Depressive symptoms and Learning Motivation among Chinese freshmen: a longitudinal study using random intercept cross-lagged panel model and the subgroup analysis of parental educational background

A stable negative correlation exists between depressive symptoms and LM among Chinese college freshmen: depressive symptoms consistently impair subsequent LM, while the protective effect of LM against depressive symptoms is phased, with subgroup differences in family educational background. These findings suggest that colleges and universities should prioritize early screening and intervention for freshmen's depressive symptoms to protect their LM, and provide targeted support based on parental educational background.