BRIEF REPORT Close relations to parents and emotional symptoms among adolescents: beyond socio-economic impact? Mogens Trab Damsgaard • Bjørn E. Holstein • Vibeke Koushede • Katrine Rich Madsen • Charlotte Meilstrup • Malene Kubstrup Nelausen • Line Nielsen • Signe Boe Rayce Received: 16 April 2014 / Revised: 20 August 2014 / Accepted: 25 August 2014 / Published online: 2 September 2014 Ó Swiss School of Public Health 2014 Abstract Objectives This study examined the relationship between trustful communication with parents and frequency of emotional symptoms in schoolchildren and whether this relationship was modified by the family’s socio-economic position. Methods Pooled data (n = 15,646) from the Danish Health Behaviour in School-aged Children surveys 2002, 2006 and 2010 were analysed by multilevel multivariable logistic regression. Results 8 % of all schoolchildren reported emotional symptoms almost daily. Odds ratio for daily symptoms was 2.1 (1.8–2.4) for children without trustful communication with parents compared to children with trustful communi- cation. This association appears unaffected by family occupational class. A substantial socio-economic gradient in emotional symptoms persisted, independent of parent– child communication. Conclusions Trustful communication with parents might have a fundamental importance, regardless of socio-eco- nomic position. Keywords Adolescents Á Emotional symptoms Á Mental health Á Parent–child communication Á Socio-economic inequality Á Schoolchildren Introduction Many schoolchildren experience emotional symptoms during adolescence (Currie et al. 2012). Experiencing emotional symptoms frequently can have implications for daily life, school attendance, ability to learn, and social relations (Patel et al. 2007). Emotional symptoms in ado- lescence may also track into adulthood and have serious consequences for mental and physical health (Due et al. 2011; van Eijck et al. 2012; Morgan et al. 2012; Stewart- Brown et al. 2005). Early adolescence is a vulnerable time period for development of emotional symptoms (Patel et al. 2007) which we define as the perception of anxiety and depressed mood. Adolescence is characterised by physical, psycho- logical and social changes in which the reciprocal exchanges between the young person and the social envi- ronment play an important role (Due et al. 2011). Feeling related and socially supported are basic needs for a positive psychosocial development (Small and Memmo 2004). Most adolescents become more autonomous and indepen- dent, and peer relationships play an increasingly important role in daily life and development. The adolescent’s rela- tionship with parents becomes more equal and peripheral (van Eijck et al. 2012). Parental support is, however, still important offering a secure base enabling the adolescent to retain a stable sense of identity through a turbulent stage of life (Smith et al. 2009). Lacking close relations to one’s parents may therefore be a serious psychological strain with increased risk of emotional problems. There is a strong documentation for an association between problematic parent–child relations and emotional symptoms in adolescence (Brumariu and Kerns 2010; Colonnesi et al. 2011). Low socio-economic position fur- thermore seems to increase the risk of emotional symptoms M. T. Damsgaard (&) Á B. E. Holstein Á V. Koushede Á K. R. Madsen Á C. Meilstrup Á M. K. Nelausen Á L. Nielsen Á S. B. Rayce National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark e-mail: trab@niph.dk Int J Public Health (2014) 59:721–726 DOI 10.1007/s00038-014-0600-8 123