Perceptions of Family Relationship Factorsand Depressive Symptoms in Adolescents:What Roles Do Parents and Gender Play?

摘要

The association of adolescents' perceptions of family relationships andadolescent depressive symptoms was investigated using a sample of 2,918 youthparticipating in the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997. Boys showedfewer depressive symptoms than girls, as hypothesized. In general, adolescents'perceptions of family relationships were negatively related to depressive symptoms.Mother support of father predicted depressive symptoms for girls only, whereasfather support of mother predicted depressive symptoms for boys only. Thesefindings contradict previous research that suggested family functioning is morerelated to outcomes of adolescent girls than boys. Suggestions for future researchand implications for marital and family therapists are discussed.