Adolescent psychopathology: II. Psychosocial risk factors for depression.

Abstract

In a prospective study of adolescent depression, adolescents (N = 1,508) were assessed at Time 1 and after 1 year (Time 2) on psychosocial variables hypothesized to be associated with depression. Most psychosocial variables were associated with current (n = 45) depression. Formerly depressed adolescents (n = 217) continued to differ from never depressed controls on many of the psychosocial variables. Many of the depression-related measures also acted as risk factors for future depression (n = 112), especially past depression, current other mental disorders, past suicide attempt, internalizing behavior problems, and physical symptoms. Young women were more likely to be, to become, and to have been depressed. Controlling for the psychosocial variables eliminated the gender difference for current and future but not for past depression.

Understanding the Sex Difference in Vulnerability to Adolescent Depression: An Examination of Child and Parent Characteristics

“…However, our findings are consistent with a large study of depression diagnoses, which also did not find support for moderation (e.g., Lewinsohn et al, 1994Lewinsohn et al, , 1998. Our findings provide further evidence that vulnerability factors for boys and girls are similar when clinician-rated diagnoses are examined rather than self-reported depressive symptoms.…”

“…Studies have found a stronger relationship between insecure attachment cognitions and depressive symptoms in girls, as compared to boys (e.g., Kobak et al, 1991;Leadbeater, Kuperminc, Blatt, & Herzog, 1999). On the other hand, self-esteem and self-perceptions of attractiveness and social competence do not appear to interact with sex in predicting depressive diagnoses (Lewinsohn et al, 1994(Lewinsohn et al, , 1998). …”

“…There has been mixed support for the moderation model with respect to other parent variables, such as family relationship quality. Some studies provide evidence that poorer family relationship quality is more strongly correlated with depressive symptoms in adolescent girls than in boys (e.g., Davies & Windle, 1997;Slavin & Rainer, 1990), whereas others have not found support for moderation (e.g., Lewinsohn et al, 1994;Lewinsohn, Rohde, & Seely, 1998).…”

Prevention of depression in youth: A qualitative review and future suggestions

“…A body of work has demonstrated a relationship between anxiety symptoms and disorders and future depression (e.g., Cole, Peeke, Martin, Truglio, & Seroczynski, 1998;Lewinsohn et al 1994;Pine, Cohen, Gurley, Brook, & Ma, 1998). For example, in a 3-year prospective study of a sample of elementary school students, Cole et al (1998) found that the level of anxiety symptoms at one assessment (t i ) were significant predictors of depressive symptoms at followup assessment 6 months later (t i+1 ), even after controlling for the prior level of depression.…”

“…For example, in a 3-year prospective study of a sample of elementary school students, Cole et al (1998) found that the level of anxiety symptoms at one assessment (t i ) were significant predictors of depressive symptoms at followup assessment 6 months later (t i+1 ), even after controlling for the prior level of depression. In a large sample of community adolescents, Lewinsohn et al (1994) reported that a history of anxiety disorder prior to the initial assessment was associated with increased risk for a major depressive episode during the one-year follow-up.…”