Association of low parental mental health literacy with adolescent depression and anxiety: a large-scale cross-sectional study in Guangdong, China

Adolescent depression and anxiety symptoms are major health concerns, and the family environment plays a critical role. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between parental mental health literacy (PMHL) and adolescent depression and anxiety scores. Based on cross-sectional data from the 2023 Guangdong Adolescent Mental Health Survey, the study included 4,697 pairs of adolescents and their primary caregivers. Questionnaires were used to assess PMHL and adolescents’ levels of depression and anxiety, and weighted linear regression, restricted cubic splines, and subgroup analyses were employed. For every 1-point increase in PMHL, adolescents’ depression scores decreased by 0.033 and anxiety scores by 0.034 (both P < 0.05). The high PMHL group had significantly lower depression and anxiety scores than the low PMHL group. The dose-response relationship was linear. Subgroup analysis revealed interaction effects involving boarding status, mobile phone usage duration, and educational level. Higher PMHL is significantly associated with a lower risk of depression and anxiety among adolescents. Enhancing PMHL may help prevent and intervene in adolescent emotional problems; longitudinal studies are needed to verify the causal relationship.