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Moderating Role of Health Literacy on the Association between Alexithymia and Depressive Symptoms in Middle School Students

Author

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  • Xianbing Song

    (Department of Human Anatomy, Histology & Embryology, Anhui Medical College, Hefei 230032, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Danlin Li

    (Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
    MOE Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle/Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Hefei 230032, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Jie Hu

    (Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
    MOE Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle/Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Hefei 230032, China)

  • Rong Yang

    (Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
    MOE Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle/Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Hefei 230032, China)

  • Yuhui Wan

    (Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
    MOE Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle/Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Hefei 230032, China)

  • Jun Fang

    (MOE Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle/Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Hefei 230032, China
    Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
    Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science, Sojo University, Kumamoto 860-0082, Japan)

  • Shichen Zhang

    (Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
    MOE Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle/Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Hefei 230032, China)

Abstract

Depression is a common psychological problem in adolescents. At present, few studies have described the moderating role of health literacy on the association between alexithymia and depressive symptoms among adolescents. The purpose of this study was to explore the relation among health literacy, alexithymia, and depressive symptoms and the moderating role of health literacy in middle school students. In December 2017, data were collected from a school in Shenyang by the convenient sampling method using a questionnaire including demographic information, health literacy, alexithymia, and depressive symptoms. A total of 1068 junior and senior high school students were selected as subjects, and 1062 valid questionnaires were retained for analysis. Logistic regression models were used to examine the association between health literacy and alexithymia with depressive symptoms. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 48.2%, and the prevalence of alexithymia was 17.9%. Low health literacy was significantly associated with depressive symptoms (odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval (CI)) = 3.648 (2.493–5.338)). Alexithymia was significantly correlated with depressive symptoms (OR (95% CI) = 3.091 (2.156–4.429)). Low health literacy was related to a greater increase in the risk of depressive symptoms for students with alexithymia (OR (95% CI) = 10.566 (5.175–21.570)). The findings suggest that alexithymia and health literacy are important factors influencing depressive symptoms and health literacy has a moderating role on the association between alexithymia and depressive symptoms. Enhancing health literacy of middle school students with alexithymia may improve their mental health.

Suggested Citation

  • Xianbing Song & Danlin Li & Jie Hu & Rong Yang & Yuhui Wan & Jun Fang & Shichen Zhang, 2020. "Moderating Role of Health Literacy on the Association between Alexithymia and Depressive Symptoms in Middle School Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-9, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:15:p:5321-:d:388896
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kerri Smith, 2014. "Mental health: A world of depression," Nature, Nature, vol. 515(7526), pages 180-181, November.
    2. Eleanor R Palser & Clare E Palmer & Alejandro Galvez-Pol & Ricci Hannah & Aikaterini Fotopoulou & James M Kilner, 2018. "Alexithymia mediates the relationship between interoceptive sensibility and anxiety," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(9), pages 1-11, September.
    3. Danlin Li & Rong Yang & Yuhui Wan & Fangbiao Tao & Jun Fang & Shichen Zhang, 2019. "Interaction of Health Literacy and Problematic Mobile Phone Use and Their Impact on Non-Suicidal Self-Injury among Chinese Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-12, July.
    4. Rong Yang & Danlin Li & Jie Hu & Run Tian & Yuhui Wan & Fangbiao Tao & Jun Fang & Shichen Zhang, 2019. "Association between Health Literacy and Subgroups of Health Risk Behaviors among Chinese Adolescents in Six Cities: A Study Using Regression Mixture Modeling," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-14, September.
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    1. Yaqin Zhong & Elizabeth Schroeder & Yuexia Gao & Xiaojun Guo & Yuanyuan Gu, 2021. "Social Support, Health Literacy and Depressive Symptoms among Medical Students: An Analysis of Mediating Effects," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-12, January.

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