Worldview, psychological flexibility, and depression-anxiety-stress in Chinese youth

Sheng-Li Cheng; Xin Zhang; Chenxu Zhao; Yun Li; Shushan Liu; Sanyin Cheng

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1447183

Worldview, psychological flexibility, and depression-anxiety-stress in Chinese youth

Front Psychol. 2024 Dec 12:15:1447183. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1447183. eCollection 2024.

Authors

Sheng-Li Cheng^#¹, Xin Zhang^#², Chenxu Zhao¹, Yun Li¹, Shushan Liu¹, Sanyin Cheng¹

Affiliations

¹ School of Philosophy and Social Development, Shandong University, Jinan, China.
² Business School, Shandong Agriculture and Engineering University, Jinan, China.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

Background: The psychological problems among the youth population have received widespread attention in the information age. However, little research has been conducted on the effects and mechanisms of worldview on depression, anxiety, and stress (DAS) among youth. In this study, we aim to investigate the relationship between worldview and DAS among youth.

Aims: The aim of this study is to investigate the current state of worldview, psychological flexibility, and DAS in Chinese youth groups, and to explore the relationship between youth worldview, psychological flexibility, and DAS.

Methods: A total of 2,351 Chinese youths completed questionnaires measuring their worldview, psychological flexibility, and DAS levels. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM).

Results: The impact of youth worldview on DAS was sophisticated. Positive worldview had a negative direct predictive effect on DAS, as well as a negative indirect predictive effect mediated by psychological flexibility. Traditional worldview had a positive direct predictive effect on DAS, a negative indirect predictive effect mediated by psychological flexibility, and a positive total predictive effect. Spontaneous worldview only had positive indirect predictive effects on DAS. Pessimistic worldview had positive direct effects on DAS and indirect effects mediated by psychological flexibility. Policymakers, psychologists, and educators working with youth should carefully consider the implications of these results for education, employment, and mental health.

Keywords: anxiety; depression; psychological flexibility; stress; worldview.

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare that financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This manuscript was supported by the 2022 Key Project of Shandong Provincial Youth Research Plan “Research on the Worldview of Chinese Youth” (SDQY20220102) and the Shandong Province Taishan Scholar Project Special Fund (No: tsqn202306071). The Funding source had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.