Compensatory Effects of Social‐Emotional Competency on Depression Triggered by Stressful Life Events in Chinese Adolescents

A Moderated Mediation Model

Datos Bibliográficos

ID21375889
AutoresQiujin Zhu (0009-0006-0948-4031, School of Philosophy Wuhan University Wuhan China), Lei Yang (0000-0002-8956-6478, School of Philosophy Wuhan University Wuhan China), Zhen Zhang (0000-0003-4317-9701, School of Philosophy Wuhan University Wuhan China), Yanan Liu (0000-0003-2290-5380, Department of Psychology School of Education Zhengzhou University Zhengzhou China, autor de correspondencia)
Año2025
Volumen62
Número9
Páginas3567-3579
Fecha de publicación2025-09-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaPsychology in the Schools (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0033-3085 • E-ISSN: 1520-6807
EditorialWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/pits.23560
OpenAlexW4411286902
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas1
Referencias citadas70

Adolescents experiencing stressful life events are at risk for psychopathology, suggesting the necessity of identifying factors that may protect against the deleterious effects of exposure to stressful life events. Informed by the Shattered Assumptions Theory and the CASEL Framework, this study extends existing research by investigating the role of belief in a just world as a mediator and social‐emotional competency as a moderator in the relationship between stressful life events and depression among adolescents within a Chinese cultural setting. Data were drawn from self‐reported questionnaires that were completed by 4425 adolescents in grades 7–12 (48.5% female) in China. The results showed that belief in a just world plays a mediating role in the relationship between stressful life events and adolescent depression. Social‐emotional competency moderated both the direct and indirect relationships between stressful life events and adolescent depression, mediated by belief in a just world. Our findings suggest that belief in a just world and social‐emotional competency are significant yet under‐explored variables in deciphering how stressful life events influence depression in adolescents. This underscores the necessity for developing targeted interventions to reduce depression among adolescents deemed at risk

Depression (economics) · Developmental psychology · Mediation · Moderated mediation · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Clinical Psychology · COVID-19 and Mental Health · Psychology · Resilience and Mental Health · Social Psychology