ABSTRACT
This qualitative study examined the lived experiences of Chinese parents with depression within a collectivist and interdependent cultural context. To recognise the underexplored relational and systemic dimensions, 14 parents diagnosed with depression were recruited via community mental health services in Hong Kong. Data were collected through parent–child dyadic (n = 8) and individual semi-structured interviews (n = 12). Thematic analysis was employed and two themes were generated: “Internal agent of cultural expectations in parenthood” and “External reinforcer of cultural norms in parenthood”. The first highlighted how parents actively scrutinised their children’s development and parental roles to meet societal standards. The second illustrated how external monitoring by family and community reinforced cultural expectations, often marginalising parents within the societal context. These findings emphasise the need to shift from a predominantly biomedical and individualistic approach toward a holistic perspective that incorporates the interplay between parents and their social environment into mental health research and practice.