Depressive symptoms in Chinese elementary school children: child social-cognitive factors and parenting factors

Abstract

This study examined child cognitive-behavioural factors and parenting factors related to childhood depressive symptoms. Results indicate that positive and negative attributional styles were protective and vulnerable factors of depression symptoms, respectively, and the attribution–depression link was mediated by self-esteem and coping responses. Children who inclined to explain positive outcomes with internal, stable and global factors reported higher self-esteem which predicted adopting seeking social support but not internalization and externalization coping responses. These children reported less depressive symptoms. In contrast, children who explained negative events with internal, stable and global causes developed lower self-esteem and adopted internalization and externalization coping responses which predicted depression in the positive direction. Authoritative parenting style and parental anxiety predicted child depressive symptoms in the negative and positive directions, respectively. The current results solicit the attention of school personnel and professionals to the importance of fostering self-esteem and adaptive attributional style and coping responses in children.

Keywords:

• child depressive symptoms
• attribution
• self-esteem
• coping
• authoritative parenting

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Siu Mui Chan is Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychological Studies, Hong Kong Institute of Education. Her Ph.D. thesis investigated emotion socialisation patterns and parenting in Hong Kong-Chinese mothers. Dr Chan's research interests are mainly related to the socio-emotional development and mental health of children and adolescents. Ongoing projects include depression and anxiety in adolescents and children in Hong Kong and Macau.

Ms Scarlet Fung Oi Poon is a service-in-charge of integrated Community Centre for Mental Wellness of Baptist Oi Kwan Social Service, with focus in service development and mental health for children and youth. Scarlet earned Master of Social Science in Counseling from University of South Australia, and Master of Arts in Christian Studies from the Chinese University of Hong Kong. She is a qualified member of Australian Counseling Association and a professional member of HK Professional Counseling Association. In addition, Scarlet is an accredited MBTI administrator, a certified trainer for Positive Parenting Program (Triple P), a qualified counsellor for Prepare Enrich (Marriage) programme, and play therapy. And She is also a registered facilitator of UCLA PEERS programme for Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders.