Growth Trajectories of Perceived Parental Behavior During Adolescence

Perceived parental depression, intrusive rumination, and internalizing problems: A three-wave longitudinal study in adolescents

Research suggests that perceiving parental depression elicits internalizing problems in adolescents, but certain studies have indicated that adolescents' internalizing problems also increase their perception of parental emotion. To further investigate the inconsistent findings about the nature of this relationship, the current study used longitudinal data to examine the causal association between adolescents' internalizing problems and the parental depression they perceived, as well as the role of intrusive rumination in the relationship. Method: In this longitudinal study, 392 adolescents who experienced the catastrophic Jiuzhaigou earthquake in 2017 were surveyed at three time points after the earthquake: 12 months (T1), 21 months (T2) and 27 months (T3). A cross-lagged panel model was used to carry out the data analysis. Results: Mutual cause-and-effect relationships were found between intrusive rumination and both perceived parental depression and internalizing problems, respectively; a unilateral causal relationship in which internalizing problems positively predicted perceived parental depression was also found. In addition, internalizing problems predicted perceived parental depression via the mediating role of intrusive rumination; similarly, intrusive rumination predicted perceived parental depression via internalizing problems. Conclusions: Internalizing problems were a risk factor for perceived parental depression, and intrusive rumination played an important role in the relationship between internalizing problems and perceived parental depression.

Perceived parental depression and PTSD in adolescents: mediating roles of attachment insecurity and coping style

Background: Earthquakes can cause negative psychological states in adolescents and their parents, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. Previous cross-sectional studies have shown that adolescents who perceive parental depression after an earthquake are more likely to experience PTSD. However, the mechanism underlying this process remains unclear and previous studies have not examined the association between these factors.Objective: The current study explored the mediating roles of attachment insecurity and coping style in the association between perceived parental depression and PTSD in adolescents after the Jiuzhaigou earthquake.Method: In total, 391 participants completed follow-up questionnaires at 12, 21, and 27 months (T1-T3, respectively) after the Jiuzhaigou earthquake.Results: T1 perceived parental depression was not a direct predictor of T3 PTSD in adolescents. In the full mediation model, T1 perceived parental depression predicted T3 PTSD in adolescents indirectly via T2 attachment insecurities through T2 emotion-focused coping.Conclusion: The findings highlight that attachment insecurity and emotion-focused coping mediated the relationship between perceived parental depression and PTSD in adolescents following an earthquake. To alleviate PTSD in adolescents, efforts should be directed toward reducing perceived parental depressive symptoms and emotion-focused coping, and promoting the formation of secure attachment styles.