The relationship between depression, self-control and meaning in life among young undergraduate students: Evidence from path analysis and network analysis

Little is known about the role of self-control in the relationship between depression and the meaning of life. In particular, when depression is viewed through the lens of symptom networks. It is also unclear how self-control (self-discipline and impulse control) and meaning in life relate to the symptoms of depression. This study addressed this gap by estimating structural equation models and network analysis based on cross-sectional data representative of China (N = 936, surveyed from age 17 to 22, Mage = 18.27, SDage = 0.75, female = 65.7 %). The findings revealed that depression is interrelated with self-control and meaning in life. Specifically, depression predicts levels of meaning in life through self-discipline, which is one component of self-control. There was a complex link between symptoms of depression, self-control, and meaning in life. However, there was no direct link between the core symptoms of depression and self-discipline or meaning in life. Overall, the evidence from this study suggests that emphasizing the presence of meaning among young undergraduate students who are at high risk for depression may decrease their levels of depression. Moreover, if this emphasis is coupled with an improvement in their self-discipline, it may also be beneficial for depression.