Risk or refuge? The dual role of affinity for solitude and deviant peer affiliation in the link between childhood maltreatment and youth depression: a mixed-methods study

The heterogeneity of child maltreatment is linked to depressive symptoms in adolescents. However, the underlying mechanisms concerning interpersonal relationships remain insufficiently explored. This study uses a mixed-methods approach to examine how interpersonal interaction patterns mediate the relationship between maltreatment and depression while exploring coping strategies in adversity through qualitative insights. A total of 2042 Chinese adolescents (Mage = 13.69 years, SD = 1.55; 53.18 % male) participated in this study in October 2023. Latent class analysis was conducted to identify profiles of childhood maltreatment. Mediation analysis examined the roles of affinity for solitude and Deviant Peer Association in linking maltreatment profiles to adolescent depressive symptoms. Thematic analysis further explored key factors that help adolescents with a history of childhood maltreatment navigate challenges. Latent class analysis identified four patterns of childhood maltreatment among Chinese adolescents: Low Maltreatment Exposure (LME; 70.57 %), High Emotional Neglect and Physical Abuse with Moderate Physical Neglect (HENPA-PN; 13.52 %), High Maltreatment Exposure (HME; 6.51 %), and High Emotional Neglect and Physical Abuse with Moderate Emotional Abuse (HENPA-EA; 9.40 %). Mediation analysis revealed that, compared to the LME group, all other groups positively influenced depressive symptoms through affinity for solitude and deviant peer association. Finally, thematic analysis identified five key themes: personal positive personality, coping lifestyle strategies, emotional support and companionship, guidance from others and the power of role modeling. It is crucial to comprehend the heterogeneity of childhood maltreatment, patterns of interpersonal relationships, and potential support networks to enhance adolescent mental health.