Dan Wu^1,2, Hongchen Luo¹, Daniel Hall³, Francis Cheung⁴, Yingrui Yin¹, Shanyue Li¹, Shuhan Jiang⁵, Duo Jiang^1,2,*

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.8, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.083732 - 31 August 2026

Abstract Background: As social development accelerates and workforce competition intensifies, uncertainty is increasingly recognized as a core component of contemporary stress, particularly in the rapidly expanding platform (gig) economy. Platform delivery riders operate under algorithmic control, unstable income, and opaque evaluation systems, yet the magnitude and correlates of their uncertainty stress remain under-investigated. This study aimed to quantify the level of uncertainty stress among platform delivery riders and to identify work- and lifestyle-related factors associated with it. Methods: A cross-sectional correlational design was used. Between August and December 2022, platform delivery riders in Shenzhen and Guangzhou (two… More >

Yihong Wang^1,2, Baojuan Ye^3,*, Jing Xu⁴, Ting Chen², Xing Zhang⁵, Jin Xie⁶, Qi Dai³

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.8, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.083405 - 31 August 2026

Abstract Backgrounds: As an increasing number of college students rely on Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI) in academic work and social interaction, concerns about its potential negative effects have emerged. This study aims to address this gap by examining the relationship between relative deprivation and Gen AI dependency among college students. Methods: This study included 1583 college students. Four validated instruments were employed: the Relative Deprivation Scale, Psychological Entitlement Scale, Self-Handicapping Scale, and Artificial Intelligence Chatbot Dependence Scale. Bivariate correlation analysis, Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) for testing mediation, Latent Profile Analysis (LPA), and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA)… More >

Dongyoon Shin¹, Hyungsik Jo^1,*, Hyunkyun Ahn^2,*

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.8, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.082151 - 31 August 2026

Abstract Background: Adults with developmental disabilities often face reduced structured participation and weakened social networks after leaving school-based systems. Although previous studies have reported positive outcomes of inclusive dance participation, relatively little is known about how belonging, recognition, and identity-related resources are formed through participation and carried into everyday life. This study examined how adults with developmental disabilities perceived and narrated changes in emotion regulation and self-evaluation through participation in an inclusive dance company, and explored how identity-related processes of recognition, role enactment, and continuity shaped their experiences. Methods: This qualitative embedded case study was conducted within… More >

Han Qi¹, Zhihong Liu², Shanshan Zhang^1,*, Fengmin Guo³

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.8, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.081464 - 31 August 2026

Abstract Backgrounds: High school is a critical period for psychological development, during which mental health is vulnerable to family environment. According to attachment theory, adolescents exposed to conflicting family environments develop negative internal working models, characterized by doubts about the stability of parental relationships and family support (i.e., negative family representations). These negative representations constitute a cognitive basis for depression risk. However, the mediating and protective mechanisms remain unclear. Thus, the primary purpose of this study is to explore the potential effect of negative family representations on depression among high school students, focusing on the mediating role… More >

Jonghwa Lee¹, Youngho Kim^2,*

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.8, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.081241 - 31 August 2026

Abstract Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate how environmental context modulates flow experience, mood states, and brain waves during moderate-intensity cycling. Methods: Fifty healthy adults were initially recruited; four participants withdrew during the study, resulting in a final sample of 46 participants. Flow experience was assessed using the Flow State Scale (FSS), mood states were measured using the Profile of Mood States (POMS), and cortical activity was recorded using a Quick-20 Dry EEG headset. Participants performed 300 s of moderate-intensity cycling under three environmental conditions: indoor, outdoor, and virtual reality (VR). Repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA)… More >

Huimin Yin¹, Difan Guo^2,*

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.8, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.081018 - 31 August 2026

Abstract Background: While social media enhances information accessibility and connectivity, excessive use has prompted research into social media addiction (SMA). However, pathways linking psychological stimuli to addictive behaviors remain unclear. This study examined how boredom proneness, social comparison, and anxiety relate to SMA through two mechanisms: information overload and social media stalking. Within the Stimulus–Organism–Response (S-O-R) framework, this research explains how psychological predispositions influence SMA through cognitive and behavioral mechanisms. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 258 active social media participants examined associations between psychological predispositions and SMA. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was applied to examine the hypothesized… More >

Wei-Lin Wang¹, Wei-Sho Ho^2,3,4, Wei-Lun Huang^5,6,7, Shu-Jou Sun^8,*

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.8, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.080856 - 31 August 2026

Abstract Background: Equitable access to early childhood intervention (ECI) remains a persistent systemic challenge in under-resourced and rural communities, particularly for children with global developmental delay (GDD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Community-based rehabilitation programs aim to reduce this disparity by delivering services in naturalistic environments, yet empirical evidence concerning their individualized effectiveness and implementation barriers in rural settings remains limited. Grounded in Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological systems theory and family-centered practice, this study aimed to evaluate the preliminary effectiveness and examine the implementation challenges of a community-based ECI program for children with developmental delays in rural Taiwan. Methods: A… More >

Yichi Zhang¹, Muhammad Syawal Bin Amran^1,*, Shahlan bin Surat¹, Yuxiang Feng²

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.8, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.080791 - 31 August 2026

Abstract Backgrounds: Multiple theoretical models emphasize the role of cognitive emotion regulation (CER) in maladaptive technology-related behaviors, including problematic social media use (PSMU). However, empirical findings regarding on the association between CER and PSMU have been inconsistent. Therefore, the present study aimed to systematically synthesize existing evidence on this relationship and to examine potential moderators using a three-level meta-analytic approach. Methods: To clarify the overall relationship and examine potential moderators, the present study conducted a three-level meta-analysis. A total of 21 primary studies, comprising 22 independent samples (N = 19,648) and 103 effect sizes, were included. Results: The… More >

Pengpeng Yang^*, Anne Noor Sri Juwaneeta Jamaludin

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.8, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.080765 - 31 August 2026

Abstract Backgrounds: Anxiety symptoms represent a prevalent mental health challenge among university students, yet accessible and scalable intervention approaches remain limited. This study examined the effectiveness of a structured music education intervention in reducing anxiety symptoms among non-music major university students in China. Methods: Using a quasi-experimental design with a non-equivalent control group, 110 participants experiencing anxiety symptoms were allocated to either an intervention group (n = 55) receiving a 12-week music education program comprising two 90-min sessions weekly, or a control group (n = 55) continuing regular academic activities. Assessments were conducted at baseline (T0), post-intervention… More >

Mingzhu Pan^1,2, Linghong Liu², Xinxing Li³, Yee Cheng Kueh⁴, Yanjie Zhang⁵, Garry Kuan^2,*

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.8, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2026.080336 - 31 August 2026

Abstract Backgrounds: Mental health challenges among Chinese emerging adults have increased in recent years, raising concerns about students’ psychological well-being in higher education. Brief, scalable interventions such as Brain Breaks^® may offer an effective strategy to promote mental health in higher-education settings. This study aims to examine the effects of a four-week Brain Breaks^® exercise program on mental stress, resilience, social support, and physical activity levels among Chinese emerging adults. Methods: Eighty college students (aged 19 ± 1.41 years) were randomly assigned to an intervention group (IG) or a control group (CG). The IG received Brain Breaks^® video-guided sessions… More >