Open Access
ARTICLE
Gülsüm Zekiye Tuncer1,*, Zekiye Çetinkaya Duman1, Metin Tuncer2
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.081472
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: The Use of Generative AI (Chatbots) in Relation to Mental Health and Well-Being)
Abstract Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a psychiatric nurse–led, AI-supported online group guided self-help programme on eating behaviours, body image, and body mass index (BMI) among overweight and obese women nurses. Method: A randomised controlled experimental design with pre-test, post-test, and three-month follow-up assessments was employed. Forty-four overweight and obese women nurses were randomly assigned to intervention (n = 22) and control (n = 22) groups. The intervention consisted of an 8-week online group guided self-help programme supported by a large language model (LLM), under the leadership of a psychiatric nurse. Participants did… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Xin Xu1, Shaobo Liang2,3,*
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.082789
Abstract Objectives: Whether emotional disorder (ED) and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) influence each other over time remains underexplored, particularly at the within-person level. This study examined the reciprocal longitudinal associations between ED and NSSI among mainland Chinese university students. Methods: Three-wave panel data were collected at six-month intervals from 574 Chinese university students at Wave 1 (51.22% female; mean age = 22.58 years, SD = 2.89). ED was assessed using the Multidimensional Emotional Disorder Inventory (MEDI), and NSSI frequency was measured using a validated six-item scale. A Random Intercept Cross-Lagged Panel Model (RI-CLPM) was used to separate stable… More >
Open Access
REVIEW
Bojan Bjelica1,*, Nikola Aksović2, Saša Bubanj3, Radomir Pržulj1, Tijana Perović1, Mina Lilić4, Srđan Živanović5, Slavko Dragosavljević5, Kristina Pavlović5
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.081384
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Physical Activity and Structured Exercise Programs as Tools for Mental Health Promotion)
Abstract Background: Mental health disorders are a major global burden, highlighting the need for effective non-pharmacological interventions. Physical activity has emerged as a promising strategy for improving mental health outcomes. This systematic review examined the effects of structured physical activity and exercise interventions on mental health outcomes, addressing the growing need for effective non-pharmacological strategies for mental health promotion. Methods: The review followed PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Searches were conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and PsycINFO for studies published between 2017 and December 2025. Study selection was based on the PICOS framework. Thirteen studies met the… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Dan Wu1,2, Hongchen Luo1, Daniel Hall3, Francis Cheung4, Yingrui Yin1, Shanyue Li1, Shuhan Jiang5, Duo Jiang1,2,*
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.083732
Abstract Background: As social development accelerates and workforce competition intensifies, uncertainty is increasingly recognized as a core component of contemporary stress, particularly in the rapidly expanding platform (gig) economy. Platform delivery riders operate under algorithmic control, unstable income, and opaque evaluation systems, yet the magnitude and correlates of their uncertainty stress remain under-investigated. This study aimed to quantify the level of uncertainty stress among platform delivery riders and to identify work- and lifestyle-related factors associated with it. Methods: A cross-sectional correlational design was used. Between August and December 2022, platform delivery riders in Shenzhen and Guangzhou (two… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Yan Huang1, Yongjin Xu1, Chunchun Wu2, Guang Yang1,*
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.079935
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: From Tradition to High-Intensity: Examining the Psychological and Emotional Impacts of Exercise Types)
Abstract Background: Literature suggests that physical activity has a preventive effect on depressive symptoms, yet the association between the intensity of physical activity (a core element of physical activity) and depressive symptoms remains unclear. This study explores this association between physical activity intensity and depressive symptoms in college students. Methods: Using a cohort study design, a 3-year follow-up survey was conducted from 2017–2020 among 1415 college students (1108 females, 78.3%; 307 males, 21.7%) from Shenyang Normal University from 2017 to 2020. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF) and Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) were used to… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Yeon Ju Lee, Song Yi Lee*
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.082997
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Mental Health Promotion in Higher Education: Interventions and Strategies for the Psychological Well-being of Teachers and Students)
Abstract Background: Mental health issues among university students are rising, leading to increased interest in curriculum-based meditation courses as an educational strategy in higher education. This study aims to identify university students’ subjective perception types regarding a formal curriculum-based meditation course and to describe the characteristics of each type. Methods: This study used Q methodology to explore university students’ subjective perceptions of meditation courses in the formal curriculum for mental health promotion. We recruited 46 students from Dongguk University in Seoul who completed a meditation course and asked them to participate in a Q-sorting process using 32… More >
Open Access
RETRACTION
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion Editorial Office
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.087217
Abstract This article has no abstract. More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Po-Ching Huang1,#, Chao-Ying Chen2,3,#, Hsing-Fen Tu4,5,6, Jung-Sheng Chen7, Kuan-Yu Chen8, Yun-Hsuan Chang9,10,11,12, Yun-Hsiang Hung13,*, Mark D. Griffiths14, Chung-Ying Lin15,16,17,18,*
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.083235
Abstract Background: Problematic digital use has been strongly associated with psychological disturbance, but it is less researched among highly distressed populations such as prenatal mothers. The present study longitudinally explored the predictors of problematic smartphone use (PSPU) and problematic social media use (PSMU) among prenatal mothers to inform the development of preventive strategies. Methods: Participants comprised 137 prenatal mothers (mean age = 31.89 years, SD = 4.29), with approximately half of them having their first baby (50.4%). The level of social support, quality of life (QoL), and psychological factors (including stress, anxiety, and depression), were collected at… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Jubin Park, Jae-Chang Sim, Sun-Young Im*
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.082397
Abstract Background: In the context of growing uncertainty and intersecting societal crises, trauma has become a common psychological experience that deeply affects individuals’ identities, beliefs, temporal orientation, and emotional regulation. Posttraumatic growth (PTG) emerges through processes of inner struggle and meaning reconstruction, and recovery should be understood as a complex system shaped by interacting cognitive and emotional factors. This study aimed to classify trauma-exposed individuals based on combinations of key psychological variables and examine predictors of latent profile membership, as well as differences in PTG across classes. Methods: A total of 388 Korean adults with trauma histories… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Han Qi1, Zhihong Liu2, Shanshan Zhang1,*, Fengmin Guo3
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.081464
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Child and Adolescent Mental Health: Risk and Protective Factors, Assessment, Interventions and Lifespan Outcomes)
Abstract Backgrounds: High school is a critical period for psychological development, during which mental health is vulnerable to family environment. According to attachment theory, adolescents exposed to conflicting family environments develop negative internal working models, characterized by doubts about the stability of parental relationships and family support (i.e., negative family representations). These negative representations constitute a cognitive basis for depression risk. However, the mediating and protective mechanisms remain unclear. Thus, the primary purpose of this study is to explore the potential effect of negative family representations on depression among high school students, focusing on the mediating role… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Mingzhu Pan1,2, Linghong Liu2, Xinxing Li3, Yee Cheng Kueh4, Yanjie Zhang5, Garry Kuan2,*
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.080336
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Physical Activity and Structured Exercise Programs as Tools for Mental Health Promotion)
Abstract Backgrounds: Mental health challenges among Chinese emerging adults have increased in recent years, raising concerns about students’ psychological well-being in higher education. Brief, scalable interventions such as Brain Breaks® may offer an effective strategy to promote mental health in higher-education settings. This study aims to examine the effects of a four-week Brain Breaks® exercise program on mental stress, resilience, social support, and physical activity levels among Chinese emerging adults. Methods: Eighty college students (aged 19 ± 1.41 years) were randomly assigned to an intervention group (IG) or a control group (CG). The IG received Brain Breaks® video-guided sessions… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Jonghwa Lee1, Youngho Kim2,*
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.081241
Abstract Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate how environmental context modulates flow experience, mood states, and brain waves during moderate-intensity cycling. Methods: Fifty healthy adults were initially recruited; four participants withdrew during the study, resulting in a final sample of 46 participants. Flow experience was assessed using the Flow State Scale (FSS), mood states were measured using the Profile of Mood States (POMS), and cortical activity was recorded using a Quick-20 Dry EEG headset. Participants performed 300 s of moderate-intensity cycling under three environmental conditions: indoor, outdoor, and virtual reality (VR). Repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA)… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Jeffrey Alan Gibbons*, Emily Anne Pappalardo, Molly Jean Nolan
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.080379
Abstract Backgrounds: The Fading Affect Bias (FAB) is the faster fading of unpleasant than pleasant affect for autobiographical event memories, which is positively and negatively related to adaptive (e.g., grit) and non-adaptive measures (e.g., depression), respectively. In contrast to the reasonable expectation that maladaptive alcohol consumption should negatively predict the FAB, no such overall relation was found in the only study to examine it. Instead, alcohol consumption positively predicted the FAB for alcohol events and negatively predicted it for non-alcohol events. We used an online procedure during the Coronavirus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic to test if… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Wenjiao Li1, Shiliang Chen1, Xinxing Li2, Yanjie Zhang3,*
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.080191
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Physical Activity and Structured Exercise Programs as Tools for Mental Health Promotion)
Abstract Backgrounds: Youth living in food-insecure households show greater vulnerability to psychiatric symptoms, including anxiety and depression. Although physical activity and sedentary behavior are established correlates of youth mental health, their associations within the context of food insecurity households remain understudied. This study examines how physical activity and sedentary behavior relate to depression and anxiety risk among children residing in food-insecure households. Methods: We analyzed data from the 2021–2022 National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH), focusing on youth aged 6–17 years (n = 2118) living in food insecurity households. Multivariate logistic regression models adjusted for age, sex,… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Hyunyup Lee1,*, Sungrok Kang1, Yoonyoung Choi1, Eric S. Cerino2
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.080017
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Evidence-based Approaches to Managing Stress, Depression, Anxiety, and Suicide)
Abstract Background: Despite growing concerns about the mental health of professional military personnel, little is known about protective factors for mental health among military officers and non-commissioned officers (NCOs). The present study aimed to examine the differential and interaction effects of extrinsic and intrinsic protective factors on depression and mental well-being among Korean professional military personnel. Methods: A total of 500 Korean officers and NCOs completed a self-administered questionnaire that assessed extrinsic factors (salary satisfaction, work environment satisfaction), intrinsic factors (occupational calling, positive appraisals of military service), and the two mental health outcomes. Results: Hierarchical regression revealed that… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Siliang Yang1,2,*, Gan Jin3
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.078761
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Mental Health Promotion in Higher Education: Interventions and Strategies for the Psychological Well-being of Teachers and Students)
Abstract Background: Reducing mental illness stigma is critical for mental health literacy enhancement in China, where stigmatization remains pronounced among undergraduates. Imaginative empathy is a promising anti-stigma intervention, but its specific effects and the potential moderating role of gender remain under-explored. Methods: Three studies were conducted with 18–22-year-old Chinese undergraduates. Study 1 (n = 223, survey design) explored gender’s moderation on empathy-stigma links. Study 2 (n = 217, 2 × 2 × 3 mixed design) tested the intervention effect of self-perspective imaginative empathy. Study 3 (n = 71, 2 × 2 × 2 mixed design) verified gender… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Yichi Zhang1, Muhammad Syawal Bin Amran1,*, Shahlan bin Surat1, Yuxiang Feng2
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.080791
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Causes, Consequences and Interventions for Emerging Social Media Addiction)
Abstract Backgrounds: Multiple theoretical models emphasize the role of cognitive emotion regulation (CER) in maladaptive technology-related behaviors, including problematic social media use (PSMU). However, empirical findings regarding on the association between CER and PSMU have been inconsistent. Therefore, the present study aimed to systematically synthesize existing evidence on this relationship and to examine potential moderators using a three-level meta-analytic approach. Methods: To clarify the overall relationship and examine potential moderators, the present study conducted a three-level meta-analysis. A total of 21 primary studies, comprising 22 independent samples (N = 19,648) and 103 effect sizes, were included. Results: The… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Huimin Yin1, Difan Guo2,*
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.081018
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Causes, Consequences and Interventions for Emerging Social Media Addiction)
Abstract Background: While social media enhances information accessibility and connectivity, excessive use has prompted research into social media addiction (SMA). However, pathways linking psychological stimuli to addictive behaviors remain unclear. This study examined how boredom proneness, social comparison, and anxiety relate to SMA through two mechanisms: information overload and social media stalking. Within the Stimulus–Organism–Response (S-O-R) framework, this research explains how psychological predispositions influence SMA through cognitive and behavioral mechanisms. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 258 active social media participants examined associations between psychological predispositions and SMA. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was applied to examine the hypothesized… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Marco Ferreira1,2,*
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.080597
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Teachers under Pressure: Unpacking the Relationship Between Well-being, Mental Health, Work Environment and Professional Fulfilment)
Abstract Objectives: Teachers’ well-being significantly impacts schools, educators, and students. Many negative effects of low well-being are widely recognised, with stress and burnout linked to attrition and teacher shortages globally. In Portugal, a country with a severe lack of teachers, attention to teacher well-being is crucial for the long-term sustainability of the profession. This study aims to understand teachers’ professional well-being. Specifically, it seeks to (1) clarify well-being, the sense of belonging, and autonomy within the school community and (2) explore how teachers perceive the values and behaviours of schools that prioritise well-being. Methods: A descriptive qualitative… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Yazhou Huang1,2, Xing Yi2,*, Xiaoyun Huang1,*, Ruoya Li2
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.080202
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Adolescence in Contemporary Times: Risks, Resilience and Mental Health)
Abstract Backgrounds: Left-behind children are particularly vulnerable to emotional and social maladjustment due to prolonged parental absence, yet the psychological mechanisms linking interpersonal disturbance to their psychological security remain insufficiently understood. Guided by the Conservation of Resources Theory, this research aims to explore how interpersonal disturbance influcence psychological security among left-behind children, specifically through the serial mediation effect of resilience and self-esteem. Methods: Survey questionnaires were distributed via convenience sampling to left-behind children whose age ranging from 10 to 13 years old in Guangxi, China, finally, 696 valid responses (Mean age = 11.40, Standard Deviation (SD) =… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Gong Cheng1,2, Wentao Qiu2,3, Yuyang Nie2,3, Wenxue Ma2,3, Xishuai Wang4, Hongwei Wang1,2, Hongcheng Cui5,*, Cong Liu2,3,*
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.078370
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Adolescent and Youth Mental Health: Toxic and Friendly Environments)
Abstract Objectives: Psychological resilience is crucial to individual adaptation. Prior variable-based studies ignored node interactions. This study used network and regression approaches to analyze associations among physical activity, social support and college students’ psychological resilience, screening core nodes and intervention targets. Methods: A total of 969 college students were investigated via cross-sectional survey. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF), the Social Support Scale (SSS), and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) were adopted to measure physical activity, social support and resilience. Network analysis, multiple linear regression, mediation and moderation models were applied for data processing. Results: Network analysis… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Chang Xu*
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.078865
Abstract Objectives: Postmenopausal women experience hormonal and psychosocial changes that can affect emotion regulation. Although exercise may enhance cognitive control during emotion regulation, evidence on prefrontal activation in this population is limited. This study examined whether acute moderate-intensity aerobic exercise influences emotion regulation and prefrontal activation in postmenopausal women. Methods: Postmenopausal women (≥12 months since last menstruation) were randomised to a moderate-intensity aerobic exercise condition or a time-matched sedentary control condition (n = 102). Analyses included participants with usable behavioural and fNIRS data (exercise n = 32; control n = 35). The exercise group completed 30 min of cycling… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Ziyan Zhou1, Haiyun Peng2, Menghao Ren1,3, Sufei Xin4,*, Daoqun Ding1,5,*
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.079929
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Adolescent and Youth Mental Health: Toxic and Friendly Environments)
Abstract Background: Internet addiction and depression are important mental health concerns among adolescents. Although prior research has examined their bidirectional relationship, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Drawing on conservation of resources theory, this study examined their bidirectional relationship and tested the mediating role of self-control, with attention to gender differences. Methods: A two-wave longitudinal survey (T1: November 2021; T2: May 2022) was conducted in China among 1908 adolescents (1026 females, 882 males; mean age = 13.546, SD = 1.463). At both waves, participants completed self-report measures of internet addiction, self-control, and depression (using the Internet Addiction Scale,… More >
Open Access
REVIEW
Jian Li1,*, Chenxi Zhang2,*, Eryong Xue2,*
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.080105
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: The Use of Generative AI (Chatbots) in Relation to Mental Health and Well-Being)
Abstract Background: The role of artificial intelligence in influencing the mental health and well-being of students in higher education has become increasingly significant globally and locally. However, there is still a paucity of research that systematically investigates the effects of artificial intelligence on students’ psychological health and well-being from a comprehensive perspective. Methods: Followed the Prisma 2020 guidelines, this study employs a systematic literature review to examine the impacts of artificial intelligence on college students’ mental health and well-being in higher education contexts. Data were obtained from three major academic databases—Scopus, the (EBSCOhost) Research Databases, and the… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Muheng Yu1,*, Drew P. Cingel2
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.080222
Abstract Objectives: Drawing on the motivational perspective of the social comparison theory and the relevant literature on trait self-compassion, the objective of this research article is to examine that, during young adults’ passive social media use, how their trait self-compassion is related to their self-improvement or self-destruction motivations, which in turn are related to their assimilative or contrastive upward social comparison, which correspondingly is related to their positive or negative psychological well-being. Methods: the current study administered a cross-sectional survey to American college students who used social media. Participants first reported their trait self-compassion. Afterwards, participants reported… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Xi Chen*, Azlina Mohd Khir, Hanina Halimatusaadiah Hamsan, Nik Ahmad Sufian Burhan
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.080122
Abstract Background: Life satisfaction represents a core indicator of subjective well-being among university students. Yet the mechanisms linking adult attachment orientations to life satisfaction have not been fully elucidated, particularly within Chinese cultural contexts. Integrating Attachment Theory with Self-Determination Theory, this study aims to investigate how attachment anxiety and avoidance are associated with life satisfaction, with autonomy, competence, and relatedness proposed as parallel mediators. Methods: Using multi-stage stratified random sampling, 488 Chinese university students (48.0% male; Meanage = 20.15, SD = 1.42) were recruited from four universities in Anhui Province, China. Participants completed validated self-report instruments assessing attachment… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Ye Hoon Lee1, Yoonjung Park2,*
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2025.069800
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: From Tradition to High-Intensity: Examining the Psychological and Emotional Impacts of Exercise Types)
Abstract Objectives: Population aging is occurring at a rapid speed all over the world, bringing considerablepublic health challenges, including for the mental health of older adults. Considering that older populations are proneto depression and stress, the need for efective preventive interventions is critical. Tus, we conducted a study aimedat exploring the preventive impact of a community-based Tai Chi program over 8 weeks on depression and perceivedstress in healthy older adults in South Korea. Methods: A quasi-experimental design was utilized, with 63 olderadults participating (31 individuals in the Tai Chi group and 32 in the control group). Te Tai… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Lizao Chen*
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2023.027190
Abstract The relationship between friendship quality and loneliness belongs to an important aspect of peer relationships
and plays an important role in the individual growth of primary school students. Loneliness will seriously affect
the mental health level of primary school students, and good friendship quality can effectively alleviate loneliness
and promote the development of students’ mental health. Therefore, the relationship between friendship quality
and loneliness of primary school students based on meta-analysis and the analysis of intervention measures are
proposed. This paper discusses the relationship between the quality of friendship and loneliness of primary school
students… More >
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