Latent Profile Analysis of Stress-Related Cognitive Style Among Adolescents: Association With Depression and Anxiety

Adolescents frequently encounter stressful events, and negative cognitive styles can amplify the risk of depression and anxiety. However, previous studies examining the relationship between negative cognitive style and mental health often overlook the internal heterogeneity of cognitive styles. This study aims to identify latent profiles of negative cognitive style among adolescents and explore their associations with depression and anxiety. A cohort of 1,150 adolescents completed questionnaires measuring negative cognitive style, depression, and anxiety. Latent profile analysis was used to uncover distinct cognitive style profiles, and their associations with mental health outcomes were assessed using the Bolck-Croon-Hagenaars method. The analysis revealed three distinct profiles: Low Risk (29.5%), Medium Risk (53.5%), and High Risk (17.0%). As expected, the Low Risk profile exhibited significantly lower levels of depression and anxiety compared to the Medium and High Risk profiles. Additionally, the Medium Risk profile showed lower levels of depression and anxiety compared to the High Risk profile. These findings highlight the utility of latent profile analysis in capturing the heterogeneity of negative cognitive styles in adolescents and may inform the development of targeted intervention strategies to address mental health risks.