This study examined the relationship between self-concept clarity and negative emotions experienced by firefighters, alongside the exploration of the underlying mechanisms involved. Recognized as a vital psychological resource, self-concept clarity significantly contributes to emotion regulation. However, its investigation within the firefighter population remains sparse. Utilizing a cross-sectional survey design and employing cluster sampling, data were collected from 2,156 Chinese male firefighters. A moderated mediation model was developed to analyze the interactions among self-concept clarity (independent variable), negative emotions (dependent variable), resilience (mediator), and perceived social support (moderator). The findings demonstrated a significant negative correlation between self-concept clarity and the negative emotions experienced by firefighters, with resilience partially mediating this relationship. Furthermore, perceived social support moderated both the direct and indirect pathways: for individuals with low social support, enhancing self-concept clarity directly and more effectively reduced negative emotions; conversely, for those with high social support, the strategy of managing negative emotions by enhancing resilience proved more effective. The study advised to formulate intervention strategies tailored to varying levels of social support. For individuals with low social support, the emphasis should be on directly enhancing self-concept clarity. Conversely, for those with high social support, a combination of resilience-building measures should be employed.
Tian et al. (Tue,) studied this question.