Association of social support with depression and anxiety among the migrant population of Henan, China: Based on a large cross-sectional study

Amid China’s rapid urbanization, the growing migrant population has increasingly drawn attention due to the rising prevalence of mental health concerns. Based on a large cross-sectional study, we explored the relationship between social factors and depression and anxiety among the migrant population and also quantified the correlations of different dimensions of social support and the varying levels of depression and anxiety. Results showed that the prevalence of depression and anxiety are 47.0% and 34.9%, respectively, among the 19,498 migrant populations. Females and individuals with chronic conditions were found to be more vulnerable to experiencing symptoms of anxiety and depression within the migrant population. Participants who received higher levels of social support were less likely to experience symptoms of depression and anxiety. Additionally, various dimensions of social support (including subjective, objective, and utilization) exhibited significant negative associations with different levels of depression and anxiety within the migrant population. Social support plays a crucial role in alleviating depression and anxiety among the migrant population, particularly in mitigating moderate and severe symptoms, which provides an important reference for improving the mental well-being of the migrant population.