Abstract
BACKGROUND: Information Technology (IT) workers have long experienced high-intensity work pressure and overwork, thus bringing severe challenges to managing their mental health. As a key predictor of IT workers' mental health, perceived stress significantly affects their tendency to experience depression. Self-esteem and self-control are important factors that influence individuals to regulate their behaviors and emotions and cope with challenges, thereby playing a possible chain mediating role in the relationship between perceived stress and depression. METHODS: Overall, 708 IT workers in Shaanxi Province were investigated anonymously through questionnaires. The perceived stress scale, depression scale, self-esteem scale, and self-control scale were used to examine the influence of perceived stress on IT workers' depression. Subsequently, the chain mediating role of self-esteem and self-control in this relationship was tested. RESULTS: Perceived stress influenced IT workers' depression (P < 0.01). Furthermore, self-esteem and self-control played a chain mediating role in the relationship between perceived stress and IT workers' depression (P < 0.01). In addition, the duration of occupation in IT work influenced the depression of IT workers significantly (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Accurate evaluation of the governance ability of urban public health could provide guidance and policy propositions to improve the governance system of public health.