The Effect of Mentalization and Emotional Clarity on Depression among University Students: The Moderated Mediating Effect of Social Support

Objectives The purpose of this study was to examine the mediating effect of emotional clarity and the moderated mediating effect of social support on the relationship between mentalization and depression in university students. Methods To test the research hypotheses, an online survey was conducted with 300 university students in Seoul and the metropolitan area. Using the Process Macro Model 4 in SPSS 24.0, we verified the mediating effect of emotional clarity in the relationship between mentalization and depression, and using Model 14, we verified the moderated mediating effect of social support. Results The mediating effect of emotional clarity in the relationship between mentalization and depression was found to be significant. Furthermore, it was revealed that mentalization affects depression through emotional clarity, and this effect is moderated by social support. In other words, the impact of mentalization on depression through emotional clarity varies significantly depending on social support. When examining the pattern of moderation effects, it was found that in cases of high social support, individuals experience less depression even when their emotional clarity is low. Conclusions Mentalization affects depression through emotional clarity, and this effect can be moderated by social support. This implies that interventions targeting emotional clarity or utilizing social support can alleviate depression in individuals with impaired mentalization functioning