Parenting Styles and Adolescents’ Depression, Anxiety, and Stress in Chinese Culture: A Test of the Mediating Effect of Perfectionism

Abstract

Adolescents’ mental health has become a global concern, with a significant proportion experiencing common mental health disorders. This study investigates the intricate dynamics of parenting styles, maladaptive perfectionism, and their influence on the mental health of adolescents from middle-class families in China. Through an online survey, this study gathered data from 283 adolescents, exploring their parenting experiences, levels of perfectionism and common mental health problems. The current study was conducted by using scales and the analysis of variance, correlation analysis, and regression analysis. A significant association was found between authoritarian parenting styles and an increase in common mental health disorders. In contrast, authoritative parenting styles were protective, further illustrating the importance of parenting styles in the well-being of adolescents. Socially prescribed perfectionism was a noteworthy mediator, revealing its role in generating mental health problems. The study also explored gender and family structure differences in parenting styles. The study provides valuable insights into the complex interplay of factors that influence adolescent mental health. Moreover, the study contributes to targeted interventions to improve the health of adolescents, especially in different cultural contexts.