# 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.

## Key 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.