A Comparison of Cognitive Emotion Regulation, Hope, Psychological Flexibility, and Quality of Life Between Male Working Adolescents and Non-Working Male Adolescents

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to compare cognitive emotion regulation, hope, psychological flexibility, and quality of life between male working adolescents and non-working male adolescents.

Methods and Materials: In terms of its objective, this was an applied study, and in terms of the data-collection method, it employed a descriptive causal-comparative design. The statistical population consisted of all male working adolescents aged 12–18 years residing in Khorramabad, Iran, during 2023–2024 (N = 160), whose names and records were registered with the Welfare Organization of the city. G*Power software was used to determine the sample size required for two independent groups and the comparison of four variables. The results indicated that a sample of 30 participants was appropriate for this study. The participants were selected through simple random sampling. Four questionnaires were used to collect the data: Gross’s Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, Snyder’s Hope Scale, the Psychological Flexibility Questionnaire developed by Bond et al., and the Quality of Life Questionnaire developed by Varni et al. Using SPSS version 23, multivariate analysis of variance was employed to examine differences between the groups, and independent-samples t tests were used to compare each of the study variables separately between the two groups.

Findings: The statistical analyses revealed significant differences between male working adolescents and non-working male adolescents in terms of quality of life, psychological flexibility, hope, and cognitive emotion regulation (p < .001).

Conclusion: Considering the findings and the significant differences between male working adolescents and non-working male adolescents in quality of life, psychological flexibility, hope, and cognitive emotion regulation, researchers in psychology, counseling, social work, and educational sciences are advised to design and conduct intervention-oriented studies in various institutions and organizations, including schools, municipalities, and welfare organizations, to improve the quality of life of working children and adolescents.