Emotional Research Articles

Up and down: counterfactual closeness is robust to direction of comparison

ABSTRACT People often think about how things could have been better or worse. People make these upward and downward comparisons in different situations and with differing emotional consequences. We investigated whether the direction of counterfactual comparisons affects people’s judgements of counterfactual closeness. In four preregistered experiments (N = 2,142), participants saw vignettes where agents lost or won a luck-based game. In Experiments 1, 2, and 4, participants judged counterfactual closeness in two ways: if a counterfactual outcome almost happened, and if it easily could have happened. These judgments were affected by different factors, but did not substantially differ based on the direction of comparison. In Experiments 3 and 4, participants predicted agents’ emotions – whether losers would be sad, winners would be happy, and whether both would be surprised by the outcome. Emotion predictions showed similar patterns regardless of whether agents lost or won. Participants predicted stronger emotional reactions when the prior probability of the counterfactual outcome was high rather than low, though this effect was somewhat stronger when agents lost. Together, these findings join recent work in suggesting that Almost and Easily judgments tap into distinct forms of counterfactual closeness, and also suggest this distinction is robust to the direction of counterfactual reasoning.

Streaming disasters on TikTok: Examining social mediated crisis communication, public engagement, and emotional responses during the 2023 Maui wildfire

Short video-sharing platforms, such as TikTok, play a significant role in allowing the public to experience natural disasters vicariously, share information, and coordinate peer-led disaster relief efforts. With emerging platforms like TikTok providing experientially immersive content, the role of digital storytelling in stimulating public engagement and emotions remains underexplored. Drawing from narrative persuasion theory and visual storytelling literature, the current study proposes an integrated framework to examine the storyteller, visual frame, and digital presentation characteristics of TikTok videos in predicting social-mediated public engagement and emotional reactions surrounding a recent natural disaster, the 2023 Maui Wildfire. Using visual content analysis and computational methods, the study analyzed 526 TikTok videos and 59,950 associated comments. Results showed that audiovisual vividness consistently predicted all three types of disaster engagement. In contrast, storyteller type, storytelling frame, and other presentation characteristics inconsistently predicted information consumption intention, information sharing intention, and emotional reactions on TikTok.

How to manage a smart city brand image, taking into account residents’ perspective?

The objective of this paper is to assess the impact of brand values and their components on smart city brand image (SCBI) from the residents’ perspective. The authors want also to formulate recommendations regarding the management of a smart city brand image in cooperation with inhabitants. Today, smart city branding is an important aspect of public management because it can facilitate better engagement with citizens, leading to a more successful implementation of public authorities’ initiatives and consequently to smart city development. The research was conducted on 250 French respondents and a selfadministered questionnaire was the research tool. This study makes it possible to indicate values and their components creating the smart city’s brand image to properly manage a smart city brand in cooperation with inhabitants. We confirmed the positive impact of smart (SV), functional (FV), and emotional (EV) values on a smart city’s brand image from the residents’ perspective. Considering together the importance of these three categories of values for building the smart city’s image, it should be noticed that on the first place, there are the smart values followed by the functional and emotional ones. The smart city’s brand image is changing with residents’ time living in a city. The longer residents live in the city, the stronger particular values impact a smart city’s brand image. Taking into account the relational and participatory nature of the city’s brand management, citizens – who have lived in a city for a long time or since birth – can be more involved in the cities. Research results concerning French citizens can provide references for other countries. The results of the study contribute to both the theory of city branding and smart city management as a part of modern public management. From the managerial perspective, our findings can be useful for smart cities’ authorities in the management of the smart city brand.

Assessing the Effectiveness of Tourism Promotional Videos: Creativity, Emotional Impact, Perceived Quality, and Attitude Towards the Destination

Tourism promotional videos (TPVs) are widely used by destination management organizations (DMOs) in promotional campaigns. With the aim of opening new research perspectives in the field of tourism promotion, this article proposes a model for evaluating the effectiveness of TPVs—the Emovie model—conceptually anchored in studies on transformational and symbolic advertising. The model describes the interrelationship of four constructs: artistic value, positive emotional impact, perceived quality of the video, and perceived quality of the destination. The model was tested in three empirical studies carried out in parallel and using the same methodological procedures for quantitative analysis, applied to three samples totaling 674 individuals. The results show that the creativity and originality of TPVs elicit positive emotional reactions, resulting in favorable attitudes towards the message and the destination. This study is particularly important because it provides DMOs with a tool for evaluating the effectiveness of their promotional videos.

Perioperative real-life experiences and care needs of patients undergoing lung cancer ablation: A qualitative study

Objective To gain an in-depth understanding of the perioperative real experiences and care needs of patients undergoing lung cancer ablation, to make a reliable basis for the construction of care programs for perioperative complications of lung cancer ablation, and to further improve the quality of perioperative clinical care interventions for such patients. Methods Sixteen lung cancer patients undergoing lung cancer ablation who were hospitalized in the Department of Oncology of our hospital from April 2023 to October 2023 as well as six healthcare professionals of Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital were recruited by purposive sampling. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the enrolled individuals by using a phenomenological approach, and the Colaizzi's 7-step analysis method was used to analyze, summarize and refine the themes of the interview data. Results A total of seven study themes were identified emotional reactions of ablation patients, financial stress, needs for information on treatment outcomes and health education during recovery, reassurance of living and care needs during hospitalization, concerns about the treatment of complications, correct and detailed preoperative assessment, and doctor-nurse collaboration for good management of patient complications. Conclusion In the clinical nursing of patients with lung cancer, we should construct standardized perioperative ablation nursing process as soon as possible, create diversified health guidance materials, strengthen the continuity of nursing after discharge, improve patients’ understanding of the disease, pay attention to their emotional changes, and provide more maintenance support, so as to reduce complications and improve the quality of life of patients with lung cancer ablation.

Resources of psychological resilience in combating the stressors of war

Numerous sociological studies have recorded a generally stable psycho-emotional state of the population since the beginning of a full-scale invasion, despite the constant negative pressure of existential threats. However, there are still no representative quantitative studies that would allow us to determine which psychological resources ensure the stability of the psychological state of the population in conditions of prolonged exposure to the negative influence of wartime stressors. This article is devoted to finding an answer to this question. An analysis of existing theoretical works devoted to the study of psychological resources for coping with stressors has shown a significant variety of possible solutions regarding the involvement of certain resources in the analysis. It was decided to focus on those resources whose role is considered key, regardless of the theoretical positions of the researchers. Accordingly, we focused on determining the role of optimism, which is operationalized as positive expectations about the future, self-efficacy, which is understood in a broad sense as the ability to control the situation, and emotional stability, which is understood as the ability to control emotional reactions to an unfavorable situation. To assess the role of psychological resources in coping with stressors, a special tool was created in the study: the Complex Psychological Resources Assessment Scale - "Complex Psychological Resources - 8". Multiple linear regression analysis was used to study the relationship between the CPR-8 scale and the expanded distress scale (SCL-28). Multiple regression models for each of the stress states were built to assess the role of the CPR-8 scale components as predictors. A comparison procedure was used to determine the role of optimism, self-efficacy and emotional stability in coping with stressors. The respondents’ identification of stressors that have a negative impact on them and the resources that help them resist such impact were compared in groups with different levels of expression of each of the studied individual psychological resources. The analysis confirmed: 1 - the role of optimism and self-efficacy as key psychological resources that help maintain the stability of the psychological state of the population under the long-term pressure of wartime stressors; 2 - the relationship between psychological stability and high activity and intensive involvement in social relations; 3 - the leading role of self-efficacy in reducing the relevance of the negative impact of stressors in risk groups (women and youth); 4 - the importance of emotional stability as a predictor of stressors associated with panic, conflicts and suffering due to what they heard and saw in the media.

Emotional reactions of hospitalized children due to COVID-19

Aim: The aim of this study is to explore the manifestation of anxiety symptoms in children who have experienced COVID-19. It examines psychological effects, their emotional responses to distress, and the coping mechanisms they employ to manage their illness. Methodology: Participants included 50 children aged 6-14, hospitalized in the "General Pediatrics" and "Infectious Pediatrics" departments at the University Hospital Center Tirana (QSUT). The "State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC)" was used to assess self-reported anxiety. The children's way of life changed significantly due to social isolation and fears of losing their own lives or those of family members. These fears affected their daily functioning. While anxiety is a natural adaptive response, it becomes a disorder when uncontrollable, frequent, and occurs without external stimuli, manifesting in physical and emotional symptoms, and leading to behavioral and cognitive changes. Conclusions: Children aged 10-14 reported higher levels of anxiety. Variables such as illness severity and age influenced results. Common symptoms included: · Need for reassurance · Irritability · Physical complaints (functional) · Difficulty concentrating · Feelings of tension and fear · Negative thoughts about the future Children aged 6-10 expressed their anxiety through symptoms such as fear of being alone, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and changes in eating habits.

The Impact of Behaviorism and the Predilection of Ruskin Bond's Discourse on Society's Psyche

The study with respect to interactive behaviorist principles regarding the stylistic intricacies of Ruskin Bond's work tries to understand how these factors affect individual actions, social norms, and emotional reactions. This study aims at probing into how storytelling by Bond causes people's inherent attributes such as sympathy, durability, and generosity through behaviorism, which is a psychological framework emphasizing the observable behavior governed by external influence. The factor of Bond's spare, lyrical writing lies in its timelessness due to frequent explorations of innocence, nature, loneliness, and nostalgia. The characters and settings of Bond reflect the behaviorist ideas that humans learn through observation, reinforcement, and incentives. Given to the behaviorist theories of learned social behavior, the life in small towns and conventional Indian values in Bond's writings urge the readers to value their personal relations and such simple way of living. The research looks at Bond's most notable works and refers to readers' opinion polls to show that Bond's writing serves two purposes: entertainment and the building of social norms and values. Often while reading Bond's stories, a person feels at ease, remember some fond memories, and provides oneself with a chance to hope that there will be good once again; hence, it shows that Bond's writing provides growth in emotions and thoughts as does behaviorism. The findings of the analysis show that the stories narrated by Bond had deep impacts on social psyches of men in order to pursue positive qualities of life and gain emotional strength. His strange way of narration, interwoven with faithfulness to the behaviorist doctrine, made James Bond an impact that bears a semblance of how literature subtly goes about changing some patterns of behavior-individually and collectively. This highlights the importance of telling stories as vital in the development of society's values and attitudes.

Impact of War on Ukrainian University Students and Personnel: Repeated Cross-Sectional Study

This study aims to discern significant shifts in the impact of war on university students and academic personnel, from the war’s onset (March–April 2022) to eight months later (November–December 2022). Our research questions focus on the individual experiences affected by warfare, changes in mental health status, and factors accounting for these observed changes. This research is a repeated cross-sectional survey, conducted in two waves, in March and November 2022. Findings revealed a significant increase in the general fear of war (t(1018.4) = −9.79, p < .001), emotional and physiological reactions to war remained stable overall but escalated among those with relatives in the armed forces and decreased in subsets not experiencing significant shifts in well-being and emotional reactions to war. Burnout levels increased (t(723.2) = 2.06, p = .040), but decreased among those reporting no change in well-being due to the war. Results also reveal a significant increase in: being in blockade and/or under shelling (χ 2(1) = 12.737, p < .001); lost (χ 2(1) = 11.644, p < .001) and dead relatives (χ 2(1) = 14.248, p < .001); worsening of chronic diseases (χ 2(1) = 11.838, p < .001); relatives in armed forces (χ 2(1) = 889.360, p < .001). Conversely, resilience did not significantly increase, although a trend toward its improvement over time was observed. Given the unpredictable and prolonged nature of the conflict and changes in the impact of the war, our study shows that more regular follow-up studies are needed.

Development of adaptive coping strategies of students in a university setting (on the example of the Educational and Practical Center for Conflict Resolution of Southwestern State University)

The purpose of the study. A significant task today is to increase the socio-psychological well-being of students in a university setting. Due to the increased intensity of educational activity, its complexity, and multitasking, the mental stress of students is increasing. Significant stress factors are the new social situation of development; the situation of external assessment in the process of intellectual tests; individual and personal characteristics of participants in educational relations; students' concerns about the ability to cope with educational tasks.The purpose of our work is to explore the possibilities of using the potential of the Educational and Practical Conflict Resolution Center of Southwestern State University for the development of adaptive coping strategies of students.In our work, we investigated the preferred coping strategies of students, offered recommendations for creating psychological and pedagogical conditions for the development of students' coping strategies that contribute to successful adaptation to the conditions.Methods. Theoretical and methodological analysis of scientific sources on the research problem was used in the work; empirical research methods: testing using the following techniques: "Questionnaire of coping methods" by R. Lazarus and S. Folkman (Ways of Coping Questionnaire – WCQ), adapted by the Bekhterev National Research Institute; "Coping behavior in stressful Situations" by N. Endler, J. Parker.Results. In the process of empirical research, it was revealed that the most characteristic for students in a stressful situation is coping, focused on avoidance, which manifests itself in distraction. That is, a significant number of students prefer not to solve the problem, but to distract themselves from it by other activities.Among the methods of coping behavior, "escape-avoidance" is pronounced, which most researchers consider to be maladaptive. Coping strategies "distancing" and "positive reassessment" are significantly expressed, which are aimed not at solving the problem, but at reducing emotional involvement in it, preventing emotional reactions to frustration.Conclusion. Thus, there is an obvious need for students to develop problem-oriented coping strategies. In particular, the strategies of "self-control" and "solution planning", which will help students direct their efforts to a rational solution of the problem.

Investigation of the effect of low back pain severity on functional level, quality of life and fear-avoidance behavior in women with hip osteoarthritis

ABSTRACT Purpose: The objective of the this study was to investigate the effect of low back pain (LBP) severity on functional level, quality of life (QoL), and fear-avoidance behavior in patients with hip osteoarthritis (HOA). Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted on a total of 43 female patients diagnosed with HOA. The patients were divided into two groups according to pain intensity; group 1 consisted of patients with moderate-to-high intensity low back pain (VAS: 3.5-10 cm; n=21), group 2 consisted of patients with mild back pain (VAS: 0.5-3.49 cm; n=22) occurred. Functional level (Lumbar Spine Mobility, Harris Hip Score, Timed Up and Go Test), quality of life (Nottingham Health Profile) and kinesiophobia (Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia) were evaluated. Results: When the groups were compared, it was found that the QoL, QoL-pain and emotional reactions sub-parameters scores of Group 1 were significantly higher than Group 2 (p0.05). Conclusion: The results of our study showed that the QoL were negatively affected in patients with moderate-high severity of LBP in HOA in comparison with mild severity of LBP.

Developing a novel parental phubbing scale of mother and father forms for adolescents in Türkiye: A validity and reliability study

Parental phubbing occurs when parents interrupt and neglect communication with their child by focusing on their smartphones. This study aimed to develop a comprehensive scale for perceived parental phubbing and examine its psychometric properties. The scale was initially developed based on a review of existing research and essays written by secondary school adolescents aged 10–15 years, who represented the target group. Construct validity was assessed using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) on samples of Turkish adolescents (NEFA = 325, NCFA=210). EFA identified a 10-item structure with two factors—“interaction interruptions” and “emotional reactions”—which accounted for a significant portion of the total variance in both the Parental Phubbing Scale-Mother (PPS-M) and Father (PPS-F) Forms. CFA confirmed this structure, with both forms demonstrating a good fit. Criterion validity was evaluated through correlations with the short forms of the Smartphone Addiction Scale and UCLA Loneliness Scale, showing positive correlations. Reliability analysis indicated that both Cronbach's α and McDonald's ω coefficients exceeded 0.70 for both the PPS-MF and PPS-FF. Test-retest reliability coefficients ranged between 0.70 and 0.82 for both forms. In conclusion, the PPS-MF and PPS-FF are valid and reliable instruments for assessing parental phubbing based on adolescents' perceptions.

Complicated grief following the perinatal loss: a systematic review

BackgroundPerinatal loss is a severe stressor that usually triggers distressing symptoms of acute grief. Moreover, acute grief can worsen with time and become a chronic debilitating state known as complicated grief. However, there is a lack of comprehensive reviews on this topic. This systematic review aims to synthesize the existing literature on complicated grief following the perinatal loss.MethodsWe systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, ProQuest, and Web of Science to identify articles on complicated grief symptoms and influencing factors following perinatal loss. We performed a comprehensive, structured evaluation in full compliance with PRISMA guidelines.ResultsA systematic search produced 1163 results. Of these, 38 articles met the full-text screening criteria, and 10 pieces of literature met the inclusion criteria. Individuals may experience complicated grief following perinatal loss, manifesting in symptoms such as emotional reactions, physical responses, and social impairments. Furthermore, based on existing evidence, influencing factors include demographic characteristics, reproductive characteristics, marital relationships, social support, and coping strategies.ConclusionsComplicated grief following perinatal loss is easily overlooked and has not been adequately studied. Further empirical research is needed to explore the symptoms and factors influencing this condition. A better understanding of complicated grief will help develop and optimize care strategies, informing future clinical practice and improving psychological support for individuals affected by perinatal loss.Trial registrationPROSPERO registration number: CRD42023473510.

The influence of emotion on memory process

Abstract. This paper shows how emotions, from an intuitive point of view, have an essential and profound impact on the cognitive process across a variety of different environments, such as natural, social, and academic settings. Our skills in learning and memorizing are significantly adjusted and influenced by our emotional reactions to challenges arising from education, including exams, homework assignments, and strict deadlines. The present research is deeply concerned with the specific roles that anxiety, happiness, and sadness play in modulating memory processes, particularly within the context of educational technologies like adaptive learning systems and Massive Open Online Courses. These innovative technologies are currently revolutionizing traditional educational methodologies by introducing new emotional dynamics in learners that affect cognitive engagement, motivation, and memory retention differently than conventional face-to-face learning environments. These findings are essential in optimizing the thoughtful design and effective implementation of educational technologies to better support students affective needs and cognitive development.

The Impact of Drawing Systems Based on Embedded Neural Network Computing on Student Mental Health

With the rapid development of artificial intelligence technology, embedded neural networks, as their core components, have shown enormous potential for application in multiple fields due to their powerful data processing and pattern recognition capabilities. In the field of painting education, the application of this technology can not only achieve customized teaching plans, but also intelligently analyze the characteristics of students’ behavioral works. This study focuses on the application of embedded neural network computing in painting teaching. Especially how to dynamically adjust the difficulty, style preferences, and interactive methods of teaching content to stimulate students’ creativity and learning interest. By intelligently analyzing students’ emotional reactions and psychological states, timely adjusting teaching strategies, such as providing emotional support, adjusting learning pace, or introducing psychological counseling content, can alleviate students’ learning pressure, and enhance their self-efficacy and sense of belonging. In addition, this technology can promote effective communication between teachers and students, establish more positive and harmonious teaching relationships, and create a more inclusive and encouraging learning environment for students. The research results indicate that compared to traditional painting teaching models, the teaching method based on embedded neural networks significantly improves the mental health level of students, which is manifested in the reduction of anxiety and depression, enhancement of self-confidence, and improvement of social skills.

HUMAN INTERACTION AND EMOTIONAL POLYMORPHISM

Objective: The objective of this study is to explore the behavior of emotional polymorphism in individuals through the execution of basic tasks. Theoretical Framework: It was found that individuals exhibit various components or variants of emotions within an emotional state, influenced by various external factors classified as general and task-specific. In the first case, the emotional state was composed of Contextual Emotions (EmC), and in the second by Induced Emotions (EmI). Nevertheless, each state comprised a variety of emotional components, even with different valences reported by self-reporting individuals, which was termed Emotional Polymorphism (PEm). Method: A controlled experiment was designed where participants performed two basic tasks using controlled time work systems and perception. Additionally, semi-structured interviews were conducted through self-reporting, where participants were asked for statistical data as well as a description of their emotional valence. Results and Discussion: The results obtained revealed that there are variations in the emotional components (CEm) that make up each emotional polymorphism, considering an initial state comprised of EmC and a final response made up of EmI. Implications of the Research: Managing error through the study of the components that may amplify it can assist in improving the design of interfaces and work systems that are important in the daily lives of users, such as ATMs. Originality/Value: This study contributes to the literature by exploring the behavior of the components of Emotional states, as a result of contextual factors and specific tasks.

A Qualitative Study of Pharmacists' Perceptions of the Advantages and Disadvantages of Telepharmacy.

In Japan, telepharmacy is becoming increasingly popular due to deregulation triggered by the outbreak of COVID-19. The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of the actual state of telepharmacy in Japan by interviewing pharmacists who have experience with telepharmacy and describing its advantages and disadvantages, as well as their outlook for its use going forward. The interviews were conducted online using Zoom. Each interview lasted approximately 30 min. Eleven people were interviewed. The advantages mentioned by the pharmacists were classified into three main categories: "Better communication", "Time savings", and "Improved safety". The disadvantages were classified into the following nine categories: "Drug delivery problems", "Communication failures", "Ease of use for patients", "Emotional reactions", "Pharmacy system", "Communication issues", "Healthcare system issues", "App system issues", and "Cost". Many of these factors correspond to the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) constructs presented by Venkatesh, et al. Many of the pharmacists mentioned that the use of telepharmacy is likely to expand further in the future, but that this will require further development of communication technology and the widespread use of systems such as electronic prescriptions.

Differences that matter: inquiry-based learning approach to research writing instruction

According to the extant literature, inquiry-based learning instruction can be an effective pedagogical tool as it frames learning as problem-solving activities. However, considerable debate exists about how to implement inquiry-based instruction. The present study compared the academic performance and engagement (as measured by course learning outcomes) of freshmen exposed to one of two inquiry-based learning modes differing in the volume of load-reducing instruction. The context was a writing-intensive, research-oriented course that enrolled second-language speakers with a didactic past. Thus, the study also examined whether the two modes differentiated freshmen’s second-language writing anxiety, a key emotive negative reaction likely to emerge in a writing-intensive course. At the end of the semester, the condition that involved greater load-reducing instruction before problem-solving activities yielded superior attainment of learning outcomes encompassing knowledge acquisition and use of problem-solving skills. No differences in engagement, withdrawal rates, or writing anxiety were detected. Writing anxiety was only minimally related to students’ performance and engagement as measured by the course learning outcomes. These findings illustrate that ostensibly minimal variations in the implementation of inquiry-based learning can have a selective impact on cognitive rather than emotive processing.

HOW THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM AND MICROBIOTA EXPLAIN THE EMOTIONS BIOCHEMISTRY AND THEIR IMPACT IN HEALTH

Emotional reactions stimulate neural circuits and biological pathways that produce neurotransmitters, affecting homeostasis and promoting disease. Health and emotions communicate, establishing a bidirectional cause-and-effect pathway. The composition of the microbiota also affects health and emotions, interacting through metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), with the host's biochemistry. Certain genera of bacteria act in different ways on the host's homeostasis, keeping the immune system constantly vigilant and acting on the synthesis of neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and dopamine, which are responsible for well-being. When the host is in homeostasis, the synthesis of neurotransmitters is normal, which keeps the intestinal microbiota in balance. However, when the organism is out of balance, this synthesis is impaired; decreasing the concentration of the initial compounds for the production of neurotransmitters, which leads to a reduction in the concentration of neurotransmitters and exaggerated activation of the HPA axis, inducing an imbalance in the intestinal microbiota, generating dysbiosis. Due to dysbiosis, the synthesis of neurotransmitters is impaired, leading the host to develop mental disorders such as depression, anxiety and chronic stress; which contributes to the state of imbalance of the organism, harming mental and physical health. By adequately restoring the intestinal microbiota, the hyperactivation of the HPA axis decreases, returning the body to homeostasis, resulting in the improvement of symptoms of depression, anxiety and chronic stress; leaving the organism healthy, both mentally and physically. Therefore, in this study we contextualize emotional research from a historical and descriptive perspective and present the main models of emotional identification. Focusing on basic emotions, we research the relationship of emotional states with the HPA axis and the microbiota, as well as how the bacteria present in the intestine affect the well-being of the host. Finally, we discuss our analysis presenting the bidirectional relationship between the endocrine system, microbiota and emotions.

University students who were men who had sex with men (MSM) in Sichuan, China had a higher prevalence of insomnia and probable depression than their non-MSM counterparts: mediation via emotional dysregulations

BackgroundMen who have sex with men studying in universities (MSM-US) frequently face multiple sexual minority stressors that potentially lead to maladaptive emotional regulations and mental problems. This study compared the prevalence of depression/insomnia between MSM-US and non-MSM male university students (NUS) and hypothesized that the potential differences would be mediated via emotional dysregulation styles (rumination and catastrophizing).MethodsThe study design was a cross-sectional study. NUS were recruited from a university-based survey using cluster sampling in three universities in China from June to October 2018, while MSM-US from the same university-based survey and the other community-based survey using convenience sampling. The effective samples size was 2,531 (292 MSM-US and 2,239 NUS). Structural equation modeling (SEM) was performed.ResultsMSM-US had significantly higher prevalence of both probable depression (55.1% versus 35.7%; OR = 4.85, 95% CI: 3.38–6.94) and moderate-to-severe clinical insomnia (17.3% versus 4.1%; OR = 2.21, 95% CI: 1.73–2.83) than NUS. MSM-US were also more likely than NUS to use emotional dysregulation styles (rumination/catastrophizing), which were correlated with probable depression/insomnia (r = 0.17 to 0.31). In the SEM, the differences in depression/insomnia between MSM-US and NUS were partially mediated by the latent variable of emotional dysregulation (rumination and catastrophizing), with effect sizes of 55.0% for probable depression and 33.6% for insomnia, respectively.ConclusionsDepression and insomnia were prevalent among male university students in Sichuan, China. Furthermore, MSM-US were at increased risk than NUS for both mental problems; emotional dysregulation partially explained such differences. Future studies are warranted to confirm the findings, develop tailored interventions to address general and MSM-specific stressors and reduce rumination and catastrophizing, and examine whether similar patterns exist in other sexual minority groups.