Purpose

Mental health development from early to late adolescence has critical effects on individuals’ physical and mental health throughout their lives. However, local research on changes in mental health development during this stage is lacking in Taiwan, making it necessary to fill this gap.

Design/methodology/approach

Data from the "Longitudinal Tracking Study on the Developmental History of Taiwanese Adolescents" were used to analyze long-term changes in parenting, self-esteem, and the development of depressive symptoms. A potential growth curve model was applied to a sample of 2,690 adolescents.

Findings/results

The results indicate that (1) adolescents experience three transitional periods in the development of depressive symptoms (high school freshman, high school senior, and college sophomore), with the growth rate differing in each stage. (2) Adolescents' depressive symptoms show a year-by-year increase with differences between the initial state and growth rate, which are positively correlated. (3) Regarding the effects of parenting behaviors, strict parenting increases the initial state and growth rate of depressive symptoms, whereas caring support only decreases the growth rate. (4) Self-esteem positively influences the onset and growth rate of depressive symptoms throughout adolescence. Thus, this study’s findings show that self-esteem and parenting styles have different temporal and long-term effects on the development of depressive symptoms in adolescents.

Originality/value

This study is the first to use longitudinal data to examine trends in the development of depressive symptoms from early to late adolescence in Taiwan. Parent–child relationships and self-esteem are important factors that affect adolescents' physical and mental health. By understanding the effects of parenting styles and self-esteem on development of depressive symptoms in adolescents over time, we can identify different coping strategies to achieve preventive effects, thus enhancing this study’s value.

Implications for policy/practice

As the school system is a crucial influence on the mental health of Taiwanese adolescents, parents and school practitioners are advised to provide timely emotional support and strategies to address test anxiety. Adolescents feel that caring and supportive parenting is a key factor in promoting mental health, and school mental health workers should provide appropriate resources to help parents examine how they interact with their children.