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Expressive Flexibility and Mental Health: The Mediating Role of Social Support and Gender Differences

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  • Chenyu Shangguan

    (College of Education Science and Technology, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing 210023, China)

  • Lihui Zhang

    (Department of Psychology, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234, China)

  • Yali Wang

    (Department of Psychology, School of Marxist, Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics, Hangzhou 310018, China)

  • Wei Wang

    (School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China)

  • Meixian Shan

    (College of Education Science and Technology, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing 210023, China)

  • Feng Liu

    (College of Education Science and Technology, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing 210023, China)

Abstract

Recent research has emphasized the crucial role of expressive flexibility in mental health. This study extended prior studies by further exploring the mediating mechanism and possible gender differences underlying the association between expressive flexibility and mental health indexed by depression and life satisfaction based on the dual-factor model of mental health. Specifically, we explored whether social support mediated the association between expressive flexibility and depression as well as life satisfaction, and whether there were gender differences in these relationships. A total of 711 voluntary college students (mean age = 20.98 years, SD = 2.28; 55.70% women) completed a set of scales assessing expressive flexibility, perceived social support, depression, and life satisfaction. Results showed that expressive flexibility had a positive direct effect on life satisfaction and social support mediated this association. Social support also mediated the relationship between expressive flexibility and depression. The mediation effect of social support was robust and consistent in men and women whereas expressive flexibility had a stronger direct effect on depression in women compared to men. The present study contributes to clarifying the relationship between expressive flexibility and mental health from a more comprehensive perspective. Last, the strengths and limitations of this study were discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Chenyu Shangguan & Lihui Zhang & Yali Wang & Wei Wang & Meixian Shan & Feng Liu, 2022. "Expressive Flexibility and Mental Health: The Mediating Role of Social Support and Gender Differences," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-14, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:1:p:456-:d:715990
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Alberto Sardella & Vittorio Lenzo & George A. Bonanno & Giorgio Basile & Maria C. Quattropani, 2021. "Expressive Flexibility and Dispositional Optimism Contribute to the Elderly’s Resilience and Health-Related Quality of Life during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-14, February.
    2. Landman-Peeters, Karlien M.C. & Hartman, Catharina A. & van der Pompe, Gieta & den Boer, Johan A. & Minderaa, Ruud B. & Ormel, Johan, 2005. "Gender differences in the relation between social support, problems in parent-offspring communication, and depression and anxiety," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 60(11), pages 2549-2559, June.
    3. Sheung-Tak Cheng & Alfred C. M. Chan, 2006. "Relationship With Others and Life Satisfaction in Later Life: Do Gender and Widowhood Make a Difference?," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 61(1), pages 46-53.
    4. Vittorio Lenzo & Valentina Bordino & George A Bonanno & Maria C Quattropani, 2020. "Understanding the role of regulatory flexibility and context sensitivity in preventing burnout in a palliative home care team," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(5), pages 1-13, May.
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