Depressive symptoms prevalence, associated family factors, and gender differences: A national cohort study of middle school students in China

This study examined prevalence and change in depressive symptoms in Chinese adolescents, and roles of inter-parental (I-P) relationship and parent-child (P-C) relationships in its etiology and gender differences. Survey data on depressive symptoms, I-P relationship, and indicators of P-C relationships were collected in China Education Panel Survey (2013-2015) from a nationally representative sample of adolescents (n=9,869) at 7th (at baseline), 8th and 9th (follow-up) grades. Prevalence of depressive symptoms was 17.9% in 7th graders and higher at 25.7% for 9th graders, more remarkably in girls. Better I-P relationship could reduce the risk of depressive symptoms among all (OR=0.53, 95%CI: 0.48, 0.58), girls (OR=0.61, 95%CI: 0.54, 0.69), and boys (OR=0.54, 95%CI: 0.49, 0.61). Greater mother-child (M-C) and father-child (F-C) closeness were protective of depressive symptoms in all and girls (ORs=0.94 to 0.96, p