Stressful life events and depressive symptoms among adolescents in Malaysia: the mediating role of maladaptive cognitive schema

Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:sec id="j_ijamh-2019-0228_abs_001_w2aab3b7b2b1b6b1aab1c12b2Aa"><jats:title>Objectives</jats:title><jats:p>The present study aimed to examine the mediational role of maladaptive cognitive schema in the association between stressful life events, which are operationalised as major (i. e. negative life events) and minor (i. e. daily hassles) life stressors, and depressive symptoms among adolescents.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec id="j_ijamh-2019-0228_abs_002_w2aab3b7b2b1b6b1aab1c12b3Aa"><jats:title>Methods</jats:title><jats:p>A cross-sectional correlational study was conducted to recruit participants across four selected states of Kedah, Kelantan, Melaka and Selangor in Peninsular Malaysia. This study involved a total of 1,032 adolescents from 25 government secondary schools, identified using probability proportional to size cluster sampling technique. Data were collected through a self-report questionnaire.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec id="j_ijamh-2019-0228_abs_003_w2aab3b7b2b1b6b1aab1c12b4Aa"><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p>Using structural equation modelling analyses, findings revealed a full mediation effect of maladaptive cognitive schema between negative life events and depressive symptoms, and a partial mediation effect between daily hassles and depressive symptoms.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec id="j_ijamh-2019-0228_abs_004_w2aab3b7b2b1b6b1aab1c12b5Aa"><jats:title>Conclusions</jats:title><jats:p>This study provided valuable insights about the significance of maladaptive cognitive schema as a mediator in the stress-depression association and advanced the understanding of mechanism underlying development of depressive symptoms among adolescents in Malaysia. Findings also benefit the clinical practice in the development of targeted depression prevention and intervention programs.</jats:p></jats:sec>

The influence of stressful life events on procrastination among college students: multiple mediating roles of stress beliefs and core self-evaluations

“…Consistent with previous research, stressful life events made significant harmful impacts on core selfevaluations (Zuo et al, 2020). Exposure to stressful life events could make one develop the latent negative attributions and maladaptive schema, and generate cognitive biases that are associated with higher self-doubt and lower self-esteem (Han et al, 2018;Wong et al, 2021). According to the broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions, negative emotions caused by stressful life events would also hinder positive self-construction, thus leading to the reduction of core self-evaluations (Fredrickson, 2001).…”

Association between Negative Life Events and Somatic Symptoms: A Mediation Model through Self-Esteem and Depression

“…Medical students, in particular, may face higher levels of stress due to the length of their schooling and clinical practice. These acute stressors can significantly disrupt mental well-being and potentially lead to the emergence of depressive episodes [ 19 ]. Maladaptive emotion regulation strategies mediate the relationship between relational stress and challenging life events and depressive symptoms [ 20 ].…”