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BMC Psychiatry
Published in: BMC Psychiatry 1/2024

Open Access 01-12-2024 | Anxiety | Research

The comorbid network characteristics of anxiety and depressive symptoms among Chinese college freshmen

Authors: Jie Luo, Dong-Li Bei, Chuanzhang Zheng, Jie Jin, Chengkui Yao, Jianhua Zhao, Jie Gong

Published in: BMC Psychiatry | Issue 1/2024

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Abstract

Background

This study aimed to investigate the interplay between anxiety and depressive symptoms in Chinese college freshmen using the causal system perspective (CSP), which differs from the traditional common cause perspective (CCP) by providing an alternative explanation by attributing comorbidity to direct interactions among symptoms.

Methods

A convenience sample of 2,082 Chinese college freshmen (39.51% male, Mage = 18.61) from a normal university completed the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item Scale (GAD-7) and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Network analysis was conducted and evaluated as to centrality, stability, node predictability, and bridging features. Moreover, the moderated network model (MNM) was utilized to detect the moderation effects of gender in the comorbidity network.

Results

The network of anxiety and depressive symptoms exhibited stability, characterized by the core symptoms of “restlessness”, “lack of energy”, and “excessive worry about control”, as well as the bridging symptoms of “fearfulness”, “sad mood”, and “irritability”. Notably, the nodes representing “uncontrollable worry” and “difficulty in relaxation” demonstrated the highest predictive power. Gender did not exert any moderating effects on the anxiety and depressive symptom network.

Conclusion

These results reinforce that certain anxiety or depressive symptoms are more central than others, and thus play a more vital role in the comorbid network. These findings highlight underlying potential targeting symptoms to consider in future interventions.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
The comorbid network characteristics of anxiety and depressive symptoms among Chinese college freshmen
Authors
Jie Luo
Dong-Li Bei
Chuanzhang Zheng
Jie Jin
Chengkui Yao
Jianhua Zhao
Jie Gong
Publication date
01-12-2024
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Psychiatry / Issue 1/2024
Electronic ISSN: 1471-244X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-024-05733-z

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