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Updated: Apr 15, 2026

A New Method for Inducing a Depression-Like Behavior in Rats
Published on: February 22, 2018
Causal and mediating factors for anxiety, depression and well-being
Peter Kinderman1, Sara Tai1, Eleanor Pontin1
1Peter Kinderman, PhD, Institute of Psychology, Health and Society, University of Liverpool; Sara Tai, ClinPsyD, School of Psychological Science, Manchester; Eleanor Pontin, DClinPsych, Institute of Psychology, Health and Society, University of Liverpool; Matthias Schwannauer, PhD, School of Health in Social Science, Edinburgh; Ian Jarman, PhD, Paulo Lisboa, PhD, School of Computing and Mathematical Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK.
Abstract:
Background The relationship between well-being and mental ill health is complex; people may experience very low levels of well-being even in the absence of overt mental health problems. Aims This study tested the hypothesis that anxiety, depression and well-being have different causal determinants and psychological mediating mechanisms. Method The influence of causal and mediating factors on anxiety, depression and well-being were investigated in a cross-sectional online questionnaire survey hosted on a UK national broadcasting website. Results Multivariate conditional independence analysis of data from 27 397 participants revealed different association pathways for the two constructs. Anxiety and depression were associated with negative life events mediated by rumination; low levels of subjective well-being were associated with material deprivation and social isolation, mediated by adaptive coping style. Conclusions Our findings support the 'two continua' model of the relationship between psychological well-being and mental health problems, with implications for both treatment and prevention.
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