Character strengths as a link between family psychosocial environment and depression symptoms among Chinese adolescents

Abstract

AbstractThe present study examined how perceived interparental conflict and parental attachment combined with character strengths contributed to depression symptoms among Chinese adolescents. A total of 978 adolescents (Mage = 13.71 years, SD = 0.57; 470 girls) completed a battery of questionnaires. The results indicated that adolescents' perceived interparental conflict could directly affect adolescents' depression symptoms and indirectly via parental attachment. More importantly, parental attachment and global character strengths, particularly teamwork and spirit and faith, played serial multiple mediating roles in the relationship between perceived interparental conflict and adolescents' depression symptoms. Our findings provided strengths‐based perspectives to promote adolescents' mental health.