Psychological Development and Education ›› 2025, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (5): 710-719.doi: 10.16187/j.cnki.issn1001-4918.2025.05.11

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Longitudinal Relationships between Parental Psychological Control, Depressive Symptoms and Meaning in Life among High School Students: A Cross-lagged Panel Model Analysis

YE Wenting1, TENG Zhaojun1,2, LI Yangyang3, CUI Hongjing3, NIE Qian1,2   

  1. 1. Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715;
    2. Research Center of Mental Health Education, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715;
    3. High School Affiliated to Southwest University, Chongqing 400722
  • Published:2025-09-15

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Abstract: This longitudinal study examined the bidirectional relationships between parental psychological control, personal life meanings, and depressive symptoms among high school students. The participants were 2355 students (Mage = 15.82, 41.7% male) from two high schools in Southwest China. The measures include the Dependency-Oriented and Achievement-Oriented Psychological Control Scale, the Depressive Symptom Scale, and the Meaning in Life Questionnaire. The cross-lagged pannel models suggested: (1) A bidirectional relationship between parental psychological control and depressive symptoms over one year; (2) Depressive symptoms were found to significantly predict students’ sense of life meaning one year late. However, the presence of meaning did not have a significant effect on the prediction of depressive symptoms one year late; (3) Moreover, parental psychological control significantly predicted students’ sense of life meaning, with depressive symptoms acting as a mediation process between them. The study underscores the need for parental education programs designed to lessen the extent of psychological control. Furthermore, it calls for collaboration between families and schools in nurturing adolescents’ life meaning, positioning it as a preventive measure against mental health issues.

Key words: parental psychological control, depressive symptoms, meaning in life, high school students, longitudinal study

CLC Number: 

  • B844
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