Experiencing material hardship is a significant risk factor for developing depression and anxiety in adolescents. This study investigates the potential mediator roles of maternal mental health and bullying victimisation in the association between material hardship and adolescent depression and anxiety symptoms. The study included 4563 adolescents from the Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) longitudinal study. Depression and anxiety symptoms were measured at the 12-year Data Collection Waves (DCWs). Material hardship was measured at nine-month and 4.5-year DCWs. The potential mediators, maternal mental health and bullying victimisation, were assessed at the eight-year-DCW. For each outcome, we analysed the mediating effects of each mediator separately and jointly, accounting for potential cross-path effects. Structural mediation models were adjusted for relevant covariates. The covariate-adjusted multiple mediation model showed that the direct effect of maternal hardship was significant for depression (β 0.75, p < 0.001) but not anxiety symptoms. The total indirect effect was significant for both depression (β 0.19, p < 0.001) and anxiety symptoms (β 0.30, 95% p < 0.001). A significant cross-path effect was observed from maternal mental health to bullying victimisation, whereas the reverse path was not significant. Our findings revealed distinct mediation pathways through which material hardship influences adolescent depression and anxiety symptoms. The effect of material hardship on depression symptoms was both direct and indirectly mediated by maternal mental health and bullying victimisation. In contrast, the effect on anxiety symptoms was fully mediated by these factors, suggesting no direct association. • Distinct pathways were identified linking early material hardship to depression and anxiety symptoms in adolescents, with a direct effect observed only for depression . • Both maternal mental health and bullying victimisation mediated the relationship between early material hardship and symptoms of depression and anxiety symptoms at age 12 years • These findings highlight the importance of a multi-sectoral approach that integrates anti-bullying programs and maternal mental health support, alongside financial and employment assistance, to improve the mental well-being of adolescents experiencing deprivation.
Pigatto et al. (Sun,) studied this question.