Family Environment Profiles and Mental Health Characteristics Among Chinese Middle School Students: A Latent Profile Analysis

Objective This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of mental health among contemporary middle school students and examine the mechanisms through which family environments influence psychological outcomes. Methods The study conducted difference analysis and latent profile analysis on a sample of 2,139 middle school students to systematically evaluate family environment types and their associations with mental health indicators. Results (1) No significant differences in family environments by geographical origin or family structure, but gender-based differences were significant; (2) Family intimacy positively correlated with depression-anxiety-stress symptoms, while family conflict showed negative correlations; (3) Latent profile analysis delineated three family environment typologies: supportive (characterized by emotional warmth), indifferent (marked by emotional detachment), and conflictual (defined by interpersonal tension); (4) Significant mental health variations existed across these family types (p < 0.01). Conclusions The study establishes distinct family environment typologies and their differential impacts on adolescent mental health, providing empirical evidence that supportive family environments serve as protective factors. These findings underscore the necessity for family-focused interventions in adolescent mental health promotion programs.