Abstract
This prospective longitudinal study aimed to investigate the strength and relative importance of multiple predictors of depression in youth aged 16 to 20 years. Data were drawn from Statistics Canada’s National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (Statistics Canada 2007a, b). Hierarchical regressions were conducted separately by child gender (N = 796 boys; N = 919 girls) for two overlapping samples: mixed parent–child dyads (e.g., biological mothers, fathers and other caregivers; N = 1,715) and a subsample containing only biological mother-child dyads (N = 1,425). Parent-reported data were used from Cycle 1 when the children were aged 4 to 8 years. Parent and child-reported data were used from Cycle 4 when children were aged 10 to 14 years. The outcome measure of depressive symptoms was taken from Cycle 7 when the youth were aged 16 to 20 years. Adolescents reported more depression symptoms than young adults and girls reported more than boys. For boys, higher anxiety/depression scores at ages 4 to 8 years and 10 to 14 years, along with lower self-esteem at 10 to 14 years, predicted higher depression scores. Girls’ depression was predicted by loss of a parent by ages 4 to 8 years and higher self-reported anxiety/depression and aggression at ages 10 to 14 years. Among biological mother-child dyads, maternal depression reported by mother when child was aged 4 to 8 years and 10 to 14 years significantly predicted depression for girls. At 10 to 14 years, child-reported lower parental monitoring (girls only) and greater parental rejection (boys and girls) predicted depression at ages 16 to 20 years.
Highlights
Depression is a common mental illness that affects people at all stages of life, with peak prevalence in late adolescence and early adulthood (Patten et al 2006)
The goal of the study was to investigate the effects of a wide range of risk factors of depression in a longitudinal sample of Canadian children
The authors expected to find differences and similarities in the effects of predictors for depression according to gender of child; and an increase in the magnitude of effects for the biological mother-child subsample relative to the mixed sample
Summary
Depression is a common mental illness that affects people at all stages of life, with peak prevalence in late adolescence and early adulthood (Patten et al 2006). The aim of the present study is to contribute to and expand on existing research focused on investigating the effects of multiple childhood factors thought to increase risk for depression in young adulthood. In this longitudinal prospective study, reports from Canadian parents and children on behavioral and psychological characteristics of the child, parenting qualities, and peer relationships are investigated to determine their effects on the outcome of depression in adolescence and young adulthood
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