Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.24869/psyd.2017.207

MEDIATOR EFFECTS OF POSITIVE EMOTIONS ON SOCIAL SUPPORT AND DEPRESSION AMONG ADOLESCENTS SUFFERING FROM MOBILE PHONE ADDICTION

Menglong Li ; Physical Education Institute, Hunan First Normal University, Changsha, China
Xia Jiang ; Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan, China
Yujia Ren ; Physical Education Institute, Hunan First Normal University, Changsha, China

Abstract

Background: Depression is a common mental disorder that is widely seen among adolescents suffering from mobile phone
addiction. While it is well known that both positive emtions in adolescents wiotions and social support can have a positive impact by
helping individuals to maintain a positive attitude, the correlation between positive emotions, social support, and depression among
these adolescents remains to be investigated. This study examined the mediator effects of positive emotions on the relationship
between social support and depression among adolescents suffering from mobile phone addiction.
Subjects and methods: For this study, conducted in 2016, we selected 1,346 adolescent students from three middle schools
(ranging from Junior Grade One to Senior Grade Three) in Hunan Province of China, to participate in the survey. Participants were
selected using the stratified cluster random sampling method, and all participants remained anonymous throughout the study. Each
participant completed the Self-made General Situation Questionnaire, the Social Support Rating Scale, the Positive and Negative
Affect Schedule, the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, and the Mobile Phone Addiction Tendency Scale.
Results: There was significant positive correlation between positive emotions and social support. Both positive emotions and
social support demonstrated significant negative correlation with depression. Positive emotions had partial mediator effects on the
relationship between social support and depression (P<0.01).
Conclusions: Both social support and positive emotions can lower levels of depression among adolescents suffering from mobile
phone addiction. Social support contributes to positive emoth mobile phone addiction, thereby reducing their levels of depression.
These findings suggest that more support and care should be given to this particular adolescent population.

Keywords

depression; mobile phone addiction; adolescents; mood disorder; positive emotions; social support

Hrčak ID:

184776

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/184776

Publication date:

28.6.2017.

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