Gender Differences in Emotional Pathways from Parental Maltreatment to Adolescent Deviance: A Longitudinal Study of South Korean Youth

Parental maltreatment is a well‑established risk factor for adolescent deviance. Although prior studies have examined links between maltreatment and deviant behavior, few have investigated whether emotional mechanisms differ across gender within a longitudinal framework, particularly in South Korea. Using nationally representative longitudinal data from 2,145 South Korean adolescents, the present study examines whether depression and aggression mediate the relationship between parental maltreatment and adolescent deviance and whether these pathways differ for boys and girls. Generalized structural equation modeling was applied to longitudinal, nationally representative data from South Korean adolescents. Although the study relied on self‑reported data, results indicate that maltreatment was associated with higher levels of depression and aggression for both genders. For boys, maltreatment was indirectly related to deviance through aggression but not through depression. For girls, both depression and aggression served as significant mediators, with the pathway through depression being stronger. These findings reveal gender-specific emotional pathways linking parental maltreatment to adolescent deviance and suggest that prevention and intervention efforts might benefit from gender-responsive approaches that address distinct emotional processes.