The Relationship Between Upbringing Styles and Mental Health of Chinese College Freshmen: The Mediating Role of Body Appreciation

Nowadays, college freshmen face more psychological challenges and report more body image issues. However, as an important influence on mental health, upbringing style lacks research on external transmitters. At the same time, the body image issue is highlighted in freshmen and, as the core content of positive body image, body appreciation is called for more attention. This study analyzed the relationship between upbringing styles and mental health and body appreciation using quantitative research methods with a sample of 502 (101 males and 401 females) Chinese college freshman. The results found that rejection and overprotective upbringing styles were negatively associated with mental health, emotional warmth was positively associated with mental health, and that body appreciation played a mediating role in upbringing styles and mental health. The results informed mental health education in higher education and to complemented existing body appreciation research.