The effect of trait anger on depression from the perspective of age and gender—A moderated mediating effect with age as the moderating variable

Background: Previous studies have shown that there is a positive correlation between anger and depression, which are usually in the form of "comorbid". However, the complex relationship mechanism of the interaction between anger and depression is rarely involved. Inspired by the traditional Chinese medicine theory of "anger beyond depression", this paper explores the formation mechanism of endogenous factors of trait anger and reactive factors of life events on depression and the influence of age and gender on the mechanism of depression. Methods: In this study, 89 normal healthy subjects were randomly selected as the reference group, and 115 outpatients with depression were selected as the control group. The above variables were analyzed using the statistical software SPSS and PROCESS. Results: It is concluded that trait anger has a significant complete mediating effect on depression with life events as a mediator(R1 ² =0.05.F1=6.30;R2 ² =0.13.F2=8.02) for the control group. On this basis, we will further explore the moderating effect of age on the above mediations and the gender differences in depression(R1^2=0.09.F1=3.56; R2^2=0.13.F2=8.02) to obtain new depression diagnoses, intervention paths and secondary prevention measures. Conclusions: This study is as follows: (1) There is a significant and complete mediating effect of trait anger on depression with life events as mediating variables in the control group. On the other hand, there is no significant mediating effect on this relationship in the reference group. (2) There was a significant gender difference in depression in the reference group, but the gender difference in depression in the control group was not significant. (3) Age has a significant moderating effect on the end of the above mediating effect (trait anger to life events) in the control group. When the age value is greater than the critical value, it can significantly positively predict that age moderates the mediating effect with depression, but there is no significant correlation between age and depression in the reference group. A statement of Public Significance: These conclusions explain the effects of gender on depression and age as a moderating variable in the mediating model, which provides a new perspective and thinking for the diagnosis and prevention of depression.