The Impact of Conflict Situations on Subjective Well-being and the Moderating Role of Thought Suppression

This study investigates the influence of conflict situations on subjective well-being and the moderating role of thought suppression. A questionnaire survey was conducted among adults in Lanzhou City using the Relationship Conflict Scale, Subjective Well-Being Scale, and White Bear Suppression Inventory. A total of 220 questionnaires were collected, with one invalid response excluded based on completion time, yielding 219 valid questionnaires (effective rate: 99.55%). Data were analyzed using SPSS. Results revealed: (1) A significant correlation between conflict situations and subjective well-being (ps<0.001); (2) Conflict situations negatively predicted subjective well-being (β = -0.225, t = -4.412, p<0.001); (3) Thought suppression partially moderated the effect of conflict situations on subjective well-being (β = -0.869, t = -3.098, p<0.01). Higher levels of conflict situations were associated with lower subjective well-being, but thought suppression alleviated the negative impact of conflicts. The findings suggest that employing thought suppression strategies appropriately in unavoidable conflict situations can mitigate adverse effects, enhance subjective well-being, improve adaptive capacity, and foster mental health by balancing psychological conflicts.