Mahmut Selçuk^1,*, Fulden Cantaş Türkiş², Fatma Taşkın Koca³, Volkan Dizman⁴, Sevilay Yerlikaya Boz⁴

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.076391

Abstract Background: Self-esteem, life satisfaction, resilience, and coping strategies are closely linked to depression; however, their interrelationships and relative contributions to depressive outcomes remain insufficiently understood. This study aimed to examine these associations in individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD) and healthy controls and to evaluate their predictive and mediating roles in depression. Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study included 311 participants (158 patients with MDD and 153 healthy controls) recruited from the Psychiatry Outpatient Clinics of Mugla Training and Research Hospital. Psychiatric diagnoses were confirmed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (SCID-5). Groups were balanced for… More >

Shuhua Wei^1,#, Hongkun Ji^1,#, Fang Kong², Bijuan Huang^1,*

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.076393

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 >

Natalie Y. Luo¹, Edie L. Sperling^2,*, Juliette Lum²

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.074948

Abstract Objectives: Healthcare students experience significant stress due to their rigorous graduate school curricula. These levels of stress are associated with higher risks of depression, self-harm, and exhaustion. Coping interventions have been shown to help students develop healthy stress coping strategies. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to examine the diverse array of coping interventions and what characteristics of coping interventions were most effective at decreasing stress among healthcare students. Methods: Any intervention designed to address coping for academic stress was included among medical, dental, nursing, physician assistant, allied health, veterinary, psychology, etc. students.… More >

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

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.074010

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 >

Jian Li^1,*, Yide Chen², Xinyi Zhao³, Eryong Xue^3,*

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.073286

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 >

Guangdong Zhou^1,2, Qing Zhang¹, Meishuo Yu^3,*

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.076721

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 >

Biao Li^1,#, Xiao Hu^2,#, Pengzhan Wei³, Yunbin Deng^4,*

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.073489

Abstract Objectives: Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) represents a prominent and escalating concern within mental health, associated with considerable psychological and physical dangers. Peer victimization is identified as a significant predictor of NSSI behavior. Although prior research has explored the association between peer victimization and NSSI, the mechanisms underlying this relationship remain insufficiently understood. Utilizing social information processing theory frameworks, the present study seeks to examine the sequential mediating roles of a cognitive factor, future orientation, and a behavioral factor, social withdrawal, in middle school students. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered in China, involving 528 participants (261 females… More >

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

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.075412

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 >

Zhenlian Luo, Rongning Luo, Zhenzhu Cao, Huiyue Jiang^*

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.075797

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 >

Wen Zhang, Wenying Huang^*, Chang Hu^*

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.073038

Abstract Background: Depression is prevalent among female college students, with eating behavior potentially related to this issue. This study examines the relationship between eating behavior and depression, focusing on the role of social appearance anxiety and physical activity. Methods: We recruited 2161 female college students from nine universities in China via convenience sampling. Data was collected via an online questionnaire. Eating behavior was assessed via the Eating Behavior Scale short form (EBS-SF), depression was measured via the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), social appearance anxiety was evaluated via the Social Appearance Anxiety Scale, and physical… More >