A study on the correlation between family dynamic factors and depression in adolescents

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the relationship between systemic family dynamics and adolescent depression. METHODS: An offline survey was distributed to 4,109 students in grades 6–12, with the final analysis including 3,014 students (1,524 boys and 1,490 girls) aged 10–18 years. The questionnaire included the Self-Rating Scale of Systemic Family Dynamics (SSFD), the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), and demographic characteristics. RESULTS: Family dynamics were negatively correlated with depressive symptoms, with better family dynamics (high scores) associated with lower levels of depression based on the SDS score. After adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, an ordinal multiclass logistic regression analysis identified family atmosphere (OR = 0.952, 95% CI: 0.948–0.956, p < 0.001) as the most important protective family dynamic against depression, followed by individuality (OR = 0.964, 95% CI: 0.960–0.968, p < 0.001). Latent class analysis (LCA) created the low family dynamic and high family dynamic groups. There were significant differences in the mean SDS scores between the two groups (45.52 ± 10.57 vs. 53.78 ± 11.88; p < 0.001) that persisted after propensity matching. Family atmosphere and individuation had a favorable diagnostic value for depression, with AUCs of 0.778 (95% CI: 0.760–0.796) and 0.710 (95% CI: 0.690–0.730), respectively. The diagnostic models for depression performed well. CONCLUSION: Poor family dynamics may be responsible for adolescent depression. A variety of early intervention strategies focused on the family may potentially avoid adolescent depression.