This study aims to examine the temporal trends of independent and interdependent self-construals among Chinese adolescents and explore the predictive role of macro-level socioecological factors in shaping these changes. Based on 67 independent samples (totaling 28,505 participants) collected between 2006 and 2022, we conducted a cross-temporal meta-analysis across secondary school and university student populations. The results revealed a significant increase in independent self-construals over time, especially pronounced among university students, with a marked acceleration around 2013. In contrast, interdependent self-construals continued to dominate and remained relatively stable in both groups. Further regression analyses indicated that socioecological factors (such as urbanization rate, per capita GDP, and higher education enrollment) significantly predicted changes in independent self-construals among university students, but had minimal effects on secondary school students. In conclusion, independent self-construals among Chinese adolescents have significantly increased over time, particularly in university students, with socioecological factors playing an important role in this change, while the changes among secondary school students remain slow and stable.
Yue et al. (2026) studied this question.