Impact of parent-child attachment on adolescent depression: a chain-mediated model
LIU Liu1,2, CHEN Yiwen1,2
1. Key Laboratory of Behavioral Sciences, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; 2. Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
Abstract：Objective To explore the impact of parent-child attachment on adolescent depression and the mediating roles of self-esteem and emotional intelligence. Methods A questionnaire survey was conducted on 1 200 middle school students by using parent-child attachment scale, self-esteem scale, emotional intelligence scale, and center for epidemiologic studies depression scale. A total of 1 195 valid questionnaires were obtained. The relevant data were statistically analyzed. Results There was a significant correlation between parent-child attachment, self-esteem, emotional intelligence, and depression. The results of mediation analysis showed that parent-child attachment had a significantly negatively predictive effect on adolescent depression（β=-0.28, P<0.001）. The mediating effect of self-esteem and emotional intelligence on the relationship between parent-child attachment and depression was significant（95 % CI: -0.063--0.015, -0.086--0.045）, and exerted a chain mediation effect through the pathway of parent-child attachment → self-esteem → emotionalintelligence → depression（95 % CI: -0.020 --0.008）. Conclusion Parent-child attachment can directly affect adolescent depression, and can also indirectly affect depression through the individual mediating effects of self-esteem and emotional intelligence, as well as the chain mediating effect produced by the combined effects of both.
