To explore the latent class characteristics of depressive symptoms in adolescents and their association with sleep quality and psychological resilience, so as to provide references for identifying high-risk groups and developing tiered intervention strategies.

From March to May 2024, 3 155 students from grade 5-9 of five primary and secondary schools in Shihezi and Changji, Xinjiang, were selected via convenience sampling. Anonymous self-report questionnaires were administered using 10-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D-10), 10-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-10), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Latent profile analysis (LPA) was conducted for depressive symptoms, and multivariate Logistic regression models were used to examine associations of latent classes with sleep quality and psychological resilience of adolescents.

The CES-D-10 score of adolescents was 7.0 (4.0, 12.0), and the PSQI score was 5.0 (3.0, 7.0). LPA identified four subgroups: low depressive symptom group (57.7%), moderate depressive-typical symptom group (15.2%), moderate depressive-functional retention group (16.6%) and high depressive symptom group (10.5%). Logistic regression revealed that compared to the low-symptom group, moderate depressive-typical symptom group, moderate depressive-functional retention group and high depressive symptom group exhibited poorer sleep quality (OR=1.54, 1.51, 1.77) and lower psychological resilience (OR=0.94, 0.96, 0.92) (P < 0.05).

Poor sleep quality and insufficient psychological resilience are universal risk factors for adolescent depression, with younger age associated with higher vulnerability.