Unveiling Dynamic Pathways to the Influence of Anxiety on Perceived Stress-Depressive Symptoms among College Students: Integrated Chained Mediation and Network Modeling

Background Depression has received global attention and can be caused by multiple factors. The present study aims to explore the mediating roles of trait anxiety (TA) and state anxiety in relationship between perceived stress (PS) and depression, and uncovers the dynamic symptom-level dynamics among college students by integrating chained mediation modeling with network analysis. Methods A nationwide online survey in China was conducted, with a total sample of 776 college students recruited. All students were required to complete the questionnaires including the Perceived Stress Scale-10, Beck Depression Inventory Revised, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Results We found that trait anxiety and state anxiety played chained mediating roles in relationship between perceived stress and depression among college students (bootstrapped indirect effect = 0.22, p  < 0.001, 95% CI =[0.12,0.34]). Trait anxiety was identified as the node with the highest strength centrality and bridge strength centrality in both the dimension-level and item-level networks. Specifically, in the dimension network, the strongest inter-community bridge edge connected trait anxiety to positive perceived stress (partial r  = 0.202). In the item network, TA18 “I take disappointments so keenly that I cannot get them out of my mind” was identified as the node with the highest strength centrality (Strength = 1.300); TA2 “I feel nervous and upset” was detected as the dominant bridge node (Bridge Strength = 1.309). Additionally, the strongest inter-community bridge edge connected TA2 to PS3 “In the past month, have you often felt nervous and stressed?” (TA2-PS3: partial r  = 0.069). Conclusions Trait anxiety functions as a "network hub" in the dynamic interaction between perceived stress and depression, making it a potential intervention target for stress and depression. Future clinical practices should prioritize restructuring of anxiety traits alongside cognitive reappraisal training to disrupt maladaptive network configurations.