Improvements in depression symptomatology in a sample of undergraduate students: a pre-post Balint group intervention study
Abstract Background/Objective Previous studies have explored the effects of Balint group interventions on reducing depressive symptoms among medical workers; however, its effects on other populations have not been analyzed. This study addressed this gap by investigating whether this intervention can...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2025-08-01
|
| Series: | BMC Psychology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-03226-6 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849332061312122880 |
|---|---|
| author | Shuzhi Zhou Keyi Qin Qian Gu Rui Zhang Lixia Wang Jinjing Luo Jincong Yu Chuanhua Gu |
| author_facet | Shuzhi Zhou Keyi Qin Qian Gu Rui Zhang Lixia Wang Jinjing Luo Jincong Yu Chuanhua Gu |
| author_sort | Shuzhi Zhou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background/Objective Previous studies have explored the effects of Balint group interventions on reducing depressive symptoms among medical workers; however, its effects on other populations have not been analyzed. This study addressed this gap by investigating whether this intervention can reduce depressive tendencies in college students and its potential mechanism. Methods The effects of the 6-week Balint group intervention were assessed using an experimental/control group and pre-/post-test design. 56 college students (66.07% female; baseline Mage = 21.56 years, SD = 1.86) participated in the study, and 30 students (baseline Mage = 21.84 years, SD = 2.02) were included in the intervention group. Results Consistent with developmental expectations, the results indicated that after 6 weeks, the intervention group exhibited significantly lower depressive tendencies and significantly improved perceived social support and interpersonal competences compared to the waiting control group. Furthermore, interpersonal competence, particularly disclosure, fully mediated the relationship between the Balint group intervention and depressive tendencies. Conclusions Balint group intervention can significantly reduce depressive tendencies and improve perceived social support and interpersonal competences of college students. The decrease of depressive tendencies can be achieved by improving college students’ interpersonal competences (especially disclosure). Clinical trial number The clinical trial was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (Registration number: ChiCTR2400090160) on 25 September 2024. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b831513a09fd4acaa3bdcb12b092edcc |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2050-7283 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Psychology |
| spelling | doaj-art-b831513a09fd4acaa3bdcb12b092edcc2025-08-20T03:46:20ZengBMCBMC Psychology2050-72832025-08-0113111210.1186/s40359-025-03226-6Improvements in depression symptomatology in a sample of undergraduate students: a pre-post Balint group intervention studyShuzhi Zhou0Keyi Qin1Qian Gu2Rui Zhang3Lixia Wang4Jinjing Luo5Jincong Yu6Chuanhua Gu7Education Center for Mental Health, Wuhan University of TechnologyKey Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior(CCNU), Ministry of Education; Key Laboratory of Human Development and Mental Health of Hubei Province, School of Psychology, Central China Normal UniversitySchool of Educational Science, Liaocheng UniversityKey Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior(CCNU), Ministry of Education; Key Laboratory of Human Development and Mental Health of Hubei Province, School of Psychology, Central China Normal UniversityKey Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior(CCNU), Ministry of Education; Key Laboratory of Human Development and Mental Health of Hubei Province, School of Psychology, Central China Normal UniversityEducation Center for Mental Health, Wuhan University of TechnologyEducation and Counseling Center for Psychological Health, Zhongnan University of Economics and LawKey Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior(CCNU), Ministry of Education; Key Laboratory of Human Development and Mental Health of Hubei Province, School of Psychology, Central China Normal UniversityAbstract Background/Objective Previous studies have explored the effects of Balint group interventions on reducing depressive symptoms among medical workers; however, its effects on other populations have not been analyzed. This study addressed this gap by investigating whether this intervention can reduce depressive tendencies in college students and its potential mechanism. Methods The effects of the 6-week Balint group intervention were assessed using an experimental/control group and pre-/post-test design. 56 college students (66.07% female; baseline Mage = 21.56 years, SD = 1.86) participated in the study, and 30 students (baseline Mage = 21.84 years, SD = 2.02) were included in the intervention group. Results Consistent with developmental expectations, the results indicated that after 6 weeks, the intervention group exhibited significantly lower depressive tendencies and significantly improved perceived social support and interpersonal competences compared to the waiting control group. Furthermore, interpersonal competence, particularly disclosure, fully mediated the relationship between the Balint group intervention and depressive tendencies. Conclusions Balint group intervention can significantly reduce depressive tendencies and improve perceived social support and interpersonal competences of college students. The decrease of depressive tendencies can be achieved by improving college students’ interpersonal competences (especially disclosure). Clinical trial number The clinical trial was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (Registration number: ChiCTR2400090160) on 25 September 2024.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-03226-6Balint group interventionDepressive tendencyPerceived social supportInterpersonal competencePotential mechanism |
| spellingShingle | Shuzhi Zhou Keyi Qin Qian Gu Rui Zhang Lixia Wang Jinjing Luo Jincong Yu Chuanhua Gu Improvements in depression symptomatology in a sample of undergraduate students: a pre-post Balint group intervention study BMC Psychology Balint group intervention Depressive tendency Perceived social support Interpersonal competence Potential mechanism |
| title | Improvements in depression symptomatology in a sample of undergraduate students: a pre-post Balint group intervention study |
| title_full | Improvements in depression symptomatology in a sample of undergraduate students: a pre-post Balint group intervention study |
| title_fullStr | Improvements in depression symptomatology in a sample of undergraduate students: a pre-post Balint group intervention study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Improvements in depression symptomatology in a sample of undergraduate students: a pre-post Balint group intervention study |
| title_short | Improvements in depression symptomatology in a sample of undergraduate students: a pre-post Balint group intervention study |
| title_sort | improvements in depression symptomatology in a sample of undergraduate students a pre post balint group intervention study |
| topic | Balint group intervention Depressive tendency Perceived social support Interpersonal competence Potential mechanism |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-03226-6 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT shuzhizhou improvementsindepressionsymptomatologyinasampleofundergraduatestudentsaprepostbalintgroupinterventionstudy AT keyiqin improvementsindepressionsymptomatologyinasampleofundergraduatestudentsaprepostbalintgroupinterventionstudy AT qiangu improvementsindepressionsymptomatologyinasampleofundergraduatestudentsaprepostbalintgroupinterventionstudy AT ruizhang improvementsindepressionsymptomatologyinasampleofundergraduatestudentsaprepostbalintgroupinterventionstudy AT lixiawang improvementsindepressionsymptomatologyinasampleofundergraduatestudentsaprepostbalintgroupinterventionstudy AT jinjingluo improvementsindepressionsymptomatologyinasampleofundergraduatestudentsaprepostbalintgroupinterventionstudy AT jincongyu improvementsindepressionsymptomatologyinasampleofundergraduatestudentsaprepostbalintgroupinterventionstudy AT chuanhuagu improvementsindepressionsymptomatologyinasampleofundergraduatestudentsaprepostbalintgroupinterventionstudy |