How Do Control Beliefs About Stress Relate to Depressive Symptoms in Chinese Healthcare Workers: The Mediating Role of Optimism and Cognitive Reappraisal

Increasing interest in understanding depressive symptoms in healthcare workers stems from their negative impact. Previous studies have highlighted the potential influence of lay beliefs about stress on depressive symptoms. However, no previous research has directly examined whether control beliefs about stress could alleviate depressive symptoms. This study aims to investigate the relationship between control beliefs about stress and depressive symptoms among Chinese healthcare workers. Additionally, we aim to explore the mediating roles of optimism and cognitive reappraisal within this relationship. A total of 1326 Chinese healthcare workers completed a multi-section questionnaire. The results indicated that control beliefs about stress were negatively correlated with depressive symptoms and positively correlated with optimism and cognitive reappraisal. Furthermore, both optimism and cognitive reappraisal served as independent and serial mediators in the relationship between control beliefs about stress and depressive symptoms.