E-ISSN : 2733-4538
In this study, the relationships between the practical Confucian virtue of Zhongyong (Doctrine of the Mean), mental health, and psychological flexibility were investigated. Zhongyong consists of three aspects: understanding the situations and taking appropriate action or optimal response (timeliness and harmony); not being biased and going toward the extreme (dynamic balance and equilibrium); and being open to and tolerant of others (empathy). This study was designed to examine the relationships between the Zhongyong attitude and various positive/negative psychological variables (depression, anxiety, borderline personality traits, self-esteem, well-being, psychological flexibility, and interpersonal competence) with the participation of 364 college students. The results indicated that Zhongyong was significantly correlated with lower levels of depression, anxiety, and borderline personality traits and higher levels of self-esteem, well-being, and interpersonal competence. In particular, the Zhongyong attitude had a stronger effect on interpersonal competence than psychological flexibility. Finally, the implications and limitations of this study and suggestions for future research are discussed.
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