Adolescent Depression and Substance Use: the Protective Role of Prosocial Peer Behavior

Abstract

Adolescents with depression disorders have higher rates of substance use. In order to advance contextually relevant mental health interventions, basic research is needed to test social ecological mechanisms hypothesized to influence adolescent depression and substance use. Accordingly, we conducted growth curve modeling with a sample of 248 urban adolescents to determine if depression's effect on substance use was dependent upon peer network health (sum of peer risk and protective behaviors) and activity space risk (likelihood of high-risk behaviors at routine locations). Results showed that peer network health moderated the effects of depression on substance use, but this effect was not altered by activity space risk. These findings suggest the importance of peer network health relative to depression and substance use, particularly for young adolescents.

Cybervictimization, Depression, and Adolescent Internet Addiction: The Moderating Effect of Prosocial Peer Affiliation

“…For example, an empirical study of 500 pairs of twins showed that the genetic influence on rule-breaking behavior was several times greater in those with low-level PPA than in those with high-level PPA (Burt and Klump, 2014). Moreover, other research has shown that prosocial peer network moderated the effects of depression on substance use (Mason et al, 2019). Therefore, it is reasonable to expect that PPA can moderate the direct and indirect link between cybervictimization and adolescents' IA.…”

“…Consistent with this theory, many empirical studies indicate that adolescents with a high proportion of prosocial peers are less likely to engage in substance use and delinquency ( Barry and Wentzel, 2006 ; Han and Margolin, 2016 ). More importantly, research has also shown that PPA can significantly buffer personal and environmental risk factors on adolescents’ academic, emotional, and behavioral adjustment ( Burt and Klump, 2014 ; Han and Margolin, 2016 ; Mason et al, 2019 ). For example, an empirical study of 500 pairs of twins showed that the genetic influence on rule-breaking behavior was several times greater in those with low-level PPA than in those with high-level PPA ( Burt and Klump, 2014 ).…”

Effect of Different Types of Empathy on Prosocial Behavior: Gratitude as Mediator

“…Prosocial behavior can reduce college students’ depressive symptoms and improve their interpersonal relationships, subjective well-being, and life satisfaction ( Davis et al, 2016 ; Mason et al, 2019 ). The present study demonstrated that different components of empathy (perspective-taking, fantasy, empathic concern, and personal distress) have different impacts on prosocial behavior.…”

Changes in positive and negative peer influences and depressive symptoms from adolescence to young adulthood

“…Much remains to be learned about the role of peer relationships in this process. It is possible, for example, that depressed adolescents select peers who use drugs and alcohol (Siennick et al, 2016), or that depressed peers model the use of drugs and alcohol as self‐medication for symptoms of depression (Mason et al, 2019). The present findings highlight a small part of the picture, but future research should take a developmental systems perspective, positioning mental health and substance use within family, peer and neighbourhood systems.…”