Published in:
Open Access
01-12-2022 | Research
Fathers and mothers’ parenting stress and adolescent depressive symptoms: the mediating roles of overt and covert coparenting conflict behaviors
Authors:
Yizhen Ren, Shengqi Zou, Hui Wang, Jiefeng Ying, Xinyi Wang, Xinchun Wu
Published in:
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health
|
Issue 1/2022
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Abstract
Background
It is yet to be clarified if and how parenting stress was linked to adolescent depressive symptoms during the pandemic.
Objectives
This study adopted an interdependent approach to examine the relationship between parenting stress and adolescent depressive symptoms in Chinese families. It then examined the mediating effects of overt and covert coparenting conflict behaviors.
Methods
As a national survey, data were obtained from different regions in China. Fathers, mothers, and adolescents from 1031 families participated in this study. The fathers and mothers reported parenting stress; the adolescents rated their fathers and mothers’ overt and covert coparenting conflict behaviors and their own depressive symptoms.
Results
Maternal parenting stress was related to adolescent depressive symptoms through the mediating effects of paternal overt and maternal covert coparenting conflict behaviors. Both paternal and maternal parenting stress were directly related to adolescent depressive symptoms. However, maternal parenting stress had a more substantial effect on adolescent depressive symptoms than paternal parenting stress.
Conclusions
The findings support the effects of parenting stress on adolescent depressive symptoms. The study also highlights the mediating roles of paternal overt and maternal covert coparenting conflict behaviors in relationships.