To explore the relationship between four dimensions of father’s parenting involvement (emotional, rule-setting, academic, and daily life), peer relationships, and the depression status of rural children.

A total of 657 rural children were assessed using the Father Involvement Questionnaire, the Peer Relationships Scale, and the Child Depression Inventory. SPSS 27.0 software and the Process 4.1 plugin were used to analyze the relationship between paternal parenting involvement and the depression status of rural children, as well as the mediating effect of peer relationships.

All dimensions of father’s parenting involvement had a significant positive impact on peer relationships(β_emotional=0.394, β_rule-setting=0.227, β_academic=0.219, β_{daily life}=0.202). The emotional, rule-setting, and academic dimensions of paternal parenting involvement significantly negatively predicted children’s depression levels (β_emotional=-0.032, β_rule-setting=-0.025, β_academic=-0.028), while the daily life dimension showed no significant effect. Peer relationships significantly negatively influenced depression levels (β_emotional=-0.159, β_rule-setting=-0.162, β_academic=-0.162, β_{daily life}=-0.168).

Peer relationships play a bridging role between father’s parenting involvement and depression in rural children. Father’s involvement in emotional, rule-setting, and academic aspects can directly predict children’s depressive symptoms, or indirectly predict them through peer relationships. Parenting involvement in the daily life dimension indirectly influences children’s depression through peer relationships.