Trajectories of stressful life events and depressive symptoms during adolescence.

Abstract

This 4-year longitudinal study of 191 girls and 185 boys living in intact families in the rural Midwest examines the trajectories of life events and depressive symptoms in adolescence. The trajectories of depressive symptoms differ between boys and girls. Compared with boys, girls experienced a greater number of depressive symptoms after age 13. Changes in uncontrollable events are associated with the increases in girls' but not boys' depressive symptoms. Latent growth curve analyses show that, over 4 years, (a) depressive symptoms for girls changed according to a curvilinear pattern that is associated with changes in stressful events; (b) the level of depressive symptoms is related to the level of life events for both boys and girls; and (c) change in depressive symptoms is significantly related to change in stressful events only for girls. Girls living with less supportive mothers are more vulnerable to negative life changes.Adolescence represents a particularly vulnerable phase of development in the preadult years. This period is marked by rapid physical growth and psychological change. It is also marked by expanding roles into more complex social environments that expose one for the first time to a widening array of stressors and life-shaping choices. Despite all this, most boys and girls traverse this transitional period without significant difficulties. However, some adolescents do experience maladaptive responses to the biological, psychological, and social changes of their adolescent years (Rutter, Izard, & Read, 1986). This longitudinal study investigates the rising prevalence of one important maladaptive indicator-depressive symptoms-by exploring the interlocking nature of depressed mood and life change as represented by developmental and social trajectories. In this article we consider both the descriptive and explanatory import

The Course of Depressive Symptoms in Men From Early Adolescence to Young Adulthood: Identifying Latent Trajectories and Early Predictors.

“…However, at adolescence, girls overall show an increase in depressive symptoms, whereas boys tend to experience fairly stable or slightly decreasing levels of symptoms (e.g., Garber, Keiley, & Martin, 2002;Garrison, Jackson, Marsteller, McKeown, & Addy, 1990;Ge, Lorenz, Conger, Elder, & Simons, 1994;Ge, Conger, & Elder, 2001;Kim, Capaldi, & Stoolmiller, 2003). For the current sample, using a latent growth curve approach, Kim et al (2003) found that the mean level of depressive symptoms in young men slightly decreased from early adolescence (ages 14-15 years) through young adulthood (ages 23-24 years).…”

“…For the current sample, using a latent growth curve approach, Kim et al (2003) found that the mean level of depressive symptoms in young men slightly decreased from early adolescence (ages 14-15 years) through young adulthood (ages 23-24 years). Using multicohort longitudinal data, Ge and colleagues (Ge et al, 1994) also found that boys' trajectories tended to be relatively flat over time, whereas girls' trajectories showed a sharp increase between the ages of 12 and 15 years. Interestingly, these studies also suggested significant variations in the average levels of depressive symptoms across time in young men.…”

Empirical evidence of cognitive vulnerability for depression among children and adolescents: A cognitive science and developmental perspective

“…When not experiencing a negative mood, cognitions related to negative affect may be inactive. Adolescents may experience more negative life events than children (e.g., Ge et al, 1994), offering opportunities for latent cognitive schemata to become activated. The lower average rates of stress in early childhood raise the possibility that cognitive vulnerability factors may be present, but not activated.…”

Perceived social support as a moderator between negative life events and depression in adolescence: implications for prediction and targeted prevention

“…It has been found that the presence of negative life events is a reliable risk factor for the development of depressive symptoms in both sexes equally [14]. In adolescence, girls are exposed to a higher risk of developing symptoms of depression because it is assumed that they experience more negative life events (especially in interpersonal domains) and are more sensitive to stressful events, such as, for example, conflicts with peers [15,16].…”