Benevolent Childhood Experiences and Depressive Symptoms Among Chinese Undergraduates: A Moderated Mediation Model Examining the Roles of Uncertainty Stress and Family Relationship

Abstract

Background: The evidence on the association between benevolent childhood experience (BCE) and depressive symptoms in students is complex. This study aims to explore the underlying mediation mechanism of BCE toward depressive symptoms and whether this link was moderated by the family relationship among Chinese undergraduates. Methods: From March 2021 to May 2021, a cross-sectional study was conducted in China, and 1821 undergraduates were recruited in this study. Participants were asked to complete a self-reported electronic questionnaire. The software SPSS PROCESS macro was used to test the mediation and mediated moderated modeling analysis. Results: Mediation analysis indicated that uncertainty stress (US) partly mediated the link between BCE and depressive symptoms (indirect effect = -0.47, 95% bootstrap CI = -0.55, -0.39). The indirect effect of the US accounted for 39.63% of the total variance in depression. Moderation analysis indicated that the association between the US and depressive symptoms was significantly modified by family relationships (interact effect = -0.019, P < 0.001). An integrative moderated mediation analysis indicated that the indirect effect from BCE to depressive symptoms through the US was also moderated by family relationships (interact effect = -0.012, P = 0.014). Conclusion: Uncertainty stress plays a key role in bridging BCE and depressive symptoms while the family relationship can buffer the impact of the US on depressive symptoms among Chinese undergraduates. Enhancing tolerance of uncertainty and improving family relationships are needed to protect undergraduates from depressive symptoms.

Keywords: benevolent childhood experiences; depressive symptoms; family relationship; uncertainty stress; undergraduates.

Figure 1

The hypothesis model of the relationships between BCE, uncertainty stress, family relationship, and depressive symptoms.

Figure 2

Mediation modeling analysis of the relationship among BCE, uncertainty stress, and depressive symptoms. (1) Covariates controlled in the modeling analysis were Gender, Age, Grade, Only-child, Ethnicity, Residence, Parent's marriage and education, Living expenses, Sexual orientation, Academic performance. (2) *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001.

Figure 3

Family relationship moderates the effect of uncertainty stress on depressive symptoms. Covariates controlled in the modeling analysis were the following: Gender, Age, Grade, Only-child, Ethnicity, Residence, Parent's marriage and education, Living expenses, Sexual orientation, and Academic performance.

Figure 4

Moderated mediation modeling analysis of the complex relationship among BCE, US, family relationship and depressive symptoms. (1) Covariates controlled in the modeling analysis were the following Gender, Age, Grade, Only-child, Ethnicity, Residence, Parent's marriage and education, Living expenses, Sexual orientation, and Academic performance. (2) *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001. (3) Solid lines represent statistically significant paths. Dotted lines represent non-significant paths.