Stressful Life Events and Depression During the Recurrent Outbreak of COVID-19 in China: The Mediating Role of Grit and the Moderating Role of Gratitude

Abstract

Purpose

COVID-19 has been exerting tremendous influence on an individual’s physical behavior and mental health. In China, prolonged isolation may lead to depression among college students during the recurrent outbreak of COVID-19. We conducted this study to explore the relationship among stressful life events, grit, gratitude, and depression in college students during the recurrent outbreak of COVID-19.

Methods

We investigated 953 college students from across China, with an average age of 20.38 (SD=1.39) years. Participants completed four scales (Stressful Life Events Scale, Oviedo Grit Scale, Gratitude Questionnaire, and Patients’ Health Questionnaire Depression Scale-9 item).

Results

The present study found that (1) stressful life events were positively correlated with depression in college students; (2) grit mediated the positive relationship between stressful life events and depression; (3) gratitude moderated the relationship between grit and depression, and such that there was a stronger association between grit and depression for college students with high gratitude.

Conclusion

This study was of great significance for studying the relationship between stressful life events and depression in Chinese college students during the recurrent outbreak of COVID-19. Results indicated that grit and gratitude of college students may be the main targets of depression prevention and intervention. The research conclusion has theoretical and reference value for solving and preventing depression in college students during the recurrent outbreak of COVID-19.

Keywords:

• COVID-19
• stressful life events
• grit
• depression
• gratitude
• Chinese college students

Data Sharing Statement

The datasets used in this study are available upon request to the corresponding author.

Ethics Statement

This study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki, and the study protocol was reviewed and approved by the institutional review board of school of Psychology, Jiangxi Normal University. All participants reviewed the consent form before they participated in the study.

Acknowledgments

Thanks to all the participants and volunteers who provided support for this study. Haidong Liu, Baojuan Ye, and Hu Yong are co-first authors for this study.

Disclosure

The authors declare that they have no competing interest in this work.