Relationship of positive and negative peer events with mental health problems among college students

YIN Xia; TONG Yingying; SU Puyu

doi:10.16835/j.cnki.1000-9817.2025072

Volume 46 Issue 3

Mar. 2025

Turn off MathJax

Article Contents

Article Navigation > CHINESE JOURNAL OF SCHOOL HEALTH > 2025 > 46(3): 377-381

YIN Xia, TONG Yingying, SU Puyu. Relationship of positive and negative peer events with mental health problems among college students[J]. CHINESE JOURNAL OF SCHOOL HEALTH, 2025, 46(3): 377-381. doi: 10.16835/j.cnki.1000-9817.2025072

Citation:

YIN Xia, TONG Yingying, SU Puyu. Relationship of positive and negative peer events with mental health problems among college students[J]. CHINESE JOURNAL OF SCHOOL HEALTH, 2025, 46(3): 377-381. doi: 10.16835/j.cnki.1000-9817.2025072

Citation:

PDF( 385 KB)

Relationship of positive and negative peer events with mental health problems among college students

doi: 10.16835/j.cnki.1000-9817.2025072

YIN Xia¹,
TONG Yingying²,
SU Puyu^{2
,
,}

1.
School of Foreign Languages, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei(230036), Anhui Province, China

Received Date: 2024-09-02
Rev Recd Date: 2025-01-05

Available Online: 2025-04-03

Publish Date: 2025-03-25

Abstract

Abstract

Objective To understand relationship of positive and negative peer events with mental health problems among college students, so as to provide a scientific basis for improving mental health level of college students. Methods A total of 1 640 freshmen to juniors were randomly selected from two universities in Anhui Province from October to November 2023 by a combination of convenience sampling and cluster random sampling method. The positive and negative peer events, self-perceived loneliness and stress levels, anxiety and depression symptoms of students were investigated by using the questionnaire star online. Group comparisons were conducted by using analysis of variance and Chi-square test, and multivariate binary Logistic regression and linear regression were used to analyze relationship of positive and negative peer events with mental health problems among college students. Results About 35.4% of college students reported that they experienced at least one type of negative peer events, and 91.3% reported that they experienced at least one type of positive peer events. After controlling for covariates, multivariate regression analysis found that experiencing 1, ≥2 types of negative peer events were positively correlated with loneliness scores of college students (β=1.36, 4.04), as well as an increased risk of anxiety symptoms (OR=2.24, 4.33) and depression symptoms (OR=2.19, 4.01); and experiencing ≥2 types of negative peer events was positively correlated with stress scores of college students (β=1.12)(P < 0.05). Experiencing 5-6 and 7 types of positive peer events were negatively correlated with loneliness scores of college students (β=-1.79, -2.44) and stress (β=-0.75, -1.12); and experiencing 7 types of positive peer events were associated with a lower risk of anxiety symptoms (OR=0.74) and depressive symptoms (OR=0.80) (P < 0.05). The number of negative peer events was positively correlated with loneliness scores (β=0.80) and stress scores(β=0.24), as well as the risk of anxiety symptoms (OR=1.30) and depressive symptoms (OR=1.27) among college students (P < 0.05). The number of positive peer events involved was negatively correlated with loneliness scores(β=-0.39) and stress scores(β=-0.19), as well as the risk of anxiety (OR=0.92) and depressive symptoms (OR=0.93) among college students (P < 0.05). The analysis of the moderating effect found that in different groups of positive peer events, reporting 1, ≥2 negative peer events were positively correlated with loneliness scores of college students (β=1.08-4.96), as well as an increased risk of anxiety symptoms (OR=1.79-6.20) and depression symptoms (OR=1.78-6.77) (P < 0.05); and β and OR coefficients were highest in the group reporting 0-4 types of positive peer events, followed by the group reporting 5-6 types of positive peer events, with lowest coefficients in the group reporting 7 types of positive peer events. Conclusions Negative peer events are positively correlated with psychological problems in college students, and positive peer events are negatively correlated with mental health problems. Positive peer events could alleviate the impact of negative peer events on mental health problems.
- Mental health,
- Interpersonal relations,
- Regression analysis,
- Students

FullText(HTML)

References(17)

References

[1]	LI W, ZHAO Z, CHEN D, et al. Prevalence and associated factors of depression and anxiety symptoms among college students: a systematic review and Meta-analysis[J]. J Child Psychol Psychiatry, 2022, 63(11): 1222-1230. doi: 10.1111/jcpp.13606
[2]	HENRY J, AZARIAH F, HUGHSAM M, et al. Shared experiences, shared support: a qualitative study on the importance of relatability in interpersonal relationships for youth mental health in South Africa[J]. Glob Ment Health (Camb), 2024, 11: e111. doi: 10.1017/gmh.2024.117
[3]	PRINSTEIN M J, GILETTA M. Future directions in peer relations research[J]. J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol, 2020, 49(4): 556-572. doi: 10.1080/15374416.2020.1756299
[4]	JESSOR R, DONOVAN J E, COSTA F M. Beyond adolescence: problem behavior and young adult development[M]. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1991.
[5]	贺春荣, 田月明, 赵静. 大学生压力生活事件量表的编制与验证[J]. 校园心理, 2024, 22 (6): 511-516. HE C R, TIAN Y M, ZHAO J. Development and validation of University Students' Stressful Life Events Scale[J]. J Campus Life Ment Health, 2024, 22 (6): 511-516. (in Chinese)
[6]	ONCIOIU S I, BOIVIN M, GEOFFROY M C, et al. Mental health comorbidities following peer victimization across childhood and adolescence: a 20-year longitudinal study[J]. Psychol Med, 2023, 53(5): 2072-2084.
[7]	POTTER J R, YOON K L. Interpersonal factors, peer relationship stressors, and gender differences in adolescent depression[J]. Curr Psychiatry Rep, 2023, 25(11): 759-767.
[8]	DEFAYETTE A B, ESPOSITO-SMYTHERS C, CERO I, et al. Examination of proinflammatory activity as a moderator of the relation between momentary interpersonal stress and suicidal ideation[J]. Suicide Life Threat Behav, 2023, 53(6): 922-939.
[9]	COHEN S, KAMARCK T, MERMELSTEIN R. A global measure of perceived stress[J]. J Health Soc Behav, 1983, 24(4): 385-396.
[10]	黎芝. UCLA孤独感量表中文简化版(ULS-8)的考评及应用研究[D]. 长沙: 中南大学, 2012. LI Z. The evaluation and application of the Chinese version of short-form UCLA Loneliness Scale (ULS-8)[D]. Changsha: Central South University, 2012. (in Chinese)
[11]	曲姗, 胜利. 广泛性焦虑量表在综合医院心理科门诊筛查广泛性焦虑障碍的诊断试验[J]. 中国心理卫生杂志, 2015, 29 (12): 939-944. QU S, SHENG L. Diagnostic test of screening generalized anxiety disorders in general hospital psychological department with GAD-7[J]. Chin Ment Health J, 2015, 29 (12): 939-944. (in Chinese)
[12]	KROENKE K, SPITZER R L, WILLIAMS J B. The PHQ-9: validity of a brief depression severity measure[J]. J Gen Intern Med, 2001, 16 (9): 606-613.
[13]	李斌. 我国大学生同伴互动及其影响因素研究[D]. 厦门: 厦门大学, 2019. LI B. Research on peer interaction and influencing factors of college students in China[D]. Xiamen: Xiamen University, 2019. (in Chinese)
[14]	ETHRIDGE P, SANDRE A, DIRKS M A, et al. Past-year relational victimization is associated with a blunted neural response to rewards in emerging adults[J]. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci, 2018, 13(12): 1259-1267.
[15]	朱筱薇, 唐诗韵, 李静雅, 等. 厦门市大学生同伴关系对情绪自救的影响[J]. 齐齐哈尔医学院学报, 2024, 45(3): 260-263. ZHU X W, TANG S Y, LI J Y, et al. Influence of peer relationships on emotional self-help among college students in Xiamen[J]. J Qiqihar Med Univ, 2024, 45(3): 260-263. (in Chinese)
[16]	FAUSTMANN TJ, KAMP D, RÄUBER S, et al. Social interaction, psychotic disorders and inflammation: a triangle of interest[J]. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry, 2023, 122: 110697.
[17]	SCHULKIN J, STERLING P. Allostasis: a brain-centered, predictive mode of physiological regulation[J]. Trends Neurosci, 2019, 42(10): 740-752.