The relationship between physical appearance perfectionism on subthreshold depression in college students: the role of gender and fear of negative evaluation

作者：Yiru Wei, Hong Chen, Bo Sun, Lingli Kong · 发表于：Frontiers in Public Health · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.3389/fpubh.2025.1559815 · 被引用次数：6 · 研究领域：Perfectionism, Procrastination, Anxiety Studies、Eating Disorders and Behaviors、Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes

Introduction: Over the past decades, subthreshold depression has emerged as a significant mental health concern among college students, with prevalence rates reaching 40.8%. Despite its substantial impact on psychological well-being, subthreshold depression often remains overlooked due to its failure to meet clinical diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder. Moreover, the underlying mechanisms of subthreshold depression remain poorly understood. This study investigates the interplay between appearance perfectionism, fear of negative evaluation, and gender in relation to subthreshold depression among college students. Methodology: Via cross-sectional design, we recruited 820 college students (Mage = 20.78, SD = 2.04) through convenience sampling. Participants completed online questionnaires assessing physical appearance perfectionism, fear of negative evaluation, and depressive symptoms using validated scales. Data were analyzed to examine a moderated mediation model. Results: = [0.084, 0.194]). Notably, gender moderated the association between appearance perfectionism and fear of negative evaluation, with female students demonstrating a stronger relationship between these variables. Findings: These results underscore the detrimental effects of appearance-related perfectionism in the context of Chinese cultural norms. The study highlights the importance of addressing both physical appearance perfectionism and fear of negative evaluation in mental health interventions ...