How Regulatory Modes Shape Grit and Affect General Health: A Moderated Mediation Approach

Introduction: Regulatory Mode Theory posits two orientations: locomotion, reflecting a tendency toward action and goal-directed progress, and assessment, reflecting a tendency to evaluate means and outcomes. Aim: Although previous research has linked regulatory mode to mental health indicators, the psychological processes underlying this relationship remain insufficiently explored. To our knowledge, this study is the first to examine the combined roles of locomotion, assessment, grit, and general health. Methods: A final sample of 223 university students completed an online survey including validated measures of regulatory modes, grit, and general health. Participants first answered sociodemographic questions, followed by the Italian versions of the Regulatory Mode Questionnaire, the GRIT scale, and the GHQ-12. Reliability indices for all measures were satisfactory. Moderated mediation analyses were conducted to examine whether grit mediated the association between regulatory modes and general health and whether this mediation varied as a function of locomotion and assessment levels. Results: As hypothesized, assessment showed a negative association with grit and a positive association with general health problems, whereas locomotion showed the opposite pattern. Analyses further indicated that a profile characterized by high assessment and low locomotion predicted the highest levels of general health problems. Grit significantly mediated these relationships, and individuals with higher grit scores reported higher locomotion and lower assessment. Conclusions: The findings highlight the psychological relevance of regulatory modes for mental health and identify grit as a key factor linking selfregulation to psychological well-being. We discuss the theoretical and clinical implications of these results and outline limitations and future research directions aimed at improving prevention and intervention strategies in the field of mental health.