Family Risk Profiles and Mental Health Among Chinese Adolescents: A Latent Class Analysis

Adolescent mental health is considerably influenced by family circumstances, with adversity frequently resulting in detrimental effects. While cumulative risk models theorize the accumulation of risks amplifies harm, recent researchers employing latent class analysis (LCA) seeks to comprehend the impacts of complex risk profiles on youth. However, the use of LCA remains sparse in studies involving Chinese adolescents. This research examined a sample of 2,889 Chinese secondary school students, assessing six family risk factors, namely, parental divorce, parent–child separation, financial hardship, low parental education, diminished family intimacy, and family conflict. The study also deployed indigenous measures to evaluate ten dimensions of mental health. Through LCA, distinct family risk profiles were identified and subsequently analyzed in comparison to mental health indicators utilizing ANOVA tests. The analysis delineated five distinct risk profiles: No Risk, Parental Education Risk, Family Detachment Risk, Family Conflict Risk, and Cumulative Risk. Remarkably, the Family Conflict Risk profile correlated with the most adverse mental health outcomes. Interestingly, parent–child separation appeared to confer certain benefits. Moreover, girls and older adolescents manifested exacerbated symptoms, which were amplified by their interplay with family risks. The study elucidates that specific configurations of family adversity, particularly those revolving around conflict and detachment, have a pronounced impact on the mental well-being of Chinese adolescents, while implying separation from parents potentially offered a protective effect. Consequently, interventions targeted at parents and designed to alleviate destructive family dynamics and encourage healthier relationships can be crucial in promoting mental health outcomes in this demographic.