Objective Stressful life events are associated with an increase in depressive symptoms and the onset of major depression. Importantly, research has shown that the role of stress changes over the course of depression. The present study extends the current literature by examining the effects of early life stress on emotional reactivity to current stressors. Method In a multiwave study (N = 281, mean age = 18.76; 68% female), we investigated the proximal changes that occur in depressive symptoms when individuals are faced with life stress and whether a history of childhood emotional abuse moderates this relationship. Results Results support the stress sensitivity hypothesis for early emotional abuse history. Individuals with greater childhood emotional abuse severity experienced greater increases in depressive symptoms when confronted with current dependent stressors, controlling for childhood physical and sexual abuse. Conclusions This study highlights the importance of emotional abuse as an indicator for reactivity to stressful life events.

Inflammation has been implicated in depressive symptoms, but few studies use longitudinal designs with adolescents. Furthermore, the extant literature has yielded inconsistent results. Blood was collected from a community sample of 201 adolescents (109 female, age range = 12.3–20.0 years) and analyzed for inflammatory proteins. Up to five follow-up assessments of depressive symptoms were conducted. Multilevel modeling indicated that high C-reactive protein (CRP) but no other proinflammatory markers predicted depressive symptom increases. Three-way interactions between different inflammatory biomarkers, sex, and months to follow-up predicted change in depressive symptoms. Higher interleukin-6 predicted increased depressive symptoms at 13 to 31 months after baseline assessment of depression and inflammation for females. Higher tumor necrosis factor-α predicted increased depressive symptoms at < 1 month after baseline for males and 13 to 31 months after baseline for females. Higher interleukin-8 in males predicted lower depressive symptoms at 31 months after baseline. Exploratory post hoc analyses were used to examine these predictive associations for specific subsets of depressive symptoms. These findings are the first to support the predictive association of elevated CRP for depressive symptoms in a community adolescent sample and serve as preliminary evidence that the relationship between cytokines and later depressive symptoms differs by sex, time to follow-up, and the specific biomarker.

No abstract

Drawing on survey and administrative data on cooperating teachers (CTs) and their preservice student teachers (PSTs) in Chicago Public Schools during 2014-15, this study offers an in-depth look at reports of how CTs engage in their mentoring roles during student teaching, and their influence on PSTs. Our sample includes CTs working with PSTs from across 44 teacher preparation institutions. Central to our analysis is an exploration of CTs as both models of effective instruction and as facilitative coaches on PST development. We find that both CT roles matter--PSTs feel better prepared to teach when their CTs model effective instruction and coach by providing more instructional support, frequent and adequate feedback, collaborative activity, job-search support, and a balance of autonomy and encouragement. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:We are grateful to the Spencer Foundation for their generous financial support of this research. We are also grateful to the Chicago Public Schools and the University of Chicago Consortium on School Research for their ongoing partnership and contributions, and particularly to Matt Lyons,