Interpersonal Conflict, School Connectedness and Depressive Symptoms in Chinese Adolescents: Moderation Effect of Gender and Grade Level

Guan-Hao He, Esben Strodl, Wei-Qing Chen, Fan Liu, Alimila Hayixibayi and Xiang-Yu Hou
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Guan-Hao He: Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
Esben Strodl: School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia
Wei-Qing Chen: Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
Fan Liu: School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia
Alimila Hayixibayi: Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
Xiang-Yu Hou: School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 12, 1-16

Abstract: This study examined the associations of interpersonal conflict and school connectedness with depressive symptoms in Chinese adolescents. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 6576 adolescents in Shenzhen, China. Participants completed a battery of questionnaires that assessed adolescents’ depressive symptoms, conflict with parents, teachers, and peers, school connectedness, and demographics. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to explore the association of interpersonal conflict and school connectedness with depressive symptoms in adolescents. Results showed that conflicts with their mother, father, teachers, and peers were associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms in adolescents, while greater school connectedness was related to lower levels of depressive symptoms in adolescents. Gender proved to be a moderator of these relationships in that the associations of quarreling with mothers, mothers’ use of emotional punishments, teachers’ use of emotional punishments, and school connectedness with depressive symptoms were stronger in females than males. Moreover, grade level proved to be another moderator, with the associations of teachers’ use of physical punishment and fighting with peers with depressive symptoms being stronger in primary school students than in secondary school students. Our findings suggest that gender and grade level moderated the association of interpersonal conflict and school connectedness with depressive symptoms in Chinese adolescents.

Keywords: depressive symptoms; interpersonal conflict; school connectedness; Chinese adolescents; gender; grade level (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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