# Investigating schoolwork engagement and mental health of children based on structural equation modeling

## TL;DR

This study examines how coping with stress and social support affect schoolwork engagement and mental health in Japanese students.

## Contribution

The study reveals that coping with stress enhances schoolwork engagement but may slightly increase anxiety, with no direct link between schoolwork engagement and depression or anxiety.

## Key findings

- Coping with stress has a significant positive effect on schoolwork engagement.
- Social support has a significant positive effect on schoolwork engagement and a negative effect on anxiety.
- Schoolwork engagement is not significantly related to anxiety or depression.

## Abstract

This study explored whether depression, anxiety, social support, and coping with stress are related to schoolwork engagement (SE) using structural equation modeling.

This study investigated 798 Japanese elementary and junior high school students (4th to 9th grades) aged 9–15 years (M = 13.9 years, SD = 1.79 years). This study used the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale for Students, Patient Health Questionnaire‐9 Items Modified for Adolescents, Generalized Anxiety Disorder‐7, Adolescent Coping Orientation for Problem Experiences, and Social Support for Children and Adolescents.

SE had no significant effect on anxiety or depression and vice versa. Coping with stress had a significant positive middle effect on SE (β = 0.509, p < 0.001) and a significant positive weak effect on anxiety (β = 0.225, p < 0.001). However, it did not have a significant effect on depression. Social support had a significant positive weak effect on SE (β = 0.175, p < 0.001). Moreover, it had a significant negative middle effect on anxiety (β = −0.378, p < 0.001) and a significant negative, weak effect on depression (β = −0.133, p < 0.01).

Our study suggested that depression, anxiety, and SE have no relationship, and that strategies of coping with stress predict higher SE but also higher anxiety.

Schoolwork engagement (SE) has no relationship with anxiety or depression. Although coping with stress might cause a slight increase in anxiety, it also contributes to fostering SE.