Perceived Neglectful Parenting and Depressive Symptoms in Multicultural Adolescents: Bicultural Acceptance and Withdrawal as Mediators

ABSTRACT Introduction This study examined the association between perceived neglectful parenting and depressive symptoms among adolescents from multicultural families in South Korea, focusing on the serial mediating roles of bicultural acceptance attitudes and social withdrawal across Grades 6, 9, and 12. Method Data were obtained from the first cohort of the nationally representative Multicultural Adolescents Panel Study: Grade 6 (Wave 3; n = 1443), Grade 9 (Wave 6; n = 1329), and Grade 12 (Wave 9; n = 1146). Most participants were from Korean father–immigrant mother households (> 96%). Partial least squares structural equation modeling was used to examine direct and indirect associations among perceived neglectful parenting, bicultural acceptance attitudes, social withdrawal, and depressive symptoms while controlling for demographic covariates. Results Across grades, higher perceived neglectful parenting was associated with lower bicultural acceptance attitudes, higher social withdrawal, and depressive symptoms. Bicultural acceptance attitudes were negatively associated with social withdrawal and depressive symptoms, whereas social withdrawal showed the strongest positive association with depressive symptoms. Significant indirect associations were observed through bicultural acceptance attitudes, social withdrawal, and their sequential pathway. Conclusion Perceived neglectful parenting was associated with depressive symptoms among Korean multicultural adolescents both directly and indirectly through bicultural acceptance attitudes and social withdrawal. These findings suggest that parenting support, bicultural identity development, and interventions addressing social withdrawal may be important considerations in supporting the mental health of multicultural adolescents, particularly during key educational transitions.