Stress Perception And Depression Of Junior High School Students:Mediating Effect Of Regulation

Depression is a chronic,more pronounced state of irritability,loss and low well-being that accompanies adolescence.Excessive levels of stress perception can affect depression.Stress perception refers to the individual’s psychological response to the presence of threatening stimuli in the environment and is the result of one’s own cognitive evaluation.Mental flexibility refers to the individual’s ability to live consciously,to connect to the present moment,to remain open to the full inner experience of the moment,to take into account the context of the external environment and to actively engage in activities guided by clear values.Appreciating social support refers to the individual’s subjective perception and evaluation of the support received.This study examines the role of psychological flexibility in mediating the relationship between stress perception and depression and the moderating role of perceived social support in explaining the mechanism of stress perception on depression in junior high school students.The findings of this study will facilitate the role of psychological flexibility and perceived social support in regulating depression in junior high school students,reducing stress and promoting their psychological well-being.This study used 888 junior high school students from two general secondary schools in Jinan to analyse the effects of stress perception on junior high school students’ depression using the Adolescent Avoidance and Integration Questionnaire,the Stress Perception Scale,the Appreciative Social Support Scale and the Flow Adjustment Centre Depression Scale,and to explore the mediating effect of psychological flexibility in the relationship between the two and the moderating role of appreciative social support in this mediating model.The following conclusions were drawn from this study:(1)There were significant differences in stress perception,psychological flexibility and depression by grade and gender.There was a significant difference in family support among perceived social support in terms of grade level,but not in terms of gender.(2)Stress perception was significantly associated with psychological flexibility,perceived social support,and depression in junior high school students.(3)Stress perception positively predicted depression in junior high school students.(4)Mental flexibility partially mediated the relationship between stress perception and depression in junior high school students.(5)Perceived social support moderated the effects of stress perception on depression and psychological flexibility on depression in junior high school students.