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Being Popular or Having Popular Friends, Which Is Better? A Longitudinal Social Network Analysis of Depressive Symptoms among Chinese Adolescents under Major Chronic Stress

Author

Listed:
  • Lin Fu

    (Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China)

  • Yue Fan

    (CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
    Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)

  • Jin Cheng

    (Beijing Institute of Education, Beijing 100097, China)

  • Hao Zheng

    (Department of Psychology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada)

  • Zhengkui Liu

    (CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China)

Abstract

Background: Previous studies have found that adolescents’ depressive symptoms are influenced by social networks in a stressful context, especially focusing on the processes of social selection and social influence. The current study aimed to explore the coevolution of sociometric popularity and depressive symptoms among adolescents suffering from the stress attached to the Chinese gaokao . Methods: The analytical sample comprised 1062 Chinese adolescents who were under significant pressure to return to school for an additional year (returnees) to prepare for college entrance examinations. Students were assessed for depressive symptoms and asked to nominate up to five friends within their classes across four waves (six months). We employed stochastic actor-oriented models to investigate the interdependent relationships between popularity and depressive symptoms. Results: Adolescents’ depressive symptoms negatively predicted future friendship popularity in this stressful situation, but not vice versa. The results of this study also highlighted the importance of friends’ popularity, indicating that adolescents who nominated popular peers as friends tended to subsequently have lower depressive symptoms. Conclusion: These findings suggested that friends’ popularity may serve as a protective factor against depressive symptoms under major chronic stress. Network-based interventions may have practical implications for reducing depressive symptoms under major chronic stress.

Suggested Citation

  • Lin Fu & Yue Fan & Jin Cheng & Hao Zheng & Zhengkui Liu, 2021. "Being Popular or Having Popular Friends, Which Is Better? A Longitudinal Social Network Analysis of Depressive Symptoms among Chinese Adolescents under Major Chronic Stress," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-14, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:21:p:11164-:d:663579
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Fujimoto, Kayo & Valente, Thomas W., 2015. "Multiplex congruity: Friendship networks and perceived popularity as correlates of adolescent alcohol use," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 173-181.
    2. Li, Xiaoyu & Kawachi, Ichiro & Buxton, Orfeu M. & Haneuse, Sebastien & Onnela, Jukka-Pekka, 2019. "Social network analysis of group position, popularity, and sleep behaviors among U.S. adolescents," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 232(C), pages 417-426.
    3. Bearman, P.S. & Moody, J., 2004. "Suicide and Friendships among American Adolescents," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 94(1), pages 89-95.
    4. Lien, Yin-Ju & Hu, Jhih-Ning & Chen, Chia-Yi, 2016. "The influences of perceived social support and personality on trajectories of subsequent depressive symptoms in Taiwanese youth," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 153(C), pages 148-155.
    5. Pachucki, Mark C. & Ozer, Emily J. & Barrat, Alain & Cattuto, Ciro, 2015. "Mental health and social networks in early adolescence: A dynamic study of objectively-measured social interaction behaviors," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 40-50.
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    Cited by:

    1. Dongliang Yang & Shuxian Hu & Mingna Li, 2022. "The Influence of Family Socioeconomic Status on Adolescents’ Mental Health in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-16, June.
    2. Fu, Lin & Zhou, Yueyue & Zheng, Hao & Cheng, Jin & Fan, Yue & Eli, Buzohre & Liu, Zhengkui, 2024. "Effectiveness of a brief social network intervention for depressive symptoms among Chinese adolescents under major chronic stress," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).

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