The Chain Mediation Effect of Relative Deprivation and Perceived Social Support Between Shame and Subclinical Depression Among College Students

Objective: To explore the impact of shame on subclinical depression among college students and the mediating role of relative deprivation and perceived social support. Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted among 1196 college students using the Shame Proneness Scale, the Relative Deprivation Scale, the Perceived Social Support Scale, and the Subclinical Depression Scale. SPSS 26.0 and Mplus 8.3 software were utilized for relationship analysis and model verification. Results: Shame was significantly positively correlated with subclinical depression among college students (r= 0.58, p<0.01). Relative deprivation and perceived social support served as mediators, and this mediation process encompasses three pathways: the separate mediating role of relative deprivation (0.130, 95%CI: 0.100~0.164), the separate mediating role of perceived social support (0.034, 95%CI: 0.018~0.055), and the chained mediating role of relative deprivation and perceived social support (0.021, 95%CI: 0.013~0.032). Conclusion: Shame not only directly predicts the level of subclinical depression among college students but also indirectly predicts it through the independent and chained effects of relative deprivation and perceived social support. These findings provide practical guidance for the prevention and intervention of subclinical depression among college students.