Adolescent depression has a profound impact on health across the lifespan, with depressive symptoms varying across different contexts. Therefore, accurately identifying and addressing the core symptoms in different populations is essential for developing effective interventions to improve adolescent mental health. This study utilized network analysis to examine the structure of depressive symptoms among rural children in different circumstances and to identify key targets for intervention. Network analysis results indicated that, for non-disadvantaged children, the most central symptoms were loneliness, self-hatred, and irritability, while for disadvantaged children, self-hatred, loneliness, and worry were the most prominent. Simulation-based intervention analyses demonstrated that alleviating loneliness was highly effective for both groups, with particularly strong effects among disadvantaged children, who exhibited the highest levels of loneliness and self-hatred. These findings highlight the potential of targeted interventions focusing on loneliness as a critical strategy for reducing depressive symptoms in rural youth.
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