Future Directions in Vulnerability to Depression Among Youth: Integrating Risk Factors and Processes Across Multiple Levels of Analysis

Abstract

Depression is a developmental phenomenon. Considerable progress has been made in describing the syndrome, establishing its prevalence and features, providing clues as to its etiology, and developing evidence-based treatment and prevention options. Despite considerable headway in distinct lines of vulnerability research, there is an explanatory gap in the field ability to more comprehensively explain and predict who is likely to become depressed, when, and why. Still, despite clear success in predicting moderate variance for future depression, especially with empirically rigorous methods and designs, the heterogeneous and multi-determined nature of depression suggests that additional etiologies need to be included to advance knowledge on developmental pathways to depression. This paper advocates for a multiple levels of analysis approach to investigating vulnerability to depression across the lifespan and providing a more comprehensive understanding of its etiology. One example of a multiple levels of analysis model of vulnerabilities to depression is provided that integrates the most accessible, observable factors (e.g., cognitive and temperament risks), intermediate processes and endophenotypes (e.g., information processing biases, biological stress physiology, and neural activation and connectivity), and genetic influences (e.g., candidate genes and epigenetics). Evidence for each of these factors as well as their cross-level integration is provided. Methodological and conceptual considerations important for conducting integrative, multiple levels of depression vulnerability research are discussed. Finally, translational implications for how a multiple levels of analysis perspective may confer additional leverage to reduce the global burden of depression and improve care are considered.

Genetic Heterogeneity in Adolescents’ Depressive Symptoms in Response to Victimization

“…Perhaps most important was that the data were collected longitudinally across an important developmental time span (Hankin, 2012). The use of a longitudinal, cohort sequential design enabled us to measure the prospective association between peer victimization experiences and later depressive symptoms, while controlling for individual differences in baseline depressive trajectories.…”

“…However, individuals do not have equal depressive reactions to victimization (Hankin, 2012). Gottfredson (1989) reported that some, but not all, individuals developed severe or prolonged depressive symptoms following severe victimization, and Foshee et al (2013) detected significant inter-individual variation in depressive symptoms following psychological victimization among adolescents.…”

Depression from childhood through adolescence: risk mechanisms across multiple systems and levels of analysis

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