
The International Journal of Mental Health Promotion (IJMHP) co-ordinates the dissemination of new research outcomes to all those involved in research, practice, and policymaking of mental health and mental health promotion, prevention and intervention program, together with mental disorder diagnosis and treatment. It was the first journal in the field and is essential reading for those with a personal or professional interest in this work.
Peer reviewed by an expert international board, the Journal is a comprehensive information resource which publishes material of distinction submitted by health services researchers, managers, health promotion professionals, educationalists, sociologists, health economists and practitioners, together with psychiatry and psychology researchers, clinical/medical staff from all branches of health and social care.
Social Sciences Citation Index (Web of Science): 2024 Impact Factor 1.4; Scopus Citescore (Impact per Publication 2024): 2.1; JCI (Journal Citation Indicator): 0.32; JCR in the subject Psychiatry (Q3) and Public, Environmental & Occupational Health (Q3); Google Scholar, SCImago, Ebsco, Dimensions, Portico, etc...
Open Access
REVIEW
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2025.074063 - 28 January 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Mental Health and Subjective Well-being of Students: New Perspectives in Theory and Practice)
Abstract Background: Mental health concerns among doctoral students have become increasingly prominent, with consistently low levels of well-being making this issue a critical focus in higher education research. This study aims to synthesize existing evidence on the mental health and well-being of doctoral students and to identify key factors and intervention strategies reported in the literature. Methods: A systematic review was conducted to examine the determinants and interventions related to doctoral students’ mental health and well-being. Relevant studies were comprehensively searched in Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and EBSCO, with the final search conducted on September 19,… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2025.072605 - 28 January 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Adolescent and Youth Mental Health: Toxic and Friendly Environments)
Abstract Background: Bullying is a current social and educational problem with detrimental consequences in adolescence and later life stages. Previous research has explored the risk or protective factor at different socio-ecological levels, but further integration is needed to examine the relationships of family characteristics. This study examines how parenting style and attachment relate to adolescents’ bullying and cyberbullying, and whether parental phubbing mediates these links. Methods: Grounded in social bonding theory, we surveyed a cross-sectional convenience sample of U.S. college students (N = 545; Meanage = 19.60, SD = 1.41) who retrospectively reported middle/high-school experiences from Massachusetts, Colorado,… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2025.073592 - 28 January 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Social and Behavioral Determinants of Mental Health: From Theory to Practice)
Abstract Background: Amid the global rise in adolescent sedentary behavior and psychological distress, extant research has largely focused on variable-level associations, neglecting symptom-level interactions. This study applies network analysis, aims to delineate the interconnections among sedentary time, social support, social exclusion, and psychological distress in Chinese students, and to identify core and bridge symptoms to inform targeted interventions. Methods: This study employed a cross-sectional design to investigate the complex relationships among sedentary behavior, social support, social exclusion, and psychological distress among Chinese students. The research involved 459 high school and university students, using network analysis and mediation… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2025.073735 - 28 January 2026
Abstract Background: That Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia (CEECA) experienced a major mortality crisis in the 1990s is a well-established finding, with most analyses focusing on singular causes like alcohol-related deaths. However, the utility of the integrated “deaths of despair” framework, which views alcohol, drug, and suicide deaths as a unified socio-economic phenomenon, remains under-explored in this context. Crucially, the long-term evolution of the composition of despair within the region remains a largely unexplored area of inquiry. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the long-term trends, changing composition, and regional heterogeneity of deaths from despair… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2025.073911 - 28 January 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Determinants and Subsequences of Subjective Well-being as a Microcosm of Social Change)
Abstract Background: As an important indicator of subjective well-being (SWB), decent work is a key guarantee for the sustainable development of teachers and their psychological health and work quality. Faced with the rapid development of artificial intelligence and the global labor market, vocational college teachers are facing challenges such as workload pressure and limited career development, which may harm their well-being. This study aims to localize the measurement method of decent work in Chinese vocational education based on the theory of the Psychology of Working Theory, and explore the relationship mechanism between organizational support, career adaptability, decent… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2025.071482 - 28 January 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Social and Behavioral Determinants of Mental Health: From Theory to Practice)
Abstract Background: Social connection is widely recognized as a protective determinant of health, yet its direct and indirect effects on mental health remain underexplored. This study examines the relationship between social connection and mental health, focusing on the mediating role of quality of life (QoL) and the moderating effect of regional differences. Methods: We analyzed data from the 2019 Korean Community Health Survey, comprising 229,099 adults. Mental health was assessed through validated measures of depressive symptoms and psychological well-being. Social connection was measured using indicators of interpersonal ties and community participation, and QoL was assessed via self-reported… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2025.072986 - 28 January 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Causes, Consequences and Interventions for Emerging Social Media Addiction)
Abstract Background: In the Chinese context, the impact of short video applications on the psychological well-being of older adults is contested. While often examined through a pathological lens of addiction, this perspective may overlook paradoxical, context-dependent positive outcomes. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to challenge the traditional Compensatory Internet Use Theory by proposing and testing a chained mediation model that explores a paradoxical pathway from social support to life satisfaction via problematic social media use. Methods: Data were collected between July and August 2025 via the Credamo online survey platform, yielding 384 valid responses… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2025.072072 - 28 January 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Adolescent and Youth Mental Health: Toxic and Friendly Environments)
Abstract Background: Bullying during adolescence is shaped by numerous psychosocial factors such as family dynamics, attachment, and peer relationships. This study aims to examine parental acceptance-rejection, attachment styles, and social exclusion factors as key psychosocial variables predicting bullying behavior in adolescents. Methods: In a cross-sectional study conducted with 349 high school students in Hakkari, Türkiye. Data were collected using the Olweus Bullying Scale, the Parental Acceptance-Rejection Scale, the Social Exclusion Scale, and the Three-Dimensional Attachment Styles Scale. Independent samples t-tests, one-way ANOVAs, Pearson correlations, and hierarchical regression analyses were performed. Results: Research findings reveal that peer bullying varies… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2025.072327 - 28 January 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Emotional Regulation, Wellbeing, and Happiness)
Abstract Background: Submarine personnel often experience insomnia and reduced psychological resilience due to extended deployments in confined, high-stress environments. Effective non-pharmacological interventions are needed to improve sleep quality and resilience in this population. This study aimed to investigate the effect of virtual reality (VR) combined with forest therapy interventions on psychological resilience and sleep quality among submarine personnel with insomnia symptoms. Methods: Using convenience sampling, 92 submarine personnel with insomnia symptoms undergoing recuperation at a PLA sanatorium between July 2023 and May 2025 were randomly allocated to experimental and control groups (n = 46 each). The control group… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2025.073109 - 28 January 2026
(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: Music has proven to be vital in enhancing resilience and promoting well-being. Previously, the impact of music in sports environments was solely investigated, while this paper applies it to study environments, standing out as pioneering research. The study consists of a systematic development of a conceptual framework based on theories of Uses and Gratification Expectancy (UGE) and perceived motivation based on music elements. Their components are observed variables influencing students’ psychological well-being (as the dependent variable). Resilience is examined as a mediator, influencing the relationships of both observed and dependent variables. The main purpose of… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2025.073529 - 28 January 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Adolescent and Youth Mental Health: Toxic and Friendly Environments)
Abstract Background: This study aims to investigate the underlying mechanisms between parental marital conflict and adolescent short video dependence by constructing a chain mediation model, focusing on the mediating roles of experiential avoidance and emotional disturbance (anxiety, depression, and stress). Methods: Conducted in January 2025, the research recruited 4125 adolescents from multiple Chinese provinces through convenience sampling; after data cleaning, 3957 valid participants (1959 males, 1998 females) were included. Using a cross-sectional design, measures included parental marital conflict, experiential avoidance, anxiety, depression, stress, and short video dependence. Results: Pearson correlation analysis revealed significant positive correlations among all variables.… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2025.071212 - 28 January 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Mental Health Promotion and Psychosocial Support in Vulnerable Populations: Challenges, Strategies and Interventions)
Abstract Background: Childhood leukemia, a malignant proliferative disorder of the hematopoietic system and the most common childhood cancer, poses a significant threat to the lives and health of affected children. For parents, a leukemia diagnosis in their child is a profoundly traumatic event. As primary caregivers, they endure immense psychological distress and caregiving stress throughout the prolonged and demanding treatment process, which can adversely affect their own well-being and caregiving capacity. However, the psychological mechanisms, such as the role of mindfulness, linking caregiver stress to parental coping strategies remain underexplored, and evidence-based interventions to support these parents… More >