STRESS

Volume 33(2); June 2025

Original Articles

The Mediating Effect of Self-Esteem in the Relationship Between Late-Life Volunteering, Depressive Symptoms, and Subjective Well-Being: A Longitudinal Analysis Using a Sequential Process Latent Growth Model: Dapin Cho, DongHee Jeong, Eun-Jung Shim; STRESS. 2025;33(2):53-62. Published online June 30, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.17547/kjsr.2025.33.2.53

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Abstract PDF: Background
This study examined the longitudinal relationship between late-life volunteering, depressive symptoms, and subjective well-being, with a focus on the mediating effect of self-esteem.
Methods
Data were drawn from the 12th to 18th waves (2017∼2023) of the Korean Welfare Panel Study, including 4,954 individuals aged 65 and older at wave 12. A sequential process latent growth model was employed to examine trajectories of self-esteem (waves 13∼15), depressive symptoms, and subjective well-being (both measured at waves 16∼18), as well as their associations over time. The relationship between volunteering, depressive symptoms, and subjective well-being was analyzed while controlling for sex, income and education. Bootstrapping procedure was employed to test the mediating effect of self-esteem.
Results
Self-esteem and depressive symptoms showed a steady decreasing over time, whereas, subjective well-being tended to increase. Compared to non-volunteers, volunteers demonstrated higher initial levels of self-esteem, which were associated with lower subsequent levels and slower declines in depressive symptoms, as well as higher subsequent levels and slower increases in subjective well-being.
Conclusions
This study demonstrates that self-esteem plays a key mediating role between volunteering and mental health outcomes in older adults. Specifically, volunteering was found to enhance self-esteem, which helps reduce depressive symptoms and improve subjective well-being. These findings suggest that interventions aimed at promoting social participation, such as volunteering, and strengthening self-esteem may be effective strategies for enhancing mental health in later life.

Understanding Nonsuicidal Self-Injury in Adults Based on the Benefits and Barriers Model: Comparing Suicidal Self-Injury and Exploring Functional Differences across Frequency Levels: Hyejin Jeon, Hoon-Jin Lee; STRESS. 2025;33(2):63-73. Published online June 30, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.17547/kjsr.2025.33.2.63

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Abstract PDF: Background
This study aimed to examine differences in nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) depending on the presence of suicidal self-injury, such as suicidal ideation or suicide attempts. It also explored patterns of change in self-harm motivation during the initiation and maintenance of NSSI, based on the Benefits and Barriers Model of NSSI.
Methods
A total of 300 adults completed the Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors Interview, Inventory of Statements about Self-Injury, Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, Trait Meta-Mood Scale, Depressive Experiences Questionnaire, Capability for Suicide Questionnaire, and the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire. Group differences were analyzed.
Results
Individuals in the NSSI with suicide attempt group showed significantly higher motivations related to affect regulation, self-punishment, communication, and interpersonal needs. In contrast, the NSSI-only group exhibited significantly lower levels of emotion dysregulation, interpersonal needs, and self-criticism. Additionally, compared to the middle- and high-frequency NSSI groups, the low-frequency group reported stronger motivations related to peer bonding, interpersonal influence, and the toughness function.
Conclusions
These findings suggest that the Benefits and Barriers Model of NSSI is useful for understanding the relationship between nonsuicidal and suicidal self-injury, as well as the motivational processes involved in the maintenance of NSSI.

A Validation Study of the Korean Version of the Moral Injury Outcome Scale: Hyeonchan Kim, Yun-Kyeung Choi; STRESS. 2025;33(2):74-92. Published online June 30, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.17547/kjsr.2025.33.2.74

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Abstract PDF: Background
Moral injury (MI) refers to the psychological and functional consequences of potentially morally injurious events (PMIEs), involving perceived violations of deeply held moral beliefs. This study aimed to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Korean version of the Moral Injury Outcome Scale (K-MIOS) and to examine its applicability in Korean populations.
Methods
A total of 546 Korean adults who had experienced at least one PMIE completed an online survey. The sample was randomly split into two groups (n=273 each) for exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Convergent and discriminant validity were assessed using correlation analyses with related psychological constructs. Signal detection analysis was performed to identify the optimal cutoff score indicating clinically significant and potentially targetable MI.
Results
EFA and CFA supported a two-factor structure for the K-MIOS, with good internal consistency. The K-MIOS showed significant positive correlations with PMIE exposure, MI, post-traumatic cognitions and emotions, post-traumatic stress symptoms, general psychological distress, and psychosocial dysfunction, supporting its construct validity. Signal detection analysis identified a cutoff score of 27 as optimally efficient for identifying individuals with clinically significant MI.
Conclusions
The K-MIOS showed robust psychometric properties and is suitable for assessing MI in Korean adults. This study provides initial evidence for a screening threshold, that may help identify individuals at clinical risk for MI.

Effects of Loneliness on Stress in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: Sequential Dual Mediating Roles of Social Interaction Anxiety and Self-Control: Seung Chul Lee, Wonil Choi, SoYeong Yoon, Soo Rim Noh; STRESS. 2025;33(2):93-102. Published online June 30, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.17547/kjsr.2025.33.2.93

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Abstract PDF: Background
The aim of this study is to identify the psychological pathways linking loneliness to stress among middle-aged and older adults, focusing on the mediating roles of social interaction anxiety and self-control.
Methods
A total of 580 adults aged 40∼71 years completed an online self-report questionnaire. Structural equation modeling was used to test a sequential mediation model, and covariates such as age, sex, depression, and extraversion were controlled for.
Results
Loneliness was positively associated with stress and social interaction anxiety, and negatively with self-control. Social interaction anxiety and self-control each mediated the relationship between loneliness and stress. Moreover, a significant sequential mediation pathway was observed: loneliness was associated with higher levels of social interaction anxiety, which in turn was negatively related to self-control, and lower self-control was linked to heightened stress. After controlling for covariates, only the indirect effect via social interaction anxiety remained significant. This suggests that anxiety in social contexts may serve as a robust emotional mechanism underlying the association between loneliness and perceived stress.
Conclusions
This study empirically supports the sequential mediation model in which loneliness increases social interaction anxiety, which in turn reduces self-control, ultimately elevating stress. These findings highlight the importance of considering both interpersonal and intrapersonal factors in mental health interventions for aging populations. Addressing loneliness, reducing social interaction anxiety, and strengthening self-control may be effective targets for psychological intervention and community-based programs tailored to the needs of middle-aged and older adults.

Mediating Effect of Acceptance and Moderated Mediation by Emotional Reactivity in the Relationship Between Awareness and Anxiety: Chang Soo Han, Boyoung Kim; STRESS. 2025;33(2):103-110. Published online June 30, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.17547/kjsr.2025.33.2.103

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Abstract PDF: Background
This study aimed to examine the mediating effect of acceptance and the moderated mediation effect of emotional reactivity in the relationship between awareness and state anxiety.
Methods
A total of 395 Korean adults participated in this study. Participants completed self-report measures of awareness, state anxiety, acceptance, and emotional reactivity. Data were analyzed using PROCESS macro to test for mediation and moderated mediation effects.
Results
The findings indicated that acceptance significantly mediated the relationship between awareness and state anxiety. Moreover, emotional reactivity significantly moderated the association between awareness and acceptance. A significant moderated mediation effect was also observed, suggesting that the indirect effect of awareness on state anxiety through acceptance differed depending on levels of emotional reactivity.
Conclusions
These results elucidate the mechanisms underlying mindfulness, indicating that its anxiety-reducing effects via acceptance depend on individual differences in emotional reactivity. The study offers suggestions for the clinical application of mindfulness-based interventions, emphasizing the importance of tailoring strategies to clients’ emotional sensitivity.

Effectiveness of Mental Countermeasures in Psychophysiological Detection of Deception: Kipyoung Kim, Hyeongi Hong, Hyungki Ji, Taeho Kim, Myoung-Ho Hyun; STRESS. 2025;33(2):111-116. Published online June 30, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.17547/kjsr.2025.33.2.111

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Abstract PDF: Background
This study examined the impact of mental countermeasures on the accuracy of the comparison question test (CQT) in psychophysiological detection of deception.
Methods
Forty-five participants were randomly assigned to three groups: innocent, guilty, and guilty with mental countermeasures. A mock crime scenario was used, and the Utah Zone Comparison Test was conducted. Scoring was performed using the Empirical Scoring System–Multinomial.
Results
The CQT accurately identified all guilty participants (100%) and 91.7% of the innocent participants. However, only 25% of the guilty with mental countermeasures participants were correctly classified, indicating a substantial reduction in detection accuracy due to the use of mental countermeasures.
Conclusions
Mental countermeasures can significantly distort physiological responses, undermining the core assumption of the CQT. These findings emphasize the need for advanced detection techniques that integrate neurophysiological measures such as functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and machine learning approaches.

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