Parental absence and depression on adolescents in Indonesia: A result of Indonesia family life survey

Adolescent mental health is a critical public health issue in Indonesia, with depression being one of the most common conditions. One factor that can influence depression is parental presence during childhood. This study aims to investigate the impact of parental absence during childhood on depressive symptoms in Indonesian adolescents aged 15–24 years. Data were obtained from the Indonesian Family Life Survey (IFLS) Wave 5, which included 6,519 adolescents. Parental presence was the independent variable, categorized based on living arrangements (father, mother, or both) at age 12, while depressive symptoms were measured using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). The data analysis method in this study used Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression to analyze the relationship. The study also included control variables (covariates) such as subjective wealth, gender, and the presence of siblings. The findings emphasize the importance of parental presence in reducing the impact of depression on adolescents. The loss of a parent, particularly the loss of a mother, is significantly associated with increased depressive symptoms in adolescents. However, the loss of both parents has the strongest negative impact. Additionally, subjective wealth shows a protective effect against depression, while female adolescents exhibit higher depression symptom scores compared to male adolescents. Meanwhile, the presence of siblings does not have a significant impact. This study highlights the critical role of parental presence, particularly maternal involvement, in reducing depression among adolescents. These findings recommend the development of family-based mental health policies that can address the risks of vulnerability resulting from incomplete family structures, particularly within the cultural and economic context of Indonesia. The study also emphasizes the need for longitudinal research to understand the long-term effects of parental absence on adolescents' psychological well-being.