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

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.4, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.076721 - 28 April 2026

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 >

Juyan Fang¹, Xin Deng¹, Mengting Pan², Guoqiang Chen¹, Yang Liu^1,*

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.4, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.073013 - 28 April 2026

Abstract Objectives: Social Media Dependence (SMD) has emerged as a growing public health concern among adolescents. Psychological Maltreatment (PM), characterized by denigration, intimidation, and emotional neglect, is considered an important familial risk factor for adolescents’ emotional and behavioral problems. However, the psychological mechanisms linking PM to adolescent SMD remain insufficiently understood. This study aimed to examine the relationship between PM and SMD and to explore the mediating roles of Difficulty Describing Feelings (DDF), Depression (DP), and Anxiety (AN). Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 2243 Chinese adolescents. Descriptive statistics, correlation analyses, and mediation analyses were performed… More >

Qiaobo Wei^1,2, Hui Zhou^1,3,*

Journal of Psychology in Africa, Vol.36, No.2, pp. 277-284, 2026, DOI:10.32604/jpa.2026.068776 - 29 April 2026

Abstract We investigated the relationship between social anxiety on adolescent students’ internet fiction reading and mediation by self-esteem. A total of 774 adolescent students (female = 48.9%; mean age 13.39 ± 1.46) completed surveys on internet fiction addiction, social anxiety and self-esteem. Mediation analysis results indicated a significant school grade placement effect in internet fiction reading to be lower . The self-esteem of adolescent students plays a mediating role between social anxiety and internet fiction reading for higher internet fiction reading with higher self-esteem. This mediating effect accounts for about two-thirds of the total effect. This More >

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 >

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 >

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 >

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 >

Zhiyong Sun^*

Journal of Psychology in Africa, Vol.36, No.1, pp. 33-43, 2026, DOI:10.32604/jpa.2026.074741 - 26 February 2026

Abstract This mixed-methods study investigated how AI-enhanced English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learning environments influence students’ psychological well-being through the mediating roles of motivation and language learning anxiety and the moderating role of trust. Participants were Chinese university students (N = 310, 62% female, mean age = 18.9, SD = 0.8), of whom 15 completed interviews to both add to and to clarify the evidence from the surveys. Structural equation modeling results revealed that AI use had significant indirect effects on well-being through increased motivation and reduced language learning anxiety. Trust in AI significantly moderated… 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 >