The Impact of Maternal Parenting Styles on Adolescent Depression: The Mediating Role of Cyberbullying

Abstract

Globally, the number of individuals with depression reaches a staggering 340 million, with a growth rate of 18.4% in the last decade. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of individuals with severe depression increased by 28%, and there was a surge of 53 million new depression cases worldwide, with 30% of these being adolescents under the age of 18, indicating a trend towards a younger age of depression onset. A report released by the Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, showed that in 2020, the prevalence of depression among Chinese adolescents was 24.6%, with severe depression at 7.4%. The main factors influencing adolescent depression include interpersonal relationships, family relationships, and academic pressure. Parental parenting styles have a significant impact on children’s mental health, with overly strict demands potentially leading to adolescent depression. With the widespread use of the internet, adolescents have become the primary users, but they also face the threat of cyberbullying. Cyberbullying can easily trigger emotional issues such as depression and anxiety in adolescents, and even lead to self-harm and suicide. Therefore, studying the relationship between cyberbullying and depression is of great significance for promoting the physical and mental health development of adolescents.