Depression, as a significant indicator of an individual's adverse mood, refers to the persistent occurrence of negative emotions in people's lives [1], impacting an individual's lifestyle, cognition, conduct, and overall well-being, among other aspects [2–3]. The World Health Organization predicts that by 2030, depression would overtake all other burdensome illnesses worldwide[4]. College students, transitioning from adolescence to adulthood, undergo substantial mood fluctuations, rendering them a demographic with a high prevalence of depression[5]. College students exhibiting depressive tendencies may encounter challenges in sleep, appetite disruption, and self-harm, and in severe instances, even engage in suicidal acts [6]. Thus, delving into the risk factors linked to depression among college students holds significance in the managing and preventing mental health problems in this demographic.
Social support and depression
In recent years, Social support has emerged as one of the most important external environmental factors impacting depression in college students, as studies have focused more and more on these factors. Social support, defined as the assistance and aid individuals receive through social interactions, serves to mitigate psychological stress, alleviate mental strain, and enhance social adaptability [7]. The primary effects model of social support posits that it helps sustain positive emotions while diminishing negative ones, such as depression [8]. It is suggested that interactions with family and friends provide both emotional and instrumental support, and when interpersonal needs are unmet, individuals receive less social support, rendering them susceptible to depression [9]. Prior investigations have indicated that individuals with diminished social support levels endure heightened stress and are prone to negative emotions like anxiety and depression[10–11]. Conversely, as individuals' social support levels rise, depression can diminish or be alleviated through direct or indirect means, such as the mediation of psychological resilience[12]. Conversely, insufficient social support correlates with increased vulnerability to anxiety and depression[13]. Essentially, strong social support serves as a preventative measure, reducing or delaying the onset of depression symptoms. The study's conclusion is that college students' depression can be lessened by having social support.
Rumination thinking as a mediator
Rumination thinking is the cognitive process wherein individuals persistently dwell on emotions and problems, characterized by contemplation and reflection[14]. This specific cognitive style, known as rumination, serves as a predictor for negative emotional diagnoses, particularly anxiety and depression, and serves as a precursor to mental health disorders [15]. Within this cognitive framework, individuals' inability to find suitable solutions to their problems leads to a cycle of escalating issues and stress, intensifying rumination and exacerbating levels of depression, ultimately culminating in the development of severe mental health issues [16]. Studies have demonstrated rumination poses a risk associated with depression in teenagers, predicting the onset and duration of depressive episodes; hence, one potential intervention technique for teenage depression is to reduce ruminating[17].It is known that social support can protect people under stress from unfavorable emotional states and unhelpful reactions, such as rumination, with low social support significantly correlated with rumination [18]. Adequate social support fosters a sense of security and validation, enabling individuals to positively appraise stressful events, thereby reducing rumination and averting negative emotions, including depression. Consequently, the association between depression and social support in college students may be mediated by rumination.
Moderating role of gender
Moreover, gender is a moderating factor in variables like social support and depression, with gender differences representing a significant area of focus in psychological research concerning college students. Previous studies have indicated evident gender disparities in depression within the college student population, with female students exhibiting notably greater depression scores than their male counterparts. Research suggests that the impact of social support varies between male and female college students; specifically,in comparison to female students, male students often report higher amounts of social support, whereas female college students who report lower levels of social support are more susceptible to depression[19]. However, some studies propose that the gender difference in depression incidence is contingent upon contextual factors, with instances where male students may even exhibit a higher susceptibility to depression than female students [20–21]. Basically, the purpose of this study is to find out how college students get depression and whether gender has an impact on the association between depression and social support. Thus, the association between depression in college students and social support may be moderated by gender.
Hypotheses and model of this study
To put it briefly, the purpose of this study is to create a moderated mediation model (see Fig. 1) that takes into account the moderating and mediating roles of gender and rumination thinking in order to investigate the relationship between depression and social support among Chinese college students. Three theories are put forth by the study:
H1: Social support positively predicts depression among college students.
H2: Rumination thinking serves as a mediator in the relationship between social support and depression among college students.
H3: Gender moderates the relationship between social support and depression among college students.
This research seeks to offer insights into the complex interplay of social support, rumination thinking, gender, and depression among college students in China.