Protective factors for depressive symptoms in adolescents: Interpersonal relationships and perceived social support

Abstract

The association between interpersonal relationships, perceived social support, and depressive symptoms in adolescents was investigated in the present study. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depressive Symptoms Scale (CES-D-SF), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), and Interpersonal Relationship Scale (IRS) were administered to 1,573 high school students. There were four main findings: all three types of interpersonal relationships (same-sex peer, opposite-sex peer, and teacher-student relationship) and perceived social support had direct effects on depressive symptoms; perceived social support was a mediator in the relationship between interpersonal relationships and depressive symptoms; gender differences were present in the relationship between interpersonal relationships and depressive symptoms; and the three types of interpersonal relationships exerted different effects on depressive symptoms between adolescent boys and girls.Same-sex relationships exerted the strongest effect on depressive symptoms among girls, whereas teacher-student relationships exerted the strongest effect among boys.

Parental attachment and depressive symptoms in Chinese adolescents: The mediation effect of emotion regulation

“…In order to provide empirical bases for intervention and treatment of depressive symptoms, this study integrates these three variables and attempts to explore the potential psychological mechanisms behind them. In addition, because previous research suggested that both grade and sex may significantly affect parental attachment (Chen et al, ), expressive suppression (Dong & Zhang, ), and depressive symptoms (Cui, Shi, Zhang, & Yu, ; Fredrick, Demaray, Malecki, & Dorio, ; Luo, Xiang, Zhang, & Wang, ), we included these two variables as covariates in our data analyses. Therefore, based on the above literature review, we examined the relationships between parental attachment, emotion regulation (expressive suppression and cognitive reappraisal), and depressive symptoms among Chinese adolescents.…”

Mental Distress Among Young Adults – Gender Differences in the Role of Social Support

“…Some studies have however showed that low social support was related to higher levels of depressive symptoms to a greater extent among females, than males [24,25]. The results from the literature show that different social relationships and forms of social support have different impact on mental health among males and females [26,27]. For young women, friendships with other young women had the strongest social support effect on depressive symptoms, whereas for young men, the support of their teacher had the strongest effect [26].…”

“…The results from a large review study, showed that social support was a signi cant protective variable for depression among both young males and females [23]. Another study by Luo et al from 2017 [26] showed that different social relationships had different impact on mental health among males and females. For girls, same-sex friendships had the strongest social support effect on depressive symptoms, whereas for boys, teacher-student relationships did.…”

“…The results from the literature show that different social relationships and forms of social support have different impact on mental health among males and females [26,27]. For young women, friendships with other young women had the strongest social support effect on depressive symptoms, whereas for young men, the support of their teacher had the strongest effect [26]. Myklestad et al [20] found that a social unstructured leisure activity such as "hanging out with friends during leisure time", was more important for mental health among female adolescents, compared to males.…”

Interpersonal Relationships of students in Junior High School

“…Acceptance from peers is an important element for adolescents and without it, they may develop psychological and social development disorders. According to Berndt & Perry, althy view of themselves, undergo school education well, are able to get along, and have a small chance to behave aggressively, Interpersonal Relationships of students in Junior High School Conversely, adolescents with low interpersonal relationships feel lonely (Michek & Loudová, 2014;Zhang, Gao, Fokkema, Alterman, & Liu, 2015), anxious (Lasgaard, Goossens, Bramsen, Trillingsgaard, & Elklit, 2011), depressed (Kenny et al, 2013;Luo, Xiang, Zhang, & Wang, 2017), having difficulty adjusting to the school environment and getting along with their friends (Tirmidzi, Nursalim, Pratiwi, & Setiawati, 2013;Bagwell, Kochel, & Schmidt, 2015). This leads to conflicts, hostility (Burk& Laursen, 2005), anti-social behaviors such as aggressiveness and fighting (Santrock, 2014), and disrupt the learning process in school (Collie et al, 2016).…”