Reengagement Capacity, Ego-depletion and Well-being: Moderation Effect of Meaning in Life

HU Xinyi1, CHEN Yinghe2,3   

  1. 1. The Psychological Quality Education Centre, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044;
    2. Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875;
    3. Institute of Developmental Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875
  • Published:2025-05-20

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Abstract: The present study investigated the effect of goal reengagement capacity on college students’ well-being, as well as the role of ego-depletion and meaning in life. A total of 702 college students completed goal reengagement capacity scale, ego-depletion scale, meaning in life scale and short depression-happiness scale two times with an 8 weeks interval. The results were as follows: (1) Results of cross-lagged analysis indicated college students’ goal reengagement capacity had a promote effect on well-being through reducing ego-depletion. Goal reengagement capacity also buffered the impact of ego-depletion on well- being; (2) Meaning in life moderated the reciprocal relationship between goal reengagement capacity and ego-depletion. Specifically, goal reengagement capacity could only reduce the ego-depletion of college students with high meaning in life; only college students with low ego-depletion and high meaning in life exhibited high goal reengagement capacity. The results revealed the influencing mechanism of goal reengagement capacity on well-being, and provided some enlightenment for cultivating goal adjustment ability for college students.

Key words: goal reengagement capacity, ego-depletion, well-being, meaning in life, college students

CLC Number: 

  • B844
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