Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40804703›Full record

ArticleBMC psychology2025

Improvements in depression symptomatology in a sample of undergraduate students: a pre-post Balint group intervention study.

Shuzhi Zhou, Keyi Qin, Qian Gu, Rui Zhang, Lixia Wang, Jinjing Luo, Jincong Yu, Chuanhua Gu

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in BMC psychology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Shuzhi Zhou *Education Center for Mental Health, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, China.
Keyi Qin *Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior(CCNU), Ministry of Education; Key Laboratory of Human Development and Mental Health of Hubei Province, School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, China.
Qian GuSchool of Educational Science, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, China.
Rui ZhangKey Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior(CCNU), Ministry of Education; Key Laboratory of Human Development and Mental Health of Hubei Province, School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, China.
Lixia WangKey Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior(CCNU), Ministry of Education; Key Laboratory of Human Development and Mental Health of Hubei Province, School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, China.
Jinjing LuoEducation Center for Mental Health, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, China.
Jincong YuEducation and Counseling Center for Psychological Health, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, Wuhan, China.
Chuanhua GuKey Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior(CCNU), Ministry of Education; Key Laboratory of Human Development and Mental Health of Hubei Province, School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, China. guchuanhua@ccnu.edu.cn.

Funding

Open Project of Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior Central China Normal University,2019B07The Fundamental Research Funds for the Centeral Universities 104972024XCB0044the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities CCNU25ZZ156
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND/

objectivePrevious studies have explored the effects of Balint group interventions on reducing depressive symptoms among medical workers; however, its effects on other populations have not been analyzed. This study addressed this gap by investigating whether this intervention can reduce depressive tendencies in college students and its potential mechanism.

methodsThe effects of the 6-week Balint group intervention were assessed using an experimental/control group and pre-/post-test design. 56 college students (66.07% female; baseline Mage = 21.56 years, SD = 1.86) participated in the study, and 30 students (baseline Mage = 21.84 years, SD = 2.02) were included in the intervention group.

resultsConsistent with developmental expectations, the results indicated that after 6 weeks, the intervention group exhibited significantly lower depressive tendencies and significantly improved perceived social support and interpersonal competences compared to the waiting control group. Furthermore, interpersonal competence, particularly disclosure, fully mediated the relationship between the Balint group intervention and depressive tendencies.

conclusionsBalint group intervention can significantly reduce depressive tendencies and improve perceived social support and interpersonal competences of college students. The decrease of depressive tendencies can be achieved by improving college students’ interpersonal competences (especially disclosure). CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: The clinical trial was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (Registration number: ChiCTR2400090160) on 25 September 2024.

Indexed as

DepressionPsychotherapy, GroupSocial SupportStudentsAdultFemaleHumansInterpersonal RelationsMaleSocial GroupSocial SkillsUniversitiesYoung AdultBalint group interventionDepressive tendencyInterpersonal competencePerceived social supportPotential mechanism

Identifiers

PMID40804703
PMCPMC12351977

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.