Need Satisfaction and Depressive Symptoms Among University Students in Hong Kong During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Moderating Effects of Positive Youth Development Attributes

Datos Bibliográficos

ID15519258
AutoresD T L Shek (0000-0003-3359-6229, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, autor de correspondencia), Diya Dou (0000-0002-6752-2044, Hong Kong Polytechnic University), Xiaoqin Zhu (0000-0002-5527-9729, Hong Kong Polytechnic University), Tingyin Wong (0000-0002-3919-7889, Hong Kong Polytechnic University), Lindan Tan (0000-0003-4713-9168, Hong Kong Polytechnic University)
Año2022
Volumen13
Páginas931404-931404
Fecha de publicación2022-07-07
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaFrontiers in Psychiatry (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1664-0640 • E-ISSN: 1664-0640
EditorialFrontiers Media (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fpsyt.2022.931404
PMID35873261
OpenAlexW4284704416
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas11
Referencias citadas85

As studies on the mental health status of university students during the COVID-19 pandemic are almost non-existent in Hong Kong, we examined four research questions in this paper: What is the prevalence of depressive symptoms in university students in Hong Kong? What are the socio-demographic correlates of depressive symptoms? Do need satisfaction and positive youth development (PYD) attributes, including beliefs about adversity, psychosocial competence (resilience and emotional competence) and family functioning predict depression? Do PYD attributes moderate the predictive effect of need satisfaction on depression? We examined the above research questions using the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale Revised (CESD-R) in 1,648 university students in Hong Kong. For PYD attributes, we utilized validated measures of Chinese beliefs about adversity, psychosocial competence (resilience and emotional competence), and family functioning. For need satisfaction, we used a measure derived from two focus group interviews involving university students. Results showed that 48.4% of the respondents (95% confidence interval = [45.9%, 51.1%]) scored 16 or above (i.e., "at-risk" for clinical depression). As predicted, age, gender, student status (local vs. international), and family financial hardship were significant socio-demographic correlates of depressive symptoms. Besides, need satisfaction and PYD attributes negatively predicted depression scores. Finally, multiple regression analyses controlling for gender, age, and student status as covariates showed that all PYD attributes moderated the impact of need satisfaction on depression. The findings reinforce the theoretical proposition that PYD attributes serve as important factors in protecting the mental health of university students during the pandemic

Competence (human resources · Depression (economics · Developmental psychology · Mental health · Positive Youth Development · Psychiatry · Psychological resilience · Psychosocial · Clinical Psychology · COVID-19 and Mental Health · Grit, Self-Efficacy, and Motivation · Psychology · Social Psychology · Youth Development and Social Support