Self-Esteem Regulation: A Multi-Method Perspective on Strategy Use and Underlying Mechanisms

This study investigates the psychological mechanisms of self-esteem regulation, focusing on how decentering and emotion regulation influence the use of self-affirmation and self-protection strategies. Decentering—the capacity to observe thoughts and feelings objectively—is proposed to mediate the relationship between self-esteem and strategy use. Emotion regulation is expected to moderate these processes by promoting adaptive responses to self-relevant threats. Using network analysis, the study aims to map the connections between core self-regulatory strategies and identify central components within the self-regulatory system. The findings are expected to offer a dynamic, integrative model of self-esteem maintenance in everyday life. By clarifying how metacognitive and emotional capacities relate to self-esteem regulation, this research contributes to a better understanding of self-regulatory processes and may provide initial insights relevant to resilience and future psychological interventions.