Psychological maltreatment and depression symptoms among Chinese adolescents: A multiple mediation model

Abstract

BackgroundAdolescents are at risk of depression, and recent studies also found a high prevalence of depression among Chinese adolescents. Therefore, it is necessary to explore the risk and protective factors of depression among Chinese adolescents. ObjectiveThis study examined the direct effect of psychological maltreatment on depression symptoms in adolescents and the mediating roles of emotion regulation and social support in their relationship. MethodData were collected from Chinese senior high school students (N = 687, 36.5 % males and 63.5 % females, Mage = 16.44 years, SD = 0.78) who completed the measures of psychological maltreatment, depression symptoms, perceived social support, and emotion regulation strategies, including cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression. ResultsThe results indicated that: (a) psychological maltreatment was positively correlated with depression symptoms; (b) the two emotion regulation strategies and perceived social support partially mediated the link between psychological maltreatment and depression symptoms separately; (c) the two emotion regulation strategies and perceived social support partially mediated the link between psychological maltreatment and depression symptoms in a sequential pattern. ConclusionPsychological maltreatment was positively associated with depression symptoms in adolescents. Emotion regulation and perceived social support both significantly mediated the relationship between psychological maltreatment and depression symptoms.