<p>The philosophy of unconditional self-acceptance in RE &amp; CBT offers an alternative to self-esteem by promoting a non-judgmental stance toward oneself while evaluating experiences, actions, and emotions. Since individuals actively shape their emotional responses, psychologists are interested in how emotion regulation strategies relate to mental health. Considering common emotion regulation strategies, this study examines the relationship between unconditional self-acceptance and positive (subjective well-being) and negative (psychological distress) indicators of mental health. It also explores whether unconditional self-acceptance has an independent or moderating role in these relationships. The research involved 1061 participants (67% women, mean age 26.05) using online questionnaires. Measures included the Serbian version of the Unconditional Self-Acceptance Questionnaire (USAQ-short), the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ), the Short Scale of Subjective Well-Being (SWBS), and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS). Hierarchical regression analysis examined the predictive and moderating effects of unconditional self-acceptance and emotion regulation on mental health outcomes. Results indicate that unconditional self-acceptance is the strongest predictor of subjective well-being and psychological distress. Emotion regulation strategies also significantly predict mental health in expected directions. Moreover, unconditional self-acceptance moderates these effects, amplifying the benefits of cognitive reappraisal and reducing the negative impact of emotional suppression. These findings highlight the crucial role of constructive, non-global self-evaluation in fostering emotional well-being.</p>