Adolescent depression in skipped-generation families is a growing concern, yet the role of grandparenting styles and gender attitudes remains understudied. Data from 1,039 adolescents (511 girls, 528 boys) in rural Chinese skipped-generation families were analyzed. Mediation analyses examined associations between grandparenting styles, gender attitudes, and depression. Higher grandparental rejection correlated with higher depression (Estimate = .35, p &lt; .001), while higher emotional warmth correlated with lower depression (Estimate = −.32, p &lt; .001). Emotional warmth was associated with more egalitarian gender attitudes (Estimate = .12, p &lt; .001). Gender attitudes partially mediated the association between emotional warmth and depression among girls, but not boys. A significant gender difference was found in the association between gender attitudes and depression ( p &lt;.05). Grandparenting styles and gender are associated with depression in adolescents from skipped-generation families. Mental health interventions should focus on educating grandparents to provide emotional support and promoting egalitarian gender attitudes, especially among girls.

Does Gender Matter? The Mediating Role of Gender Attitudes on the Associations Between Grandparenting Styles and Adolescent Depression Among Skipped-Generation Families in Rural China