The Effect of Psychological Suzhi on Problem Behaviors in Chinese Adolescents: The Mediating Role of Subjective Social Status and Self-esteem

Early Emotional Experiences and Prosocial Behavior among Chinese Adolescents: The Roles of Psychological Suzhi and Subjective Socioeconomic Status

Prosocial behavior plays a vital role in adolescents’ well-being and social functioning, with the recall of early emotional experiences being a major influence. Positive experiences such as early memories of warmth and safeness (EMWS) contribute to prosocial interpersonal characteristics, whereas adverse experiences such as child psychological abuse and neglect (CPAN) lead to social withdrawal or behavioral problems. The direct effects of EMWS and CPAN on prosocial behavior were investigated in this study, along with the mediation effect of psychological suzhi and the moderation effect of subjective socioeconomic status (SSS). A sample of 948 adolescents (Mage = 14.05 years, SD = 1.68 years; 43.6% females) was randomly recruited to complete self-report questionnaires. Correlation results indicated that EMWS promoted prosocial behavior, whereas CPAN was negatively associated with prosocial behavior. Path analyses confirmed the mediating role of psychological suzhi on the effects of EMWS and CPAN on prosocial behavior. SSS was shown to moderate the effects of EMWS on prosocial behavior and CPAN on psychological suzhi. Compared to lower SSS, higher SSS would reinforce the positive impact of EMWS on prosocial behavior and exacerbate the negative impact of CPAN on psychological suzhi. The current study provided new insight into understanding the underlying mechanisms of prosocial behavior from the perspective of early emotional experiences.

Psychosocial effects of hypnosis in patients with obesity: a pilot randomized controlled trial

The usefulness of hypnosis in patients with obesity needs to be better understood in terms of various outcomes, in addition to weight loss. The aim of this research was to investigate the effects of hypnosis and self-hypnosis in combination with nutrition education for patients with obesity, as opposed to nutrition education alone, on the secondary outcomes of quality of life (QoL), coping strategies, and self-esteem within a randomized controlled trial (RCT). Eighty-two participants were included in this study (84.3% were women), with 41 in each group. Further, 70 participants had completed treatment. The intervention consisted of eight group sessions (about one every two weeks). Participants completed self-reported questionnaires assessing their QoL, coping strategies, and self-esteem (SF-36, CISS, SEI) before and after the intervention. Non-parametric analyses were performed. Both groups had comparable characteristics at inclusion (sociodemographic information, clinical information, and scores for the self-reported scales). At eight months (i.e. two months after intervention completion), patients from the hypnosis group used more task-oriented coping (p < .001), less emotion-oriented coping (p < .01) and distraction (p < .05), and had more energy/less fatigue (p < .001) compared to the group who did not undergo hypnosis. Other improvements were observed in the hypnosis group, but there were no significant differences compared with the non-hypnosis group in terms of QoL dimensions and general self-esteem. In conclusion, hypnosis and self-hypnosis in combination with nutrition education seem to be promising interventions to help patients deal with obesity, especially by improving their coping strategies.

Forgiveness as a Mediator between Psychological Suzhi and Prosocial Behavior in Chinese Adolescents

Prosocial behavior contributes to the well-being of individuals as well as the harmonious development of society. This research aimed to reveal the mechanisms underlying the relationship between the psychological suzhi and prosocial behavior of Chinese adolescents with the consideration of time. A total of 477 adolescents (228 boys, 49.1%; M_age = 14.04 and SD = 1.77) from southwest China completed three questionnaires during waves 1 and 2. Results showed that psychological suzhi and forgiveness were positively correlated with prosocial behavior in both waves 1 and 2; psychological suzhi significantly predicted both current and three months later prosocial behavior and forgiveness played a mediating role in both immediate and lasting effects of psychological suzhi on prosocial behavior. Psychological suzhi and forgiveness are vital predictors of adolescents' prosocial behaviors in China. Interventions based on psychological suzhi and forgiveness are essential to promote the development of pro-social behaviors.

The moderating effect of social resources on the link between study-related stressors and depressive symptoms among medical students in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany - a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Previous research has demonstrated the negative effects of study-related stressors on the mental health of medical students. It has been found that social resources such as social identity, dual identity and social support help buffer negative mental health outcomes. Notably, social status has been found to weaken the connection between stress and depressive symptoms. Based on these findings, the present study investigates how social resources (i.e., social identity, social support, dual identity and status) mitigate the impact of study-related stressors on the mental health of medical students who carry an inordinate stress burden.

METHODS

The data collection was based on a questionnaire (online and paper-pencil) which was distributed to medical students in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The sample (224 participants) consisted of 77.2% female and 22.8% male medical students (36.2% human medicine students (HMS) and 63.8% dental medicine students (DMS)). The questionnaire included graphical scales and standardized questionnaires. We investigated demographic data, study-related stressors (i.e. academic performance, clinical practice, faculty relations) and depressive symptoms as outcomes, and social identity, social support, dual identity and status as moderators. The analyses were performed using SPSS 25 for Windows.

RESULTS

We found significant positive associations between study-related stressors and depressive symptoms. While dual identity as well as social support by fellow students emerged as buffers in these associations, the other social resources did not. As regards status, it was found to work as a buffer only in HMS, who typically enjoy a significantly higher status than dental medical students.

CONCLUSION

It is only social resources such as support from fellow students and dual identity, but not other resource types, that can be effective buffers against depressive symptoms associated with study-related stressors. These findings can be used to promote students' identities in relation to both fellow students and the faculty, or the university as a whole, enabling students to better cope with stress and, thus, suffer less from depressive symptoms. Furthermore, the HMS, who ascribe a relatively high status to themselves, can use their status as a buffering factor in stressful situations, in which little can be done from the outside.

Associations of family subjective socioeconomic status with hedonic and eudaimonic well-being in emerging adulthood: A daily diary study

Empirical evidence based on retrospective measures has shown that family subjective socioeconomic status (FSSS) was connected to well-being, but few studies have examined this relationship using a daily diary design. Here, we examined the link between FSSS and well-being as well as the mediating roles of social support and self-esteem in a total of 220 emerging adults using a 14-day daily diary design. The multilevel regression analysis found that FSSS positively predicted two types of well-being, including hedonic well-being (HWB) and eudaimonic well-being (EWB). Moreover, the multilevel 2-2-1 mediation analysis indicated that social support and self-esteem performed as independent mediators of the associations between FSSS and two types of well-being. The mediating effect of self-esteem also had no significant difference from that of social support. Furthermore, when age, gender, and family objective socioeconomic status were controlled, these findings remained significant. The implications and limitations of the findings are also discussed.

Parental attitudes toward School and Chinese Adolescents’ Academic Performance: A Moderated Mediation Model

To explore the relationships between parents’ attitudes toward school (PAS) and adolescents’ family socioeconomic status (SES), psychological suzhi, and academic performance, we investigated a total of 1319 Chinese middle school students from junior grade 1 to senior grade 3 and their parents. The psychological suzhi was self-reported by students. Family SES and PAS were rated by one of the parents of the adolescents. Academic performance was collected from the final examination at school at the end of the semester. The results showed that (1) PAS were significantly negatively correlated with family SES, psychological suzhi and its components, and academic performance. Psychological suzhi and its components were significantly positively correlated with academic performance and family SES, while adolescents’ academic performance was not significantly correlated with family SES. (2) Psychological suzhi and its components played partial mediating roles between PAS and academic performance. However, cognitive quality showed a positive effect on academic performance, similar to psychological suzhi, while individuality and adaptability showed the opposite effects. (3) Family SES played a moderating role in the direct paths from PAS to cognitive quality and academic performance. Our results suggest that it may be effective to improve adolescents’ academic performance by improving negative PAS.

Perceived Discrimination at School and Developmental Outcomes among Bai Adolescents: The Mediating Roles of Self-Esteem and Ethnic Identity

Although discrimination is widely acknowledged to impair developmental outcomes among ethnic minority adolescents, literature differentiating discrimination based on personal characteristics and group membership is lacking, especially in Chinese contexts, and the mechanisms of those relationships remain unclear. In response, the study presented here examined whether self-esteem mediates the relationship between perceived academic discrimination and developmental outcomes among such ethnic minority adolescents, and whether ethnic identity mediates the relationship between perceived ethnic discrimination and developmental outcomes. Multistage cluster random sampling performed in Dali and Kunming, China, yielded a sample of 813 Bai adolescents whose data was analysed in structural equation modelling. The results indicate that perceived academic discrimination had a direct negative effect on adolescents' mental health, while perceived ethnic discrimination had direct negative effects on their behavioural adjustment and social competence. Perceived academic discrimination also indirectly affected adolescents' behavioural adjustment, mental health, and social competence via self-esteem, whereas perceived ethnic discrimination indirectly affected their behavioural adjustment and social competence via ethnic identity. These findings deepen current understandings of how perceived discrimination, self-esteem, and ethnic identity affect the developmental outcomes of ethnic minority adolescents and provide practical recommendations for policymakers and social workers to promote those outcomes in China.

Stress of COVID-19, Anxiety, Economic Insecurity, and Mental Health Literacy: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach

The COVID-19 pandemic is currently a global health threat attributed to negatively affecting the mental health and well-being of people globally. The purpose of the current study is to examine the mediating roles of economic insecurity and mental health literacy in the relationship between stress about COVID-19 and anxiety. Results from the current study using a large sample of Chinese college students (N = 1,334) showed that stress of COVID-19 was positively associated with economic insecurity and anxiety while negatively associated with mental health literacy, which in turn was negatively associated with anxiety. These results elucidate our understanding of the role of mediators in stress about COVID-19 and anxiety. The findings are useful in terms of providing evidence for tailoring interventions and implementing preventative approaches to mitigate anxiety due to stress of COVID-19. Based on the present findings and within the context of COVID-19, the potential utility of promoting MHL to reduce the psychopathological consequences of COVID-19 is discussed.

The Effect of Psychological Suzhi on Suicide Ideation in Chinese Adolescents: The Mediating Role of Family Support and Friend Support

In this study, we examined family support and friend support as potential mediators between psychological suzhi and suicide ideation in a sample of 1,369 Chinese adolescents (48. 1% men, 15.52 ± 1.76 years). The results showed that family support and friend support were found to adequately mediate the relationship between psychological suzhi and suicide ideation. In addition, the effect of psychological suzhi on adolescents' suicide ideation was stronger for family support than friend support. These findings demonstrated the key roles of psychological suzhi, family support, and friend support in reducing adolescents' suicide ideation. It enlightens us that we are supposed to improve adolescents' psychological suzhi and perceived social support (including family support and friend support) through many ways in order to better play its protective role in the future.

The Effects of Family Functioning and Psychological Suzhi Between School Climate and Problem Behaviors

Problem behaviors have always been a hot topic in the field of adolescent research. It is particularly important to study how problem behaviors are developed. Empirical evidence examining problem behaviors has shared the premise that perceived school climate and family functioning play a role in the development of problem behaviors in adolescents. However, it is less clear whether the interaction of perceived school climate and family functioning can predict problem behaviors in adolescents and which mechanisms within the process it might affect. The present study developed a moderated mediation model to investigate the relationship between perceived school climate, family functioning, psychological suzhi, and problem behaviors in early adolescents. Participants were 1,072 Chinese junior high school students who completed the Perceived School Climate Questionnaire, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, the Psychological Suzhi Questionnaire for Middle School Students, and the Family APGAR scales. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 22.0, including descriptive statistics and correlation analysis. The mediating effect and moderating effect were tested by SPSS PROCESS. Results showed that there was a significant negative correlation between perceived school climate and problem behaviors and a partial mediating role of psychological suzhi between perceived school climate and problem behaviors. Moreover, the influence of perceived school climate on psychological suzhi was moderated by family functioning. Indirect effects were significant in participants with high versus low family functioning. There was an interaction between family and school, and psychological suzhi played an important role between environment and adolescent behaviors. This study validates the combined effect of family systems, school systems, and personal systems on problem behaviors and has certain guiding significance for the prevention and intervention of problem behaviors among adolescents.

The protective effect of psychological suzhi on the relationship between school climate and alcohol use among Chinese adolescents

Background: There issome research on school climate impact on adolescent alcohol use in the Western social context; however, there is no research on school climate impact on adolescent alcohol use in China. This study aimed to explore the effect of school climate on Chinese adolescents' alcohol use, and the moderating role of psychological suzhi between them. Methods: A total of 801 adolescents (45.8% boys, 14.96±1.66 years) completed self-reports on school climate, psychological suzhi, and alcohol use. Results: Moderation analyses revealed that both school climate and psychological suzhi significantly negatively predicted adolescents' alcohol use, and the interaction of school climate and psychological suzhi significantly positively predicted adolescents' alcohol use. Moreover, the effect of school climate on adolescents' alcohol use was stronger for low psychological suzhi adolescents than high psychological suzhi adolescents. Conclusions: We can build good school climate by formulating of national level legal and regulations and good social norms, and use mature interventions or cultivation strategies to improve adolescents' psychological suzhi in order to better play its role in protection.

Subjective social status via mediation of childhood parenting is associated with adulthood depression in non-clinical adult volunteers

Subjective social status (SSS) is associated with major depression, but its association with depressive symptoms remains unknown. In this study, we hypothesized that SSS mediates the effects of the quality of parenting (care and overprotection) on self-esteem and depressive symptoms in adulthood in non-clinical self-selected adult volunteers, and this hypothesis was verified by covariance structure analysis. The following questionnaire surveys were conducted on 404 Japanese non-clinical adult volunteers: Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), SSS, Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI), and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES). We conducted covariance structure analysis to elucidate the mediating effects of SSS on the effects of PBI on RSES and PHQ-9. In our models, self-esteem, but not the quality of parenting or SSS, directly deteriorated depressive symptoms. Poor quality of parenting in childhood indirectly exacerbated depressive symptoms through the mediating effects of SSS and self-esteem. This study showed that SSS is a mediator in the effects of the quality of parenting in childhood on adulthood depressive symptoms and self-esteem, and that self-esteem further mediates the effects of SSS. Our results may hence contribute to the elucidation of the association between SSS and depression.

Mediating effect of psychological suzhi on the relationship between perceived social support and self-esteem

This study examined the mediating role of psychological suzhi on the relationship between perceived social support and self-esteem in a sample of 612 Chinese secondary school students (grades 7-12, mean age 15.20 ± 1.73 years). Structural equation modeling revealed that the association between perceived social support and self-esteem was partially mediated by psychological suzhi, and perceived social support not only directly affected students' self-esteem but also indirectly affected students' self-esteem through psychological suzhi. Moreover, the mediating effect of psychological suzhi showed transgender and cross school section stability. These findings can help us understand how perceived social support affects self-esteem, from the perspective of psychological suzhi.