Association between Depressive Symptoms and Negative Dependent Life Events from Late Childhood to Adolescence

Abstract

The association between stressful life events and depression has been consistently supported in the literature; however, studies of the developmental trajectories of these constructs and the nature of their association over time are limited. We examined trajectories of depressive symptoms and negative dependent life events and the associations between these constructs in a sample of 916 youth assessed annually from age 9 to 16, using latent growth curve modeling. Youth depressive symptoms, as rated by youth, parents, and teachers, decreased from late childhood into adolescence, whereas rates of youth-rated life events did not change significantly over time. Initial levels of depressive symptoms were positively associated with initial levels of life events. Furthermore, after controlling for the initial association between the two constructs, increases in depressive symptoms (as assessed by parents and youth) were positively associated with increases in life events over time. The study builds on prior research by focusing specifically on negative dependent life events, examining results across multiple informants, and employing latent growth curve modeling to evaluate associations between trajectories of life events and depressive symptoms in a longitudinal adolescent sample. Additional studies employing latent growth modeling to examine the changes in this association during adolescence are needed.

Do executive functions explain the covariance between internalizing and externalizing behaviors?

“…Inspection of the individual time points shows an initial increase in the behavior problems, consistent with past literature. Furthermore, past results with the data used in this study have found that this decrease is specific to the CBCL/TRF, with depression and anxiety diagnosis increasing across adolescence in this same sample across time, while internalizing symptoms of the CBCL/TRF decrease; however, diagnosis and checklist measures remain significantly correlated across time despite these inconsistencies (Johnson, Whisman, Corely, Hewitt, & Rhee, 2012). …”

Negative Life Events in Childhood as Risk Indicators of Labour Market Participation in Young Adulthood: A Prospective Birth Cohort Study

“…The present study does not shed light on the pathway from NLE to future LMP: It can be hypothesised that NLE affects health [9–15,25], which again can affect LMP. To which degree this is the case for the participants in this study is unknown, but the larger proportion of the social transfer payments defining “low LMP” were related to unemployment benefits rather than health related benefits.…”

“…A British birth cohort study on life course approach to long-term sickness absence, found that a measure of IQ, at age 11, had an impact on long-term sickness absence measured at age 42 [8]. Additionally, experience of stressful life events is a well-established risk factor for health measures such as the development of depressive problems in adolescence and adulthood [9–15]. However, expanding focus to include determinants from early life may increase our understanding of the complex process and determinants non-participation in working life, and provide insight into the mechanisms that determine why working life for some is over before it has begun.…”

The Impact of Negative Life Events on Young Adolescents: Comparing the Relative Vulnerability of Middle Level, High School, and College-Age Students

“…Previous research has demonstrated older adolescents often experience NLEs prior to corresponding periods of depression, anxiety, and anger and has documented the sometimes debilitating effects of these emotional states (Sigfusdottir & Silver, 2009). Specifically, a large number of studies support the relationship between NLEs and internalizing symptoms such as depression and anxiety (Bouma, Ormel, Verhulst, & Oldehinkel, 2008;Espejo, Hammen, & Brennan, 2012;Franko et al, 2004;Garber & Flynn, 2001;Johnson et al, 2012), while an equally large number of studies support the relationship between NLEs and externalizing symptoms related to anger, delinquency, and substance abuse (Allwood, Baetz, DeMarco, & Bell, 2012;Flouri & Kallis, 2011;Levers-Landis, Greenley, Burant, & Borawski, 2006;Ireland, 2002;Lee, Storr, Ialongo, & Martins, 2012;Lloyd & Turner, 2008;Overbeek, 2005). Additionally, adolescents who experience NLEs are more likely to describe themselves as feeling less ready to participate in learning (De Anda et al, 1997;Franko et al, 2004;Oliva et al, 2009), as participating in higher rates of a wide range of health risk behaviors (McGee & Williams, 2000;Mohay & Forbes, 2009;Morgan & Todd, 2009;Schumacher & Kurz, 2000), and as having lower levels of overall life satisfaction than adolescents who have not shared similar difficulties (Ash & Huebner, 2001;Garcia, Rosenberg, & Siddiqui, 2011;Ho, Cheung, & Cheung, 2008;Suldo & Huebner, 2004).…”