Family socioeconomic status (SES) is a key determinant of adolescent depressive symptoms. However, prior research has largely relied on static and objective indicators, with limited attention to life-course dynamics in parental occupational status and subjective socioeconomic status (SSS). Evidence from a life-course perspective remains scarce. This study applies a life-course framework to examine how dynamic changes in parental occupational status and SSS are associated with adolescent depressive symptoms. Data were drawn from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) from 2010 to 2020 ( N = 1143). Participants were observed across three developmental stages (ages 5–8, 11–14, and 15–18). Parental occupational status, parental SSS, and adolescent depressive symptoms were assessed at each stage. A structured life-course modeling approach was used, embedding parental occupational and SSS indicators within saturated models. Competing life-course hypotheses were compared using partial F-tests. Over half of adolescents experienced low parental occupational status or low parental SSS during at least one developmental stage. The association between parental occupational status and adolescent depressive symptoms was primarily explained by social mobility, particularly reflecting the adverse influence of downward occupational mobility. In contrast, parental SSS exhibited sensitive period and cumulative exposure patterns rather than mobility effects. Low paternal SSS during late adolescence was significantly associated with depressive symptoms, whereas maternal SSS showed both sensitive period and accumulation effects. Dynamic changes in parental occupational status and SSS, especially during early life, play an important role in shaping adolescent depressive symptoms. Early identification of socioeconomic disadvantage and timely interventions may help reduce depressive symptoms among adolescents. • Family socioeconomic status was modeled dynamically across childhood and adolescence using a life-course framework. • Parental occupational status influenced adolescent depressive symptoms primarily through downward social mobility. • Parental subjective socioeconomic status showed cumulative and sensitive period effects on adolescent depressive symptoms. • Integrating objective and subjective socioeconomic dimensions improves understanding of adolescent mental health inequalities.
Zeng et al. (Sun,) studied this question.