The comorbid network characteristics of anxiety and depressive symptoms among Chinese college freshmen
Abstract Background This study aimed to investigate the interplay between anxiety and depressive symptoms in Chinese college freshmen using the causal system perspective (CSP), which differs from the traditional common cause perspective (CCP) by providing an alternative explanation by attributing co...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-04-01
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| Series: | BMC Psychiatry |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-024-05733-z |
| _version_ | 1827277046022144000 |
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| author | Jie Luo Dong-Li Bei Chuanzhang Zheng Jie Jin Chengkui Yao Jianhua Zhao Jie Gong |
| author_facet | Jie Luo Dong-Li Bei Chuanzhang Zheng Jie Jin Chengkui Yao Jianhua Zhao Jie Gong |
| author_sort | Jie Luo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background This study aimed to investigate the interplay between anxiety and depressive symptoms in Chinese college freshmen using the causal system perspective (CSP), which differs from the traditional common cause perspective (CCP) by providing an alternative explanation by attributing comorbidity to direct interactions among symptoms. Methods A convenience sample of 2,082 Chinese college freshmen (39.51% male, M age = 18.61) from a normal university completed the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item Scale (GAD-7) and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Network analysis was conducted and evaluated as to centrality, stability, node predictability, and bridging features. Moreover, the moderated network model (MNM) was utilized to detect the moderation effects of gender in the comorbidity network. Results The network of anxiety and depressive symptoms exhibited stability, characterized by the core symptoms of “restlessness”, “lack of energy”, and “excessive worry about control”, as well as the bridging symptoms of “fearfulness”, “sad mood”, and “irritability”. Notably, the nodes representing “uncontrollable worry” and “difficulty in relaxation” demonstrated the highest predictive power. Gender did not exert any moderating effects on the anxiety and depressive symptom network. Conclusion These results reinforce that certain anxiety or depressive symptoms are more central than others, and thus play a more vital role in the comorbid network. These findings highlight underlying potential targeting symptoms to consider in future interventions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T07:13:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a4d3e52594694ed79d74f8550327a6e7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-244X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T07:13:15Z |
| publishDate | 2024-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-a4d3e52594694ed79d74f8550327a6e72024-04-21T11:26:29ZengBMCBMC Psychiatry1471-244X2024-04-0124111110.1186/s12888-024-05733-zThe comorbid network characteristics of anxiety and depressive symptoms among Chinese college freshmenJie Luo0Dong-Li Bei1Chuanzhang Zheng2Jie Jin3Chengkui Yao4Jianhua Zhao5Jie Gong6School of Psychology, Guizhou Normal UniversitySchool of Psychology, Guizhou Normal UniversitySchool of Psychology, Guizhou Normal UniversitySchool of Economic and Management, Guizhou Normal UniversitySchool of Psychology, Guizhou Normal UniversityJournal Editorial Department, Guizhou Normal UniversityThe School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal UniversityAbstract Background This study aimed to investigate the interplay between anxiety and depressive symptoms in Chinese college freshmen using the causal system perspective (CSP), which differs from the traditional common cause perspective (CCP) by providing an alternative explanation by attributing comorbidity to direct interactions among symptoms. Methods A convenience sample of 2,082 Chinese college freshmen (39.51% male, M age = 18.61) from a normal university completed the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item Scale (GAD-7) and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Network analysis was conducted and evaluated as to centrality, stability, node predictability, and bridging features. Moreover, the moderated network model (MNM) was utilized to detect the moderation effects of gender in the comorbidity network. Results The network of anxiety and depressive symptoms exhibited stability, characterized by the core symptoms of “restlessness”, “lack of energy”, and “excessive worry about control”, as well as the bridging symptoms of “fearfulness”, “sad mood”, and “irritability”. Notably, the nodes representing “uncontrollable worry” and “difficulty in relaxation” demonstrated the highest predictive power. Gender did not exert any moderating effects on the anxiety and depressive symptom network. Conclusion These results reinforce that certain anxiety or depressive symptoms are more central than others, and thus play a more vital role in the comorbid network. These findings highlight underlying potential targeting symptoms to consider in future interventions.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-024-05733-zAnxietyDepressionComorbidityNetwork analysisGender differences |
| spellingShingle | Jie Luo Dong-Li Bei Chuanzhang Zheng Jie Jin Chengkui Yao Jianhua Zhao Jie Gong The comorbid network characteristics of anxiety and depressive symptoms among Chinese college freshmen BMC Psychiatry Anxiety Depression Comorbidity Network analysis Gender differences |
| title | The comorbid network characteristics of anxiety and depressive symptoms among Chinese college freshmen |
| title_full | The comorbid network characteristics of anxiety and depressive symptoms among Chinese college freshmen |
| title_fullStr | The comorbid network characteristics of anxiety and depressive symptoms among Chinese college freshmen |
| title_full_unstemmed | The comorbid network characteristics of anxiety and depressive symptoms among Chinese college freshmen |
| title_short | The comorbid network characteristics of anxiety and depressive symptoms among Chinese college freshmen |
| title_sort | comorbid network characteristics of anxiety and depressive symptoms among chinese college freshmen |
| topic | Anxiety Depression Comorbidity Network analysis Gender differences |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-024-05733-z |
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