A comparative longitudinal study of depression among left-behind and non-left-behind adolescents in Romania

Adolescents left behind by migrating parents (LBAs) are a growing demographic in Romania, where economic migration is increasing. The lack of parental supervision is associated with emotional and behavioural challenges, but few studies have longitudinally examined mental health in LBAs versus non-LBAs. This study investigated predictors of depression and compared levels of depression and anxiety between these groups over a year. The participants were selected through purposive sampling from 944 Romanian adolescents aged 13–18 (45.6% LBAs) in Iasi. We used t-tests and hierarchical regression analysis to test the hypotheses. Mental health was assessed at two-time points, during which major depression, emotional difficulties, and perceived social support were evaluated. Results showed LBAs had significantly higher major depression levels at T2, with depression worsening over time in this group. Emotional difficulties predicted depression for both groups, while family support acted as a protective factor for LBAs. These findings emphasize the increased vulnerability of LBAs and suggest that school-based interventions and mental health programs could help address their unique challenges.