Exploring the Inter-relationship of depressive and anxiety symptoms associated with suicidal ideation among migrant industrial workers in shenzhen: a network analysis approach

Abstract Objective Internal migrant workers have been experiencing increasing psychological problems recently. This study investigated the interplay between depressive and anxiety symptoms and their association with suicidal ideation among migrant industrial workers, using a network analysis approac...

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Main Authors: Rongxi Wang, Shangbin Liu, Kechun Zhang, Tian Hu, Xinyi Li, Yuzhong Yan, Ming Li, Huachun Zou, Yong Cai
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-08-01
Series:BMC Public Health
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23819-5
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author Rongxi Wang
Shangbin Liu
Kechun Zhang
Tian Hu
Xinyi Li
Yuzhong Yan
Ming Li
Huachun Zou
Yong Cai
author_facet Rongxi Wang
Shangbin Liu
Kechun Zhang
Tian Hu
Xinyi Li
Yuzhong Yan
Ming Li
Huachun Zou
Yong Cai
author_sort Rongxi Wang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Objective Internal migrant workers have been experiencing increasing psychological problems recently. This study investigated the interplay between depressive and anxiety symptoms and their association with suicidal ideation among migrant industrial workers, using a network analysis approach. Method Cross-sectional data from 1792 participants were collected using self-reported scales for depressive and anxiety symptoms in Shenzhen, China. Network analysis was adopted to reveal key symptoms and their connections within the network. Results The detected rates of depressive and anxiety symptoms were 40.3% (95%CI: 38.1%~42.6%) and 29.0% (95% CI: 27%~31.2%), respectively. The reported rate of suicidal ideation was 7.9% (95% CI: 6.7%~9.2%). The top ten strongest edges in the model were observed within depression and anxiety domains. “Being so restless that it is hard to sit still”, “Feeling blue” and “Trouble relaxing” were central to the network, while “Feeling nervous, anxious or on edge” and “Sleep disturbance” acted as bridge symptoms in the network. The strongest direct relation to suicidal ideation was anxiety symptom A2 “Unable to stop or control worrying”. Conclusion Findings highlight the interconnected nature of depressive and anxiety symptoms and how these symptoms related to suicidal ideation, thus providing insights for targeted interventions to improve mental well-being among migrant industrial workers in Shenzhen. Intervention strategies focusing on the most influential symptoms such as “restlessness” and “feeling blue” may yield better effectiveness.
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spelling doaj-art-d9576143b5c64a80b49b13aefca6b86a2025-08-20T03:46:12ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-08-0125111210.1186/s12889-025-23819-5Exploring the Inter-relationship of depressive and anxiety symptoms associated with suicidal ideation among migrant industrial workers in shenzhen: a network analysis approachRongxi Wang0Shangbin Liu1Kechun Zhang2Tian Hu3Xinyi Li4Yuzhong Yan5Ming Li6Huachun Zou7Yong Cai8Shanghai University of Medicine & Health Sciences Affiliated Zhoupu HospitalPublic Health department, Tongren Hospital, Hongqiao International Institute of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShenzhen Longhua District Center for Disease Control and PreventionShenzhen Longhua District Center for Disease Control and PreventionSchool of Public Health (Shenzhen), SunYat-sen UniversityShanghai University of Medicine & Health Sciences Affiliated Zhoupu HospitalShanghai East Hospital of Tongji UniversitySchool of Public Health, Fudan UniversityPublic Health department, Tongren Hospital, Hongqiao International Institute of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineAbstract Objective Internal migrant workers have been experiencing increasing psychological problems recently. This study investigated the interplay between depressive and anxiety symptoms and their association with suicidal ideation among migrant industrial workers, using a network analysis approach. Method Cross-sectional data from 1792 participants were collected using self-reported scales for depressive and anxiety symptoms in Shenzhen, China. Network analysis was adopted to reveal key symptoms and their connections within the network. Results The detected rates of depressive and anxiety symptoms were 40.3% (95%CI: 38.1%~42.6%) and 29.0% (95% CI: 27%~31.2%), respectively. The reported rate of suicidal ideation was 7.9% (95% CI: 6.7%~9.2%). The top ten strongest edges in the model were observed within depression and anxiety domains. “Being so restless that it is hard to sit still”, “Feeling blue” and “Trouble relaxing” were central to the network, while “Feeling nervous, anxious or on edge” and “Sleep disturbance” acted as bridge symptoms in the network. The strongest direct relation to suicidal ideation was anxiety symptom A2 “Unable to stop or control worrying”. Conclusion Findings highlight the interconnected nature of depressive and anxiety symptoms and how these symptoms related to suicidal ideation, thus providing insights for targeted interventions to improve mental well-being among migrant industrial workers in Shenzhen. Intervention strategies focusing on the most influential symptoms such as “restlessness” and “feeling blue” may yield better effectiveness.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23819-5DepressionAnxietyNetwork analysisMigrant workers
spellingShingle Rongxi Wang
Shangbin Liu
Kechun Zhang
Tian Hu
Xinyi Li
Yuzhong Yan
Ming Li
Huachun Zou
Yong Cai
Exploring the Inter-relationship of depressive and anxiety symptoms associated with suicidal ideation among migrant industrial workers in shenzhen: a network analysis approach
BMC Public Health
Depression
Anxiety
Network analysis
Migrant workers
title Exploring the Inter-relationship of depressive and anxiety symptoms associated with suicidal ideation among migrant industrial workers in shenzhen: a network analysis approach
title_full Exploring the Inter-relationship of depressive and anxiety symptoms associated with suicidal ideation among migrant industrial workers in shenzhen: a network analysis approach
title_fullStr Exploring the Inter-relationship of depressive and anxiety symptoms associated with suicidal ideation among migrant industrial workers in shenzhen: a network analysis approach
title_full_unstemmed Exploring the Inter-relationship of depressive and anxiety symptoms associated with suicidal ideation among migrant industrial workers in shenzhen: a network analysis approach
title_short Exploring the Inter-relationship of depressive and anxiety symptoms associated with suicidal ideation among migrant industrial workers in shenzhen: a network analysis approach
title_sort exploring the inter relationship of depressive and anxiety symptoms associated with suicidal ideation among migrant industrial workers in shenzhen a network analysis approach
topic Depression
Anxiety
Network analysis
Migrant workers
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23819-5
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