Exploring the relationship between negative life events and emotional symptoms in adolescents using a network analysis
Abstract This study used network analysis to explore the association between negative life events and emotional symptoms in Chinese adolescents, with a focus on depression, anxiety, and their comorbid mechanisms. The Adolescent Self-Reporting Life Events Scale (ASLES), the Center for Epidemiological...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-05-01
|
| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-00044-z |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849312121022578688 |
|---|---|
| author | Xiaoyan Bi Zihan Liu Wenxiu Su Kangting Ou Hongbo Cui Tao Gao Keke Shi Yankun Ma |
| author_facet | Xiaoyan Bi Zihan Liu Wenxiu Su Kangting Ou Hongbo Cui Tao Gao Keke Shi Yankun Ma |
| author_sort | Xiaoyan Bi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract This study used network analysis to explore the association between negative life events and emotional symptoms in Chinese adolescents, with a focus on depression, anxiety, and their comorbid mechanisms. The Adolescent Self-Reporting Life Events Scale (ASLES), the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), and the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) were used to assess 1083 adolescents. Based on the data, three networks were constructed: the negative life events-depression network, the negative life events-anxiety network, and a integrated negative life events-depression-anxiety network. In the depression network, “Depressive mood,” “Sadness,” and “People dislike me” were core nodes, reflecting emotional and social sensitivity. In the anxiety network, “Panic,” “Fear,” and “Dizziness” emerged as core nodes, highlighting the role of physiological responses. The integrated network identified “Depressed mood” and “Panic” as key nodes, revealing the overlap and interaction between depression and anxiety. “Academic stress” and “Interpersonal relationships” were consistent bridge nodes across networks, linking negative life events to emotional symptoms and contributing to comorbid mechanisms. These findings suggest that targeting core symptoms and bridge nodes may reduce depression, anxiety, and their comorbidities. This study provides insights into adolescent emotional symptom networks, supporting targeted and comprehensive interventions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-73b5a9b0703140b7b1e6f1f48d80f58c |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-73b5a9b0703140b7b1e6f1f48d80f58c2025-08-20T03:53:12ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-05-011511910.1038/s41598-025-00044-zExploring the relationship between negative life events and emotional symptoms in adolescents using a network analysisXiaoyan Bi0Zihan Liu1Wenxiu Su2Kangting Ou3Hongbo Cui4Tao Gao5Keke Shi6Yankun Ma7School of Education, Guangzhou UniversitySchool of Education, Guangzhou UniversitySchool of Education, Guangzhou UniversitySchool of Education, Guangzhou UniversitySchool of Education, Guangzhou UniversitySchool of Education, Guangzhou UniversitySchool of Education, Guangzhou UniversitySchool of Education, Guangzhou UniversityAbstract This study used network analysis to explore the association between negative life events and emotional symptoms in Chinese adolescents, with a focus on depression, anxiety, and their comorbid mechanisms. The Adolescent Self-Reporting Life Events Scale (ASLES), the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), and the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) were used to assess 1083 adolescents. Based on the data, three networks were constructed: the negative life events-depression network, the negative life events-anxiety network, and a integrated negative life events-depression-anxiety network. In the depression network, “Depressive mood,” “Sadness,” and “People dislike me” were core nodes, reflecting emotional and social sensitivity. In the anxiety network, “Panic,” “Fear,” and “Dizziness” emerged as core nodes, highlighting the role of physiological responses. The integrated network identified “Depressed mood” and “Panic” as key nodes, revealing the overlap and interaction between depression and anxiety. “Academic stress” and “Interpersonal relationships” were consistent bridge nodes across networks, linking negative life events to emotional symptoms and contributing to comorbid mechanisms. These findings suggest that targeting core symptoms and bridge nodes may reduce depression, anxiety, and their comorbidities. This study provides insights into adolescent emotional symptom networks, supporting targeted and comprehensive interventions.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-00044-zNegative life eventsEmotional symptomsDepressionAnxietyNetwork structure |
| spellingShingle | Xiaoyan Bi Zihan Liu Wenxiu Su Kangting Ou Hongbo Cui Tao Gao Keke Shi Yankun Ma Exploring the relationship between negative life events and emotional symptoms in adolescents using a network analysis Scientific Reports Negative life events Emotional symptoms Depression Anxiety Network structure |
| title | Exploring the relationship between negative life events and emotional symptoms in adolescents using a network analysis |
| title_full | Exploring the relationship between negative life events and emotional symptoms in adolescents using a network analysis |
| title_fullStr | Exploring the relationship between negative life events and emotional symptoms in adolescents using a network analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring the relationship between negative life events and emotional symptoms in adolescents using a network analysis |
| title_short | Exploring the relationship between negative life events and emotional symptoms in adolescents using a network analysis |
| title_sort | exploring the relationship between negative life events and emotional symptoms in adolescents using a network analysis |
| topic | Negative life events Emotional symptoms Depression Anxiety Network structure |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-00044-z |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT xiaoyanbi exploringtherelationshipbetweennegativelifeeventsandemotionalsymptomsinadolescentsusinganetworkanalysis AT zihanliu exploringtherelationshipbetweennegativelifeeventsandemotionalsymptomsinadolescentsusinganetworkanalysis AT wenxiusu exploringtherelationshipbetweennegativelifeeventsandemotionalsymptomsinadolescentsusinganetworkanalysis AT kangtingou exploringtherelationshipbetweennegativelifeeventsandemotionalsymptomsinadolescentsusinganetworkanalysis AT hongbocui exploringtherelationshipbetweennegativelifeeventsandemotionalsymptomsinadolescentsusinganetworkanalysis AT taogao exploringtherelationshipbetweennegativelifeeventsandemotionalsymptomsinadolescentsusinganetworkanalysis AT kekeshi exploringtherelationshipbetweennegativelifeeventsandemotionalsymptomsinadolescentsusinganetworkanalysis AT yankunma exploringtherelationshipbetweennegativelifeeventsandemotionalsymptomsinadolescentsusinganetworkanalysis |