青少年至成人初期的憂鬱症狀發展軌跡：自尊與父母教養的長期發展影響

DEVELOPMENTAL TRAJECTORY OF DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS FROM ADOLESCENCE TO EARLY ADULTHOOD : LONG-TERM DEVELOPMENTAL EFFECTS OF SELF-ESTEEM AND PARENTING

研究目的
青少年初期至晚期的心理健康發展對其一生身心健康具有關鍵性影響，然而國內卻缺乏此階段心理發展變化之本土研究，故有填補此缺漏之必要性。
研究設計／方法／取徑
本研究採用「臺灣青少年成長歷程之縱貫性追蹤研究」資料，以2,690位青少年為研究對象，應用潛在成長曲線模型，分析父母教養、自尊與青少年憂鬱症狀長期變化發展之情形。
研究發現或結論
研究結果發現，青少年憂鬱症狀發展共經歷三次的轉換階段（高一、高三、大二），且各階段成長速率皆不同；青少年憂鬱症狀有逐年提升的狀況，且起始狀態和成長速率間具各別差異，二者間呈正相關；在教養行為上，嚴厲教養會提高憂鬱症狀的起始狀態和成長速率，而關愛支持僅會降低憂鬱症狀的起始狀態；自尊會正向影響青少年憂鬱症狀的起始狀態，與整個青少年時期的憂鬱成長幅度。根據結果，本研究說明自尊與教養方式對青少年憂鬱症狀發展，具不同時序且長期的影響效果。
研究原創性／價值
本研究為國內首創採用縱貫性追蹤研究，探討本土青少年初期至晚期的心理健康發展趨勢。親子關係和自尊是影響青少年身心健康的重要因素，若能了解在不同時序和長期下教養方式和自尊對青少年憂鬱症狀發展的影響，則有機會創造出不同因應策略，達到預防之效用，由此突顯本研究之價值。
教育政策建議或實務意涵
升學制度對臺灣青少年心理健康有很高的關聯性，故建議父母與學校從業人員，適時給予情緒支持、考試焦慮的因應策略；青少年憂鬱的初始狀態與憂鬱症狀的發展速率具高關聯性，若要達到預防的效用，家庭和學校端應提供支持環境、引導青少年正向地評價自己，以增進他們初期的心理健康；青少年感受到關愛支持的教養是有助於心理健康的關鍵因素，學校心理衛生工作者應提供適切的資源，幫助父母檢視與子女的互動方式。

Purpose
Mental health development from early to late adolescence has critical effects on individuals’physical and mental health throughout their lives. However, local research on changes in mental health development during this stage is lacking in Taiwan, making it necessary to fill this gap.
Design/methodology/approach
Data from the ''Longitudinal Tracking Study on the Developmental History of Taiwanese Adolescents'' were used to analyze long-term changes in parenting, self-esteem, and the development of depressive symptoms. A potential growth curve model was applied to a sample of 2,690 adolescents.
Findings/results
The results indicate that (1) adolescents experience three transitional periods in the development of depressive symptoms (high school freshman, high school senior, and college sophomore), with symptoms show a year-by-year increase with differences between the initial state and growth rate, which are positively correlated. (3) Regarding the effects of parenting behaviors, strict parenting increases the initial state and growth rate of depressive symptoms, whereas caring support only decreases the growth rate. (4) Self-esteem positively influences the onset and growth rate of depressive symptoms throughout adolescence. Thus, this study’s findings show that self-esteem and parenting styles have different temporal and long-term effects on the development of depressive symptoms in adolescents.
Originality/value
This study is the first to use longitudinal data to examine trends in the development of depressive symptoms from early to late adolescence in Taiwan. Parent–child relationships and self-esteem are important factors that affect adolescents' physical and mental health. By understanding the effects of parenting styles and self-esteem on development of depressive symptoms in adolescents over time, we can identify different coping strategies to achieve preventive effects, thus enhancing this study’s value.
Implications for policy/practice
As the school system is a crucial influence on the mental health of Taiwanese adolescents, parents and school practitioners are advised to provide timely emotional support and strategies to address test anxiety. Adolescents feel that caring and supportive parenting is a key factor in promoting mental health, and school mental health workers should provide appropriate resources to help parents examine how they interact with their children.