Pubertal Timing, Peer Victimization, and Body Esteem Differentially Predict Depressive Symptoms in African American and Caucasian Girls

Abstract

This study prospectively examined pubertal timing and peer victimization as interactive predictors of depressive symptoms in a racially diverse community sample of adolescents. We also expanded on past research by assessing body esteem as a mechanism by which pubertal timing and peer victimization confer risk for depression. In all, 218 adolescents (53.4% female, 49.3% African American, 50.7% Caucasian) completed both a baseline assessment and a follow-up assessment approximately 8 months later. Early maturing Caucasian girls and late maturing African American girls experienced the greatest increases in depressive symptoms at follow-up if they experienced higher levels of peer victimization between baseline and follow-up. Furthermore, body esteem significantly mediated the relationship between pubertal timing, peer victimization, and depressive symptoms for girls of both races. The interaction of pubertal timing and peer victimization did not predict depressive symptoms for boys of either race. These results support body esteem as a mechanism that contributes to increased depression among girls in adolescence—despite a differential impact of pubertal timing for Caucasian and African American girls.

What Explains Correlates of Peer Victimization? A Systematic Review of Mediating Factors

“…Whereas some studies relied exclusively on the Baron and Kenny approach of mediation testing (1986) where mediation is inferred from comparing direct effect sizes with and without controlling for the mediating variable, studies increasingly used Hayes' well-documented and freely available SPSS macro PROCESS (e.g., Casement et al 2014;Guarneri-White et al 2015;Hamlat et al 2015;Mathieson et al 2014). Such novel approaches are needed to estimate possible double-and multiple-mediation, as are larger sample sizes than used in some of the studies reviewed here (e.g., Baker and Bugay 2011;Espinoza 2015;Giannotta et al 2012;Guarneri-White et al 2015;Harper 2012;Jenkins and Demaray 2015, who all used samples smaller than n = 200).…”

“…Some studies reported mediation by self-esteem and self-evaluations (Lopez and DuBois 2005;Raskauskas et al 2015; Ybrandt and Armelius 2010) whereas others did not formally test for mediation because of lacking direct associations between self-esteem/self-concept and peer victimization (Bosacki et al 2007;Turner et al 2010). One study examined body esteem as a specific facet of (2000) self-esteem and found a mediating role among early maturing Caucasian and late maturing African American girls only (Hamlat et al 2015). Associations between peer victimization and internalizing problems were further mediated by cognitions and behaviors relatively proximal to peer victimization as such.…”

Next Steps in Puberty Research: Broadening the Lens Toward Understudied Populations

“…Early development may be particularly challenging for youth of color as they simultaneously cope with stressors linked to being a member of an ethnic–racial group. Exposure to prejudice or discrimination based on ethnicity–race is associated with mental health problems and could have unique implications for early developers (Hamlat, Stange, Abramson, & Alloy, ; Hamlat et al., ). In general, early puberty leads to some youth being perceived as older than they actually are, which can result in higher status (positive) or, alternatively, to unrealistic expectations and punitive actions by adults and peers (negative).…”

The influence of pubertal timing and stressful life events on depression and delinquency among Chinese adolescents

“…Carter, Caldwell, Matusko, Antonucci, & Jackson, 2011;DeRose, Shiyko, Foster, & Brooks-Gunn, 2011). Furthermore, one study with a multiethnic sample has showed that early maturing Caucasian girls but late maturing African American girls displayed the greatest increases in depressive symptoms if they experienced more peer victimization (Hamlat, Shapero, et al, 2014). In addition, early maturing African American adolescents displayed more vulnerability to delinquency than their early maturing Caucasian American peers (Cota-Robles, Neiss, & Rowe, 2002;Obeidallah, Brennan, Brooks-Gunn, & Earls, 2004).…”