Ziyou Huang, Lei Pan, Yajie Xu, Xiaofen Li, Weida Deng
Positive reframing and behavioral disengagement were prospectively associated with the link between perceived stress and later depressive symptoms, while stress mindset was associated with weaker stress-related associations. Given the observational design, these findings do not establish causal relationships but provide longitudinal evidence on coping and stress-related beliefs in student-athletes.
INTRODUCTION: Student-athletes are exposed to multiple academic and athletic demands, which increase their vulnerability to depressive symptoms. This study examined the longitudinal association between perceived stress and depressive symptoms among Chinese student-athletes. We also focused on the mediating roles of positive reframing and behavioral disengagement and the moderating role of stress mindset.
METHODS: Of the 840 participants assessed at baseline, 769 (retention rate = 91.5%; 64.1% male; Mage = 20.3 years) completed all three waves, which were conducted at 6-month intervals. Structural equation modeling was used to test a moderated mediation model while controlling for autoregressive effects and relevant covariates.
RESULTS: The longitudinal mediation model indicated that higher perceived stress at T1 was positively associated with depressive symptoms at T3 (β = 0.20, 95% CI = [0.12, 0.28]). Significant indirect associations were observed through lower positive reframing (β = 0.018, 95% CI [0.006, 0.030]) and higher behavioral disengagement at T2 (β = 0.022, 95% CI [0.006, 0.038]). The moderated mediation model found that stress mindset moderated the associations of perceived stress with positive reframing (β = 0.06, 95% CI [0.02, 0.10]), behavioral disengagement (β = -0.08, 95% CI [-0.13, -0.03]), and depressive symptoms (β = -0.08, 95% CI [-0.13, -0.03]), with weaker associations at higher levels of stress mindset.
CONCLUSIONS: Positive reframing and behavioral disengagement were prospectively associated with the link between perceived stress and later depressive symptoms, while stress mindset was associated with weaker stress-related associations. Given the observational design, these findings do not establish causal relationships but provide longitudinal evidence on coping and stress-related beliefs in student-athletes.