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 >

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 >

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 >

Lei Tang^1,2, Yangang Nie², Pei Chen², Jian Mao^2,*

Journal of Psychology in Africa, Vol.36, No.2, pp. 191-200, 2026, DOI:10.32604/jpa.2026.072648 - 29 April 2026

Abstract Based on self-determination theory, this study examined how basic psychological need satisfaction influenced job search intensity among Chinese graduating college students. A two-wave longitudinal survey was conducted with a sample of 244 graduating students (50.4% female; mean age = 21.44 years, SD = 0.85). Data were collected using the Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction and Frustration Scale, the Goal Orientation Scale, the College Students’ Job Search Stress Scale, and the Job Search Behavior Scale. The results showed that higher basic psychological need satisfaction predicted greater job search intensity, and this relationship was partially mediated by stronger 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 >

Shu-Hsuan Chang¹, Der-Fa Chen¹, Jing-Tang Sie¹, Kai-Jie Chen², Zhe-Wei Liao¹, Tai-Lung Chen¹, Yao-Chung Cheng^3,4,*

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.27, No.12, pp. 1907-1927, 2025, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2025.068264 - 31 December 2025

Abstract Background: Interpersonal alienation has increasingly been recognized as a salient risk factor affecting university students’ psychological adjustment and life satisfaction. Guided by Social Identity and Self-Categorization theories, this study examines how alienation influences life satisfaction through the mediating roles of social identity and hope. Methods: This study surveyed 492 Taiwanese undergraduate students (53.7 percent female, mean age 21.08 years) from 60 universities using convenience sampling in May 2023. Data were collected through an online questionnaire distributed via faculty-managed teaching media platforms. Measures included perceived social identity, state hope, interpersonal alienation, and life satisfaction. All instruments were… More >

Qiufeng Gao¹, Yushu Feng¹, Changcheng Jiang¹, Yanshan Zhang^2,*, Ruixiang Gao^3,*

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.27, No.9, pp. 1399-1410, 2025, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2025.067138 - 30 September 2025

Abstract Background: Fundamental internal factors like self-construal and its influence on problematic online game use (POGU) remain underexplored. Hence, this study aims to investigate the effects of independent and interdependent self-construal on POGU, with the mediation of basic psychological needs satisfaction. Methods: The study surveyed 418 Chinese junior high school students (50.24% male; Mean_age = 12.68, SD = 0.65), assessing their levels of self-construal, basic psychological needs satisfaction, and POGU. A parallel mediation model was tested. Results: The findings showed that autonomy and competence needs satisfaction fully mediated the negative impact of independent self-construal on POGU (B… More >