Exploring the mediating role of empathy in the relationship between emotion regulation and self-efficacy among adolescents

Emotion regulation (ER), empathy, and self-efficacy are key components of adolescent development. While these constructs have often been examined separately, their associations have received limited attention, particularly in non-Western contexts. This study examines the relationships among two types of ER (i.e., cognitive reappraisal [CR] and expressive suppression [ES]), empathy, and self-efficacy within the socio-cultural context of Algerian adolescents. A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 459 adolescent students. Participants completed the Self-Efficacy Questionnaire for Children, the Basic Empathy Scale, and the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire for Children and Adolescents. Pearson correlation analyses indicated significant positive associations among CR, empathy, and self-efficacy. Moreover, ES was significantly associated with self-efficacy but not empathy. Mediation analysis indicated that empathy significantly mediated the relationship between CR and self-efficacy, while the direct effect of CR on self-efficacy remained significant. However, empathy was not a significant mediator in the association between ES and self-efficacy. Overall, the results highlight interconnected patterns among two types of ER, empathy, and self-efficacy during adolescence. This study contributes to a clearer understanding of how these psychological constructs relatewithin the specific socio-cultural context of Algerian adolescents and adds to the broader literature on adolescent psychological development.