Table 5.

Testing the moderated mediation effect (N = 826).

	β	SE	LLCI	ULCI
Mediator variable model (Outcome: Loneliness)
Perceived social support	−0.492***	0.030	−0.552	−0.433
Left-behind status	−0.104	0.067	−0.235	0.027
Perceived social support × Left-behind status	0.174**	0.065	0.047	0.301
Dependent variable model (Outcome: Depression)
Perceived social support	−0.163***	0.036	−0.233	−0.092
loneliness	0.337***	0.036	0.267	0.408
Conditional indirect effect analysis
Left-behind students	−0.183	0.025	−0.233	−0.136
Non-left-behind students	−0.124	0.025	−0.178	−0.080
Index of moderated mediation	0.059	0.025	0.010	0.106

All models are adjusted for age, sex, parental highest educational attainment, perceived family economic status, family structure, and only-child status.

^**P < 0.01.

^***P < 0.001.