Psychological Development and Education ›› 2025, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (6): 881-891.doi: 10.16187/j.cnki.issn1001-4918.2025.06.12

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Influence of Environmental Unpredictability in Early Life on Depression among Junior Middle School Students: The Role of Life History Strategy and Resource Control Strategy

ZHANG Minghao1, WANG Junru1, WANG Yan1, YANG Zhaoli1, ZHANG Yanfang2, LOU Huilin1, XU Xiaohui1, XU Min1   

  1. 1. College of Education(Institute for Education and Treatment of Problematic Youth), Ludong University, Yantai 264025;
    2. Dongying Technician College(Dongying Secondary Specialized School), Dongying 257091
  • Published:2025-11-05

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Abstract: In order to investigate the influence of environmental unpredictability in early life on depression among junior middle school students, and the mediating roles of life history strategy and resource control strategy, 551 junior middle school students were measured three times by using the early life environmental unpredictability scale, center for epidemiologic studies depression scale, Mini-K scale and resource control strategy scale at intervals of six months. The results showed that: (1) Environmental unpredictability in early life influenced junior middle school students’ depression significantly; (2) Life history strategy and resource control strategy played independent mediating roles between environmental unpredictability and depression among middle school students; (3) Life history strategy and coercive control strategy played a chain mediating role between early environmental unpredictability and depression. This study was beneficial for us to understand the mechanism of depression among junior high school students under stressful environments from the perspective of life history theory.

Key words: environmental unpredictability in early life, life history strategy, resource control strategy, depression, junior middle school students

CLC Number: 

  • B844
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