Sensitive mothers, divergent paths: Differential outcomes for early sensitive caregiving amongst Chinese adolescent boys and girls

Evidence of the long-term benefits of early sensitive caregiving is scarce in non-Western samples. This 14-year longitudinal study from urban China (N = 344; 47.97% females) investigated the association between maternal sensitivity observed at age 14 and 24 months and adolescents’ internalizing problems at age 15 years. Findings revealed gender-specific patterns: among adolescent girls, early maternal sensitivity was associated with fewer internalizing problems (βs = −0.36 to −0.40) after accounting for their concurrent perceived support. However, for boys, early maternal sensitivity was indirectly associated with higher depression and social anxiety through lower perceived support from teachers and parents. These gender-­divergent trajectories highlight that early caregiving experiences may have distinct mental health implications across developmental stages and cultural contexts.