Dong Yuting, Chen Min, Wu Zhigang, Zhang Zilin
School of Education, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, 730070, Gansu, China.
School of Energy and Mechanical Engineering, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Nanchang, 330000, Jiangxi, China.
BMC Psychol. 2024 Mar 2;12(1):116. doi: 10.1186/s40359-024-01610-2.
The spread of the coronavirus has led to significant anxiety among university students, resulting in various mental health problems that could potentially impact their academic performance.
To examine the mediating role of emotional regulation and online social support in the relationships between COVID-19 psychological pressures, depression, and the fear of missing out (FoMO) among young adult university students, a cross-sectional research design was employed using an online survey. The sample consisted of 521 full-time university students from China, currently enrolled in undergraduate and postgraduate programs.
Findings revealed that more than half (55.09%, n=287) of the university students experienced COVID-19 psychological pressures. These pressures directly contributed to increased levels of depression (β = 0.339, p < .001) and fear of missing out (β = 0.236, p < .001). Moreover, online social support and emotional regulation exhibited partial mediating effects on the association between COVID-19 psychological pressures, depression, and the fear of missing out. The results indicated that COVID-19 psychological pressures were linked to higher levels of depressive symptoms and a greater fear of missing out among university students.
However, the provision of timely and adequate online social support, as well as the implementation of emotional regulation strategies, mitigated the negative effects of the pandemic on students' social and emotional well-being. Consequently, this led to reduced levels of depression and fear of missing out.
冠状病毒的传播导致大学生出现严重焦虑,引发各种心理健康问题,可能会影响他们的学业表现。
为了检验情绪调节和在线社交支持在成年大学生中新冠疫情心理压力、抑郁和错失恐惧(FoMO)之间关系的中介作用,采用在线调查的横断面研究设计。样本包括521名来自中国的全日制大学生,目前就读于本科和研究生项目。
研究结果显示,超过一半(55.09%,n = 287)的大学生经历了新冠疫情心理压力。这些压力直接导致抑郁水平升高(β = 0.339,p <.001)和错失恐惧增加(β = 0.236,p <.001)。此外,在线社交支持和情绪调节在新冠疫情心理压力、抑郁和错失恐惧之间的关联中表现出部分中介作用。结果表明,新冠疫情心理压力与大学生更高水平的抑郁症状和更强的错失恐惧有关。
然而,提供及时和充分的在线社交支持,以及实施情绪调节策略,减轻了疫情对学生社交和情绪健康的负面影响。因此,这导致抑郁水平和错失恐惧降低。