Abstract
With an increase in the number of international students in China, there has been a simultaneous increase in their emotional problems, such as depression, as well as the importance of their emotional well-being. This study aimed to investigate the influence of social support on depression and the mediation and moderation mechanisms of this relationship in international students. In total, 349 international students in China responded to a questionnaire survey comprising the Social Support Rating Scale, Self-rating Depression Scale, Adult Attachment Scale, and Self-Esteem Scale. The results showed that: (1) attachment closeness had a significant direct predictive effect on depression; (2) attachment closeness played a mediating role in the relationship between social support and depression; and (3) the direct effect of social support on depression and the mediating effect of attachment and closeness are regulated by self-esteem. Therefore, interventions aimed at improving the social support, attachment closeness, and self-esteem of international students in China can be effective in reducing their depressive symptoms.
Highlights
As the influence of China’s international education continues to increase, the number of international students coming to China has increased significantly
We proposed that attachment closeness would be a mediator in the relationship between social support and depression, and that this mediating effect would be moderated by self-esteem
The mediating effect was stronger in individuals with high self-esteem than in those with low self-esteem; this hypothesis was confirmed
Summary
As the influence of China’s international education continues to increase, the number of international students coming to China has increased significantly. International students are more prone to mental disorders (e.g., depression) and less motivated to seek psychological service than their domestic peers (Alharbi and Smith, 2018; Brunsting et al, 2018). In this scenario, finding ways to effectively control depressive symptoms in international students is related to Social Support Attachment and Depression students’ interests and well-being and to the international image of China’s higher education system and social stability. We deemed that examining the unique mechanism that affects depressive symptoms in international students in China can be of considerable importance, since such knowledge can allow stakeholders to propose, develop, and apply effective intervention strategies to deal with this issue
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