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 >

Xiaojiao Sun^1,*, Shuge Zhang^2,3,*

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.3, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.073845 - 31 March 2026

Abstract Background: Depression is a growing public health concern among Chinese children and adolescents, with substantial healthcare costs. Physical activity (PA) and organized sport are modifiable behaviours protective against depression. This study, therefore, estimated the healthcare costs of depression attributable to insufficient PA and organized sport participation. Methods: A cost-of-illness approach with population attributable fraction (PAF) was applied. Relative risks were derived from longitudinal evidence, prevalence estimates from national Chinese surveys, and depression case numbers from the Global Burden of Disease 2021. Direct healthcare costs were extrapolated from European Union estimates, adjusted to 2024 US dollars (USD),… More >

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

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.2, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.076391 - 27 February 2026

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 >

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

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.2, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.073038 - 27 February 2026

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 >

Jiaojiao He¹, Qing-en Yu², Yuwei Li^3,*, Jian Li¹

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.2, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2025.072905 - 27 February 2026

Abstract Background: Maternal mental health literacy is a cognitive resource that may support preschoolers’ emotional development, yet its influence on emotional regulation and the related mechanisms remains unclear. This study examined whether maternal depressive mood and democratic parenting form a chain pathway linking maternal mental health literacy to preschoolers’ emotional regulation ability. Methods: Mothers of 544 preschoolers in mainland China completed an online questionnaire that assessed maternal mental health literacy, depressive mood, democratic parenting, and child emotional regulation. Structural path analysis was conducted with child age and gender controlled. Indirect effects were tested using 5000 bootstrap samples. Results: More >

Jie Zhang^#,1, Xiaoxu Zhi^1,#, Jiahui Chen², Paerhati Halisa², Lihai Chen^3,*, Minhao Zhang^2,*

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.2, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2025.071717 - 27 February 2026

Abstract Objectives: Although standardized residency trainees are at high risk for depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation, the psychological pathways connecting depression and anxiety to suicidal ideation, especially the moderating role of resilience, remain elusive. This study aimed to examine the associations between depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation among physicians undergoing standardized residency training, and to investigate the moderating roles of different dimensions of individual resilience, namely tenacity, strength, and optimism. Methods: A convenience sampling method was adopted to recruit 133 resident physicians. Validated instruments assessing individual resilience, depressive symptoms, anxiety levels, and suicidal ideation were administered. Spearman… More >

Siliang Yang^1,2,*, Mengying Xu²

Journal of Psychology in Africa, Vol.36, No.1, pp. 21-32, 2026, DOI:10.32604/jpa.2026.070171 - 26 February 2026

Abstract This study explores the core characteristics, dynamic progression of the depression-anxiety-stress network among Chinese higher vocational college freshmen and its association with life satisfaction, and identifies key nodes and critical intervention points. Participants were 295 higher vocational college freshmen (male = 137; M = 18.52, SD = 0.69) completing two follow-up surveys (5-month interval). Measures included depression-anxiety-stress symptoms and life satisfaction, analyzed via cross-sectional and binary cross-lagged panel network analysis. The results showed that “Easily agitated” was the central node (strength = 1.519, EI = 1.967); “Irritable” and “Mouth Dryness” were top predictors (Out-EI = More >

Yuxin Guo^1,2, Xinqiao Liu^3,*

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2025.074063 - 28 January 2026

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 >

Lei Yang, Yang Liu^*

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2025.073529 - 28 January 2026

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 >

Zhenhong Wang^1,2, Hailong Wu^3,*

Journal of Psychology in Africa, Vol.35, No.6, pp. 863-869, 2025, DOI:10.32604/jpa.2025.073522 - 30 December 2025

Abstract We examined the direct relationship between childhood emotional abuse and depression in adolescents and the mediating roles of resilience and self-efficacy in that relationship. Using a cross-sectional study design, 636 Chinese adolescents (Girls = 48.6%, mean years of service = 15.8, SD = 1.9) completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), the Ego-Resiliency Scale (ERS), the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Mediation analysis revealed that childhood emotional abuse significantly predicted higher levels of depression. Moreover, resilience and self-efficacy were found to mediate this relationship both independently and sequentially. Specifically, resilience accounted More >