Yuan Sun^*, Jiahao Li, Xin Liu

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.5, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.079716 - 28 May 2026

Abstract Background: During the upper primary school years, children’s primary interpersonal relationships shift from parent-child interactions to peer relationships. This study investigated the underlying mechanisms between parenting styles and primary school students’ peer relationships, providing theoretical guidance for fostering harmonious peer interactions. Methods: A cluster sampling design was employed, yielding 702 valid responses from fifth and sixth-grade students. Measures included the Short-form Parenting Styles Scale, Peer Relationship Scale, Emotional Intelligence Scale, and Positive Psychological Capital Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS 27.0 and AMOS 29, with serial mediation models examined via the PROCESS macro. Results: Positive parenting styles… More >

Eungyeong Kim^*

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.5, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.078353 - 28 May 2026

Abstract Background: Adolescents are highly exposed to digital food-related content, including mukbang videos, yet the psychological consequences of such exposure remain insufficiently understood. This study aimed to examine the association between mukbang viewing and anxiety among adolescents and to investigate the mediating roles of high-caffeine beverages and sugar-sweetened beverages intake. Methods: Data from 51,850 adolescents were drawn from the 2022 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey. Parallel mediation analyses were conducted using PROCESS Model 4 with 5000 bootstrap samples to assess whether the frequency of high-caffeine beverages and sugar-sweetened beverages consumption mediated the association between mukbang viewing… More >

Junwei Zhang¹, Jingbo Wang², Qiangzhi Zuo³, Tong Han⁴, Yang Liu^5,*

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.5, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.076641 - 28 May 2026

Abstract Objectives: Existing research indicates a link between childhood physical abuse (CPA) and adolescent smartphone addiction (SA), yet it primarily relies on cross-sectional data. This leaves the longitudinal developmental pathways, including the mediating role of anxiety and the potential protective role of physical activity (PA), poorly understood and insufficiently examined. This study aimed to examine the longitudinal association between CPA and SA among Chinese middle school students, and to investigate the mediating role of anxiety and the moderating role of PA in this relationship. Methods: This study was conducted in two waves of a longitudinal design with… More >

Guofeng Qu^1,2, Fengwei Jia^1,2, Jing Liu³, Xishuai Wang³, Guoyue Tang⁴, Zhonghu Gu⁵, Yuyang Nie^1,2,*, Cong Liu^1,2,*

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.5, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.076017 - 28 May 2026

Abstract Background: Physical exercise is recognized as an effective means of alleviating academic stress, and physical education (PE) classes constitute a primary source of such activity for middle school students. This study aimed to delve into the diversity of PE class participation patterns among these students, examine their relationship with academic stress, and specifically investigate the mediating role of self-compassion in this process. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 849 Chinese middle school students. Data were collected via online questionnaires using validated measurement instruments, which included the degree of participation in PE classes, academic stress, and… More >

Yuhan Guo¹, Jiayi Li², Shuai Chen³, Yanling Liu^2,*

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.5, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.075377 - 28 May 2026

Abstract Background: In adolescence, anxiety symptoms are a common mental health problem. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the possible chain-mediating functions of fundamental psychological needs satisfaction and self-compassion in the link between adolescent anxiety and parental psychological control. Methods: Convenience sampling was used to pick 8342 middle school pupils from the Chinese regions of Sichuan and Hebei for this cross-sectional study. Participants filled out validated measures of anxiety symptoms, self-compassion, fundamental psychological needs satisfaction, and parental psychological control. To test the suggested chain mediation model, data were examined using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and… More >

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

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.4, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.075797 - 28 April 2026

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 >

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 >

Lihua Xu^1,2, Jinmei Liu³, Yan Wang⁴, Wenfu Li^3,*

Journal of Psychology in Africa, Vol.36, No.2, pp. 239-248, 2026, DOI:10.32604/jpa.2026.078257 - 29 April 2026

Abstract This study investigated the association between helicopter parenting and malevolent creativity among college students, and the serial mediating roles of family environment and moral identity. The study sample comprised 489 Chinese college students (females = 56.2%, 18–23 years old = 87.1%). The students completed self-report measures assessing helicopter parenting, family environment, moral identity, and malevolent creativity. The results of serial mediation model showed that helicopter parenting was significantly associated with higher malevolent creativity. Moreover, family environment and moral identity sequentially mediated this relationship. Specifically, helicopter parenting may contribute to a negative family environment and undermine More >

Jingxuan Lou¹, Yaping Pan^2,*

Journal of Psychology in Africa, Vol.36, No.2, pp. 171-179, 2026, DOI:10.32604/jpa.2026.076331 - 29 April 2026

Abstract The present study examined the mediating roles of self-efficacy and meaning in life in the relationship between growth mindset and satisfaction with life among college students, as well as the moderating role of gender. Participants were 1791 Chinese college students (female = 52.31%, mean age = 19.31 years, SD = 1.14 years). They completed the Growth Mindset Scale (GMS), the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ), and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). Correlation analyses results showed that a growth mindset was significantly and positively related to satisfaction with life among… More >

Jingli Wu^*

Journal of Psychology in Africa, Vol.36, No.2, pp. 285-291, 2026, DOI:10.32604/jpa.2026.074079 - 29 April 2026

Abstract This study explored the relationship between parental psychological control (PPC) and adolescents’ problematic gaming (PG) focusing on the mediating roles of self-control (SC) and deviant peer affiliation (DPA). A total of 2028 adolescents from high schools completed self-report measures on PPC, SC, DPA, and PG. The results revealed that PPC positively predicted PG. SC mediated the relationship between PPC and PG, and also revealed that DPA also played a mediating role in this association. Additionally, SC and DPA operated in a chain mediation, where PPC reduced SC, which in turn increased the likelihood of DPA, More >