The moderating role of stigma in the relationship between depression and resilience: results of a cross-sectional study in university students

Caroline Rometsch; Giovanni Mansueto; Sara Ceccatelli; Fiammetta Cosci

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1392381

The moderating role of stigma in the relationship between depression and resilience: results of a cross-sectional study in university students

Front Psychol. 2024 Apr 15:15:1392381. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1392381. eCollection 2024.

Authors

Caroline Rometsch¹, Giovanni Mansueto^{2

3}, Sara Ceccatelli¹, Fiammetta Cosci^{2

4}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
² Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
³ School of Applied Sciences, London South Bank University, London, United Kingdom.
⁴ Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands.

Abstract

Background/objective: Depression is a growing concern in university students and resilience has shown to play a protective role. The impact of stigma is still under-explored, with reference to its moderating role between depression and resilience. The present study investigate such a relationship among Italian university students.

Methods: A cross-sectional design was applied in a simple of 1,912 students to examine the interrelationships between depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), resilience (Nicholson McBride Resilience questionnaire), and stigma (Stigma-9). Correlation, predictor, and moderation analyses were applied in RStudio.

Results: A negative correlation was found between depressive symptoms and resilience (r = -0.455, p < 0.001). A positive correlation was found between depressive symptoms and stigma (r = 0.207, p < 0.001). Lower levels of resilience and higher levels of stigma were significant predictors of depressive symptoms [F_{(df, n)} = 190.8_{(3, 1884)}, p < 0.001, R² = 0.236]. The moderation analysis showed a weakening of resilience protective effect against depression as stigma levels increase [F_(df,n) = 186.7_(3,1908), p < 0.001, R² = 0.226].

Conclusion: Stigma influences the relationship between depression and resilience. Anti-stigma interventions and programs empowering resilience, should be implemented in university settings to protect students from depression.

Keywords: mental health; resilience; stigmatization; students; university.

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare that financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This work was supported by the European University for Well-being (EUniWell) Seed Funding, Horizon 2020.