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ERIC Number: EJ1049503
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2014-Dec
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0012-1649
EISSN: N/A
Trajectories of Individual Depressive Symptoms in Adolescents: Gender and Family Relationships as Predictors
Kouros, Chrystyna D.; Garber, Judy
Developmental Psychology, v50 n12 p2633-2643 Dec 2014
Depressive syndrome and disorders increase substantially during adolescence. Little is known, however, about how "individual" symptoms of depression change over the course of this developmental period. The present study examined within-person changes in symptom severity of each individual symptom of depression, utilizing longitudinal data collected across 6 years of adolescence. Adolescent gender and family relationship variables were tested as predictors of the symptom trajectories (i.e., intercept and slope). Adolescents and their mothers ("N" = 240) were first evaluated when youth were in Grade 6 ("M" = 11.86 years old, "SD" = 0.56, 54% female) and then annually through Grade 12. Individual symptoms of depression were assessed by a clinical interviewer using the Children's Depression Rating Scale-Revised (CDRS-R). Mothers and youth also completed measures about their relationship on the Children's Report of Parent Behavior Inventory and the Family Environment Scale. Results showed that all depressive symptoms increased linearly over time except psychomotor disturbances and problems with concentration and decision making, which were best represented by a quadratic growth model. Sex differences were found such that significantly more rapid increases in worthlessness/guilt were found for girls than boys, and concentration/decision making problems significantly changed for boys, but not girls. Poor family relationship quality (mother-reported) predicted a significantly faster rate of increase in adolescents' symptoms of anhedonia, appetite/weight changes, and fatigue. High maternal psychological control (youth-reported) also predicted a faster rate of increase in anhedonia. Study limitations, future research directions, and clinical implications of the findings are discussed.
American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Family Environment Scale
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A