
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): 2025 Impact Factor 1.8; Scopus Citescore (Impact per Publication 2025): 2.7; 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
ARTICLE
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.6, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.079059 - 23 June 2026
Abstract Background: The Act Belong Commit-ABCs of Mental Health campaign is the world’s first comprehensive, population-wide, community-based initiative to promote mental health. In response to a growing demand for valid tools to monitor mental health promoting behaviours, this study presents the development and psychometric evaluation of the ABC-Mental Health Promoting Behaviours (ABC-MHPB) scale in a Danish population-based sample. Methods: A 10-item scale was developed, based on the ABC framework, to assess mental health promoting behaviours. A total of 119,221 randomly selected participants aged 18+ filled out an electronic survey, including the scale to measure the underlying construct… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.6, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.080509 - 23 June 2026
Abstract Backgrounds: Positive psychology has increasingly been applied to marginalized populations, yet limited attention has been paid to how it explains the experiences of sexual minorities living under persistent structural stigma in non-Western rural contexts. This study examined the structural pressures, psychological dilemmas, and positive resilience pathways of sexual minorities in rural China. This study aims to examine the structural pressures, psychological dilemmas, and pathways of positive resilience experienced by sexual minorities in rural China under persistent structural stigma. Methods: Using cyberethnography and grounded theory, this study analyzed 264 publicly available online narratives selected from an initial… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.6, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.078910 - 23 June 2026
Abstract Objectives: Chinese higher education faces rising depression rates amidst fragmented campus mental health services. This pilot study examined the feasibility and preliminary outcomes of implementing a standardized psychodrama program across multiple university sites. Methods: This single-arm study was conducted across three Beijing universities from September 2024 to January 2025. A total of 27 undergraduates completed an 8-week psychodrama intervention program comprising weekly 2.5-h sessions. A unified protocol was ensured through centralized facilitator training and cross-site supervision. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory-II at baseline, post-intervention, 3-month, and 6-month follow-ups. Retention rates were 93.8%… More >
Open Access
REVIEW
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.6, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.077617 - 23 June 2026
Abstract Backgrounds: The factors influencing emotion regulation choice (ERC) are numerous, raising the question of how to classify them systematically. Methods: This study proposed a framework of four first-order factors—the emotion to be regulated, emotion regulation goals, emotion regulation resources, and psychosocial context—by integrating several key theories of ERC, including the Action Control Theory of Emotion Regulation, the Extended Process Model of Emotion Regulation, the Process-specific Timing Framework Theory, the Selection, Optimization, and Compensation model of Emotion Regulation, and the Emotion as Social Information Theory. Results: This research also provided a detailed examination of the effects of multiple More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.6, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.078835 - 23 June 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Depression Across the Lifespan: Perspectives on Prevention, Intervention, and Holistic Care)
Abstract Backgrounds: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can increase the likelihood of developing insecure attachment patterns, which in turn may heighten economic concerns and couple dissatisfaction—both generally and particularly in the context of assisted reproduction treatments (ART). These processes together elevate the risk of postpartum depression (PPD). Methods: This study examined psychosocial and relational predictors of PPD in a sample of 149 Spanish women up to 12 months postpartum following ART. (8.1% = artificial insemination with a sperm donor; 12.1% = artificial insemination without a sperm donor; 67.1% = in vitro fertilization; 20.8% = intracytoplasmic sperm injection; 12.8% =… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.6, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.079774 - 23 June 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Health Issues in Modern Society: Addictive Behaviors and Psychological Health)
Abstract Backgrounds: In the digital era, smartphone-driven phubbing behavior has become increasingly prevalent among teachers and may contribute to insomnia. Psychological distress has been identified as a potential mechanism linking maladaptive technology use to sleep problems; however, this mediating pathway has not been examined longitudinally. Furthermore, gender differences in these associations remain unclear. This study aimed to examine the longitudinal relationship between phubbing behavior and insomnia, the mediating role of psychological distress, and the moderating role of gender. Methods: A two-wave longitudinal design with a four-month interval was employed. At Time 1 (T1), 1061 teachers participated, with… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.6, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.079812 - 23 June 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Psychological Well-being and Psychopathology in the New Millennium: Evolving Paradigms, Challenges, and Resources)
Abstract Backgrounds: Alpha-mom blog refers to social media posts that portray mothers who excel at domestic life and childcare, presenting an idealized image of the perfect mother. The popularity of the Alpha-mom blog has led to increased academic interest in the impact on maternal psychology. Based on Self-Determination Theory, this study aims to explain the relationship between Alpha-mom blog use, parenting self-efficacy, perceived social support, and mothers’ mental health. Methods: An online cross-sectional survey with 649 Chinese mothers of young children was conducted (Mage = 29.71, SD = 3.53). The majority of participants came from low-to-middle-income households and… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.6, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.079559 - 23 June 2026
Abstract Background: Stigma affects the mental well-being of cancer survivors. However, data are scarce regarding the extent to which specific types of stigmas, enacted stigma (stigma from others), and self-stigma (internalized stigma), affect mental well-being. The objective of this study is to describe the extent to which overall illness-related stigma, self-stigma, and enacted stigma are associated with mental well-being among cancer survivors. Methods: A cross-sectional study in Kunming, Yunnan, China, was conducted. Eligible participants were adult cancer survivors who completed a phone-to-WeChat, self-administered survey. Illness-related stigma was measured with the Stigma Scale for Chronic Illnesses, 8-item version… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.6, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.078747 - 23 June 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Emotions and Emotional Regulation in Different Populations)
Abstract Objectives: This study aims to examine the temporal associations among psychological distress, mindfulness, childbirth trauma, and postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms across the first three months postpartum and test whether mindfulness mediates these longitudinal pathways. Methods: This prospective longitudinal cohort study followed Chinese postpartum women at one week (T1), one month (T2), and three months (T3) after childbirth. A total of 210 women completed baseline assessments, with 173 and 148 participants retained at T2 and T3, respectively. Psychological distress, mindfulness, childbirth trauma, and postpartum PTSD symptoms were assessed using validated self-report measures. Cross-lagged panel models… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.6, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.076602 - 23 June 2026
Abstract Background: Depression is highly prevalent among older adults with chronic diseases such as arthritis or rheumatism. However, little is known about the longitudinal patterns of their depressive symptoms or the role social engagement plays in shaping these trajectories. This study aimed to identify distinct trajectories of depressive symptoms among older Chinese adults with arthritis or rheumatism and examine the association between baseline social engagement and these trajectories. Methods: Utilizing five waves of data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) spanning from 2011 to 2020, our analysis included a final sample of 2022 adults… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.6, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.078980 - 23 June 2026
Abstract Background: Adolescent girls tend to engage in more sedentary behavior than boys, which is associated with adverse physical and psychosocial outcomes, including depression. This study examined the relationships between sedentary behavior, perceived stress, body mass index (BMI), and depressive symptoms among adolescent girls in Indonesia and tested the mediating roles of perceived stress and BMI. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 482 female senior high school students (age 14–20) in Malang City, East Java, Indonesia. Sedentary behavior was assessed by the Adolescent Sedentary Activity Questionnaire (ASAQ) and expressed as total hours/day. Perceived stress was measured… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.6, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.077671 - 23 June 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue: AI Generation's Impact on Family, School Environment, and Mental Health)
Abstract Objectives: Academic anxiety is a prevalent emotional challenge among adolescents and has been linked to intelligence beliefs. Although prior research connects growth mindset to academic anxiety, the role of perceived control remains unclear. This longitudinal study aimed to examine whether sense of control mediates the relationship between growth mindset and academic anxiety in early adolescents. Methods: A three-wave longitudinal design was conducted with 407 early adolescents (Meanage = 13.75, 61.18% female) recruited from two public middle schools in southern China. Participants completed self-report measures of growth mindset, sense of control, and academic anxiety at three time points… More >