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Factors associated with psychological distress among college students under COVID-19 pandemic: the moderating role of co** styles and social support

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Abstract

This paper aimed to explore the potential factors of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on Chinese undergraduates’ psychological distress (PD), as well as the moderating impact of co** styles and social support in this relationship. 5638 Chinese college students in Chengdu were randomly selected for an online survey. 10-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10), the Simplified Co** Style Questionnaire (SCSQ) and the Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS) were used in this paper. In SPSS 17, one-way ANOVA, multiple linear regression and 95% confidence were used to observe the relationship between sociodemographic characteristics, COVID-19 exposure, co** styles, social support and PD of college students. The PD prevalence rate of our sample during the pandemic was 45.5%. Males, students with a romantic relationship, those spending more time on COVID-19, worrying about getting infected, those whose cohabitants were nervous about COVID-19, higher scores of negative co** style, lower positive co** style and social support scores had a higher risk of experiencing PD. The relationship between the nervousness of cohabitants about COVID-19 and the occurrence of PD was moderated by positive co**. Based on the serious psychological condition of Chinese college students during COVID-19. There is an urgent need to enhance the positive co** styles of college students, and systematic support for their mental health is crucial. This article provides theoretical research guidance for students and schools to further prevent and intervene in PD among college students.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the first-class discipline key project of Chengdu Normal University, PR China (Grant No. CS18SA02).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Business School, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PR China

    Zhiqian Mao

  2. Business School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610064, PR China

    Tingjie Qin & Lurong Fan

  3. Mental Health Education Center, Chengdu Normal University, Chengdu, 611130, PR China

    Na Li

  4. Business School, Yancheng Teachers University, Yancheng, 224007, PR China

    Yan Wang

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  2. Tingjie Qin
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  4. Na Li
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  5. Yan Wang
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Contributions

Zhiqian Mao: Methodology, Data curation, Writing - Original Draft. Tingjie Qin: Data curation, Writing- Original draft. Lurong Fan: Conceptualization, Methodology, Software, Data curation, Writing - Original Draft. Supervision Na Li: Investigation, Funding acquisition. Yan Wang: Conceptualization, Data curation.

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Correspondence to Lurong Fan.

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Mao, Z., Qin, T., Fan, L. et al. Factors associated with psychological distress among college students under COVID-19 pandemic: the moderating role of co** styles and social support. Curr Psychol 43, 17771–17786 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-023-05156-1

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