IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v19y2022i1p456-d715990.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

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

Author

Listed:
  • 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
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/1/456/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/1/456/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    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. 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.
    3. 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.
    4. 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.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Hui-Chuan Hsu, 2010. "Trajectory of Life Satisfaction and its Relationship with Subjective Economic Status and Successful Aging," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 99(3), pages 455-468, December.
    2. Rong Zou & Xiaobin Hong & Gaoxia Wei & Xia Xu & Jiajin Yuan, 2022. "Differential Effects of Optimism and Pessimism on Adolescents’ Subjective Well-Being: Mediating Roles of Reappraisal and Acceptance," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-15, June.
    3. Alberto Sardella & Vittorio Lenzo & Angela Alibrandi & Antonino Catalano & Francesco Corica & Maria C. Quattropani & Giorgio Basile, 2021. "A Clinical Bridge between Family Caregivers and Older Adults: The Contribution of Patients’ Frailty and Optimism on Caregiver Burden," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-11, March.
    4. Antonio Zayas & Ana Merchán-Clavellino & José Antonio López-Sánchez & Rocío Guil, 2021. "Confinement Situation of the Spanish Population during the Health Crisis of COVID-19: Resilience Mediation Process in the Relationship of Dispositional Optimism and Psychological Well-Being," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-12, June.
    5. Yoon, Heesoo & Park, Gum-Ryeong & Kim, Jinho, 2022. "Psychosocial trajectories before and after spousal loss: Does gender matter?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 294(C).
    6. Natalia Czyżowska & Ewa Gurba, 2021. "Does Reflection on Everyday Events Enhance Meaning in Life and Well-Being among Emerging Adults? Self-Efficacy as Mediator between Meaning in Life and Well-Being," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-14, September.
    7. Yulei Gavin Zhang & Mandy Yan Dang & Hsinchun Chen, 2020. "An Explorative Study on the Virtual World: Investigating the Avatar Gender and Avatar Age Differences in their Social Interactions for Help-Seeking," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 22(4), pages 911-925, August.
    8. Christina Musalek & Sylvia Kirchengast, 2017. "Grip Strength as an Indicator of Health-Related Quality of Life in Old Age—A Pilot Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-12, November.
    9. Miaoyun Li & Dong Yang & Cody Ding & Feng Kong, 2015. "Validation of the Social Well-being Scale in a Chinese Sample and Invariance Across Gender," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 121(2), pages 607-618, April.
    10. Shervin Assari & James Smith & Mohsen Bazargan, 2019. "Depression Fully Mediates the Effect of Multimorbidity on Self-Rated Health for Economically Disadvantaged African American Men but Not Women," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-16, May.
    11. Esteban Calvo & Kelly Haverstick & Steven A. Sass, 2007. "What Makes Retirees Happier: A Gradual or 'Cold Turkey' Retirement?," Working Papers, Center for Retirement Research at Boston College wp2007-18, Center for Retirement Research, revised Oct 2007.
    12. Calvo, Esteban & Haverstick, Kelly & Sass, Steven, 2007. "A Gradual Exit may Not Make for a Happier Retirement?," MPRA Paper 5605, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    13. 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.
    14. Sharifah Azizah Syed Sahil & Rosna Awang Hashim, 2017. "Gender differences in the Perception of Social Support and Cognitive Engagement," International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, Human Resource Management Academic Research Society, International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, vol. 7(3), pages 426-439, March.
    15. Yoshito Nishimura & Tomoko Miyoshi & Hideharu Hagiya & Yoshinori Kosaki & Fumio Otsuka, 2021. "Burnout of Healthcare Workers amid the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Japanese Cross-Sectional Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-8, March.
    16. Giovanni Busetta & Maria Gabriella Campolo & Antonino Di Pino Incognito, 2024. "Life satisfaction and leisure time among the elderly population," RIEDS - Rivista Italiana di Economia, Demografia e Statistica - The Italian Journal of Economic, Demographic and Statistical Studies, SIEDS Societa' Italiana di Economia Demografia e Statistica, vol. 78(2), pages 131-141, April-Jun.
    17. Zhongjun Tang & Zengli Guo & Li Zhou & Shengguo Xue & Qinfeng Zhu & Huike Zhu, 2016. "Combined and Relative Effect Levels of Perceived Risk, Knowledge, Optimism, Pessimism, and Social Trust on Anxiety among Inhabitants Concerning Living on Heavy Metal Contaminated Soil," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-17, November.
    18. Carrie Heeter & Marcel Allbritton & Rebecca Lehto & Patrick Miller & Patricia McDaniel & Michael Paletta, 2021. "Feasibility, Acceptability, and Outcomes of a Yoga-Based Meditation Intervention for Hospice Professionals to Combat Burnout," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-27, March.
    19. Sylvia Lai Kwok & Daniel Shek, 2010. "Personal and Family Correlates of Suicidal Ideation Among Chinese Adolescents in Hong Kong," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 95(3), pages 407-419, February.
    20. Mariagrazia Di Giuseppe & Gianni Nepa & Tracy A. Prout & Fabrizio Albertini & Stefano Marcelli & Graziella Orrù & Ciro Conversano, 2021. "Stress, Burnout, and Resilience among Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Emergency: The Role of Defense Mechanisms," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-12, May.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:1:p:456-:d:715990. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.