Objective      To determine the multiple mediation effects of trait coping styles between positive mental characters and depression symptoms among new recruits.       Methods      A total of 9 182 male new recruits aged 16-25 years old were assessed with positive mental characters scale for recruits (PMCS-R)

trait coping style questionnaire (TCSQ) and self-rating depression scale (SDS). The relationship of these variables was analyzed by structure equation modeling.       Results      The positive mental characters

negative coping style and positive coping style were associated with the depression symptoms significantly (P0.05)

and could predict depression significantly and explain 52.4% of total variation. Multiple mediation modeling and Bootstrap test showed that the positive mental characters had indirect effects on the depression symptoms through the mediation effects of negative coping style and positive coping style (Chi  square/df=42.62

GFI=0.975

AGFI=0.953

NFI=0.984

IFI=0.985

CFI=0.985

TLI=0.977

RMSEA=0.067). The mediation effects of the negative coping style and positive coping style were 20.3% and 27.1%

respectively

and the total mediation effect was 47.5%.       Conclusion      The negative coping style and positive coping style exert multiple mediation effects on the relationship between the positive mental characters and depression symptoms.