Relationship of cynical hostility with anxiety and depressiveness among university students in Poland
Authors: Luiza Sendal, Artur Sawicki, Paulina Bagińska, Paweł Andrzej Atroszko
Abstract: This study aimed to investigate the relationship cynical hostility with anxiety and depressiveness among university students in Poland. Psychosocial costs of cynical hostility are usually investigated in older populations, and little is known about its adverse effects on young people. On the grounds of previous findings it was hypothesised that cynical hostility will be positively related to both depression and anxiety among university students. The study was conducted in the sample of 244 university students (including 151 women and 89 men, 4 participants did not report gender). Mean age was M = 21.22 (SD = 2.80). Valid, reliable and widely used measurement tools were applied. Both hypotheses were confirmed, cynical hostility was positively related to anxiety and depressiveness. The results showed that when controlled for Big Five personality traits and social support, cynical hostility was an independent predictor of depressiveness but not anxiety. A possible mediating effect of social support on the relationship between cynical hostility and anxiety, and cynical hostility and depressiveness needs to be researched. The results are analysed from the perspective of high psychosocial costs of cynical hostility among university students.
Publ: Research and Development of Young Scientists in Poland. Humanities and social sciences