Child-Reported Depression and Anxiety in Preadolescence: II. Preschool Predictors

Abstract

To examine the predictive association of parent- and teacher-reported behaviors at age 2 to 3 years in relation to child-reported depression and anxiety at age 10 to 11 years. Subjects were participants in a longitudinal study of 420 children aged 2 to 3 years from the general population first assessed in 1989 and again in 1991 (n = 397) and 1997 (n = 358). For the present study, 249 children were included for whom all relevant measures were obtained. These measures include the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) for 2- to 3-year-olds at time 1, the CBCL for 4- to 18-year-olds and the Teacher's Report Form at time 2, and the Dimensions of Depression Profile for Children and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children at time 3. Only 5 and 8 of 220 parent-reported preschool problem items were significantly related to later child-reported depression and anxiety, respectively, and only 3 of 120 teacher-reported problem items were related to later anxiety. Of 120 teacher-reported preschool problem items, 21 were significantly related to later depression, including items referring to early signs of depression and social and academic problems. Teachers, but not parents, can provide valuable information regarding preschool signals of preadolescent depression, but not anxiety. These signals include early social and academic problems.