Relaxation or stress? The impact of household chores on depression in Chinese adolescents.

Depression among adolescents is a significant concern both in China and globally. While previous research has acknowledged the influence of family life on adolescent depression, there has been limited exploration of housework, a key aspect of family dynamics. Using data from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) spanning 2016–2020, this study investigates the relationship between household chores and adolescent depression. The sample comprises 977 students with data collected over three waves. Our findings reveal a positive association between the duration of housework (DHT) and adolescent depression. Specifically, controlling for other factors, each additional hour of housework corresponds to a 0.38 increase in the CESD-20 score, indicating heightened depression levels. Additionally, the study highlights that the impact of DHT on depression is most pronounced among rural Chinese adolescents, particularly rural Chinese girls. This trend may be linked to prevailing son preference in rural Chinese communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]