Impact of Parent-Adolescent Relationship, Parental Education, and Family Income on High School Students’ Anxiety and Depression

Adolescence is a crucial time for the emergence of depressive and anxiety symptoms, and the quality of the parent-adolescent relationship is consistently linked to these mental health outcomes. It is important to recognize the differing perceptions of parents and adolescents regarding their relationship quality. This study explores how the quality of parent-adolescent relationships, parental education, and family income impact anxiety and depression levels among high school students. A sum of 690 students from the eastern and central regions of China participated by completing both paper and electronic questionnaires. The analysis shows a significant negative correlation between the quality of parent-child relationships and students’ anxiety and depression levels. Additionally, higher parental education is positively related to better mental health outcomes for children. While family income influences environmental conditions and resource availability, it is not a primary factor affecting student anxiety and depression. These findings emphasize the importance of family-related factors in shaping the mental health of high school students and provide valuable insights for future interventions.