Albert Jiansong Zheng^1,*, Junxian Shen²

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.3, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.077733 - 31 March 2026

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 >

Chae-Young Lee¹, Yun-Jung Choi^2,*

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.3, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.077116 - 31 March 2026

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 >

Laura Lacomba-Trejo^1,*, Francisco González-Sala¹, Sandra Simó², Florencia Talmón-Knuser³

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.3, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.077053 - 31 March 2026

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 >

Baijun Chen^1,#, Song Gui^1,2,#, Yujing Xie³, Lijun Ma^3,*, Can Jiao^1,4,*

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.3, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.077048 - 31 March 2026

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), along… More >

Garip Erayabakan^1,*, Burak Canpolat²

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.3, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.076595 - 31 March 2026

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 >

Shuqing Wang¹, Xiaorui Zhu¹, Xin Gao², Jialing Deng³, Xiumei Yan^1,*

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.3, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.075412 - 31 March 2026

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 >

Ziyun Yang¹, Ling Wang², Jinhua Xu^3,*, Fanfan Li^4,5,*, Kexin Chen^6,7,*

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.3, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.075283 - 31 March 2026

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 >

Xu Wang^1,2, Cui-Hong Cao^2,3, Xiao-Ling Liao⁴, Xing-Yong Jiang⁵, Mark D. Griffiths⁶, I-Hua Chen^7,*, Chung-Ying Lin^8,9,*

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.3, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.075149 - 31 March 2026

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 >

Hong Zou¹, Hanwei Wu², Haidi Wu³, Ningyao Yu⁴, Zhiguang Fan^4,*

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.3, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2025.074801 - 31 March 2026

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 (M_age = 23.76, SD = 5.08; 60.68% male) were surveyed using the Positive Solitude Scale (PSS), Authenticity Scale… More >

Xiaoting Hou¹, Jingjing Zhao¹, Yuxin Shi¹, Yuhua Li^2,*, Shufen Xing^1,*

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.3, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.074010 - 31 March 2026

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, Mean_age = 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 >