A SERIAL MEDIATION MODEL OF PSYCHOLOGICAL RESILIENCE RELATED TO DEPRESSION SEVERITY AMONG PATIENTS WITH MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDERS
Authors: Wu *Reui Chun , Huang Chih Chun , Chang Yun Hsuan , Hsieh Shu lan , Lane Hsien Yuan , Su Kuan Pin 
Published: February 2025

Background

Patients diagnosed with major depressive disorders (MDD) often grapple with impaired emotion regulation and frequently experience high levels of distress. Existing literature has further indicated that the cumulative burden of daily life hassles can exacerbate stress and worsen the severity of depressive symptoms.

Aim

This study endeavors to elucidate the role of psychological resilience as a key factor in the relationship between daily hassles, individual stress perception, and the severity of depressive symptoms. Methods: We enrolled a cohort of 142 patients diagnosed with MDD, with an average age of 35years, comprising 65males and77females. All participants were asked to complete several questionnaires to assess various aspects of their psychological well-being. Specifically, the Resilience Scale for Adults (RSA), the Chinese 14-item Perceived Stress Scale (CPSS), and the Daily Hassles Scale (DHS) were used to evaluate their psychological resilience, stress perception, and daily hassles, respectively. Additionally, the severity of their depressive symptoms was measured using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS).

Result

Preliminary analyses, conducted using Pearson's r correlation, demonstrated a significant negative correlation among RSA (resilience), DHS (daily hassles), CPSS (stress perception), and HDRS (depressive symptoms) scores. Subsequently, a serial mediation analysis was performed employing Process Model 6. This analysis revealed both a significant direct effect (b =.153) and an indirect effect (b =.371, p =.022) of daily hassles on depressive symptoms.

This indirect effect was mediated through stress perception and resilience.

Discussion & Conclusion

The findings of our study illuminate the complex interplay between daily stressors, stress perception, and resilience among patients diagnosed with depressive disorders. Specifically, the analysis suggests that stress perception and resilience jointly mediate a portion of the impact of daily hassles on depressive symptoms. This research contributes to our understanding of the underlying mechanisms involved in the intricate relationship between daily stressors, stress perception, and resilience in individuals affected by depressive disorders. It highlights the pivotal role of psychological resilience in buffering the detrimental effects of stress and daily hassles on the severity of depressive symptoms. These insights are crucial for the development of effective prevention and intervention strategies aimed at alleviating the burden of depressive symptoms.

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