The role of only-child status in the effect of childhood trauma and parental rearing style on depressive symptoms in Shanghai adolescents

Abstract

IntroductionAfter decades of the one-child policy, China changed its rules to allow two children in 2016, which altered family dynamics. Few studies have examined the emotional problems and the family environment of multi-child adolescents. This study aims to explore the role of only-child status in the impact of childhood trauma and parental rearing style on depressive symptoms of adolescents in Shanghai, China.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted on 4,576 adolescents (M = 13.42 years, SD = 1.21) from seven middle schools in Shanghai, China. Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form, the Short Egna Minnen Beträffande Uppfostran, and Children’s Depression Inventory were used to evaluate childhood trauma, perceived parental rearing style, and depressive symptoms of adolescents, respectively.ResultsResults showed that girls and non-only children reported more depressive symptoms, while boys and non-only children perceived more childhood trauma and negative rearing styles. Emotional abuse, emotional neglect, and father’s emotional warmth significantly predicted depressive symptoms in both only children and non-only children. Father’s rejection and mother’s overprotection were related to adolescents’ depressive symptoms in only-child families, but not non-only child families.DiscussionTherefore, depressive symptoms, childhood trauma, and perceived negative rearing styles were more prevalent among adolescents in non-only child families, while negative rearing styles were especially associated with depressive symptoms in only children. These findings suggest that parents pay attention to their impacts on only children and give more emotional care to non-only children.

Association between parenting styles and dyslexia in primary school students: the mediating role of home literacy environment

“…To our knowledge, there is a general consensus among current researchers that boys are at a higher risk of developing dyslexia than girls ( Arnett et al, 2017 ; Feng et al, 2022 ; Yang et al, 2022 ). In line with a prior study, the gender of children had an impact on parenting styles ( Zhong et al, 2023 ). Boys are given more responsibility, and parents are harsher, more rejecting and neglectful of boys, especially fathers, who are more likely to be strict with boys in home education.…”

“…Parenting styles are the methods and forms commonly used by parents in the raising and education of their children, with a relatively stable style of behavior ( Guo et al, 2022 ). Parenting styles permeate the parent–child interaction process and have a significant impact on children’s personality, mental health, and especially their academic performance ( Watson et al, 2023 ; Zhong et al, 2023 ). Parenting styles are categorized into four types: emotional warmth, rejection, overprotecting and anxious rearing.…”

Association between parenting styles and dyslexia in primary school students: the mediating role of home literacy environment

“…To our knowledge, there is a general consensus among current researchers that boys are at a higher risk of developing dyslexia than girls [4,33,42]. In line with a prior study, the gender of children had an impact on parenting styles [15]. Boys are given more responsibility, and parents are harsher, more rejecting and neglectful of boys, especially fathers, who are more likely to be strict with boys in home education.…”

“…Parenting styles are the methods and forms commonly used by parents in the raising and education of their children, with a relatively stable style of behavior [14]. Parenting styles permeate the parent-child interaction process and have a signi cant impact on children's personality, mental health, and especially their academic performance [15,16]. More speci cally, negative parenting styles seem to increase risk of emotional and behavioral problems among children [17].…”

Mental health status among children and adolescents in one-child and multichild families: a meta-analysis of comparative studies

“…Further, children and adolescents from multichild families might perceive greater childhood trauma and parental rejection [53 ▪▪ ] and could be concerned about whether their parents treat them equally as other children [54]. In families with multiple children, negative rearing styles of parents could lead to maladaptive behavioural patterns in early adolescence, while insecure attachment styles and low self-worth could result in negative emotions such as depression and interpersonal sensitivity [53 ▪▪ ]. Previous evidence also indicated that their mental health status could worsen as the number of siblings increased [1].…”