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

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.

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“…More broadly, these results appear to align with some recent international research in so far as depressive symptoms are associated with mental health-related disabilities. For example, research with adolescents living in China showed that relationships between school connectedness and depressive symptoms were stronger in adolescent girls than boys (He et al, 2019; see also the Chinese study by Zhao & Zhao, 2015). Earlier cross-sectional research in the United Kingdom (unrelated to the MCS dataset) also highlighted the link between school connectedness and depressive symptoms in adolescents (Millings, Buck, Montgomery, Spears, & Stallard, 2012).…”

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“…These questions were successfully used by a previous study conducted with Chinese adolescents [ 37 ]. Conflict with peers was assessed using 3 items: “In the past 12 months, have you ever had a serious quarrel with your fellow students at school?”, “In the past 12 months, have you been involved in physical fighting with your fellow students at school?” and “In the past 12 months, have any of your fellow students emotionally bullied you (humiliated, teased, or threatened you)?” These items have established predictive validity with Chinese students [ 37 ] and have successfully been used in our prior research into risk factors for mental health problems in Chinese adolescents [ 21 ]. This scale had an adequate internal consistency among Chinese adolescents in this study (Cronbach α = 0.73).…”

“…Similarly, conflict with teachers was measured with the following three items: “In the past 12 months, have you ever had a serious quarrel with your teachers at school?”, “In the past 12 months, have you been emotionally punished (such as being scold, threatened, or humiliated) by your teacher in the past 12 months?” and “Have you ever been physically punished (such as being forced to stand for some time, being beaten with fist or other objects, or being kicked) by your teacher in the past 12 months? These questions have been successfully used in previous research into risk factors for mental health problems in Chinese adolescents [ 21 , 37 ]. This scale also had a good internal consistency among Chinese adolescents in our study (Cronbach α = 0.75).…”

“…Further research is therefore needed on what aspects or characteristics of school-based relationships are associated with greatest risk of PIU. Given that interpersonal conflict has previously been linked with poor mental health in Chinese adolescents [ 21 ], this study aimed to examine the role of school-based interpersonal conflict upon PIU. To date, no study has specifically measured the association between school-based interpersonal conflict and PIU, however there is some emerging evidence that supports such a link.…”

“…We therefore anticipated that school connectedness and interpersonal conflict would be more closely linked to PIU for older compared to younger adolescents. In terms of gender, previous findings show that Chinese adolescent females are subject to higher risk of depression associated with higher interpersonal conflict and lower school connectedness compared to Chinese adolescent boys [ 21 ]. Similarly, Stavropoulos and colleagues reported that being in a hostile classroom was associated with female’ PIU but not male PIU in adolescents [ 34 ].…”