Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Public Health 2251-6085 54 4 2025 04 02 830 838 Jianhong Dong Student Psychological Development Guidance Center, Xi 'an Shiyou University, Xi 'an, China Jing Chao College of Modern Service Management, Shandong Youth University of Political Science, Jinan, China 2025 02 26 2025 04 02 Background: Information Technology (IT) workers have long experienced high-intensity work pressure and overwork, thus bringing severe challenges to managing their mental health. As a key predictor of IT workers’ mental health, perceived stress significantly affects their tendency to experience depression. Self-esteem and self-control are important factors that influence individuals to regulate their behaviors and emotions and cope with challenges, thereby playing a possible chain mediating role in the relationship between perceived stress and depression. Methods: In this study, 708 IT workers in Shaanxi Province were investigated anonymously through questionnaires. The perceived stress scale, depression scale, self-esteem scale, and self-control scale were used to examine the influence of perceived stress on IT workers’ depression. Subsequently, the chain mediating role of self-esteem and self-control in this relationship was tested. Results: Perceived stress is found to influence IT workers’ depression (P < 0.01). Furthermore, self-esteem and self-control play a chain mediating role in the relationship between perceived stress and IT workers’ depression (P < 0.01). In addition, the duration of occupation in IT work influences the depression of IT workers significantly (P < 0.01). Conclusion: This study revealed the chain mediating roles of self-esteem and self-control in the influence of perceived stress on IT workers’ depression. This finding is of great reference value for reducing the depression risk of IT workers and implementing mental health intervention. Conclusion: Accurate evaluation of the governance ability of urban public health can provide guidance and policy propositions to improve the governance system of public health. https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/view/38292 https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/download/38292/8524