The relationship between family adaptability and cohesion and adolescent depression: the chain mediation effect of perceived social support and coping styles

Purpose The research aims to investigate the relationship between family adaptability and cohesion and adolescent depression by constructing a chain mediation model to examine the mediating role of perceived social support and coping styles. Participants and methods This study surveyed 1,931 middle school students using the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale (FACES II-CV), the Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS), the Simple Coping Style Questionnaire (SCSQ), and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Data were analyzed with SPSS 26.0, including tests for common method bias, descriptive statistics, and correlation analysis. The chain mediation model was tested using the PROCESS macro program. Results Family adaptability and cohesion, perceived social support, and positive coping styles all showed significant negative correlations with adolescent depression, while negative coping styles exhibited a positive association with depression. Furthermore, family adaptability and cohesion not only have a direct impact on adolescent depression, but also exert indirect effects through the separate mediating roles of perceived social support, positive and negative coping, as well as through the chain mediation of “perceived social support → positive/negative coping styles.” Among these pathways, the two chain mediation paths (Family adaptability and cohesion → Perceived social support (PSS) → Positive coping styles → Depression; Family adaptability and cohesion → Perceived social support (PSS) → Negative coping styles → Depression) accounted for 21.43% and 7.14% of the total effect, respectively. Conclusion This study clarifies the relationship between family adaptability and cohesion, PSS, coping styles, and adolescent depression, emphasizing the indirect influence of family adaptability and cohesion on adolescent depression through PSS, positive coping, and negative coping styles. To a certain extent, it offers evidence and theoretical guidance for mitigating and treating adolescent depression.