The effect of perceived parental psychological control on adolescents’ depressive symptoms: the chain mediating role of parent–child conflict frequency and negative emotions

Background Previous studies have primarily examined the impact of parental psychological control on adolescent depressive symptoms from either family interaction or emotional perspectives, often considering these factors separately and overlooking their potential interplay.Aims This study examined how parent–child conflict frequency and negative emotions mediate parental psychological control’s effects on adolescent depressive symptoms, alongside parental gender differences.Methods A two-wave longitudinal design was employed. Data were collected from 1774 junior high school students at two timepoints with a one-year interval.Results (1) Perceived maternal psychological control directly predicted adolescent depressive symptoms. (2) Father–child conflict frequency significantly mediated paternal control’s effect on depressive symptoms, while maternal control’s mediation was marginal; mother–child conflict frequency showed no mediation. Negative emotions significantly mediated maternal control’s effect. (3) Maternal control influenced depressive symptoms sequentially through mother–child conflict and negative emotions, whereas paternal control exhibited no such pathway.Conclusions These findings underscore parent–child conflict reduction and negative emotion regulation as critical interventions for alleviating adolescent depressive symptoms, highlighting the unique role of maternal psychological control. The results advance targeted strategies for adolescent mental health promotion.