Longitudinal Relationship Between Adolescent’s Depression and Delinquency: The Effect of Parents, Peer and Teacher Factors

Abstract

Objective The purpose of this study was to examine the developmental trajectories of adolescent depression and delinquency, to explore the longitudinal relationship between depression and delinquency, and to investigate the effects of parental abuse, parent neglect, delinquent peer association, and teacher relationships on the longitudinal relationship between depression and delinquency. Methods The participants of this study were 2,179 students from the second to sixth waves of longitudinal data from the Panel Study on Korean Children. The data were analyzed using latent growth modeling. Results First, the trajectory of adolescent depression decreased slightly, whereas delinquency increased across time. Second, the initial level of depression indicated a significant negative effect on the slope of delinquency. Third, the intercept of depression was affected by parental abuse, parental neglect, and teacher relationships. Further, the slope of depression was only influenced by parental abuse. Fourth, the intercept of delinquency was affected by parental abuse, delinquent peer association, and teacher relationships. Further, the slope of delinquency was influenced by parental abuse, parental neglect, and delinquent peer association. Conclusion These findings suggest the importance of interventions targeting parental abuse and neglect to prevent adolescent depression and delinquency. Keywords: adolescents depression and delinquency, parental abuse, parental neglect, delinquent peer association, teacher relationship