Depressive Symptoms and Negative Experiences in School: A Network Analysis

Abstract

BACKGROUNDSNegative experiences in school predict youth’s depression. However, the dynamic interactions of depressive symptoms with adolescents’ negative experiences in school remain unclear. This study aimed to applied network analysis to detect the complex relationships between early adolescents’ depressive symptoms and negative experiences in school.METHODSWe adopted the data from a Chinese national survey conducted in 2018. Eight hundred ninety-seven adolescents from 10 to 15 years old were included. The measurements included an 8-item depression screener scale and a 14-item scale assessing negative experiences in school.RESULTSThe centrality analysis suggested that Chinese adolescents’ core depressive symptoms were negative affections and negative cognition that “ I felt that everything I did was an effort. “ Regarding “negative experiences in the school,” the most central nodes were poor academic performance and peer relationships. The bridge-centrality results showed negative emotions in school and difficulties in peer relationships were significantly linked to depression.CONCLUSIONNegative emotional experiences in school and peer relationships were the two most important factors linked to depression.