Strengths and Family: Uni Students' Secret Weapons Against Pandemic Blues

You know how tough times, like the COVID-19 pandemic, can hit our mental health hard, right? Well, a study found that university students have a secret weapon to fight off depression. It's all about knowing your strengths and having a strong family support system. Researchers surveyed over a thousand students aged 16 to 22 to see how strengths knowledge, family functioning, and coping strategies affect depression.Guess what? Students who were aware of their strengths felt less depressed. And both positive and negative coping strategies played a role in managing depression. The big reveal? Family support was key in how students handled stress and feelings. It basically moderated the relationship between coping strategies and depression. So, what's the takeaway? Recognizing your strengths and having a solid family support system can really help keep depression away, especially during stressful times like a pandemic. It's a good reminder for us all to focus on boosting these factors to keep our mental health in check.