The Effect of School Interpersonal Relationship Quality on Adolescent Depression: The Role of Perceived Stress and OXTR Gene

Based on ecological systems theory and the genetic and environmental research paradigm, the current study explored the effect of school interpersonal relationship quality (peer and teacher-student) on adolescent depression and the role of perceived stress and the OXTR gene. Based on the statistical power of previous G*E interaction studies, A follow-up survey was conducted with 603 Chinese adolescents (average age = 14.76 ± 0.72 years at the time of the initial measurement; range: 13 to 15) using a questionnaire method (Short Form of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, The Chinese version of Perceived Stress Scale, short form of Friendship Quality Questionnaire and Teacher-student Relationship) and DNA typing technique. The study found that (1) school interpersonal relationship quality influenced adolescent depression; (2) perceived stress fully mediated the relationship between school interpersonal relationship quality and adolescent depression; (3) the OXTR gene rs2254298 and rs53576 polymorphisms moderated both the direct pathway and the second half of the indirect pathway. Specifically, individuals carrying the rs2254298 polymorphism A/G genotype and the rs53576 polymorphism A genotype exhibited a significantly enhanced effect of interpersonal relationship quality and perceived stress on adolescent depression, supporting the differential susceptibility model.