Effects of Father-Adolescent and Mother-Adolescent Relationships on Depressive Symptoms among Chinese Early Adolescents

Abstract Parent–adolescent relationships play an important role in protecting adolescents from depressive symptoms. However, there are no consistent conclusions about the extent to which fathers and mothers uniquely contribute adolescents’ The present study aimed acquire knowledge this research area two ways. First, separated potential impacts of father–child mother–child on symptoms Chinese adolescents. Second, used a longitudinal design with nationally representative samples China Education Panel Survey. A total 8794 middle school students grade 7 completed measures father–adolescent mother–adolescent relationships, twice (T1 T2; one-year interval). Results indicated that both positive had negative effects female father-adolescent, not mother-adolescent, effect male These findings suggest parent–adolescent could reduce early symptoms, but might have different protective among China.