Intrusive Rumination Predicts Depression among Chinese Adolescents during the COVID-19 Pandemic: the Mediation of Sense of Security and the Moderation of Creativity

Abstract

Background Until now, the COVID-19 pandemic is still affecting the study and life of Chinese adolescents. Adolescents in high school were likely to experience intrusive rumination to cope with undesirable changes, which could increase the risk of depression. However, few studies have examined the effects of a sense of security and creativity underlying this relationship. This study aims to explore the relationship between intrusive rumination and depression and further examines the mediating role of the sense of security and the moderating role of the creativity in adolescents. This study could provide detailed guidance for government and media to avoid adolescents’ excessive post event reflection on public health incidents. Methods This study investigated 1,269 high school students (748 girls and 521 boys) using the questionnaire method, including revised Event-Related Rumination Inventory (ERRI), Security Questionnaire (SQ), Runco Ideational Behavior Scale (RIBS), and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Results The results showed that intrusive rumination was positively associated with adolescents' depression, and a sense of security could mediate this relationship. Moreover, a possible cut-off of creativity that serves as a breakpoint below and above that can pinpoint where the association between sense of security and depression in adolescents. In particular, compared to less creative adolescents, highly creative adolescents showed higher indirect effects of intrusive rumination on depression. The association between a sense of security and depression is also more robust for highly creative adolescents. Conclusions These results demonstrate that a sense of security may be a protective factor for depression during the COVID-19 pandemic. There are also differences in adolescents' responses to adverse events with different levels of creativity.