Age-varying associations between coping and depressive symptoms throughout adolescence and emerging adulthood

Abstract

The objective of the current study was to apply the novel technique of time-varying effect modeling to examine age-varying associations between specific coping strategies and depressive symptoms across adolescence and emerging adulthood (ages 14-24). The participants were drawn from a community sample and followed across 4 years of high school and once 5 years postgraduation (N = 1,251, 53% female, 58% non-Hispanic White). Coping and depressive symptom questionnaires were administered across all data collection time points. Time-varying effect modeling used all available data (N = 5,651 measurement occasions) and adjusted for gender. Venting emotions and denial were associated with more depressive symptoms at a similar magnitude across adolescence and emerging adulthood. A positive association between problem solving oriented strategies (planning, active coping) and depressive symptoms was not observed until age 17.5, after which the magnitude of the association strengthened. More frequent instrumental and emotional support seeking were linked to fewer depressive symptoms between ages 18.8 and 23.6. More frequent use of humor was associated with greater depressive symptoms from ages 14.0 to 14.6, but with fewer depressive symptoms from ages 16.8 to 18.8. The findings illuminate when and how associations between specific coping strategies and depressive symptoms may emerge and change across developmental age, generating both theoretical and clinical implications.

Self‐Competence and Depressive Symptoms in Middle–Late Adolescence: Disentangling the Direction of Effect

“…Middle–late adolescence is an especially vulnerable period for experiencing depressive symptoms. In a recent study examining a large community sample of youth, depressive symptoms decreased between the ages of 14 and 16, but then increased steadily between the ages of 16 and 19 (Vannucci, Flannery, & Ohannessian, ). Notably, elevated depressive symptoms during adolescence confer increased risk for the onset and persistence of depressive disorders, psychiatric and medical comorbidities, and significant impairment in academic and social functioning (Avenevoli et al., ).…”

Examining the interplay of self‐esteem, trait‐emotional intelligence, and age with depression across adolescence

“…Hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed a significant three-way interaction whereby the buffering effect of TEI on the association of selfesteem and depressive symptoms was different for younger vs older adolescents. The findings provide further support for the effects of self-esteem and TEI on depressive symptoms, and indicate the importance for future studies in the Caribbean to examine these associations over time given the significant age differences revealed.Developmental trends indicate that depression, a debilitating emotional disorder, typically originates in late childhood and early adolescence, with steep rates of increase noticed after puberty (Hankin et al, 2015;Rudolph, 2017;Vannucci, Flannery, & Ohannessian, 2018). Additionally, research within Jamaica have indicated that 40.7% of adolescents report experiencing moderate to severe depressive symptoms (Lipps et al, 2012), with 15.5% of adolescents classified as clinically depressed (McFarlane, Younger, Francis, Gordon-Strachan, & Wilks, 2014).…”

“…Developmental trends indicate that depression, a debilitating emotional disorder, typically originates in late childhood and early adolescence, with steep rates of increase noticed after puberty (Hankin et al, 2015;Rudolph, 2017;Vannucci, Flannery, & Ohannessian, 2018). Additionally, research within Jamaica have indicated that 40.7% of adolescents report experiencing moderate to severe depressive symptoms (Lipps et al, 2012), with 15.5% of adolescents classified as clinically depressed (McFarlane, Younger, Francis, Gordon-Strachan, & Wilks, 2014).…”

EmoTIC: Impact of a game-based social-emotional programme on adolescents

“…Adolescence is a complex stage of the life development with numerous emotional, social and physical changes that may have a negative impact on health [11]. Mood disorders such as depression or anxiety have a high risk of emerging and developing during this stage [12,13]. Promoting strengths during adolescence is critical because adolescence is a sensitive period of brain development [14].…”