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Social Support, Health Literacy and Depressive Symptoms among Medical Students: An Analysis of Mediating Effects

Author

Listed:
  • Yaqin Zhong

    (School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong 210029, China)

  • Elizabeth Schroeder

    (Macquarie University Centre for the Health Economy, Macquarie Business School, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, NSW 2109, Australia
    Department of Health Systems and Populations, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, NSW 2109, Australia)

  • Yuexia Gao

    (School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong 210029, China)

  • Xiaojun Guo

    (School of Sciences, Nantong University, Nantong 210029, China)

  • Yuanyuan Gu

    (Macquarie University Centre for the Health Economy, Macquarie Business School, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, NSW 2109, Australia)

Abstract

Depressive symptoms are prevalent in university students and may impair their social, educational, and economic transition into adulthood. Identifying the factors that determine depressive symptoms is crucial for the design of effective policy interventions. This study aims to examine the associations between health literacy and depressive symptoms among medical students, and to evaluate the effect of different types of social support as a potential mediator. A cross-sectional survey of medical students was conducted through convenience sampling in East China. Associations between variables were explored using OLS and the mediation effect was estimated using the Karlson, Holm and Breen method. A total of 746 valid questionnaires were collected. The prevalence of depressive symptoms among the sample was 32.4%. Higher health literacy levels and social supports were significantly associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms. Social support partially mediated the association between health literacy and depressive symptoms, accounting for a 54.03% of the total effect size. These findings suggest that interventions for medical student mental wellbeing could improve health literacy. Whilst family support reflects greatest impact, Universities can also lead and innovate novel interventions for this critical stage of life. Future research can extend this study by exploring the dynamic interactions between health literacy, depressive symptoms, and other sources of social support. Comparisons of these findings across the different regions of China and in other university subject disciplines are also warranted.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:2:p:633-:d:479861
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Baoshan Zhang & Xinwei Yan & Fengqing Zhao & Fei Yuan, 2015. "The Relationship Between Perceived Stress and Adolescent Depression: The Roles of Social Support and Gender," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 123(2), pages 501-518, September.
    2. 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.
    3. Claudia Torres & Patricia Otero & Byron Bustamante & Vanessa Blanco & Olga Díaz & Fernando L. Vázquez, 2017. "Mental Health Problems and Related Factors in Ecuadorian College Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-14, May.
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