Open Access
ARTICLE
Abdulaziz A. Masoud1,2,*
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.078593
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Causes, Consequences and Interventions for Emerging Social Media Addiction)
Abstract Background: Sedentary behavior (SB) has been linked to problematic smartphone use: however, whether different types of SB differentially relate to smartphone addiction risk remains unclear. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of smartphone addiction risk and the independent associations of mentally active and mentally passive SB—across total, weekday, and weekend estimates—with smartphone addiction scores among Saudi adults. Methods: This cross-sectional, web-based study recruited adults aged 18–65 years residing in Saudi Arabia through social media platforms. After excluding participants with missing anthropometric data, implausible body mass index (BMI) values, or total SB >24 h/day, 1037 participants… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Xu Wang1,2, Cui-Hong Cao2,3, Xiao-Ling Liao4, Xing-Yong Jiang5, Mark D. Griffiths6, I-Hua Chen7,*, Chung-Ying Lin8,9,*
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.075149
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Research on the Role of Schools in Promoting Adolescent Mental Heatlh: Prevention, Assessment and Interventions)
Abstract Background: The recently developed Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales–Youth Version (DASS-Y) shows promise as a tool for assessing youth mental health, but its consistency across timepoints and diverse ages remains underexplored. The present study evaluated whether the DASS-Y reliably measured depression, anxiety, and stress among school-aged youth (aged 9–18 years) across distinct time periods and educational stages. Methods: Two studies were conducted. Study 1 examined consistency over three months using data from 736 Central Chinese high school students who completed surveys at both timepoints. Study 2 tested consistency across educational levels among 2321 primary and 1676… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Laura Lacomba-Trejo1,*, Francisco González-Sala1, Sandra Simó2, Florencia Talmón-Knuser3
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.077053
Abstract Backgrounds: Somatization and eating-related problems in adolescents living in residential care may be shaped by the interplay of risk and protective factors, including gender, relational trauma, attachment patterns, emotional intelligence, and perceived social support. This study examined how gender, relational trauma, attachment dimensions, resilience, and emotional intelligence contribute to the presence of somatic and eating difficulties in this population. Methods: The sample included 46 adolescents (63% female; ages 12–17, Mean = 14.85, Standard Deviation (SD) = 1.49) residing in child protection institutions in Uruguay. Participants completed self-report measures assessing childhood relational trauma (CaMir), attachment dimensions (anxiety… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Ziyun Yang1, Ling Wang2, Jinhua Xu3,*, Fanfan Li4,5,*, Kexin Chen6,7,*
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.075283
Abstract Background: The concept of “involution” has garnered significant attention within China’s education system, encapsulating students’ perceptions of intense and often fruitless academic competition. However, the impact of perceived involution on students’ psychological outcomes, particularly academic burnout, remains underexplored. This study examines the relationship between perceived involution and academic burnout among university students. Specifically, it examines whether anxiety mediates this relationship and whether self-control moderates the effect of perceived involution on anxiety. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered to 673 university students in China. Standardized scales were employed to measure perceived involution, anxiety, self-control, and academic burnout.… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Baijun Chen1,#, Song Gui1,2,#, Yujing Xie3, Lijun Ma3,*, Can Jiao1,4,*
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.077048
Abstract Objectives: Flourishing, a central concept in positive psychology, encompasses multifaceted dimensions such as meaning, positive relationships, and engagement. Despite growing research interest, empirical studies focusing specifically on the flourishing of middle school students remain scarce. Given the critical need to promote flourishing among Chinese middle school students, the study aimed to adapt Diener’s Flourishing Scale for Chinese middle school students, examine its psychometric properties, and establish its measurement invariance across gender and time within this population. Methods: Participants were recruited from secondary schools in two Chinese provinces. The Chinese versions of the Flourishing Scale (CFS),… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Xiaojiao Sun1,*, Shuge Zhang2,3,*
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.073845
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Determinants and Subsequences of Subjective Well-being as a Microcosm of Social Change)
Abstract Background: Depression is a growing public health concern among Chinese children and adolescents, with substantial healthcare costs. Physical activity (PA) and organized sport are modifiable behaviours protective against depression. This study, therefore, estimated the healthcare costs of depression attributable to insufficient PA and organized sport participation. Methods: A cost-of-illness approach with population attributable fraction (PAF) was applied. Relative risks were derived from longitudinal evidence, prevalence estimates from national Chinese surveys, and depression case numbers from the Global Burden of Disease 2021. Direct healthcare costs were extrapolated from European Union estimates, adjusted to 2024 US dollars (USD),… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Albert Jiansong Zheng1,*, Junxian Shen2
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.077733
Abstract Background: The anxiolytic benefits of exercise appear to vary across societies, yet limited research has examined how cultural norms shape this association. To address this gap, the present study investigates the moderating role of societal individualism–collectivism in the relation between exercise and anxiety symptoms. Methods: Using a sample of 123,298 individuals across 23 societies and two waves from the Global Flourishing Study, weighted multilevel models were employed to examine the lagged association between exercise at Wave 1 and anxiety symptoms at Wave 2, with and without adjustment for exercise at Wave 2. We further examined the… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Yuhan Guo1, Jiayi Li2, Shuai Chen3, Yanling Liu2,*
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.075377
Abstract Background: In adolescence, anxiety symptoms are a common mental health problem. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the possible chain-mediating functions of fundamental psychological needs satisfaction and self-compassion in the link between adolescent anxiety and parental psychological control. Methods: Convenience sampling was used to pick 8342 middle school pupils from the Chinese regions of Sichuan and Hebei for this cross-sectional study. Participants filled out validated measures of anxiety symptoms, self-compassion, fundamental psychological needs satisfaction, and parental psychological control. To test the suggested chain mediation model, data were examined using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Eungyeong Kim*
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.078353
Abstract Background: Adolescents are highly exposed to digital food-related content, including mukbang videos, yet the psychological consequences of such exposure remain insufficiently understood. This study aimed to examine the association between mukbang viewing and anxiety among adolescents and to investigate the mediating roles of high-caffeine beverages and sugar-sweetened beverages intake. Methods: Data from 51,850 adolescents were drawn from the 2022 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey. Parallel mediation analyses were conducted using PROCESS Model 4 with 5000 bootstrap samples to assess whether the frequency of high-caffeine beverages and sugar-sweetened beverages consumption mediated the association between mukbang viewing… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Garip Erayabakan1,*, Burak Canpolat2
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.076595
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Causes, Consequences and Interventions for Emerging Social Media Addiction)
Abstract Background: Social media plays an important role in shaping body image and self-perception, particularly among appearance-sensitive groups such as athletes. Although problematic social media use has been linked to body image outcomes through processes such as social comparison, self-presentation, and evaluation sensitivity, these mechanisms remain underexplored among athletes with physical disabilities. This study aimed to examine the associations between social media use, addictive use patterns, and body image perception in this population, with a focus on these underlying psychological mechanisms. Methods: A total of 165 athletes with physical disability participated in this quantitative cross-sectional study. Data… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Xingchen Zhu1, Haohan Zhao2,*, Wencan Li3,*, Zixu Wang1
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.078033
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Adolescent and Youth Mental Health: Toxic and Friendly Environments)
Abstract Backgrounds: Adolescent psychological well-being has become a pressing global concern, with rising levels of emotional distress among youth. Although prior research highlights the positive influence of teacher–student relationships, the underlying mechanisms—particularly the roles of school belonging, moral disengagement, and growth mindset—remain insufficiently understood. This study investigates the associations between teacher-student relationship quality and adolescent psychological well-being, examining school belonging and moral disengagement as potential mediators, and growth mindset as a moderator of these relationships. Methods: A total of 785 adolescents were recruited from six schools across Shanghai and Liaoning Province, China. Participants completed validated measures of… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Chae-Young Lee1, Yun-Jung Choi2,*
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.077116
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Adolescence in Contemporary Times: Risks, Resilience and Mental Health)
Abstract Background: Adolescent suicide remains a pressing public health concern in South Korea and worldwide, ranking as one of the leading causes of death among youth. Identifying modifiable risk and protective factors is critical for prevention strategies. Physical activity has been suggested as one such factor due to its potential mental health benefits. This study aimed to examine whether associations between physical activity and suicidality differ by activity type and by stage of suicidal behavior, distinguishing suicidal ideation, planning, and attempts among Korean adolescents. Methods: This cross-sectional secondary analysis used data from the 20th Korea Youth Risk… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Shuqing Wang, Xiuqiu Liu, Siqi Yu, Meili Zheng, Shuhua Wei*
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.076977
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Psychological and Neural Foundations of Adolescent Mental Health)
Abstract Background: While parenting is crucial for adolescents’ academic adjustment, few studies have examined how parental autonomy support affects academic burnout or the underlying psychological processes. This study examined the sequential mediating roles of growth mindset and self-esteem in the association between parental autonomy support and academic burnout, using both variable-centered and person-centered approaches. Methods: A total of 1032 Chinese junior and senior high school students were recruited through cluster sampling. Using self-report questionnaires, participants were assessed on parental autonomy support, growth mindset, self-esteem, and academic burnout. Data were analyzed using mediation modeling and latent profile analysis. Results:… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Shuhua Wei1,#, Hongkun Ji1,#, Fang Kong2, Bijuan Huang1,*
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.076393
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Psychological and Neural Foundations of Adolescent Mental Health)
Abstract Background: Early adolescents (ages 11–15), mainly Chinese middle-school students, face academic tracking pressure for the high-school entrance exam and multiple stressors, with depressive symptoms detected in up to 21.9% of this group. Because this stage is a “critical window” for depression intervention and the Ministry of Education requires “stratified and classified interventions”, systematically identifying the patterns and dynamic transition patterns of adolescent depressive symptoms is of considerable practical and theoretical importance. This study aimed to identify the latent profiles and transitions of depressive symptoms among middle-school students and to examine how different types of stress, life… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Xiaoting Hou1, Jingjing Zhao1, Yuxin Shi1, Yuhua Li2,*, Shufen Xing1,*
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.074010
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Family Risk Factors and Child & Adolescent Mental Health: Perspectives from the Chinese Cultural Context)
Abstract Background: The growing parenting stress among Chinese mothers in recent years raises concerns about its impact on adolescent internalizing problems. The purpose of this study was to examine the curvilinear relationship between maternal parenting stress and internalizing problems in adolescents, and further explore the moderating effects of family socioeconomic status (SES) and adolescent gender. Methods: Data were collected from 405 mothers and adolescents (203 boys, Meanage = 12.23) across five cities (Beijing, Hebei, Shanxi, Shenzhen, and Shandong) in China, who completed self-report measures of maternal parenting stress and internalizing problems. Descriptive statistics and multiple regression analyses were… More >
Open Access
REVIEW
Jian Li1,*, Yide Chen2, Xinyi Zhao3, Eryong Xue3,*
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.073286
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Child and Adolescent Mental Health: Risk and Protective Factors, Assessment, Interventions and Lifespan Outcomes)
Abstract Background: The mobility of people in rural areas may lead to more and more left-behind children (LBC) appearing, and being an LBC brings a lot of risks to mental health, which could greatly hinder children’s development and undermine their happiness and safety in life. Previous scholars have conducted plenty of studies that focused on Chinese rural LBCs’ mental health issues, such as what they exactly look like and some potential factors, but there remains a paucity of reviews about the relationship among certain mental health issues. We will try to figure out how the most common… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Guangdong Zhou1,2, Qing Zhang1, Meishuo Yu3,*
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.076721
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Child and Adolescent Mental Health: Risk and Protective Factors, Assessment, Interventions and Lifespan Outcomes)
Abstract Background: Adolescence is a critical period for mental health development, during which individuals may experience emotional challenges such as anxiety and depression. However, the patterns of how these symptoms develop and change over time in high school students, as well as the factors that influence these patterns, remain unclear. This study aims to identify distinct anxiety-depression symptom profiles and their transitions over time, while examining the roles of gender, subjective well-being, and psychological resilience in shaping these profiles. Methods: Two-wave longitudinal questionnaire data were collected from 913 high school students (57% female) in Shandong Province, China,… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Shuqing Wang1, Xiaorui Zhu1, Xin Gao2, Jialing Deng3, Xiumei Yan1,*
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.075412
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Psychological and Neural Foundations of Adolescent Mental Health)
Abstract Background: Emerging adulthood is a critical period for ego identity exploration and consolidation, and self-presentation on social media constitutes a salient online context for this developmental process. However, limited research has explored the associations between self-presentation on WeChat Moments and ego identity. This study aims to examine these associations, focusing on the mediating role of online positive feedback and the moderating role of gender. Methods: Using a three-wave longitudinal design, this study followed 767 Chinese college students (Mean age = 18.96 years) through cluster sampling. Participants completed self-report questionnaires assessing self-presentation on WeChat Moments, online positive… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Zhenlian Luo, Rongning Luo, Zhenzhu Cao, Huiyue Jiang*
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.075797
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Family and School Environments and Mental Health)
Abstract Background: Experiences of social exclusion can significantly affect individuals’ cognitive and emotional well-being, potentially resulting in maladaptive coping strategies or harmful behaviors. College students are at a critical stage of personal development, exhibiting distinctive psychological and behavioral patterns. Therefore, exploring the underlying mechanisms connecting social exclusion and malevolent creativity among college students is particularly important. This study aims to reveal the relationship between social exclusion and malevolent creative behavior among undergraduates and its potential mechanisms. Methods: This cross-sectional study collected data from 500 undergraduates across three universities in Guangxi via convenience sampling. Participants completed the Ruminative… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Hong Zou1, Hanwei Wu2, Haidi Wu3, Ningyao Yu4, Zhiguang Fan4,*
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2025.074801
Abstract Objective: International students frequently face psychological adaptation difficulties while studying and living abroad. As an effective psychological resource, positive solitude has been identified as a potential factor for improving psychological well-being, but the underlying mechanism linking the two has not been fully explored. The current study aims to explore the relationship between positive solitude and psychological adaptation of international students, with particular emphasis on the intermediary roles of authenticity and loneliness. Methods: A total of 529 international tertiary students (Mage = 23.76, SD = 5.08; 60.68% male) were surveyed using the Positive Solitude Scale (PSS), Authenticity Scale… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Zhengliang Zhang1, Shijian Wu2, Xinna Tang3, Haowen Wu3,*
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2025.071999
Abstract Objectives: Amid accelerating urbanization, digitalization, and population aging, mental health issues have become increasingly salient among urban community residents. This study aims to examine how community environmental governance influences mental health (MH) by conceptualizing the community environment as comprising social capital (SC) and environmental perception (EP). Aging anxiety (AA) and digital usage tendency (DUT) are introduced as psychosocial background variables to analyze MH pathways under multifactor influences. Methods: Using data from the 2021 Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS), this study constructed a structural equation model (SEM) based on 362 urban residents from the Yangtze River Delta.… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Kai Jing1,2,#, Jingqun Wang3,#, Baojuan Ye3,4,*, Qi Dai4, Xian Gong5, Guorong Wang2
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2025.071120
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Adolescent and Youth Mental Health: Toxic and Friendly Environments)
Abstract Objectives: Early adolescence is a key period of ecological and physiological change, during which exposure to accumulating risks from various environmental systems can negatively impact mental health. This study aimed to investigate the potential longitudinal relationships among cumulative risk, depression, and psychache in adolescents. Methods: A three-wave longitudinal study spanning one year was conducted with 675 (47.5% girls; Mean age = 14.13, standard deviation [SD] = 0.45) middle school students. The Random Intercept Cross-Lagged Panel Model (RI-CLPM) was used to explore the dynamic reciprocal relationships among these variables. Results: At the within-individual level, cumulative risk, depression, and… 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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