Temporal dynamics of psychosocial risk and resilience pathways in adolescent depressive and anxiety symptoms: a three-wave longitudinal study

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Background Adolescence is a critical neurodevelopmental stage marked by heightened sensitivity to psychosocial influences and increased risk for emotional disorders such as depression and anxiety. Although multiple psychosocial risk and protective factors have been identified, their interrelations and temporal patterning remain insufficiently understood, especially in Chinese populations. Methods We analyzed three-wave longitudinal data from 907 junior high school students in Northern China to examine associations among psychosocial stressors, contextual resources and mental health across adolescence. Psychosocial variables were assessd using multidimensional scales, and factor analytic procedures were applied to examine patterns of shared variance among subscales. We applied an integrated analytic framework incorporating mixed graphical models to explore variable relationships, linear mixed-effects models to evaluate temporal trajectories, and wave-specific mediation models to examine contemporaneous associational pathways. Results A factor interpreted as externally supported adaptive resources was examined as a statistical mediator linking family functioning, peer relationships, and negative life events with depressive and anxiety symptoms within waves. Furthermore, the findings indicate that negative life events were consistently associated with emotional distress, whereas associations involving this factor varied across time and context. Family functioning showed both direct associations and indirect links through this factor, while peer relationships demonstrated context-dependent patterns including both protective and potentially stressful influences. Conclusions These findings provide preliminary insights into how psychosocial stressors and contextual resources are associated with adolescent emotional symptoms and how these associations vary across assessment waves. By delineating patterns of co-occurrence across developmental stages, this study may contribute to early screening considerations and stage-sensitive mental health support planning in school and community settings. Trial registration Not applicable.

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Zhu, J., Gao, W., Hu, L., Hao, J., Chen, Y., Wang, Y., Li, P., Chen, W., Ban, P., Yang, L., Zheng, X., Hou, C., Zhang, Y., Shen, Y., Chen, J., & Feng, K. (2026). Temporal dynamics of psychosocial risk and resilience pathways in adolescent depressive and anxiety symptoms: a three-wave longitudinal study. BMC Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-026-04439-z