The relationship between depression and social avoidance of college students: A moderated mediation model

The mediating role of social anxiety in the association between personality traits and Internet addiction and its underlying neural basis

Social anxiety (SA) is one of the most prevalent mental health problems in young adults. The significance of personality traits on the development of SA and the influence of SA on Internet addiction (IA) were increasingly emphasized. However, no studies yet have simultaneously examined the relationships among SA, personality traits, and IA, especially the role of SA and its underlying neural basis in the association between personality traits and IA. Therefore, this study was designed to address this question using behavioral and resting-state functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) measurements in a non-clinical sample of Chinese college students. Behavioral results indicated significant intercorrelations between Big Five personality traits, SA, and IA, with SA mediating the relationship between four personality traits (i.e., neuroticism, extraversion, openness, and conscientiousness) and IA. fMRI results showed that SA was negatively correlated with precuneus-occipital connectivity, which is associated with emotional face processing and self-focused attention. More importantly, the precuneus-occipital connectivity and SA played a chain mediating role in the association between the two personality traits (i.e., extraversion and openness) and IA. Together, these findings advanced our understanding of the psychological and neurobiological underpinnings of SA, especially its pivotal role in the relation between personality traits and IA.

The mediating effect of social network sites addiction on the relationship between childhood psychological abuse and depression in college students and the moderating effect of psychological flexibility

BACKGROUND

Experience of child psychological abuse in college students is likely to increase their risk of depression, but the potential psychological mechanisms between the two require further exploration. This study supplemented the risk and protective factors between child psychological abuse and depression in college students by introducing social network sites addiction (SNSA) as a mediating factor and psychological flexibility as a moderating factor.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 655 college students from two universities in Hunan Province, China. Self-reported measures included childhood psychological abuse, depression, SNSA, and psychological flexibility. Descriptive and correlational analyses were performed on these variables, followed by the establishment of a structural equation model.

RESULTS

Child psychological abuse was positively associated with depression (r = .507, p < .001) and SNSA (r = .208, p < .001) in college students and negatively associated with psychological flexibility (r = -.293, p < .001). SNSA played a mediating role between childhood psychological abuse and depression (β = .170, SE = 0.035, p < .001) in college students, while psychological flexibility attenuated the strength of the relationship between the latter two (β = -.095, SE = 0.031, p < .01).

CONCLUSION

The study further elucidates the psychological mechanisms underlying the relationship between childhood psychological abuse and depression in college students. SNSA may mediate the relationship between the two, while psychological flexibility may buffer the strength of the relationship between them. Future research should explore interventions enhancing college students' psychological flexibility after childhood psychological abuse to cut the risk of depression.

Do interpersonal trust and social avoidance mediate the association between psychotic symptoms and social functioning in chronic schizophrenia patients?

Objective

Schizophrenia is a complex mental disorder that significantly impacts social functioning. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between psychotic symptoms and social functioning in individuals with chronic schizophrenia. Specifically, we examined the mediating roles of social avoidance and impaired interpersonal trust in this relationship, as these factors are most worrisome in individuals with schizophrenia.

Methods

A total of 223 outpatients with chronic schizophrenia and 201 unrelated healthy controls were included. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), the Interpersonal Trust Scale (ITS), the Social Avoidance and Distress Scale (SAD), and the simplified Chinese version of the Social Disability Screening Schedule (SDSS) were used for evaluation. Mediation analysis was performed using the PROCESS macro in SPSS23.0.

Results

Our results showed that individuals with chronic schizophrenia scored significantly lower on the ITS total and two index scores but higher on the SAD total and two index scores than healthy controls. The ITS score was significantly associated with the psychotic symptoms (both PANSS total score and subscale score) and social functioning in those patients. Interestingly, we further found that interpersonal trust had a significantly mediating effect on the relationship between psychotic symptoms (including positive, negative, cognitive, excited, and depressed symptoms) and social functioning in individuals with schizophrenia.

Conclusion

Our preliminary findings suggest that improving interpersonal trust may be a promising approach to enhance social functioning and improve prognosis in individuals with schizophrenia. This insight underscores the importance of incorporating trust-building interventions into clinical practice, which could potentially lead to better social outcomes for patients.

"Meaninglessness makes me unhappy": examining the role of a sense of alienation and life satisfaction in the relationship between the presence of meaning and depression among Chinese high school seniors

Introduction

Given the high incidence of depression among adolescents and its serious consequences, investigating its influencing factors and mechanisms is of great theoretical and practical significance. This study aims to explore the mediating effects of a sense of alienation and life satisfaction on the relationship between the presence of meaning in life and depression among Chinese high school seniors.

Methods

Six hundred and twenty-one senior high school students (17.09 ± 0.45 years, 266 boys) were recruited from Shandong, China, to participate in the study. Participants completed the Adolescent Students' Sense of Alienation (ASAS), Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ), Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), and Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II).

Results

Our findings revealed that (1) the sense of alienation and life satisfaction play a chain mediating role between the presence of meaning in life and depression among Chinese high school seniors; (2) the sense of alienation plays a mediating role between the presence of meaning in life and depression; (3) there are gender differences in the chain mediation model of the influence of the presence of meaning in life on depression.

Conclusion

This study reveals potential pathways through which the presence of meaning in life affects depression among Chinese high school seniors, offering support and a basis for future mental health interventions for this population.

Factors Affecting Negative Symptoms in Schizophrenia and Their Relationship with Anxiety and Depression

Objective

Negative symptoms significantly impair daily functioning and worsen clinical outcomes. Meanwhile, these symptoms are closely linked to anxiety and depression, further complicating prognosis. The mechanisms underlying these relationships remain unclear. This study aims to identify the factors influencing negative symptoms in schizophrenia and examine their relationship with anxiety and depression to guide more effective interventions and improve patient outcomes.

Methods

This study recruited 300 inpatients with schizophrenia from October 2022 to May 2023. Sociodemographic data and clinical characteristics were collected via a self-designed questionnaire. Negative symptoms, depression, and anxiety were assessed using the SANS, HAMD, and HAMA scales, respectively.

Results

Multiple regression analysis indicated that familial support (β = -1.285, P = 0.005), friend support (β = -0.797, P = 0.032), sleep quality (β = 2.307, P < 0.001), anxiety (β = 0.264, P = 0.004), and depression (β = 0.324, P = 0.007) were the main factors influencing negative symptoms. After adjusting for the duration of psychiatric disorder and type of antipsychotic medication as covariates, the above factors remained primary contributors to negative symptoms.

Conclusion

Enhancing familial support, friend support, and addressing emotional health and sleep disturbances are strategies that may alleviate negative symptoms in patients with schizophrenia.

Characteristic Structure of the Relationships Among Depression, Maladaptive Cognition, and Internet Addiction and Its Temporal Evolution in University Students: A Network Analysis

This study explored the structure and temporal evolution of the relationship among depression, maladaptive cognition, and internet addiction (DMI) among university students by focusing on topological and dynamic properties in a network analysis. A 3-year longitudinal survey was conducted with 873 university students (Mage = 18.32, SD = 0.74). The results of network analysis showed "compulsive internet use and withdrawal symptoms" as part of internet addiction and "depressive emotions" as part of depression were the core characteristics in the DMI relational structure. Additionally, "compulsive internet use and withdrawal symptoms" was most pronounced for freshmen, whereas "depressive emotions" were most pronounced for sophomores and juniors. These findings suggest that interventions addressing DMI among university students should not only focus on the key aspects of "compulsive internet use and withdrawal symptoms" and "depressive emotions," but also consider differences between students at different years of study.

The relationship between fear of negative evaluation, physical activity, eating behavior and psychological distress among nursing students

BACKGROUND

The aim of this research is to explore the interrelationships between different psychological issues and the potential role of eating behavior and physical activity among nursing students.

METHODS

Undergraduate nursing students (n = 892) from some medical universities in China were recruited through convenience and snowball sampling methods using online platforms. Participants completed measures on demographics, fear of negative evaluation (FNE), social avoidance and distress (SAD), psychological distress (DASS), disordered eating behavior (TFEQ) and physical activity. The relationship models among the aforementioned variables were established using Process 3.5.

RESULTS

A total of 290 males and 602 females were included in this study. The average FNE score of students was (39.44 ± 8.78), SAD was (13.83 ± 7.06), DASS was (22.45 ± 20.47), and TFEQ was (56.09 ± 12.57), respectively. TFEQ and SAD independently and jointly acted as mediators in the relationship between FNE and DASS. Physical activity played a moderating role, with the interaction effect between FNE and groups Q2, Q3, and Q4 determined to be 0.407 (95%CI 0.136 to 0.678), 0.328 (95%CI 0.061 to 0.596) and 0.332 (95%CI 0.073 to 0.591), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

This study supports that disordered eating behaviors have a negative impact on mechanisms of psychological changes, and enhancing physical activity is an effective prevention strategy for psychological distress and disordered eating behaviors among nursing students.

Associations Between Family Functioning and Social Avoidance and Distress in Patients with Strabismus: A Chain Mediation Model

Purpose

Exploring the mechanisms of fear of negative evaluation (FNE) and self-esteem between family functioning and social avoidance and distress (SAD) to inform the promotion of social functioning in people with strabismus.

Patients and Methods

Convenience sampling was used to select 249 strabismus patients attending a tertiary-level ophthalmology hospital in Wenzhou City from July 2023 to February 2024. The Social Avoidance and Distress Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale, and Family APGAR Index Questionnaire were utilized to assess levels of social avoidance and distress, self-esteem, fear of negative evaluation, and family functioning. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to explore the sequential mediating role of FNE and self-esteem in the relationship between family functioning and SAD.

Results

Family functioning negatively predicted SAD directly (β=-0.14, P<0.01). Additionally, family functioning predicted FNE (β=-0.19, P<0.01) and self-esteem (β=0.41, P<0.01). FNE positively predicted SAD (β=-0.38, P<0.01) and negatively predicted self-esteem (β=-0.22, P<0.01). Moreover, self-esteem negatively predicted SAD (β=-0.33, P<0.01). FNE and self-esteem mediated the relationship between family functioning and SAD, with a combined mediating effect of -0.249, explaining 63.52% of the total variance.

Conclusion

This study examined how FNE and self-esteem affect the link between family functioning and SAD in patients with strabismus. These findings complement our understanding of SAD mechanisms in strabismus patients, encompassing familial, cognitive, and emotional perspectives, and offer theoretical insights for enhancing social functioning in this population.

An Analysis of How Smart Home Product Attributes Influence Older Adults' Avoidance Psychology: The Sequential Mediation Role of Product Identity and Trust

As an effective method of improving the quality of life of older adults, smart home products have seen significant development and increased popularity in recent years. However, studies on the anti-consumption behaviors of older adults regarding these products remain relatively limited. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the avoidance behavior of older adults toward smart home products by investigating product attributes. The study proposes a theoretical model, "product attributes-product Identity-trust-avoidance behavior", to explore the underlying mechanisms of avoidance behavior from both the psychological and the behavioral perspectives. Based on data from 506 valid questionnaires, the findings reveal that product attributes, product identity, and trust can significantly and negatively impact the avoidance behavior toward smart home products. In addition, product identity and trust play significant mediating and serial mediating roles between product attributes and smart home product avoidance behaviors. These findings provide valuable insights for smart home product manufacturers seeking to understand the avoidance behavior of older adults concerning their products. They also offer valuable guidance on design concepts, marketing strategies, and market formulation, providing new theoretical and practical recommendations for expanding the smart home market for older adults.

Relationship between horizontal collectivism and social network influence among college students: mediating effect of self-monitoring and moderating effect of self-efficacy

Background

The aim of the present study was to investigate the intrinsic relationship between cultural values and social network index among college students. In addition, the present study explored the mediating role of self-monitoring in the relationship between horizontal collectivism cultural values and social network index, as well as the moderating role of self-efficacy, to provide a theoretical approach based on the intrinsic mechanism for college students to establish a good social network.

Methods

A simple random cluster sampling method was used to investigate 376 college students with cultural values scale, self-monitoring scale, self-efficacy scale, and social network index scale, structural equation model was constructed using M-plus and SPSS.

Results

The result indicated that individual horizontal collectivist cultural values positively predict social network index (β = 0.477). Self-monitoring plays an intermediary role between cultural values and social network index, and self-efficacy plays a moderating role between self-monitoring and social network index.

Conclusion

The level of an individual's social network activity is affected by the cultural values of horizontal collectivism and self-monitoring. Improving individual self-monitoring ability and self-efficacy can effectively improve the interpersonal relationships of college students.

Trajectories and influencing factors of social anxiety in postoperative breast cancer patients

BACKGROUND

Social anxiety among postoperative breast cancer patients is a prevalent concern, with its intensity fluctuating throughout the course of treatment. The study aims to describe the trajectory of social anxiety in postoperative breast cancer patients, explore the influencing factors, and provide theoretical support for the construction of future intervention programs.

METHODS

This study was conducted from June 2022 to January 2023, encompassing 213 breast cancer patients from three first-class hospitals in China. Data collection occurred at four distinct time points. A growth mixture model was employed to identify latent categories representing the trajectories of social anxiety changes among patients. A multiple regression analysis was utilized to explore predictive factors associated with different latent trajectory categories.

RESULTS

The trajectory of social anxiety changes in postoperative breast cancer patients includes five potential categories: maintaining mild social anxiety group, changing from mild to moderate social anxiety group, maintaining moderate social anxiety group, changing from moderate to severe social anxiety group, and maintaining severe social anxiety group. Cluster analysis results indicated three types: positive, negative, and low. Logistic regression analysis revealed that younger age, spouses concerned about postoperative appearance, chemotherapy with taxol-based drugs, opting for modified radical surgery or radical mastectomy surgical approaches, and breast cancer patients with negative rumination were factors that influenced patients' social anxiety (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The trajectory of social anxiety in postoperative breast cancer patients comprises five potential categories. In clinical practice, it is essential to strengthen the management of high-risk populations susceptible to experiencing social anxiety emotions, including younger age, spouses concerned about postoperative appearance, chemotherapy with taxol-based drugs, opting for modified radical surgery or radical mastectomy surgical approaches, and breast cancer patients with negative rumination.

The Relationship Between Trait Mindfulness and Depression in Elementary Pre-Service Teachers: The Sequential Mediating Role of Flow Experience and Learning Engagement

Objective

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between trait mindfulness, flow experience, learning engagement, and depression among elementary pre-service teachers.

Methods

We employed the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, Flow Experience Scale, Learning Engagement Scale, and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale to assess 614 elementary pre-service teachers.

Results

Trait mindfulness in elementary pre-service teachers negatively predicts depression. Trait mindfulness indirectly impacts depression through flow experience and learning engagement. Furthermore, flow experience and learning engagement serve as mediating factors in the relationship between trait mindfulness and depression among elementary pre-service teachers.

Conclusion

Flow experience and learning engagement play a mediating role in the relationship between trait mindfulness and depression among elementary pre-service teachers. This study enriches our understanding of depression cognitive theory, emphasizing the positive influence of internal resources on depression prevention. Additionally, it provides a deeper explanation of the mechanism through which trait mindfulness affects depression, offering valuable insights for future depression intervention programs.

Autistic traits predict social avoidance and distress: The chain mediating role of perceived stress and interpersonal alienation

Social avoidance and distress are the primary aspects of social anxiety. Nonautistic people with high levels of autistic traits are more likely to exhibit social avoidance and distress. However, research has yet to reveal how autistic traits induce social avoidance and distress. To fill this gap, the present study recruited 708 participants to complete the 25-item Autism Spectrum Quotient, Social Avoidance and Distress Scale, Chinese Perceived Stress Scale, and Interpersonal Alienation Subscale. The results indicated that autistic traits significantly predicted social avoidance and distress in nonautistic people. In addition, autistic traits induced social avoidance and distress through perceived stress and interpersonal alienation, respectively. Importantly, perceived stress and interpersonal alienation (including the subdimensions of interpersonal alienation: sense of loneliness, sense of social isolation, and alienation between family members) partially mediated the relationships between autistic traits and social avoidance and distress. Overall, autistic traits predict social avoidance and distress via perceived stress and interpersonal alienation. This finding extends the hypothetical model of clinical anxiety in autism spectrum disorders. Furthermore, reducing perceived stress and interpersonal alienation in nonautistic people with high levels of autistic traits may be a valid intervention method to prevent and eliminate their social avoidance and distress.

Characteristics and influencing factors of social isolation in patients with breast cancer: a latent profile analysis

PURPOSE

The goal of this study is to investigate the social isolation (SI) subtypes of patients with breast cancer (BC) and to explore its influencing factors.

METHODS

A sample of 303 BC patients participated in the study from September to December, 2021. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was performed to identify SI clusters based on the three sub-scales of the Chinese version of the Social Anxiety Scale, the Chinese version of the Social Avoidance and Distress Scale, and the Chinese version of the Loneliness Scale.

RESULTS

We found that SI can be divided into three categories: high-level (Class 1), middle-level (Class 2), and low-level (Class 3), accounting for 20.46%, 33.00%, and 46.54%, respectively. Compared to Class 3, Class 1, which had the lower average monthly income per family member (RMB) (< 3000: OR = 5.298, P = .021; 3000 ~ 5000: OR = 5.320, P = .018), was more likely to suffer from SI due to occupation (Laborer: OR = 12.023, P = .009). Surgery (OR = 14.138, P < .001; OR = 2.777, P = .020), chemotherapy (OR = 10.224, P = .001; OR = 3.545, P = .001); poorer family functioning (OR = .671, P < .001; OR = .801, P = .002), and lower levels of self-transcendence (OR = .806, P < .001; OR = .911, P < .001) were important influencing factors for SI in Class 1 and Class 2 compared to Class 3.

CONCLUSION

SI is classifiably heterogeneous among patients with BC. Strategies that identify characteristics of SI and give targeted intervention focusing on family functioning and improving self-transcendence levels contribute to the prevention of SI among patients with BC.

A bidirectional association between smartphone addiction and depression among college students: A cross-lagged panel model

Background

Smartphone addiction (SA) is associated with adverse consequences, especially for freshmen. Evidence indicates that SA is associated with depression, and it is necessary to conduct a longitudinal study to explore the association further.

Methods

SA (measured by the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version) and depression (measured by the Zung's Self-Rating Depression Scale) among 1,186 freshmen were surveyed at baseline and a respective 12-month follow-up for each participant. The application of a cross-lagged panel model approach (CLPM) revealed an association between SA and depression after adjusting for demographic variables.

Results

The CLPM results showed a significant path from baseline SA to follow-up depression (β = 0.08, P < 0.001) and a significant path from baseline depression to follow-up SA (β = 0.08, P < 0.001). Compared with the overall cross-lagged model, the cross-lagged coefficient of the path from baseline SA to follow-up depression increased in the female group (β = 0.10, P = 0.015), and the cross-lagged coefficient of the path from baseline depression to follow-up SA also increased significantly (β = 0.15, P < 0.001). In contrast, the cross-lagged model in the male group showed no predictive effect between SA and depression (P > 0.05).

Conclusions

The current study showed a significant bidirectional association between smartphone addiction and depression among freshmen, but only in the female population.

Relationship between family functioning and self-transcendence in patients with breast cancer: A network analysis

Background

For patients with breast cancer, family functioning is an important factor affecting self-transcendence, which is a key source of happiness. However, network analysis studies of family functioning and self-transcendence are lacking, particularly among patients with breast cancer.

Purpose

The present study investigated the network structure of family functioning and self-transcendence in patients with breast cancer and aimed to identify bridge items to provide some theoretical support for the improvement and intervention of self-transcendence in patients with breast cancer.

Methods

A total of 294 patients with breast cancer were enrolled in our study. Self-transcendence was evaluated with the Self-Transcendence Scale. Family functioning was evaluated with the Family Adaptation, Participation, Growth, Affection, Resolution (APGAR) Scale. Network analyses were used for the statistical analysis.

Results

In the network of family functioning and self-transcendence in patients with breast cancer, there were 22 edges across communities, of which the 5 strongest edges connected to the 5 dimensions of family functioning are "Adaptation" with "Enjoyment of hobbies", "Participation" with "Life enjoyment", "Growth" with "Acceptance of bodily changes", "Affection" with "Life enjoyment", "Resolution" with "Help acceptance". "Adaptation" had the highest bridge expected influence value (0.30) in the family functioning community, while "Life enjoyment" had the highest bridge expected influence value (0.27) in the self-transcendence community.

Conclusion

Complex patterns of associations existed in the fine-grained relationship between family functioning and self-transcendence in patients with breast cancer. From the perspective of network analysis, the "Adaptation" aspect of family functioning and the "Life enjoyment" aspect of self-transcendence may be the best targets for improving self-transcendence. These results have important implications to clinical practice, which provided potential targets for interventions to improve self-transcendence from the perspective of family functioning.

Investigation on Depression of College Students Majoring in Physical Education and Nonphysical Education: A StudyBased on the Age Region and Gender of 374 Students

In the research on the relationship between depression and college students' major, there are some differences in the degree of depression between sports major and nonsports major students. Based on these results, we assume that there is the possibility of emotional differences between professional and nonprofessional sports. A total of 374 samples of students majoring in physical education and nonphysical education at the same university were analyzed by using the methods of literature review and data analysis. A total of 188 subjects, including 121 males and 253 females (186 majoring in sports and nonsports), were asked to fill in the SDS (Self-Rating Depression Scale). SDS is widely used in rough screening, emotional state evaluation, investigation, and scientific research of outpatients in clinical psychology departments. The research obtained the difference in depression degree in the whole sample and further compared the depression degree of students of different ages and native places. Statistical analysis was performed on all data using SPSS 23.0 software. Basic data description, paired chi-square analysis, and covariance analysis were used. The results show that in this sample, the maximum value (minimum/maximum value) of one item of the total depression score of nonphysical education students exceeds the average value by 3 standard deviations, and this shows that the general level of depression scores of non-PE majors is high; most non-PE majors are in mild depression, which is equal to the number of PE majors who are in a normal mood; and nonsports majors in cities are more likely to have mild depression.