The Relationship Between Peer Attachment,Friendship Quality,and Depression Among Rural Middle School Students:A Longitudinal Follow-up Study

The psychological health of middle school students has attracted much attention in today’s society,especially in rural left behind middle school students.They have been separated from their parents for a long time and lack parental care.Compared to non left behind children,their detection rate of depression continues to increase,which seriously affects the psychological health of rural left behind middle school students.Studying the depression of rural junior high school students is beneficial for their physical and mental health development.This study focuses on rural middle school students and explores the relationship between peer attachment,friendship quality,and depression,providing some reference for alleviating depression among middle school students.This study explores the relationship between peer attachment,friendship quality,and depression through two studies.Study 1 used the Peer Attachment Scale,Epidemic Center Depression Scale,and Friendship Quality Scale to test 580 rural middle school students,exploring the impact of left behind experience on peer attachment,friendship quality,and depression among rural middle school students.On the basis of Study 1,Study 2 conducted two follow-up measurements on rural left behind junior high school students,with an interval of 3 months,to explore the relationship between peer attachment and depression among rural left behind junior high school students,the role of friendship quality in the relationship between the two,and the directional issues of the relationship between the three.Research 1 found that:(1)the experience of being left behind has a significant impact on rural middle school students,specifically manifested as significant differences in peer attachment,friendship quality,and depression in the variable of whether or not to be left behind;(2)There is a significant positive correlation between peer attachment and friendship quality among non left behind junior high school students;There is a significant correlation between peer attachment,friendship quality,and depression among left behind junior high school students;(3)It was found that the quality of friendship plays a mediating role between peer attachment and depression among left behind junior high school students.The results of Study 2 found that:(1)peer attachment and friendship quality of rural left behind junior high school students showed an upward trend in the three measurements,while depression showed a downward trend in the three measurements;(2)Peer attachment at the previous time point can significantly positively predict the quality of friendship at the subsequent time point,and friendship quality at the previous time point can negatively predict depression at the subsequent time point;(3)The quality of friendship plays a longitudinal mediating role between peer attachment and depression.In summary,this study explores the impact of left behind experiences on peer attachment,friendship quality,and depression among rural middle school students.From both horizontal and vertical perspectives,it reveals the protective factors of depression among rural left behind middle school students,that is,friendship quality plays a partial mediating role in the relationship between peer attachment and depression.It is recommended to effectively alleviate the depression of rural left behind junior high school students through safe peer attachment and positive friendship quality.