{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,26]],"date-time":"2026-09-26T00:22:29Z","timestamp":1790382149066,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":48,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,12]],"date-time":"2026-01-12T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1768176000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Psychol."],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>College years represent a critical period for mental health; however, despite the high prevalence of depression among them, Chinese college students show low utilization of on-campus mental health services. This study examined the associations between beliefs about the malleability of mental health, help-seeking self-stigma, depression level, and intentions to seek mental health services on campus among Chinese college students.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Method<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      A sample of 2,258 Chinese undergraduates (589 males and 1,669 females, aged between 18 and 25\u202fyears old;\n                      <jats:italic>M<\/jats:italic>\n                      <jats:sub>age<\/jats:sub>\n                      \u202f=\u202f19.59,\n                      <jats:italic>SD<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f=\u202f1.23) completed questionnaires measuring the core variables, including Implicit Theories of Mental Health Scale, Help-Seeking Self-Stigma Scale, Intentions to Seek Mental Health Services on Campus, and Patient Health Questionnaire. A moderated mediation model was developed to analyze the beliefs about the malleability of mental health, help-seeking self-stigma, depression level, and intentions to seek mental health services on campus.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      This study showed that (1) beliefs about the malleability of mental health were positively associated with intentions to seek on-campus services (\n                      <jats:italic>b<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f=\u202f0.44,\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f&amp;lt;\u202f0.001, 95% CI [0.22, 0.66]); (2) help-seeking self-stigma partially mediated this association between beliefs about the malleability of mental health and intentions to seek on-campus services, with an indirect effect value of 0.19, 95% CI [0.15, 0.25] and accounting for 30.51% of the total effect; (3) depression level marginally significantly moderated the first stage of the mediating pathway(interaction term\n                      <jats:italic>b<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f=\u202f0.01,\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f&amp;lt;\u202f0.05, 95% CI [0.0004, 0.02]). Specifically, the negative association between beliefs about the malleability of mental health and self-stigma was weaker among students with higher depression levels.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Discussion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This findings showed that beliefs about the malleability of mental health were positively associated with Chinese college students\u2019 intentions to seek on-campus mental health services by reducing help-seeking self-stigma, and this mediating effect is weakened among students with higher depression levels. These findings provide insights into factors facilitating the utilization of on-campus mental health services and inform targeted interventions to reduce help-seeking self-stigma.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2025.1736421","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,12]],"date-time":"2026-01-12T08:15:40Z","timestamp":1768205740000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":6,"title":["Mental health malleability beliefs and help-seeking intentions among Chinese college students: the mediating role of help-seeking self-stigma and the moderating role of depression"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"16","author":[{"given":"Wenbo","family":"Chen","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Junhua","family":"Dang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,12]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"655","DOI":"10.1080\/07448481.2018.1451869","article-title":"College life is stressful today-emerging stressors and depressive symptoms in college students","volume":"66","author":"Acharya","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Am. Coll. Heal."},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"97","DOI":"10.1016\/2017.07.044","article-title":"Mental health problems in college freshmen: prevalence and academic functioning","volume":"225","author":"Bruffaerts","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Affect. Disord."},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"21","DOI":"10.1016\/j.apnu.2011.03.003","article-title":"Prevention of depression in the college student population: a review of the literature","volume":"26","author":"Buchanan","year":"2012","journal-title":"Arch. Psychiatr. Nurs."},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"101812","DOI":"10.1016\/2019.101812","article-title":"Perceptions of mental health and perceived barriers to mental health help-seeking amongst refugees: a systematic review","volume":"75","author":"Byrow","year":"2020","journal-title":"Clin. Psychol. Rev."},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"204","DOI":"10.1007\/s10447-013-9200-1","article-title":"Depressive symptoms and help-negation among Chinese university students in Taiwan: the role of gender, anxiety and help seeking attitudes","volume":"36","author":"Chang","year":"2014","journal-title":"Int. J. Adv. Couns."},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"356","DOI":"10.1016\/2014.07.003","article-title":"Associations among the number of mental health problems, stigma, and seeking help from psychological services: a path analysis model among Chinese adolescents","volume":"44","author":"Chen","year":"2014","journal-title":"Child Youth Serv. Rev."},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1022","DOI":"10.1177\/1948550619897482","article-title":"Is it cultural context or cultural value? Unpackaging cultural influences on stigma toward mental illness and barrier to help-seeking","volume":"11","author":"Chen","year":"2020","journal-title":"Soc. Psychol. Personal. Sci."},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"991","DOI":"10.3724\/1042.2022.00991","article-title":"Prevalence of mental health problems among college students in Chinese mainland from 2010 to 2020: a meta-analysis","volume":"30","author":"Chen","year":"2022","journal-title":"Adv. Psychol. Sci."},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"11","DOI":"10.1017\/S0033291714000129","article-title":"What is the impact of mental health-related stigma on help-seeking? A systematic review of quantitative and qualitative studies","volume":"45","author":"Clement","year":"2015","journal-title":"Psychol. Med."},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"100082","DOI":"10.1016\/2022.100082","article-title":"Prevalence and associated influential factors of mental health problems among Chinese college students during different stages of COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review","volume":"2","author":"Conteh","year":"2022","journal-title":"Psychiatr. Res. Commun."},{"key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2603","DOI":"10.1037\/xge0001396","article-title":"Evaluation of the \u201crethink stress\u201d mindset intervention: a metacognitive approach to changing mindsets","volume":"152","author":"Crum","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Exp. Psychol. Gen."},{"key":"ref12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"322","DOI":"10.1207\/s15327965pli0604_12","article-title":"Implicit theories: elaboration and extension of the model","volume":"6","author":"Dweck","year":"1995","journal-title":"Psychol. Inq."},{"key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"481","DOI":"10.1177\/1745691618804166","article-title":"Mindsets: a view from two eras","volume":"14","author":"Dweck","year":"2019","journal-title":"Perspect. Psychol. Sci."},{"key":"ref14","volume-title":"Report on National Mental Health Development in China (2023-2024).","author":"Fu","year":"2025"},{"key":"ref15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"113","DOI":"10.1186\/1471-244X-10-113","article-title":"Perceived barriers and facilitators to mental health help-seeking in young people: a systematic review","volume":"10","author":"Gulliver","year":"2010","journal-title":"BMC Psychiatry"},{"key":"ref16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"646","DOI":"10.3969\/j.issn.1000-6729.2011.09.002","article-title":"Revision of questionnaire of stigma for seeking professional psychological help in college students","volume":"25","author":"Hao","year":"2011","journal-title":"Chin. Ment. Health J."},{"key":"ref17","volume-title":"Introduction to Mediation, Moderation, and Conditional Process Analysis: A Regression-based Approach","author":"Hayes","year":"2018"},{"key":"ref18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e12892","DOI":"10.1111\/spc3.12892","article-title":"Implicit theories of mental health predict anxiety and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic in China: the mediating effect of coping styles","volume":"17","author":"Jin","year":"2023","journal-title":"Soc. Personal. Psychol. Compass"},{"key":"ref19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"365","DOI":"10.3109\/09540269409023274","article-title":"The National Comorbidity Survey of the United States","volume":"6","author":"Kessler","year":"1994","journal-title":"Int. Rev. Psychiatry"},{"key":"ref20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"606","DOI":"10.1046\/j.1525-1497.2001.016009606.x","article-title":"The PHQ-9: validity of a brief depression severity measure","volume":"16","author":"Kroenke","year":"2001","journal-title":"J. Gen. Intern. Med."},{"key":"ref21","first-page":"50","article-title":"Compare of college counseling and mental health education between China and America","volume":"182","author":"Li","year":"2010","journal-title":"Stud. Ideol. Educ."},{"key":"ref22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"739","DOI":"10.16128\/j.cnki.1005-3611.2022.03.047","article-title":"The impact of depressive mood on adolescents\u2019 attitudes toward seeking professional help: the chain mediating role of two types of depressive disorder stigma","volume":"30","author":"Liang","year":"2022","journal-title":"Chin. J. Clin. Psychol."},{"key":"ref23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"127","DOI":"10.1037\/ort0000708","article-title":"The power of knowledge: how mental health literacy can overcome barriers to seeking help","volume":"94","author":"Lien","year":"2024","journal-title":"Am. J. Orthopsychiatry"},{"key":"ref24","first-page":"89","article-title":"The mechanism of college students' mental health problems influencing professional psychological help-seeking behavior: a longitudinal study","volume":"253","author":"Liu","year":"2021","journal-title":"Chin. J. Spec. Educ."},{"key":"ref25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2605","DOI":"10.1080\/07448481.2022.2119859","article-title":"Barriers and facilitators to help-seeking for common mental disorders among university students: a systematic review","volume":"72","author":"Lui","year":"2024","journal-title":"J. Am. Coll. Heal."},{"key":"ref26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1761","DOI":"10.1080\/07448481.2020.1819820","article-title":"Mental health stigma and professional help-seeking behaviors among Asian American and Asian international students","volume":"70","author":"Maeshima","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Am. Coll. Heal."},{"key":"ref27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"270","DOI":"10.1007\/s10597-011-9422-9","article-title":"Psychological distress and subjective burden of caregivers of people with mental illness: the role of affiliate stigma and face concern","volume":"48","author":"Mak","year":"2012","journal-title":"Community Ment. Health J."},{"key":"ref28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"473","DOI":"10.1037\/cou0000733","article-title":"Perceived control moderates the internalized stigma model of seeking mental health services in distressed older adults","volume":"71","author":"Murphy","year":"2024","journal-title":"J. Couns. Psychol."},{"key":"ref29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"732","DOI":"10.1037\/S0033291723002416","article-title":"Mental health problems and help-seeking behaviours of Syrian refugee adolescents: mediating role of self-stigma","volume":"54","author":"\u00d6zaslan","year":"2024","journal-title":"Psychol. Med."},{"key":"ref30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"501","DOI":"10.1037\/cou0000734","article-title":"Depression, gender, and help-seeking among Arab\/middle eastern north African (MENA) Americans: the role of enculturation","volume":"71","author":"Sadek","year":"2024","journal-title":"J. Couns. Psychol."},{"key":"ref31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"261","DOI":"10.1192\/bjp.bp.116.189464","article-title":"Association between mental health-related stigma and active help-seeking: systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"210","author":"Schnyder","year":"2017","journal-title":"Br. J. Psychiatry"},{"key":"ref32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"106","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cpr.2016.09.002","article-title":"The role of masculinity in men\u2019 s help-seeking for depression: a systematic review","volume":"49","author":"Seidler","year":"2016","journal-title":"Clin. Psychol. Rev."},{"key":"ref33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"442","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyt.2020.00442","article-title":"Barriers to professional mental health help-seeking among Chinese adults: a systematic review","volume":"11","author":"Shi","year":"2020","journal-title":"Front. Psych."},{"key":"ref34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"281","DOI":"10.1038\/s41380-021-01161-7","article-title":"Age at onset of mental disorders worldwide: large-scale meta-analysis of 192 epidemiological studies","volume":"27","author":"Solmi","year":"2022","journal-title":"Mol. Psychiatry"},{"key":"ref35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"522","DOI":"10.1002\/jclp.23629","article-title":"The effects of a multimedia intervention on help-seeking process with a Chinese college student sample","volume":"80","author":"Song","year":"2024","journal-title":"J. Clin. Psychol."},{"key":"ref36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"325","DOI":"10.1037\/0022-0167.53.3.325","article-title":"Measuring the self-stigma associated with seeking psychological help","volume":"53","author":"Vogel","year":"2006","journal-title":"J. Couns. Psychol."},{"key":"ref37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"356","DOI":"10.1037\/cou0000757","article-title":"Interdependent stigma of seeking mental health services: examining a new scale across eight countries\/regions","volume":"71","author":"Vogel","year":"2024","journal-title":"J. Couns. Psychol."},{"key":"ref38","volume-title":"Mindsponge Theory","author":"Vuong","year":"2023"},{"key":"ref39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/0193841X251396210","article-title":"Informational entropy-based value formation: a new paradigm for a deeper understanding of value","author":"Vuong","year":"2025","journal-title":"Eval. Rev."},{"key":"ref40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e1636","DOI":"10.1002\/leap.1636","article-title":"Exploring the role of rejection in scholarly knowledge production: insights from granular interaction thinking and information theory","volume":"37","author":"Vuong","year":"2024","journal-title":"Learn. Publ."},{"key":"ref41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"539","DOI":"10.1016\/j.genhosppsych.2014.05.021","article-title":"Reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9) in the general population","volume":"36","author":"Wang","year":"2014","journal-title":"Gen. Hosp. Psychiatry"},{"key":"ref42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"765","DOI":"10.1080\/13548506.2023.2217379","article-title":"Understanding the intention and behavior of psychological help-seeking among Chinese college students using theory of planned behavior: a three-month follow-up study","volume":"29","author":"Wang","year":"2024","journal-title":"Psychol. Health Med."},{"key":"ref43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"291","DOI":"10.1007\/s10964-009-9487-8","article-title":"Help-negation and suicidal ideation: the role of depression, anxiety and hopelessness","volume":"39","author":"Wilson","year":"2010","journal-title":"J. Youth Adolesc."},{"key":"ref44","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1356435","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2024.1356435","article-title":"The relationship between mental health literacy and professional psychological help-seeking behavior among Chinese college students: mediating roles of perceived social support and psychological help-seeking stigma","volume":"15","author":"Yang","year":"2024","journal-title":"Front. Psychol."},{"key":"ref45","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"512","DOI":"10.1038\/s41586-022-04907-7","article-title":"A synergistic mindsets intervention protects adolescents from stress","volume":"607","author":"Yeager","year":"2022","journal-title":"Nature"},{"key":"ref46","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"782","DOI":"10.16128\/j.cnki.1005-3611.2025.04.022","article-title":"The influence of gradual implicit mental health beliefs on high school students\u2019 personal growth initiative: the chain mediating effect of emotion regulation strategies and positive mental health","volume":"33","author":"Yu","year":"2025","journal-title":"Chin. J. Clin. Psychol."},{"key":"ref47","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"90","DOI":"10.1037\/cou0000637","article-title":"Associations between public and self-stigma of help-seeking with help-seeking attitudes and intention: a meta-analytic structural equation modeling approach","volume":"70","author":"Yu","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Couns. Psychol."},{"key":"ref48","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1593","DOI":"10.1111\/jcpp.14145","article-title":"Research review: help-seeking intentions, behaviors, and barriers in college students-a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"66","author":"Zhao","year":"2025","journal-title":"J. Child Psychol. Psychiatry"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Psychology"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2025.1736421\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,12]],"date-time":"2026-01-12T08:15:47Z","timestamp":1768205747000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2025.1736421\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,12]]},"references-count":48,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fpsyg.2025.1736421"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2025.1736421","relation":{},"ISSN":["1664-1078"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1664-1078","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,12]]},"article-number":"1736421"}}