Mediating role of Emotion Regulation in the association between Body Shape Concerns and Depressive Symptoms among Undergraduate Students

Abstract

Depression remains a significant mental health concern among university students worldwide,
with Nigerian undergraduates particularly vulnerable due to academic, social, and cultural
stressors. Body shape concerns – a component of body image dissatisfaction, has emerged as a
psychological risk factor for depression, and emotion regulation is thought to mediate this
relationship. Grounded in Beck's Cognitive Theory of Depression, this study examined whether
cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression mediate the link between body image concerns
and depression among Nigerian undergraduates. Using a cross-sectional correlational design, 350
students (138 males, 212 females; aged 16–30 years, M = 20.80, SD = 2.37) from the University of
Nigeria, Nsukka, were selected through convenience sampling. They completed the Body Shape
Questionnaire (BSQ-8C), the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale–Revised
(CESD-R), and the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ). Data analysis employed SPSS
version 25 and Hayes' PROCESS macro (Model 4) with 10,000 bootstrap resamples for parallel
mediation. Results revealed significant relationships among all variables. Body shape concerns
positively predicted symptoms of depression. Cognitive reappraisal was associated with reduced
depressive symptoms while expressive suppression predicted increased symptoms of depression.
Both cognitive reappraisal (B = .08, 95%CI =.010, .146) and expressive suppression (B = .09,
95%CI =.013, .189) mediated the body shape concerns-depressive symptoms relationship.
Findings support the theoretical model, highlighting cognitive reappraisal and expressive
suppression as key mediators. These results emphasize the importance of promoting adaptive
emotion regulation and reducing maladaptive strategies in university-based mental health
interventions targeting students with body image concerns.