Longitudinal effects of school boarding on adolescent depression: examining the mediating role of parent-child closeness and school connectedness.

ABSTRACT:

Background and purpose

Adolescence is a critical period of heightened vulnerability to depression, during which environmental contexts-particularly boarding schools-may significantly influence mental health through altered family and school relationships. Despite the widespread prevalence of boarding schools globally, their longitudinal impact on adolescent depression remains understudied. This study examines the longitudinal impact of early adolescent boarding on depressive symptoms, testing whether diminished parent-child closeness or school connectedness mediates this association.

Methods

Using longitudinal data from a nationally representative sample of 9,324 Chinese 7th graders (30.3% boarders), we employed propensity score matching to control for pre-existing differenc

SUBMITTER: Leng LL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12628575 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature