Chain mediating roles of rumination and emotion regulation self-efficacy in the relationship between social support and depression among college students

Objective: This study explores the relationship between social support(SS) and depression in college students, focusing on the mediating roles of rumination and emotion regulation self-efficacy (ERSE). Methods: A survey was conducted with 1,433 Chinese university students (53.3% male, M =20.02, SD = 1.78) from four universities in Jiangxi Province. Participants completed the SS Scale, Rumination Thinking Scale, Emotion Regulation Self-efficacy Scale, and Self-Rating Depression Scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0 for descriptive and regression analysis, with mediation effects tested via the PROCESS macro. Results: (1) SS negatively affected depression in college students ( β=-0.12, t=-5.8, p<0.001) . (2) Rumination and ERSE independently mediated the relationship between SS and depression.The mediation effect values are 0.15 and 0.03, respectively, and the 95% confidence intervals do not include 0. (3) Rumination and ERSE also played a chain-mediating role in this relationship.The chain mediation effect values are 0.01, and the 95% confidence interval does not include 0. Conclusion: This study highlights the psychological mechanisms through which SS influences depression in college students, providing valuable insights for interventions aimed at preventing depression in this population.