The cross-lagged relationship between parent–child relationship and psychological capital in Chinese Adolescents: Gender differences

Abstract

Adolescence is a critical developmental period characterized by rapid changes in psychological capital and significant challenges in parent–child relationships. However, dynamic studies investigating the interaction between parent–child relationships and psychological capital remain limited. This study adopts a cross-lagged longitudinal design to explore the dynamic relationship between parent–child relationships and psychological capital, with a particular focus on the moderating role of gender. Using a cluster sampling method, a 1-year follow-up survey was conducted with 993 adolescents from four middle schools in Sichuan Province, China. The results revealed the following: (1) Boys demonstrated significantly higher levels of psychological capital compared to girls. Over the 1-year period, psychological capital increased in both boys and girls. However, only boys experienced a significant decline in father-son relationships, while changes in parent–child relationships among girls were not significant. (2) The cross-lagged relationships between parent–child relationships and psychological capital exhibited gender differences. For boys, psychological capital predicted both father-son and mother-son relationships. For girls, a bidirectional predictive relationship was observed between father-daughter relationships and psychological capital. These findings suggest that boys with higher levels of psychological capital are more likely to cultivate strong parent–child relationships, while for girls, positive traits and father-daughter relationships mutually reinforce one another. These insights provide practical implications for mental health education in middle schools.