Parent-child Relationship Research Articles

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effectiveness of interventions targeting the parent-child relationship in families of children with an intellectual disability.

The review aimed to investigate the effectiveness of parent-child relationship interventions for families of children with intellectual disability up to 12 years old. Quasi-experimental or randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of interventions targeting the parent-child relationship where ≥50% of children had an intellectual disability were included. Meta-analyses of parent-child relationship outcomes and child outcomes used standardised mean difference as the effect size. Twenty-seven papers were included (N = 1325). Parent-child relationship outcomes improved significantly (n = 1325; g = 1.08, 95% CI: 0.64, 1.52) with a large effect size that was robust to sensitivity analyses. Child developmental outcomes improved significantly (n = 1082; g = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.23, 1.07), and indicated a large effect size for child socialisation and communication. Findings suggest that interventions targeting parent-child relationship quality are associated with substantial improvements in parent-child relationship and may improve child outcomes related to socialisation and communication.

Parent-to-Parent support perception and Parent-Child relationship in parents of children with special Needs: The mediating role of quality of life

PurposeThis study aimed to determine the relationships between parent-to-parent support perception, quality of life, and parent–child relationship levels among Turkish parents of children with special needs. MethodsData were collected from 235 parents of children with intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum disorder using the Parent-to-Parent Support Perception Scale, WHOQOL-BREF quality of life scale, and Parent-Child Relationship Questionnaire. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to test the mediating role of quality of life. ResultsThe findings indicate that quality of life partially mediates the relationship between the perception of parent-to-parent support and the parent–child relationship. The partial mediation model showed acceptable goodness-of-fit indices and significant path coefficients. ConclusionsThe study concluded that higher perceived parent-to-parent support enhances the quality of life, improving the parent–child relationship. This suggests that interventions aimed at increasing parent-to-parent support can positively impact the quality of life and strengthen parent–child relationships among parents of children with special needs.

Psychosocial factors mediate social inequalities in health-related quality of life among children and adolescents

BackgroundThe present analysis aimed to assess the mediating role of psychosocial and behavioural factors in socio-economic inequalities in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among children and adolescents.MethodsCross-sectional data was drawn from the randomly selected SEROCoV-KIDS cohort study in Geneva, Switzerland. Associations of socio-economic conditions (parents’ highest education, household financial situation) with HRQoL, psychosocial (parent–child relationship, school difficulties, friends, extracurricular activities) and behavioural factors (screen time, physical activity, green spaces time, sleep duration), along with associations of psychosocial and behavioural factors with HRQoL, were evaluated with generalized estimating equations. Counterfactual mediation analyses were conducted to test pathways linking socio-economic conditions to HRQoL.ResultsOf 965 children and 816 adolescents, those with disadvantaged financial circumstances were more likely to have a poor HRQoL (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR]: 3.80; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.96–7.36 and aOR: 3.66; 95%CI: 2.06–6.52, respectively). Psychosocial characteristics mediated 25% (95%CI: 5–70%) and 40% (95%CI: 18–63%) of financial disparities in HRQoL among children and adolescents, respectively. Health behaviours were weakly patterned by socio-economic conditions and did not contribute to financial differences in HRQoL.ConclusionsThese findings provide empirical evidence for mechanisms explaining socio-economic disparities in child HRQoL and could inform interventions aimed to tackle health inequalities.

Parent-child communication and educational anxiety: a longitudinal analysis based on the common fate model

BackgroundIn the face of family stress and emerging family problems, the transactional model of stress and coping provides new perspectives for solving stress problems in the family. This study integrates it with the common fate model to reveal new paths for coping with educational anxiety problems from the level of parent-child dichotomous interaction in the family environment, aiming to provide some theoretical and practical support for alleviating parents’ education anxiety.MethodsThis study used a combination of interviews and questionnaires to stratify students and their parents from a public junior high school in Jinan City to participate in the study. Data were collected in two time periods (T1, T2; one year apart), and the demographic characteristics of parents and children, parent-child communication quality, education anxiety, and parent-child trust relationship of 495 families were finally analysed by SPSS 27.0.ResultsThe results found that (1) based on the Common Fate Model, quality of parent-child communication negatively predicted parents’ education anxiety; (2) quality of parent-child communication positively predicted parent-child trust relationship; (3) parent-child trust relationship negatively predicted parents’education anxiety; (4) parent-child trust relationship mediated quality of parent-child communication and education anxiety.ConclusionsThis study sheds light on research related to stress coping and anxiety relief in the family environment, and provides theoretical and practical support for understanding the interaction between parents and children at the family level, and coping with stressful events together. It implies that future researchers should not only focus on one aspect when coping with and dealing with family problems, but should analyse the family as a whole, including the communication status and parent-child relationship between parents and children.

Parent and adolescent perceptions of parent–child developmental relationships: The role of family routines

AbstractObjectiveThis study examined family routines in relation to the strength of parent–child developmental relationships and discordant perceptions among parents and their adolescent children.BackgroundPositive parent–child relationships and regular engagement in family routines are known to create a positive environment in which adolescents can thrive. Yet both parents and their children hold unique perspectives on family structure and functioning. Agreement between parent and child reports tend to be low and often become increasingly discrepant during adolescence. Engaging in consistent and predictable family routines may not only strengthen parent–child relationships but also result in more concordant perceptions of the quality of their shared relationship.MethodUsing data from 633 matched parents and their children, we examined the association between engagement in family routines and the strength of parent–adolescent relationships including discrepant reports using a latent congruence model.ResultsFamily routines were positively associated with stronger parent–adolescent relationships and less discrepant reports of this critical relationship.ConclusionEngagement in family routines plays an important role in parent–adolescent developmental relationships.ImplicationsFindings have important implications for practices and research focused on improving adolescent outcomes through family structures and parent–child relationships.

The influence of physical exercise on adolescents’ externalizing problem behaviors: mediating effects of parent–child relationships, self-esteem, and self-control

BackgroundExternalizing problem behaviors can significantly and negatively impact adolescents’ learning, daily life, and future socialization. While physical exercise is believed to inhibit adolescents’ externalizing problem behaviors, the extent of its effect and the mediating mechanisms remain unclear.MethodsThis study is based on data from the 2018 China Family Panel Studies (CFPS). The CFPS project employed the Externalizing Problem Behaviors Scale (EPBS), the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), and the Self-Control Scale (SCS) to measure adolescents’ externalizing problem behaviors, self-esteem, and self-control. Additionally, physical exercise was measured by collecting data on the time and frequency of adolescents’ physical exercise. Parent-child relationships were evaluated using a composite variable that included four dimensions: frequency of quarrels, frequency of heart-to-heart talks, parental awareness of their children’s whereabouts, and children’s trust in their parents. Based on data collection and variable construction, this study employed multiple linear regression, propensity score matching, and quantile regression to analyze the impact of physical exercise on adolescents’ externalizing problem behaviors and the heterogeneity of these effects. Additionally, the Bootstrap mediation effect test was employed to explore the mediating roles of parent-child relationships, self-esteem, and self-control in this process.ResultsThe analysis demonstrates that physical exercise significantly inhibits adolescents’ externalizing problem behaviors (β = −0.095, p < 0.01), although the effect varies significantly among different populations. Compared to males (β = −0.077, p < 0.1), rural residents (β = −0.065, p > 0.1), individuals with poorer family economic status (β = −0.080, p < 0.1), and those with more severe problem behaviors (τ = 0.75, β = −0.086, p < 0.05), physical exercise yields a more pronounced inhibitory effect on females (β = −0.113, p < 0.01), urban residents (β = −0.134, p < 0.01), individuals with better family economic status (β = −0.115, p < 0.01), and those with milder problem behaviors (τ = 0.25, β = −0.112, p < 0.01). Furthermore, through enhancements in parent-child relationships (CI: -0.015; -0.002), self-esteem (CI: -0.019; -0.003), and self-control (CI: -0.055; -0.025), physical exercise indirectly mitigates adolescents’ externalizing problem behaviors.ConclusionPhysical exercise significantly reduces adolescents’ externalizing problem behaviors, with effects differing across various groups. Parent-child relationships, self-esteem, and self-control mediate this relationship, underscoring the positive influence of exercise on adolescent behavior.

A window into Their World: How Video Visits Facilitate Father–Child Relationships

AbstractMaintaining the parent–child relationship while a parent is incarcerated is critical to the well-being of both parent and child. There is some evidence that video visits can be beneficial when they are used to supplement rather than replace in-person visits. This study explores how video visits support the father–child relationship during parental incarceration. Research was conducted with two public prisons in New South Wales, Australia, during the period of COVID-19 restrictions. Interviews with children’s carers (n = 17) and fathers (n = 27) were analysed to identify the ways fathers engaged with their children and the benefits of the relationship. Three themes were identified: show and tell, which explored how the visual element of video visits contributed to parent–child interactions; part of their world, which identified how video visits became integrated into children’s everyday lives; and along for the ride, which focused on child-initiated interactions. Challenges of using video visits were also explored in two themes: difficulty engaging, which showed how fathers and children can struggle to communicate and interact, and timing and transitions, which highlighted how video visits could be difficult or disruptive to children’s mood and routines. Overall, video visits were perceived as enabling interactions that strengthened the engagement and relationship between the father and child.

The Influence of Parental Education Involvement on the Social Development Level of Adolescents: The Mediating Role of Parent-child Relationship

In this study, 302 junior high school students aged 12 to 15 were selected as the research objects to investigate the overall situation of parental education investment, parent-child relationship and social development level of junior high school students. Simultaneously, the relationship between parental education investment and parent-child relationship and adolescent social development level was investigated. The results indicate that significant differences exist in the level of social development between adolescents with high scores and those with low scores. whether it is parental education involvement or parent-child relationship. There is a significant positive correlation between parental education involvement and parent-child relationship, parental education involvement and adolescent social development, parent-child relationship and adolescent social development; among them, parent-child relationship plays a significant mediating role in the path of parental education involvement affecting adolescents ' social development. Therefore, we should increase the participation of parents in education and strengthen the construction of parent-child relationship to promote the social development of adolescents.

(Dis)connecting families: Parents’ versus children's perspectives on the role of mobile devices within family interactions

The characteristics of mobile technology devices have enabled new ways of integrating technology in familial interactions. This study aimed to investigate (1) differences in perspectives of technoference and family-oriented mobile technology use between parents and children, (2) the relation between parent–child interactions that take place via mobile technology and the quality of the parent–child relationship, and (3) its association with the well-being of parents and preadolescents separately. Structural equation modelling was performed on cross-sectional data from 390 parent–child dyads. The findings revealed discrepancies in child technoference perceptions and varying associations of the different types of mobile technology use with the parent–child relationship and parents' and children's well-being. From children's perspective, both parent and child technoference was negative for the parent–child relationship, whereas family-oriented mobile technology use when physically together was beneficial for the relationship and the child's well-being. From parents’ perspective, only child technoference was negatively related to the parent–child relationship and parent's well-being. Overall, the findings underline that mobile technology use can be both detrimental and beneficial, however, the effects can differ depending on the family member and the type of technology use.

Parasocial parenting, adoption, and monetization of the “internet parent” with the Griswolds on TikTok

This study investigates parasocial relationships between adolescents and a genre of TikTok microcelebrities who construct themselves as “Internet Parents.” We analyze Alex and Melinda Griswold's construction of themselves as the “mom and dad of TikTok” through their videos, comment sections, and off-platform interactive content. We ask how the Griswolds construct parasocial intimacy through modes of familial address, how viewers make sense of parasocial intimacy, and how the Griswolds monetize familial parasocial intimacy. Findings reveal how the Griswolds construct parasocial intimacy with their audience through the use of adoption rhetoric and engaging narrative structures, which viewers identify with by expressing their desire for a parent–child relationship with the Griswolds as their adopted children. However, these moments of parasocial intimacies become transformed through influencer economies that commodify social relationships. Ultimately, we consider the ethical obligations of the Griswolds to their target audience of adopted children .

Mediating effects of child schema mode in the relationship between negative parent-child relationships in childhood and non-suicidal self-injurious behavior in college students

This study was aimed to investigate the psychological mechanisms underlying non-suicidal self-injurious behavior. For this purpose, we hypothesized that dysfunctional child modes act as a psychological mechanism to influence the relationship between negative parent-child relationships in childhood and current cognitions (catastrophizing), emotions (emotional dysregulation and depression), and behaviors (non-suicidal self-injurious behaviors). A sample of 430 college students (male 97, female 333) with experience of non-suicidal self-injurious behavior was selected to test the multi-mediation effects of child schema mode (angry, impulsive), catastrophizing, emotional dysregulation, and depression on the relationship between negative parent-child relationships in childhood and non-suicidal self-injury. As a result of structural equation modeling analysis, it was found that negative parent-child relationships in childhood directly influenced child schema mode, catastrophizing, depression, and non-suicidal self-injurious behaviors. In addition, it was found that negative parent-child relationships in childhood were dually mediated by child schema mode and depression and child schema mode and emotional dysregulation. The present study highlights the mediating role of child schema modes as a psychological mechanism underlying the relationship between negative parent-child relationships in childhood and non-suicidal self-injurious behavior. Based on these findings, the usefulness and direction of schema therapy interventions in the field of non-suicidal self-injury counseling are discussed.

Predicting Children’s Mental Well-Being During COVID-19 Pandemic Based on Maternal Cognitive Emotion Regulation

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the lack of warm, supportive, and positive relationships caused behavioral and psychological problems in children. This study aimed to predict the psychological well-being of primary school students during the COVID-19 pandemic based on parental self-efficacy and cognitive emotion regulation in mothers based on the mediating role of the parent-child relationship. Methods: The present applied research used a descriptive correlation in terms of data collection and analysis. This research was conducted on 385 cases, including students and their parents, who were selected using a random sampling method. The research instruments included the Reef's psychological well-being questionnaire (18 questions), Johnston and Mash parenting sense of competence scale, Garnefski's cognitive emotion regulation questionnaire, and Fine's parent-child relationship scale. Two psychology experts assessed the face validity of the questionnaires. Reliability of the questionnaires was measured using Cronbach’s alpha coefficients. SPSS software was used to analyze the data. Results: The average total scores of psychological well-being, parenting sense of competence, parent-child relationship, and cognitive emotion regulation were 68, 58.3, 72.1, and 61.4, respectively. Maternal cognitive emotion regulation was a significant predictor of the parent-child relationship (p< 0.01). We found that parenting sense of competence and maternal cognitive emotion regulation were able to predict students' psychological well-being through parent-child relationship during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion: Increasing the level of parenting sense of competence and regulating parental emotions can improve the relationship between parents and their children.

Parenting Styles as Predictors of Adolescents’ Susceptibility to Peer Pressure in Secondary Schools in Anambra State, Nigeria

This study examined the relationship among the four levels of parenting styles and peer pressure among senior secondary school Adolescents in Anambra State, Nigeria. Six research questions and saix hypotheses guided the study. The design of the study was correlational research design. The population comprised 55,696 adolescents in senior secondary schools in Anambra State. A sample size of 1,000 senior secondary school students were selected through proportionate stratified and convenience sampling techniques. The research instrument that was used in the study is a validated and reliable questionnaire. Multiple regression statistics was used to test hypotheses 1-5 while the Fisher-z statistics were used to test hypothesis 6. The hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study revealed that there is a significant relationship between four parenting styles and peer pressure among senior secondary school Adolescents; that there is a significant relationship between authoritative parenting style and peer pressure among senior secondary school Adolescents; that there is a significant relationship between authoritarian parenting style and peer pressure among senior secondary school Adolescents; that there is a significant relationship between permissive parenting style and peer pressure among senior secondary school Adolescents; and that there is a significant relationship between neglecting parenting style and peer pressure among senior secondary school Adolescents. The study however, revealed that there is no significant moderating impact of sex in the relationship between parenting styles and peer pressure among senior secondary school Adolescents in Anambra State. On the basis of these findings, it was recommended amongst others, that Guidance counsellors should provide parenting workshops and resources that educate parents on the different parenting styles and the importance of fostering open communication, clear expectations, and warmth in the parent-child relationship, regardless of the specific style used.

Эмоциональные коммуникации в детско-родительских отношениях и жизнеспособность будущей взрослой семьи

<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Objective</strong>. To analyze the contribution of the most immediate contextual influences (child-parent emotional communications) to the resilience of the adult family (using the samples from Belarus and Russia). <strong>Background. </strong>Understanding the role of emotional dysfunctions in parent-child relationships in the context of Russian and Belarusian cultures helps to identify the conditions for the resilience of a future adult family, which can become the basis for social family policy at the state level and improvement of the practice of psychological assistance to families. <br><strong>Study design. </strong>The study was conducted online using the snowball method. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to determine the impact of dysfunction in parental families, intensity of the negative events, age of respondents and number of children on family resilience. Children's experiences of adults are illustrated by the results of projective technique. <br><strong>Participants. </strong>The study involved 853 respondents (595 people from the Russian Federation, 258 from the Republic of Belarus) aged from 18 to 77 years (average age 36 ± 12 years, median = 36 years), 90,5% female. <br><strong>Measurements. </strong>Family resilience was assessed using Gusarova’s et al. “Family Resilience Assessment Scale” (FRAS-RII). Dysfunctions in parental families were determined according to Kholmogorova’s et al. “Family Emotional Communications” and the projective technique of Odintsova et al. “Space of Trees and Light.” The intensity of negative events in families was assessed on a scale from 1 to 10. <br><strong>Results. </strong>Dysfunctions in parental families make a significant contribution to the resilience of the future adult family (up to 20% of explained variance). Family perfectionism has a positive effect, and the elimination of emotions has a negative impact on the resilience of adult families in the context of two cultures. In Russian families of origin there is over-involvement, and in Belarusian families criticism negatively affects the resilience of respondent’s families. <br><strong>Conclusions. </strong>The critical atmosphere in parental families, the high intensity of adverse events in Belarusian families, and overprotection in the parental families of Russians contribute to a decrease in families’ resilience. The presence and number of children in a family contributes to the family resilience in both countries. Culture and traditions are a solid basis for the majority of Russians and Belarusians.</p>

Восприятие родительского отношения и общая академическая успеваемость старшеклассников: российско-кыргызское исследование

<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Objective. </strong>Cross-cultural analysis of the perception of parental attitudes and its influence on the general academic performance of high school students from Russia and Kyrgyzstan. <br><strong>Background. </strong>The characteristics of parental attitudes are closely related not only to the child’s educational success during life in the family, but also to educational achievements in the future. At the same time, the sociocultural specifics of parent-child relationships, through the perception of a growing child, can change the direction and magnitude of such associations. <br><strong>Study design. </strong>The characteristics of the relationship between mothers and fathers – emotional acceptance and overprotection – by high school students from two countries differing in socio-economic status are analyzed. A cross-cultural analysis of the structure of associations between the characteristics of the perception of parental attitudes and academic performance is carried out. <br><strong>Participants. </strong>The study analyzed data from 528 students in grades 10–11 from Russia and Kyrgyzstan. Russian sample: 230 people (<em>M</em> = 17,31; <em>SD</em> = 0,7), 58,1% girls. Kyrgyz sample: 298 people (<em>M</em> = 17,21; <em>SD</em> = 0,7), 67,6% girls. <br><strong>Measurements. </strong>Russian-language version of the questionnaire “Parental Bonding Instrument” (T.N. Tikhomirova, D.A. Gaysina, S.B. Malykh, 2021). <br><strong>Results. </strong>At high school age, the perception of parental attitude has a culture-specific conditioning, most clearly expressed in the perception of emotional acceptance by the mother and the overprotective attitude of the father. <br><strong>Conclusions. </strong>Given the existence of a universal model of the influence of parental attitudes on the general academic performance of high school students, cross-cultural specificity of functional associations within the model is observed, which is more characteristic of the perception of the attitudes of fathers rather than mothers.</p>

Parent-Child Relationships and Adolescents' Non-Cognitive Skills: Role of Social Anxiety and Number of Friends.

This study aimed to examine the association between parent-child relationships and adolescents' non-cognitive skills, while also investigating the mediating effect of social anxiety and number of friends. A survey was conducted with 773 students, ranging from grade 4 to 9, in five public schools of Guangdong Province of China (49.9% male), with a mean age of 12.20 years old. Latent mediation structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data. The findings revealed that (1) the father-child relationship and mother-child relationship both had a positive influence on grit, innovation, conscientiousness, and hope; (2) social anxiety had a negative effect on adolescent non-cognitive skills including innovation, conscientiousness, and hope; (3) the number of positive friends was found to be positively associated with the development of non-cognitive skills in adolescents, whereas the presence of negative friends correlated negatively with grit but positively with innovation; (4) social anxiety emerged as a significant mediating variable between parent-child relationships and adolescents' non-cognitive skills, including innovation, conscientiousness, and hope; and (5) the mediating effect of the number of positive friends on the relationship between parent-child relationships and grit, innovation, conscientiousness, and hope was also found to be significant. Educational programs and family interventions should take these factors into account, providing a more holistic approach to supporting adolescent growth.

Child Preparedness for Infertility Disclosure: A Diagnostic Tool for Supporting Parent and Child Mental Health

Infertility, often perceived as an adult issue, can also manifest in childhood, presenting unique challenges. Improper handling of infertility disclosures can strain parent–child relationships and potentially lead to significant psychological distress, including depression, anxiety, and long-term impacts on self-image. Despite the critical nature of these conversations, parents often report receiving little or no guidance from professionals on how or when to disclose this information to their child. This article introduces the Child Readiness for Infertility Disclosure (CRID) Assessment Tool, designed to empirically guide parents and marriage and family counselors in assessing a child's readiness for receiving information about infertility. The CRID tool integrates the concepts of Tiered Priming and Cognitive Preparedness strategies, providing structured recommendations grounded in Erickson's Stages of Psychosocial Development for age-appropriate and developmentally suitable disclosure along with an applied case study.

Families with Internationally Adopted Children in Finland: A Study of Emotional Availability in the Early Interaction.

A well-functioning parent-child relationship is crucial for the child's psychological development. We examined the Emotional Availability (EA) in the early interaction of internationally adopted children with their mothers. We also studied whether the quality of the interaction was associated with the sex of the adopted children, the age at the time of adoption, the time they had spent in the family and parental depressive symptoms. The study sample was part of the Finnish Adoption (FinAdo) study and included 79 children (mean age at adoption = 2.58years, SD = 1.51months, 37% girls) and their adoptive mothers in Finland. The mother-child interactions were examined with Emotional Availability Scales (EAS) during the first months after adoption (mean = 6.3months). Our results showed that the overall EA scores were relatively high (mean 4.78-6.18), although the mean levels of parent sensitivity, parent non-intrusiveness, child responsiveness and child involvement were under the high zone of the EA (< 5.5). Children adopted at a younger age and boys received lower scores in the interaction analysis. Our results suggest that families with internationally adopted children seem to be able to create a well-functioning early relationship between the mother and the child.

Causes and manifestations of infantilism as feelings of helplessness and despair: psychological and spiritual specifics (case analysis)

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) occurs in 1-3% of the adult population and is considered an extremely debilitating and severe disorder with concomitant complications in the social, professional and family spheres. At the same time, cultural-specific (ethnic, regional and religious) aspects of the manifestation of this condition are rarely highlighted, and even less often – the cultural specifics of psychological counseling.This article is an integral part of a series of publications in which, based on specific cases of child-parent relations, the positive dynamics of psychological work based on Ingush culture and religious values is shown. The results of the author's accumulated experience show that the multicultural competence of the therapist provides him not only with a high level of trust from the client, but also with a professional approach based on the cultural aspects of psychological assistance [1; 2; 3; 4; 5].

The impact and mechanisms of parent-child relationship quality and its changes on adolescent depression: A four-wave longitudinal study.

Parent-child relationships play a crucial role in shaping adolescent depression. However, existing research has predominantly focused on isolated time points when examining the impact of parent-child relationship quality, overlooking the effect of parent-child relationship changes on depression. Using a four-wave longitudinal study of 951 adolescents, the current study investigated the impact of parent-child relationship quality and its changes on adolescent depression, while also examining the moderating role of interpersonal sensitivity and potential gender differences in these moderation patterns. Herein, we report that higher parent-child relationship quality is associated with lower levels of adolescent depression, while parent-child relationship changes are linked to higher depression. Interpersonal sensitivity moderates the association between parent-child relationship quality, relationship changes, and depression, with the moderation varying by gender. Specifically, in males with high interpersonal sensitivity, parent-child relationships negatively predict depression, while relationship fluctuations positively predict depression. In females with high interpersonal sensitivity, a rapid decline in the quality of the parent-child relationship seems to be associated with an increase in depression. The present study highlights the impact and mechanisms of parent-child relationship quality and its effects on depression, and provides a reference for the intervention of depression based on parent-child relationship changes.