Understanding the effect of the caring dimension of PYD on depression: the role of positive and negative affect regulation strategies in Spanish emerging adults

Abstract

Background: Positive Youth Development (PYD) has been associated with positive results in the transition to adulthood. Within the 5Cs model of PYD, the Caring dimension has been defined as the ability to feel sympathy and empathy towards others. However, the literature has shown some controversial results on the role of Caring in the psychological adjustment of young people. The aim of this study was to analyze the mediating role of strategies for coping with negative affect (i.e., distraction and depressive rumination) and strategies for coping with positive affect (i.e., dampening and positive rumination) in the relationship between Caring and depressive symptoms. We examined gender differences as well. Methods: A cross-sectional self-report study was carried out in 2021, with a sample of 1,040 young people (75.5% females; Age range = 18–28; Mage = 20.47, SD = 3.08), enrolled at 11 universities in Spain. Multiple partial mediation analysis was performed to examine the mediation of responses to positive and negative affect in the relationship between Caring and depression, and a path analysis was developed to integrate gender effects. Results: The results indicated that Caring was positively associated with more depressive symptoms through maladaptive affect responses, i.e., more depressive rumination, more inhibition of positive affect, less distraction and less positive rumination. On the contrary, a more adaptive regulation of the affect was associated with less depression. Gender differences were observed, where women scored higher in Caring, depressive rumination and dampening. Discussion: Some practical implications may be derived from these results. The role of Caring as an expression of sympathy and empathy can have a protective effect on psychological adjustment through the use adaptive skills to manage positive and negative affect. Programs integrating Caring dimension of PYD and emotional regulation skills training should be designed in university context, so that psychological adjustment can be maximized among university students and that the students, especially, females can be able to care for others as well as themselves.