Self-Regulated Learning and Mental Health of Teacher Trainees: Mediating Roles of Basic Psychological Needs

Abstract (1)Background: Self-regulated learning is important to the mental health of teacher-training students. Based on self-determination theory, an analytical framework of "self-regulated learning - internal psychological needs" was constructed to promote the mental health of teacher-training students. (2) Methods：A questionnaire on self-regulated learning, the Chinese version of the SDT Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction Scale, and a self-assessed health scale were used to investigate the effects of self-regulated learning on the psychological health of 528 teacher trainees in three teacher training schools, and to examine the multiple mediating roles of autonomy, competence, and relationship needs. (3)Results: The results showed that self-regulated learning not only positively predicted mental health, but also positively predicted mental health through autonomy needs, competence needs, and relational needs. The mechanisms of action of self-regulated learning, basic psychological needs, and psychological well-being were found to be informative for the development of teacher trainees. Self-regulated learning ability is an important factor in promoting teacher trainees' psychological health, and the basic psychological needs has a unique functional value for teacher trainees' psychological health; group intervention programs can be designed based on the need satisfaction model to develop teacher trainees' self-regulated learning ability and promote the improvement of psychological health.