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. 2022 Aug 9:13:962147.
doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.962147. eCollection 2022.

Family functioning and adolescent depression: A moderated mediation model of self-esteem and peer relationships

Xinquan Huang  1 , Ningning Hu  2 , Zhengdong Yao  3 , Biao Peng  1
Affiliations

Family functioning and adolescent depression: A moderated mediation model of self-esteem and peer relationships

Xinquan Huang et al. Front Psychol. .

Abstract

In consideration of family system theory, the vulnerability model of depression, and the stress buffering model of social support, the current study examined the effect of family functioning on adolescent depression, the mediating effect of self-esteem, and the moderating effect of peer relationships. A sample of Chinese adolescents (n = 562, 47.15% male, 52.85% female, mean age 14.33 years, SD = 1.81 years) completed questionnaires regarding family functioning, depression, self-esteem, and peer relationships. The results showed that: (1) family functioning had a significant negative predictive effect on adolescent depression; (2) self-esteem plays a mediating role between family functioning and adolescent depression; and (3) peer relationships have a moderating effect on the relationship between self-esteem and adolescent depression, supporting the moderated mediation model. These results reveal the influence mechanism of family functioning on adolescent depression and have implications for adolescent depression intervention.

Keywords: adolescent; depression; family functioning; peer relationships; self-esteem.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The proposed moderated mediation model.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The mediating effect of self-esteem on the relationship between family functioning and adolescent depression. ***P < 0.001.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Model of test for simple slopes showing moderating influence of peer relationships on association between family functioning and adolescent depression.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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