Abstract
Based on the development assets theory and the scar model, the present study examined the relationship between positive youth development (PYD) and depressive symptoms among Chinese early adolescents using a three-year longitudinal study design. Data from three waves were collected from 1301 students (Mean age = 12.46, SD = 0.63 years and 51.2% boys at wave 1) across the junior high school period (Grades 7–9). All participants completed a questionnaire that included the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and the Chinese Positive Youth Development Scale (CPYD) once a year over three years. After controlling for age and gender, this study found that PYD significantly predicted subsequent depressive symptoms. However, depressive symptoms did not significantly predict subsequent PYD. The results indicated a unidirectional relationship between PYD and depressive symptoms, where a reduction in PYD may increase subsequent depressive symptoms, though not vice versa. Besides, the negative cross-sectional correlation between PYD and depressive symptoms remains significant and stable from first year (T1) to third year (T3). These findings suggest that promoting PYD may be a promising approach to preventing/reducing adolescent depressive symptoms.
Highlights
Depression is one of the most common mental disorders and a major public health problem, especially in adolescents [1,2]
The findings indicated that the level of depressive symptoms decreased as the levels of the four second-order positive youth development (PYD) constructs increased, and vice versa
The results further indicate that the relationship between PYD and depressive symptoms remained stable and significant over time
Summary
Depression is one of the most common mental disorders and a major public health problem, especially in adolescents [1,2]. Some studies found that an estimated 8–20% of adolescents have depressive symptoms globally [3,4]. A recent meta-analysis study found that the prevalence of depressive symptoms among adolescents in China was about 24.3% [2]. Valley”, with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ranking third (the first and second are Shanghai and Beijing) in China in 2018 [5]. Research has documented that life is fast and students are under great academic competition and pressure in economically developed places. These factors may lead to higher risks of adolescents experiencing depressive symptoms [6].
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