Depression Symptom Trajectories and Associated Risk Factors among Adolescents in Chile

Abstract

Adolescence is a key period for studying the development of depression, with studies in Europe and North America showing a pattern of elevated risk that begins in early adolescence and continues to increase as adolescents age. Few studies have examined the course of adolescent depression and associated risk factors in low and middle-income countries. This longitudinal cohort study examined depression symptom trajectories and risk factors in a sample of socio-economically disadvantaged adolescents in Chile (n = 2,508). Data were collected over an 18-month period as part of a clinical trial for secondary students aged 12 to 18 (median age 14). Clinical levels of depression were prevalent in this sample at baseline (35% for girls and 28% for boys); yet latent growth models of symptom trajectories revealed a pattern of decreasing symptoms over time. There was evidence of an anxiety-depression developmental pathway for girls, with elevated anxiety levels initially predicting poorer depression outcomes later on. Poor problem-solving skills were associated with initial depression levels but did not predict the course of depressive symptoms. Critically, the declining symptom trajectories raise important methodological issues regarding the effects of repeated assessment in longitudinal studies.

Depressive symptom trajectories in late adolescence and early adulthood: A systematic review

“…In early adulthood, the gap between genders appears to narrow again, and some reports suggest that at age 25 the overall difference may no longer be statistically significant (Galambos et al, 2006). Interestingly, females show a sharper reduction in depressive symptoms between the age of 17 and 25 (Chen et al, 2011; Galambos et al, 2006; Stapinski et al, 2013). What also emerges is that well-established risk factors for depressive disorders, such as socioeconomic disadvantage and negative life events, have more profound effects on young females than males (Adkins et al, 2009; St Clair et al, 2012), particularly when they are amplified by personal psychological traits such as negative cognitive style and a tendency to ruminate (Hankin, 2009).…”

Alcohol, Binge Drinking and Associated Mental Health Problems in Young Urban Chileans

“…The “Chile Crece Contigo” [ 45 ] initiative recognises the importance of living conditions to children’s health and development. Youth is a key period particularly for studying the development of mental health and wellbeing over the life course, with studies in Europe and North America showing a pattern of elevated risk of mental health problems such as depression that begin in early adolescence and that continue to across the life course [ 46 ]. Furthermore there are studies evidencing the high prevalence of alcohol consumption among adolescents in Chile and some individual socio-demographic and contextual social factors related to it [ 36 ].…”

Prevalence and Correlates of Depression Among Adolescents in Malaysia

“…Similarly, the prevalence of depression among Chilean adolescents at baseline was noted to be higher among girls (35%) than boys (28%). 26 A higher rate of depression among girls has been partly attributed to girls reporting more stressors, especially peer events. 27 A study among adolescents in Oman and Egypt reported that female participants were almost 1.5 times more likely to be depressed than male participants.…”