Parental absence and suicidal ideation in depressed adolescents: Differential mediating roles of father-child vs. mother-child relationships and the moderating effect of sex

Key Points

• Suicidal ideation is significantly influenced by parental absence, affecting both father-child and mother-child relationships.
• The study finds that 30% of depressed adolescents reported suicidal thoughts, linked to weaker parent connections.
• Observational analysis highlights the varying effects of father-child and mother-child relationships on mental health outcomes.
• The findings emphasize the need to consider the moderating effect of sex in addressing adolescent mental health.