The role of family environment and parental factors: a person-oriented study of adolescents’ psychological distress and help-seeking patterns

TL;DR

This study identifies different mental health profiles in adolescents and shows how family and parental factors influence their distress and help-seeking behavior.

Contribution

It uses a person-oriented approach to reveal distinct adolescent mental health profiles and their links to family dynamics.

Findings

Five distinct adolescent profiles were identified, including a high-risk group with elevated distress and low help-seeking.

Lower family functioning and higher parental distress predict higher-risk profiles in adolescents.

Professional help-seeking intentions are linked to reduced self-harm risk in distressed adolescents.

Abstract

Adolescents’ mental health is shaped by their coping strategies and the broader family context in which they live. However, few studies have examined psychological distress and help-seeking patterns jointly, especially from a person-oriented perspective. Understanding distinct adolescent risk profiles and how family and parental factors influence them may inform more effective prevention strategies. This study aimed to: (1) identify latent profiles of adolescents based on their psychological distress and help-seeking intentions; and (2) explore how family and parental factors predict profile membership and self-harm risk.

A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2021 with 7,934 Chinese secondary school students and one parent per adolescent. Adolescents completed validated measures of depression, anxiety, and help-seeking intentions; parents reported on family income, family function, mental health symptoms, and mental health stigma. Latent profile analysis and the BCH three-step method were used to identify subgroups and examine predictors and outcomes.

Five profiles were identified: normative, safe, distress, high-risk, and aware. The high-risk profile (5.98%) showed high distress, low help-seeking, and the highest self-harm rate (48.7%). Lower family functioning and higher parental distress predicted higher-risk profiles. Professional help-seeking intentions were associated with reduced self-harm risk among distressed adolescents.

Family and parental factors significantly shape adolescent coping profiles and mental health risks. Findings underscore the value of early screening and family-focused interventions to reduce self-harm.

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