Table 2 Associations between the intensity of depressive symptoms and psychological indices assessed by Pearson's coefficients

External locus of control

r = 0.42,

P = 0.002

Anxiety

   State

r = 0.72,

P = 0.001

   Trait anxiety

r = 0.71,

P = 0.001

Mood

   Tense arousal

r = 0.63,

P = 0.001

   Energetic arousal

r = -0.73,

P = 0.001

   Hedonic tone

r = -0.64,

P = 0.001

Coping with stress

   Task-oriented

r = -0.29,

P = 0.043

   Avoidance-oriented

r = -0.13

P = 0.387

substitutional activities

r = 0.10,

P = 0.509

social interaction

r = -0.32

P = 0.027

   Emotion-oriented

r = 0.68,

P = 0.001