Longitudinal and bidirectional relationships between parental rejection, peer attachment, and adolescent depression

Abstract

This study investigated the longitudinal and bidirectional relationships between parental rejection, peer attachment, and adolescent depression during the COVID-19 pandemic. A sample of 4,367 Chinese adolescents aged 10 to 18 (mean age at Time 1 = 13.92; 50.9 % girls) participated in the survey at two time points with a six-month interval. Through a cross-lagged analysis, it was observed that maternal rejection was positively correlated with adolescent depression, while peer attachment was negatively correlated with adolescent depression over time. In turn, adolescent depression was found to predict an increase in paternal/maternal rejection and a decrease in peer attachment over time. Maternal rejection was also associated with a decrease in adolescents’ peer attachment, whereas peer attachment was linked to reduced maternal and paternal rejection over time. Additionally, paternal and maternal rejection were interconnected across time. The outcomes underscore the distinct significance of mother-child, father-child and peer acceptance/rejection in relation to adolescent depression. They suggest that unique relational values stemming from various relationships play specific roles and are interrelated. The findings align with the sociometer theory and the continuum/cognitive model of attachment, furthering their application within the Chinese cultural context.