Family Conflict and Adolescent Depression: Examining the Roles of Sense of Security and Stress Mindset

ABSTRACT An extensive body of research has demonstrated the multifaceted detrimental impact of family conflict on the psychological well‐being of adolescents. Nevertheless, there remains a significant scarcity of comprehensive studies investigating the full spectrum of family conflict—encompassing both interparental and parent–child relationships—and its effects on adolescent depression within the social context of China. The current study endeavours to bridge this gap by examining the relationship between family conflict and depression while concurrently assessing the mediating role of sense of security and the moderating role of stress mindset. A total of 814 adolescents (mean age = 16.79 years) completed the questionnaires regarding family conflict, sense of security, depression and stress mindset. The findings reveal a positive correlation between family conflict and adolescent depression. Additionally, the study uncovers the mediating role of sense of security and the moderating role of stress mindset. These insights offer valuable theoretical and practical contributions to understanding the impact of family conflict on adolescent psychological development.