A cross-lagged network analysis of multisystemic factors influencing adolescent depressive symptoms: considering gender differences.

Background: Adolescent depression has become a pressing public health concern in China, with recent estimates indicating a prevalence rate of 26.17%. This mental health issue poses significant risks to adolescents' psychological development and long-term well-being. The present study investigates how multiple resilience-related factors across emotional, familial, school, and social domains interact with depressive symptoms over time, with particular attention to gender differences.

Methods: A cross-lagged network analysis was conducted using longitudinal data from 770 adolescents recruited from two middle schools in northern China. Participants completed various validated questionnaires measuring depression, emotional resilience, family resilience, teacher support, friendship quality, and social support at two time points.

Results: Network analysis revealed that teacher support had the highest out-expected influence for the overall sample, while friend support was central to in-expected influence. Gender differences were pronounced; male adolescents primarily relied on friendship quality, whereas female adolescents benefitted more from teacher support. Additionally, depression had a greater weakening effect on social support in males and on family support in females.

Discussions: This study highlights gender-specific pathways in the interaction between depressive symptoms and resilience factors among adolescents. The findings suggest that both teacher and peer support are critical in shaping these dynamics, with implications for developing targeted interventions aimed at enhancing emotional resilience and addressing depressive symptoms in a gender-sensitive manner.