Diminished hedonic capacity in social activities as a mediator of the link between dysfunctional behavioral activation system and depressive symptoms

Chi-Son Kuan; Qian-Yu Liu; Gang-Min Xu; Han-Yu Zhou; Jia-Hui Nie; Chao Yan

doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1337847

Diminished hedonic capacity in social activities as a mediator of the link between dysfunctional behavioral activation system and depressive symptoms

Front Psychiatry. 2024 Feb 6:15:1337847. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1337847. eCollection 2024.

Authors

Chi-Son Kuan^{1

2}, Qian-Yu Liu¹, Gang-Min Xu², Han-Yu Zhou³, Jia-Hui Nie¹, Chao Yan^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Shanghai Changning Mental Health Center, Shanghai, China.
² Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics (MOE&STCSM), Affiliated Mental Health Center (ECNU), School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China.
³ Shanghai Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Psychological Crisis Intervention, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China.

Abstract

Background: Adolescence is a crucial period for the development of depression, and previous studies have suggested that the Behavioral Activation System (BAS) plays a significant role. However, little is known about the underlying mechanisms. This study aimed to explore the mediating role of anhedonia in the relationship between BAS and depressive symptoms among Chinese adolescents.

Method: A total of 1,023 high-school students aged 15-18 years participated in the study, with 916 continuing their participation three months later. All participants completed the Behavioral Inhibition System/Activation System (BIS/BAS) scale, Dimensional Anhedonia Rating Scale (DARS), Children's Depression Inventory (CDI), and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S/T). Pathway model analysis was performed to examine the concurrent and prospective mediating effects of anhedonia and the potential moderating effect of sex.

Result: Anhedonia in the domains of social activities, hobbies and sensory experiences significantly mediated the cross-sectional relationship between BAS and depressive level three months later. Furthermore, the beta-value of the mediating effect of social activities was significantly higher than that of the other domains of hedonic capacity cross-sectionally and longitudinally. However, sex showed no significant moderating effect.

Conclusion: Our findings underscore the importance of hedonic capacity, especially within the social domain, in the development of depressive symptoms. These findings contribute to the early diagnosis and prevention of depressive disorders.

Keywords: adolescent; behavioral activation system; depressive symptoms; hedonic capacity; social anhedonia.

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This study was supported by grants from the Natural Science Foundation of Shanghai [21ZR1421000], the National Natural Science Foundation of China [32171084], The Changning Youth Nursing Personnel Development Program of the Health and Health Commission [20214Q011], Research grant of Changning Health Committee [20214Y028] and Research grant of Changning Mental Health Center [202109; 2022Y04]. These funding agents had no role in the study design; collection, analysis, and interpretation of the data; or writing of the manuscript.