Dialectical coping and mental health outcomes among Hong Kong Chinese: The mediating role of perceived stress

Despite dialectical coping being a Chinese indigenous, positive psychological construct, there is limited research about its associations with mental health in Hong Kong. Guided by the Conservation of Resources Theory, this study employed structural equation modeling to examine the relations among dialectical coping, perceived stress, and mental health (i.e. peace of mind, meaning in life, and somatization) in a sample of Hong Kong Chinese college students (N = 476). Results indicated that dialectical coping was positively associated with peace of mind and meaning in life as well as negatively correlated with somatization. Also, dialectical coping was significantly and indirectly related to the three mental health variables, namely, peace of mind, meaning in life, and somatization. That is, increased dialectical coping was associated with lower perceived stress, which in turn was associated with fewer somatic symptoms and greater peace of mind and meaning in life. Based on our findings, limitations and implications for future research, practice, education and training, and advocacy are discussed.Public significance statementStudy findings demonstrated that a sample of Hong Kong Chinese college students who adopted dialectical coping reported diminished perceived stress, which was associated with greater peace of mind and meaning in life as well as reduced somatization. Findings provide implications for future research, practice, education and training, and advocacy.