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Home / Journals / IJMHP / Vol.27, No.10, 2025
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A longitudinal study conducted among Chinese adolescents has uncovered a critical, self-perpetuating relationship between school refusal and depression. The research, tracking thousands of students over six months, provides robust evidence that these are not isolated issues. Instead, they form a vicious cycle where increased school refusal predicts subsequent heightened depressive symptoms, and conversely, more severe depression leads to a greater tendency for school refusal. This bidirectional relationship, confirmed through cross-lagged panel modeling, was consistent across gender and grade levels. The findings compel a shift in clinical and educational perspectives, suggesting that these problems are mutually reinforcing. For effective early intervention, the study underscores the necessity of concurrently addressing both depressive moods and school avoidance behaviors to disrupt this detrimental cycle, paving the way for more holistic adolescent mental health strategies.

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    ARTICLE

    A Potential Vicious Cycle between School Refusal and Depression among Chinese Adolescents: A Cross-Lagged Panel Model Analysis

    Xiaojun Xu1,#, Hui Lu2,#, Mengni Du3, Yang Wang1,4, Mingyan Liu2, Lei Qian1,5, Chunyan Shan1, Jianan Xu6, Yanqiu Yu7, Guohua Zhang4, Anise M. S. Wu8,9, Joseph T. F. Lau1,4,10,*, Deborah Baofeng Wang1,*
    International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.27, No.10, pp. 1423-1437, 2025, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2025.068840 - 31 October 2025
    Abstract Background: Adolescent depression and school refusal (SR) are prevalent and important global concerns that need to be understood and addressed. Cross-sectional associations have been reported but prospective relationships between them remain unclear. This longitudinal study investigated the bidirectional relationships between these two problems among Chinese adolescents. Methods: A longitudinal study was conducted in Taizhou, China, surveying students of three junior high schools, three senior high schools, and one vocational high school. A total of 3882 students completed the questionnaire at baseline (T1); 3167 of them completed an identical follow-up questionnaire after 6 months (T2). Depression… More >

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    Effects of Pre-Class Acute Exercise on Executive Function in University Students

    Weijia Zhu1, Linjing Zhou1, Zijun Liu1, Kaiqi Guan1, Yifei Dong2, Meijun Hou1, Xun Luo1, Ziquan Cai1, Jinming Li1, Zhihao Zhang1, Qian Yu1, Sebastian Ludyga3, Tai Ji4, Jiahui Wang1, Ryan S. Falck5,6,7,8, Charles H. Hillman9,10,11, Kirk I. Erickson12, Arthur F. Kramer9,10,13, Mats Hallgren14,15, Myrto F. Mavilidi16, Fred Paas17,18, Matthew Heath19,20, Fabian Herold21, Liye Zou1,*
    International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.27, No.10, pp. 1439-1455, 2025, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2025.069633 - 31 October 2025
    Abstract Background: There is growing evidence that an acute bout of exercise positively influences executive function (EF). However, the existing evidence primarily originates from laboratory-based studies, and only a limited number of studies have extended this work to real-world classroom settings. Accordingly, in the present study, we aimed to employ a real classroom setting to determine whether acute exercise-induced effects on EF emerged. Methods: All 49 students who enrolled in a real-world course agreed to participate in the experimental protocol and the final sample was composed of 43 individuals (13 male and 30 female participants). Participants… More >

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    Understanding Academic Evaluation Anxiety in Portuguese Adolescents: A Psychosocial and Educational Perspective

    Marta Reis1,2,3,4,5,*, Catarina Noronha6, Gina Tomé3,4,5, Marina Carvalho4,6, Nuno Neto Rodrigues7, Margarida Gaspar de Matos3,4,6
    International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.27, No.10, pp. 1457-1470, 2025, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2025.070318 - 31 October 2025
    （This article belongs to the Special Issue: Adolescent and Youth Mental Health: Toxic and Friendly Environments)
    Abstract Objectives: Academic Evaluation Anxiety is a significant psychological concern among adolescents, with well-documented impacts on academic performance, emotional well-being, and school engagement. In Portugal, recent evidence suggests growing pressure on students to achieve high academic standards, with psychosocial variables such as resilience, perceived support, and school environment playing a crucial role. This study aims to examine the prevalence and psychosocial predictors of Academic Evaluation Anxiety in Portuguese students, and to identify risk and protective factors that inform educational practice. Methods: This cross-sectional, quantitative study analysed data from 3083 students (5th to 12th grade) from the… More >

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    Psychometric Properties of the Shortened Chinese Version of the Community Attitudes towards the Mentally Ill Scale

    Si-Yu Gao1, Siu-Man Ng2,*
    International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.27, No.10, pp. 1471-1482, 2025, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2025.068702 - 31 October 2025
    Abstract Background: Existing Chinese stigma scales focus on the perceptions of people with mental illness (PMI) without assessing the general public’s attitudes toward integrating PMI into the community. Developing a valid and reliable Chinese instrument measuring the attitude domain will be helpful to future research in this area. The current study aimed to validate a shortened Chinese version of the Community Attitudes towards the Mentally Ill Scale (C-CAMI-SF). Methods: Four hundred participants who are (1) Chinese; (2) aged 18 years and above; and (3) able to complete the Chinese questionnaire in a self-reported manner participated in… More >

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    A Qualitative Analysis of Emotions among Rescue and Recovery Workers Responding to the Oklahoma City Bombing

    E. Whitney Pollio1,*, David E. Pollio2, Carol S. North3,4
    International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.27, No.10, pp. 1483-1495, 2025, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2025.067755 - 31 October 2025
    Abstract Objectives: At the time of the bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (OKC), it was the deadliest terrorist attack in the United States of America. Available research on this incident, and in general, has been quantitative, using deductive methods. The purpose of the current study was to systematically examine professional disaster response workers’ emotions elicited spontaneously and in detail as they were experienced over time after a major disaster. This qualitative study will add to existing knowledge of psychopathology and the psychosocial effects of disasters on professional responders, which have not been… More >

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    Reducing Stigma and Promoting Empowerment: A Pre-Post Evaluation of ACE-LYNX Intervention on the Mental Health Literacy of University Providers

    Fenghua Wang1, Jianguo Gao1,*, Zhi-Ying Yao2, Kenneth Po-Lun Fung3, Cun-Xian Jia2, Sheng-Li Cheng1, Josephine Pui-Hing Wong4
    International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.27, No.10, pp. 1497-1514, 2025, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2025.069458 - 31 October 2025
    （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: Limited mental health literacy (MHL) among university service providers is a significant obstacle to effective psychological support. Developing and systematically assessing evidence-based interventions is an urgent priority, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Acceptance & Commitment to Empowerment: Linking Youths AND ‘Xin’ (Hearts) (ACE-LYNX) intervention in reducing stigma, improving psychological well-being, and enhancing the MHL and empowerment practices of university mental health providers in China. Methods: A total of 124 trained providers participated in this longitudinal study. Quantitative data were collected at baseline, immediately… More >

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    The Impact of Exercise Commitment on Flourishing via Psychological Capital (PsyCap): A Second-Order PLS-SEM Approach

    Jinwoong Choi1, Young-lae Choi2, Kyuhyun Choi2,*
    International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.27, No.10, pp. 1515-1532, 2025, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2025.068306 - 31 October 2025
    （This article belongs to the Special Issue: Enhancing Mental Health through Physical Activity: Exploring Resilience Across Populations and Life Stages)
    Abstract Objectives: For the younger generation (i.e., Millennials and Generation Z), running is not only about physical health, but also about building psychological resources and multidimensional well-being, reflecting their unique culture and lifestyle. This study aims to investigate the structural relationships among exercise commitment, psychological capital (PsyCap), and flourishing in younger adults in South Korea by integrating Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) and Broaden-and-Build Theory (BBT) using a second-order partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Methods: A total of 166 participants were recruited through convenience sampling via online survey. They were young South Korean adults (born… More >

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    Relationship between Chinese Medical Students’ Perceived Stress and Short-Form Video Addiction: A Perspective Based on the Multiple Theoretical Frameworks

    Zhi-Yun Zhang1,*, Yaqiong Wu1, Chenshi Deng2, Peng Wang3, Weiguaju Nong4,*
    International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.27, No.10, pp. 1533-1551, 2025, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2025.070883 - 31 October 2025
    （This article belongs to the Special Issue: Causes, Consequences and Interventions for Emerging Social Media Addiction)
    Abstract Objectives: Medical students often rely on recreational internet media to relieve the stress caused by immense academic and life pressures, and among these media, short-form videos, which are an emerging digital medium, have gradually become the mainstream choice of students to relieve their stress. However, the addiction caused by their usage has attracted the widespread attention of both academia and society, which is why the purpose of this study is to systematically explore the underlying mechanisms that link perceived stress, entertainment gratification, emotional gratification, short-form video usage intensity, and short-form video addiction based on multiple… More >

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    Mindfulness and Mental Health of College Athletes: The Role of Stress Coping and Burnout

    Junhe Cui1, Kyungsik Kim1,*, Sihong Sui1,*, Zixiang Zhou2, Gong Cheng1
    International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.27, No.10, pp. 1553-1575, 2025, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2025.068523 - 31 October 2025
    （This article belongs to the Special Issue: Enhancing Mental Health through Physical Activity: Exploring Resilience Across Populations and Life Stages)
    Abstract Background: Psychological stress from academic and athletic demands adversely affects college athletes’ mental health, the underlying mechanisms of this relationship remain insufficiently understood. Therefore, this study focuses on the Chinese college athletes and explores the relationship among mindfulness, stress coping, burnout, and mental health. Methods: The study used a sample of 500 student athletes from five higher sports colleges in China, collected data on various variables using standardized psychometric instruments, and analyzed the path relationships and mediating effects among the variables using structural equation modeling (SEM) and bootstrap methods. Results: Mindfulness significantly improved stress coping ability… More >

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    Effects of Three Various Frequencies of 24-Form Tai Chi on Anxiety and Depression Symptoms in College Students

    Yumeng Kong*, Xuesong Guo, Yifei Wang
    International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.27, No.10, pp. 1577-1594, 2025, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2025.069985 - 31 October 2025
    （This article belongs to the Special Issue: Enhancing Mental Health through Physical Activity: Exploring Resilience Across Populations and Life Stages)
    Abstract Background: Anxiety and depression are prevalent among university students, calling for effective non-pharmacological interventions. Tai Chi shows potential in reducing these symptoms, but research on its effects at different frequencies in younger populations is limited. This study compared the impacts of high-(5 sessions/week), medium-(3 sessions/week), and low-frequency (2 sessions/week) 24-form Tai Chi on college students’ anxiety/depression, versus a control group. Methods: A randomized controlled trial (RCT) included 120 university students with mild-to-moderate anxiety/depression, randomly assigned to 4 groups (30 each). The 8-week intervention used the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) for… More >

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    Strengths in Struggle: Character Strengths Use and Psychological Well-Being in the Slums of the Philippines

    Shinichiro Matsuguma*
    International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.27, No.10, pp. 1595-1609, 2025, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2025.068556 - 31 October 2025
    Abstract Objectives: Character strengths use has been studied in WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic) societies, where it is related to happiness, resilience, and reduced distress. However, this relationship in harsh living conditions remains unstudied. This study aims to examine the relationship between character strengths use and psychological well-being among slum dwellers in the Philippines, where harsh living conditions can create severe psychological challenges. Methods: A correlational analysis was conducted in a slum community in Cavite City, Philippines, with 120 participants completing self-report questionnaires, including the Strengths Use Scale (SUS), Flourishing Scale (FS), and Kessler… More >

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    Exploring Adolescents’ Social Anxiety, Physical Activity, and Core Self-Evaluation: A Latent Profile and Mediation Approach

    Huazhe Wan1, Wenying Huang2, Wen Zhang2, Chang Hu2,*
    International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.27, No.10, pp. 1611-1626, 2025, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2025.070457 - 31 October 2025
    （This article belongs to the Special Issue: Latent Profile Analysis in Mental Health Research: Exploring Heterogeneity through Person Centric Approach)
    Abstract Background: Social anxiety is prevalent among adolescents and severely impacts their mental health and social functioning. This study aims to explore the underlying mechanisms and subgroup differences in adolescent social anxiety to provide a theoretical basis for targeted interventions. Methods: 3025 Chinese adolescents (Meanage = 13.91 ± 1.60 years; 47% male) completed self-report measures of physical activity, core self-evaluation, and social anxiety. Variable-centered analyses employed PROCESS Model 4 with 5000 bootstrap samples; covariates were gender, grade, and place of residence. Person-centered analyses used latent profile analysis in Mplus 8.3 to identify subgroups based on social anxiety… More >

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