Risk and resource factors for the development of depression during adolescence and young adulthood

Abstract

Abstract Background Depression is one of the most common mental disorders in adolescents and young adults worldwide, and causes severe impairments in psychological health, social functioning and employment. The identification of risk and resource factors for depression is an important research aim. The present study aims to investigate which individual, familial and social risk and resource factors in childhood and adolescence are associated with depressive symptoms five years later in a population-based cohort in Germany. Methods Analyses were performed using data from the longitudinal BELLA study. Data on risk and resource factors were collected among N = 632 children and adolescents aged 11 to 17 years. Depressive symptoms were measured five years later. The effects of risk and resource factors on depression were investigated using multivariate linear regression analyses. In subsequent models, we explored potential moderator effects of resource factors on the relationship between risk factors and depressive symptoms. Results A negative mother-child relationship was associated with stronger depressive symptoms in girls, while school stress was identified as a risk factor in boys. Peer competence was associated with fewer depressive symptoms in girls, and family cohesion served as a resource factor in boys. Moreover, self-efficacy moderated the association between negative mother-child relationship and depressive symptoms. Family cohesion acted as a moderator between peer problems and depressive symptoms. Conclusions Our findings provide evidence of gender-specific risk and resource factors for depressive symptoms. Individuals who are exposed to one of the identified risk factors must be monitored during the transition from childhood to adolescence and young adulthood. Gender-sensitive health promotion and early prevention programs are needed. Key messages Information concerning risk and resource factors for the development of depressive symptoms during adolescence and emerging adulthood are of high interest for public health, research and practice. The findings of the present study are of great relevance for the development of gender-sensitive health promotion and early prevention programs.