Depressive Symptoms In Early Adulthood Research Articles

Prospective early adulthood risk factors for vasomotor symptoms in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults study.

Previous studies have assessed potential risk factors for vasomotor symptoms (VMS) beginning in midlife. We examined whether early adulthood risk factors predict VMS trajectories over time. We performed a secondary data analysis of the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study, a population-based cohort. We included women who answered questions about VMS at three or more examinations (n = 1,966). We examined whether risk factors at baseline (when participants were aged 18-30 y; average age, 25 y) and the year 15 (Y15) exam (at ages 33-45 y; average age, 40 y) were associated with VMS trajectories from Y15 through Y35. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the associations with VMS trajectories. We identified three trajectories of VMS presence: minimal (40%), increasing over time (27%), and persistent (33%). Baseline factors associated with persistent VMS over time included Black race, less than a high school education, depressive symptoms, migraines, cigarette use, and at Y15 hysterectomy. Baseline factors associated with increasing VMS over time included Black race and lower body mass index. Risk factors for bothersome VMS were similar and also included thyroid disease, although thyroid disease was not associated with persistence of VMS over time. Associations were similar among women who had not undergone hysterectomy and in Black and White women. Risk factors for VMS may be identified in early adulthood. Further examination of risk factors such as migraines and depressive symptoms in early adulthood may be helpful in identifying therapies for VMS.

Physical activity in childhood and adolescence and future depressive symptoms: an 11-year prospective cohort study.

Physical activity (PA) can reduce young peoples' risk of depressive symptoms. Associations between PA and depressive symptoms are often investigated over timeframes spanning minutes to weeks. Less is known about whether childhood/adolescent PA can predict depressive symptoms in early adulthood. Using a nationally representative sample from Ireland, latent growth mixture modelling was performed to investigate the extent to which different PA trajectories existed from ages 9-17, whether gender, weight status, and socio-economic deprivation at age 9, predicted PA trajectories from ages 9-17, and whether trajectory class membership predicted depressive symptoms at age 20. A 4-class solution was the best fit to the data (AIC = 52 175.69; BIC = 52 302.69; ssaBIC = 52 245.49; entropy = 1.00). Classes were labelled according to their baseline PA and slope of their trajectory: 'High-Decreasers'; 'Moderate-Decreasers'; 'Moderate-Stable'; and 'Low-Increasers'. A negative linear association existed between activity trajectory and the likelihood class members were female, overweight or socioeconomically deprived at age 9. The most active class (High-Decreasers) were significantly less likely to report depressive symptoms at age 20 than other classes. Multiple PA trajectories exist throughout childhood and adolescence although differences in PA levels reduced over time. The most/least active children continued to be the most/least active throughout adolescence. Those most active were least at risk of depressive symptoms in early adulthood. Being female, overweight or experiencing deprivation at age 9 were all risk factors for inactivity throughout adolescence. Findings have implications for public health and PA promotion in young people.

The mediating role of personality traits in the association between childhood trauma and depressive symptoms in young adulthood

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to investigate the mediating role of the Big 5 personality traits (extraversion, neuroticism, openness, agreeableness, conscientiousness) in the association between early traumatization and depressive symptoms in early adulthood (20–25-year-olds) in a German population-based sample. MethodsA total of 3176 participants from the German National Cohort (NAKO) baseline with an age between 20 and 25 years were included in this investigation. The sum score of the 9-item-version of the Patient Health Questionnaire was used for assessment of depressive symptoms. A structural equation model was built to test the paths between childhood trauma, Big 5 personality traits and depressive symptoms. ResultsOverall, 10.7 % of the young adult sample had a PHQ-9 sum score of ten or higher. The final mediation model fitted well for young adults. We found evidence for a partial mediating effect of Big 5 personality traits. LimitationsWe only adjusted for age, sex, and year of data collection and did not include biological factors in the model. ConclusionYoung adults with early trauma experiences have a risk for developing depressive symptoms in young adulthood. Personality traits, especially neuroticism, partially mediated the association between early trauma and depressive symptoms for young adults and should be recognized in preventive strategies.

Socioeconomic factors in the age-graded effect of incarceration on depressive symptoms in early adulthood

Based on insights from the stress process and life-course paradigms, this study investigates the effect of incarceration on depressive symptoms during early adulthood (ages 18–40). We employed fixed-effects dynamic panel models that adjust for confounding effects due to unobserved time-invariant variables and reverse causality using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (N = 11, 811). Our analysis shows that the effect of incarceration on depressive symptoms is greater when incarceration occurs after individuals have established a stable adult status (ages 32–40) as compared to incarceration that occurs at earlier stages of adulthood (ages 18–24 and ages 25–31). The age-graded effect of incarceration on depressive symptoms is partially attributable to time-varying effects of incarceration on socioeconomic factors, such as employment status and income. All these findings contribute to our understanding of the mental health consequences of incarceration.

Depression in young adulthood to midlife and brain aging in midlife: A 30‐year follow‐up of The CARDIA Study

AbstractBackgroundEvidence suggests that depression is a risk factor for dementia in older adults, but the link between depressive symptoms and brain health earlier in life is poorly understood. We aimed to investigate the relationship between depressive symptoms in early adulthood through midlife and brain aging in midlife.MethodsFrom the prospective study of Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults, we identified 649 Black and White participants (age 18‐30 at baseline) with brain MRI and cognitive testing 30 years later (mean age 55, SD 3.5). The participants underwent 6 repeated assessments for depressive symptoms measured with the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale (CES‐D) over 30 years. The CES‐D range is 0‐60, a score of 16 points or more is considered depressed. Cumulative exposure of depressive symptoms was estimated by time‐weighted averages (TWA). We used a previously validated high dimensional neuroimaging pattern analysis, based on machine learning algorithms, that quantifies individual differences in age‐related atrophy using MRI‐derived structural brain characteristics. Linear regression was used to test the association between average cumulative depressive symptoms, brain aging, and cognition, adjusted chronological age, sex, race, education, intracranial volume, and scanning siteResultsEvery standard deviation (5‐points) higher average cumulative depression symptoms was associated with approximately one‐year greater brain age (Table 1). Participants with higher average cumulative depressive symptoms greater than the clinically significant cutoff of 16 points over the 30 years, had on average 3‐years greater brain age (95% CI: 0.74 to 4.96) compared to below the clinical cutoff. Adjusting for anti‐depressive medication use at any time during the follow‐up, slightly attenuated the association (Table 1).ConclusionHigher depressive symptoms across 30 years from early to mid‐adulthood are associated with accelerated brain aging in midlife. This suggests that elevated depressive symptoms in early adulthood can have implications for brain aging as early as in midlife.

Long-term depressive symptoms and midlife brain age

BackgroundEvidence suggests that depression may be a risk factor for dementia in older adults, but the link between depressive symptoms and brain health earlier in life is less understood. Our aim was to investigate the association between long-term depressive symptoms in young to mid-adulthood and a measure of brain age derived from structural MRI. MethodsFrom the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults study, we identified 649 participants (age 23–36 at baseline) with brain MRI and cognitive testing. Long-term depressive symptoms were measured with the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale (CESD) six times across 25 years and analyzed as time-weighted averages (TWA). Brain age was derived using previously validated high dimensional neuroimaging pattern analysis, quantifying individual differences in age-related atrophy. Elevated depressive symptoms were defined as CES-D ≥16. Linear regression was used to test the association between TWA depressive symptoms, brain aging, and cognition. ResultsEach standard deviation (5-points) increment in TWA depression symptoms over 25 years was associated with one-year greater brain age (β: 1.14, 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 0.57 to 1.71). Participants with elevated TWA depressive symptoms had on average a 3-year greater brain age (β: 2.75, 95 % CI: 0.43 to 5.08). Moreover, elevated depressive symptoms were associated with higher odds of poor cognitive function in midlife (OR: 3.30, 95 % CI: 1.37 to 7.97). LimitationsBrain age was assessed at one time, limiting our ability to evaluate the temporality of depressive symptoms and brain aging. ConclusionsElevated depressive symptoms in early adulthood may have implications for brain health as early as in midlife.

The role of substance use coping in linking depression and alcohol use from late adolescence through early adulthood.

Although theoretical models highlight the role of coping motivations in promoting co-development of depression and alcohol use, few longitudinal studies have examined such processes across early adulthood. The current study examined the role of coping in the association between depression and alcohol use across late adolescence and early adulthood. A control sample of adolescents (N = 498) from a longitudinal prevention trial completed the Brief Symptom Inventory, Life Events Coping Inventory, and a self-report survey on alcohol use at ages 17, 22, and 23, as well as the Composite International Diagnostic Interview at age 28-30. Path analyses integrated self-report and diagnostic measures. Although gender differences were observed in mean levels of depression, alcohol use, and the use of substances to cope, we did not find gender differences in structural relations across these domains over time. Substance use coping served as an intervening pathway in the association between alcohol use and depression both at the symptom level from age 17 to 23, and in predicting longer term diagnostic outcomes at ages 28-30. Depressive symptoms in early adulthood were indirectly related to major depressive disorder (MDD) through two independent paths, including the stability of depressive symptoms over time, and through the influence of depression on increasing the tendency to use substances to cope with stress. Our results underscore that coping effects provide unique predictive power across developmental transitions, over and above the stability of depressive symptoms and alcohol use, underscoring coping motives as a promising intervention target that may prevent co-occurring depression and substance use. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Depressive Symptoms Imputed Across the Life Course Are Associated with Cognitive Impairment and Cognitive Decline.

Depressive symptoms may increase risk for dementia, but findings are controversial because late-life depression may be a prodromal dementia symptom. Life course data on depression and dementia risk may clarify this association; however, data is limited. To impute adult depressive symptoms trajectories across adult life stages and estimate the association with cognitive impairment and decline. Using a pooled study of 4 prospective cohorts (ages 20-89), we imputed adult life course depressive symptoms trajectories based on Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale-10 (CESD-10) and calculated time-weighted averages for early adulthood (ages 20-49), mid-life (ages 50-69), and late-life (ages 70-89) for 6,122 older participants. Adjusted pooled logistic and mixed-effects models estimated associations of imputed depressive symptoms with two cognitive outcomes: cognitive impairment defined by established criteria and a composite cognitive score. In separate models, elevated depressive symptoms in each life stage were associated with cognitive outcomes: early adulthood OR for cognitive impairment = 1.59 (95%CI: 1.35,1.87); mid-life OR = 1.94 (95%CI:1.16, 3.26); and late-life OR = 1.77 (95%CI:1.42, 2.21). When adjusted for depressive symptoms in the other life-stages, elevated depressive symptoms in early adulthood (OR = 1.73; 95%CI: 1.42,2.11) and late-life (OR = 1.43; 95%CI: 1.08,1.89) remained associated with cognitive impairment and were also associated with faster rates of cognitive decline (p < 0.05). Imputing depressive symptom trajectories from pooled cohorts may help expand data across the life course. Our findings suggest early adulthood depressive symptoms may be a risk factor for cognitive impairment independent of mid- or late-life depressive symptoms.

Adverse childhood experiences, daytime salivary cortisol, and depressive symptoms in early adulthood: a longitudinal genetically informed twin study

Dysregulated hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA)-axis function might underlie the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and depression. However, limited research has examined the possible mediating role of the HPA-axis among young people using longitudinal data. Moreover, it remains unclear whether genetic influences could contribute to these associations. Participants were 290 children from the Twins Early Development Study. ACEs were assessed from age 3–11 years. We calculated a cumulative risk score and also derived different ACEs clusters using factor analysis and latent class analysis. HPA-axis activity was indexed by daytime salivary cortisol at age 11. Depressive symptoms were ascertained at age 21. Genetic liability to altered cortisol levels and elevated depressive symptoms was measured using a twin-based method. We performed causal mediation analysis with mixed-effects regression models. The results showed that ACEs cumulative exposure (b = −0.20, p = 0.03), bullying (b = −0.61, p = 0.01), and emotional abuse (b = −0.84, p = 0.02) were associated with lower cortisol levels at age 11. Among participants exposed to multiple ACEs, lower cortisol was related to higher depressive symptoms at age 21 (b = −0.56, p = 0.05). Lower cortisol levels mediated around 10–20% of the total associations of ACEs cumulative exposure, bullying, and dysfunctional parenting/emotional abuse with higher depressive symptoms. Genetic factors contributed to these associations, but the mediation effects of cortisol in the associations of ACEs cumulative exposure (b = 0.16 [0.02–0.34]) and bullying (b = 0.18 [0.01–0.43]) remained when genetic confounding was accounted for. In conclusion, ACEs were linked to elevated depressive symptoms in early adulthood partly through lower cortisol levels in early adolescence, and these relationships were independent of genetic confounding.

Direction of association between Cardiovascular risk and depressive symptoms during the first 18 years of life: A prospective birth cohort study

BackgroundCardiovascular disease (CVD) and depression are bidirectionally associated in adults. However, the direction of association between CVD risk and depressive symptoms in young people and potential mechanisms are poorly understood. MethodsUsing longitudinal birth cohort data, we created a CVD risk score age at 15 using age, ethnicity, physical activity, maternal social status, maternal smoking, own smoking, BMI, systolic blood pressure, LDL, HDL and triglycerides. We used regression analysis to test: (1) association between CVD risk score at age 15 and depressive symptoms at ages 12 and 18; (2) association of IL-6 and CRP at age 9 with depressive symptoms at age 12 and CVD risk score at age 15; and (3) mediating effects of CVD risk score on associations of IL-6/CRP at age 9 with depressive symptoms at age 18. ResultsThe risk set comprised 5007 participants. CVD risk score in mid-adolescence was associated with depressive symptoms in early-adulthood (adjusted beta=0.06; standard error (SE)=0.02; p<0.001). Depressive symptoms in childhood were not associated with CVD risk score in mid-adolescence (adjusted beta=0.03; SE=0.02; p=0.11). Childhood inflammatory markers were associated with CVD risk score in mid-adolescence. Adolescent CVD risk score mediated the associations between childhood inflammatory markers and depressive symptoms in early-adulthood. LimitationsThe cohort primarily comprises White individuals, limiting generalisability. Sample attrition required imputation for missing data. ConclusionsAssociation between CVD risk and depression in childhood/adolescence is unidirectional, with higher CVD risk increasing the risk of depressive symptoms. Childhood inflammation may increase risk of depression by influencing adolescent CVD risk.

Adverse childhood experiences, salivary cortisol, and depressive symptoms in early adulthood: A longitudinal genetically informed twin study

Adverse childhood experiences, salivary cortisol, and depressive symptoms in early adulthood: A longitudinal genetically informed twin study

Association between the change of total cholesterol during adolescence and depressive symptoms in early adulthood.

Increasing evidence suggests that serum lipids are associated with depressive symptoms. However, previous studies have mostly employed a cross-sectional design and assessed middle-aged or older adult populations, making it difficult to discern the impact of lipid changes early in life on the development of depression. Accordingly, we sought to investigate changes in blood cholesterol levels during adolescence and the development of depressive symptoms in early adulthood. This prospective cohort study included participants aged 15-16years from the JS High School Study (JSHS), with an average follow-up of 6years. Participants had no diagnosed depression at baseline. Multivariable linear regression models were used to estimate associations between changes in total cholesterol during adolescence and depressive symptoms in adulthood. Changes in total cholesterol during adolescence were classified as "consistently low," "decreased," "moderate," "increased," or "consistently high". In men, depressive symptoms were higher in the consistently low (β = 3.20, p = 0.036) and increased total cholesterol groups (β = 3.48, p = 0.017), compared with the moderate group. In the consistently high group, although a positive linear association was observed, it lacked statistical significance (β = 2.71, p = 0.067). While similartendencies were noted in women, the associations were not statistically significant. Consistently low or increased total cholesterol levels during adolescence may pose an increased risk of depressive symptoms in early adulthood. These findings suggest that different strategies should be adopted to manage the lipid risk factors with consideration of age and sex.

Association of Adolescent Sport Participation With Cognition and Depressive Symptoms in Early Adulthood.

Background:Recent studies have associated sport-related concussion with depression and impaired cognitive ability later in life in former professional football players. However, population studies with two 1950s-era cohorts did not find an association between high school football participation and impaired cognition or depressive symptoms in late adulthood.Purpose/Hypothesis:This study assessed whether actual/intended participation in contact sports during adolescence had an adverse effect on participants’ cognition or depressive symptoms in early adulthood. We hypothesized that there would not be an association.Study Design:Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2.Methods:This study used a subsample (n = 10,951) from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health), a nationally (United States) representative prospective cohort study following participants through 4 waves of data collection from 1994 through 2008. Participants were categorized as actual/intended participation in no sports, noncontact sports only, and contact sports. We constructed 6 multivariate and logistic regression models predicting word recall, number recall, modified Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, depression diagnosis, suicide ideation, and suicide attempts at wave IV as a function of sport participation during wave I. Sport participation was treated as a factor with the referent category noncontact sports. This analysis was repeated on a males-only sample (n = 5008). In the males-only analysis, participants were classified as actual/intended participation in no sports, noncontact sports, contact sports other than American football, and American football. The referent category remained noncontact sports.Results:Intention to participate in contact sports was not significantly associated with any of the outcomes in the full-sample analysis. Intention to participate in football was significantly associated with a reduced odds of depression diagnosis in adulthood (odds ratio, 0.70; P = .02) when compared with noncontact sports participation in the males-only sample. Football was not significantly associated with impaired cognitive ability, increased depressive symptoms, or increased suicide ideation.Conclusion:Actual/intended participation in contact sports during adolescence did not adversely affect Add Health participants’ cognition or depressive symptoms in young adulthood.

Persistent Low Positive Affect and Sleep Disturbance across Adolescence Moderate Link between Stress and Depressive Symptoms in Early Adulthood.

The purpose of this study was to characterize the association between recent major life events and depressive symptoms during early adulthood, and to determine whether adolescents with chronically low positive affect or persistent sleep disturbance were more vulnerable to the link between stress and depressive symptoms. Adolescents (n = 147; 63.9% female; 33.7% non-Hispanic white) were recruited in 10th-11th grade and re-assessed 2 and 4years later. At each assessment, adolescents completed measures of positive affect and sleep disturbances. At the final assessment, participants reported on their exposure to major life events in the past 12months. Exposure to more major life events in the past year was associated with greater depressive symptoms in early adulthood. Chronically low positive affect and persistent sleep disturbances throughout adolescence each independently moderated this relationship. Specifically, only participants reporting low positive affect across the three assessments showed a positive and significant association between major life events and depressive symptoms. Further, only participants reporting sleep disturbances at all three assessments showed a positive and significant association between major life events and depressive symptoms. Chronically low positive affect and persistent sleep disturbances during adolescence may be useful indicators of risk for depression during early adulthood. Further, interventions targeting adolescent sleep disturbances and improving positive affect may be useful in reducing the risk for depression following life stress during this high risk developmental phase.

Impact of maltreatment on depressive symptoms in young male adults: The mediating and moderating role of cortisol stress response and coping strategies

BackgroundConverging evidence suggests that maltreated children suffer from depression at an early age and experience recurrent episodes of depression that persist over longer periods of time. However, the stress-related mechanisms hypothesized to be implicated in these associations remain to be specified. The present study tested the mediating and moderating roles of acute cortisol response to stress and coping strategies in the association between child maltreatment and depressive symptoms in early adulthood. MethodsData from 156 men aged 18 to 35 years (n = 56 maltreated) were collected using self-reported questionnaires assessing child maltreatment, depressive symptomatology and coping strategies. Cortisol was measured in response to the “Trier Social Stress Test” (TSST). ResultsAlthough acute cortisol response to stress did not mediate the maltreatment-depressive symptoms association, a moderation effect was found. Child maltreatment was associated with higher risk of depressive symptoms among participants with a higher cortisol response to stress, but not for those with moderate-to-lower cortisol responses. Additionally, maltreated participants reported more depressive symptoms, an association that was partly explained by their higher use of emotion-oriented coping (mediation). Finally, maltreated individuals who reported using less task-oriented coping had greater depressive symptomatology than those who adopted this coping strategy more frequently (moderation). ConclusionThese findings extend prior work examining the role of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in the etiology of depression. The results draw attention to coping strategies, in addition to acute cortisol response to stress, as potential targets for mitigating the onset of depressive symptoms in adults maltreated as children.

Longitudinal association between inflammatory markers and specific symptoms of depression in a prospective birth cohort

BackgroundLow-grade inflammation is associated with depression, but studies of specific symptoms are relatively scarce. Association between inflammatory markers and specific symptoms may provide insights into potential mechanism of inflammation-related depression. Using longitudinal data, we have tested whether childhood serum interleukin 6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels are associated with specific depressive symptoms in early adulthood. MethodsIn the ALSPAC birth cohort, serum IL-6 and CRP levels were assessed at age 9 years and 19 depressive symptoms were assessed at age 18 years. We used modified Poisson generalised linear regression with robust error variance to estimate the risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) for each depressive symptom. In addition, we used confirmatory factor analysis to create two continuous latent variables representing somatic/neurovegetative and psychological dimension scores. Structural equation modelling was used to test the associations between IL-6 and these dimension scores. ResultsBased on data from 2731 participants, IL-6 was associated with diurnal mood variation, concentration difficulties, fatigue and sleep disturbances. The adjusted RRs for these symptoms at age 18 years for participants in top, compared with bottom, third of IL-6 at age 9 years were 1.75 (95% CI, 1.13–2.69) for diurnal mood variation, 1.50 (95% CI, 1.11–2.02) for concentration difficulties, 1.31 (95% CI, 1.12–1.54) for fatigue, and 1.24 (95% CI, 1.01–1.52) for sleep disturbances. At dimension level, IL-6 was associated with both somatic/neurovegetative (β = 0.059, SE = 0.024, P = 0.013) and psychological (β = 0.056, SE = 0.023, P = 0.016) scores. ConclusionsInflammation is associated with specific symptoms of depression. Associations with so-called somatic/neurovegetative symptoms of depression such as fatigue, sleep disturbances and diurnal mood variation indicate that these symptoms could be useful treatment targets and markers of treatment response in clinical trials of anti-inflammatory treatment for depression.

Transitions of Developmental Trajectories of Depressive Symptoms Between Junior and Senior High School Among Youths in Taiwan: Linkages to Symptoms in Young Adulthood.

We investigated the heterogeneous developmental trajectories of depressive symptoms in junior and senior high school, the transitions to different trajectories after entering senior high school, and the linkages to the development of depressive symptoms in early adulthood among Taiwanese adolescents. An eight-wave longitudinal data set was analyzed, including 2687 Taiwanese adolescents (51.2% boys, M age = 14.3 at first wave). Using a manual three-step latent transition growth mixture model, we found that a three-class solution fit the data for both junior high school (termed high-improving, cumulative, and JS-low-stable) and senior high school period (termed heightening, moderate-stable, and HS-low-stable). The depressive symptoms of most individuals maintained at a low level (i.e., low-stable) from adolescence to early adulthood; however, nearly a quarter of the adolescents reported depressive symptoms that were moderately or highly severe in senior high school and beyond. More than 30% of the participants experienced transitioning into a different developmental trajectory between junior and senior high school. When perceiving a higher level of paternal behavioral control, adolescents categorized in the high-improving class in junior high school would have a higher chance to transition to the moderate-stable class than to HS-low-stable class in senior high school. Adolescent boys and girls did not differ in the probability of transitioning between trajectories across junior and senior high school. However, a clear and consistent pattern of symptoms between late adolescence and early adulthood was not observed. These results help elucidate the heterogeneity and fluidity associated with the development of depressive symptoms between early adolescence and early adulthood in light of school transition among youths in Taiwan.

Access to occupational networks and ethnic variation of depressive symptoms in young adults in Sweden

Social capital research has recognized the relevance of occupational network contacts for individuals’ life chances and status attainment, and found distinct associations dependent on ethnic background. A still fairly unexplored area is the health implications of occupational networks. The current approach thus seeks to study the relationship between access to occupational social capital and depressive symptoms in early adulthood, and to examine whether the associations differ between persons with native Swedish parents and those with parents born in Iran and the former Yugoslavia.The two-wave panel comprised 19- and 23-year-old Swedish citizens whose parents were born in either Sweden, Iran or the former Yugoslavia. The composition of respondents’ occupational networks contacts was measured with a so-called position generator. Depressive symptoms were assessed with a two-item depression screener. A population-averaged model was used to estimate the associations between depressive symptoms and access to occupational contact networks.Similar levels of depressive symptoms in respondents with parents born in Sweden and Yugoslavia were contrasted by a notably higher prevalence of these conditions in those with an Iranian background. After socioeconomic conditions were adjusted for, regression analysis showed that the propensity for depressive symptoms in women with an Iranian background increased with a higher number of manual class contacts, and decreased for men and women with Iranian parents with a higher number of prestigious occupational connections. The respective associations in persons with native Swedish parents and parents from the former Yugoslavia are partly reversed.Access to occupational contact networks, but also perceived ethnic identity, explained a large portion of the ethnic variation in depression. Mainly the group with an Iranian background seems to benefit from prestigious occupational contacts. Among those with an Iranian background, social status concerns and expected marginalization in manual class occupations may have contributed to their propensity for depressive symptoms.

Number of Years of Team and Individual Sport Participation During Adolescence and Depressive Symptoms in Early Adulthood.

The purpose of this study was to examine the longitudinal and unique association between number of years of team sport and individual sport participation during adolescence and depressive symptoms during early adulthood. Adolescents (n = 860) reported team sport and individual sport participation in each year of secondary school for five years. Participants reported depressive symptoms using the Major Depression Inventory three years after secondary school. Multivariate linear regression was performed to model the associations of sport participation with depressive symptoms while controlling for sex, age, parent education, and baseline depressive symptoms. In the final model, adolescents who consistently participated in team sport during high school reported lower depression scores in early adulthood (β = -.09, p = .02). Number of years of individual sport participation was not statistically significantly associated with depressive symptoms in early adulthood. Based on these findings, team sport participation may protect against depressive symptoms in early adulthood. If this finding is replicated, strategies should be implemented to encourage and maintain team sport participation during adolescence. Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms that link team sport participation to lower depression.

Inter-parental Conflict and Rumination

The current study was designed to examine the association between perceptions of inter-parental conflict (IPC) in childhood and rumination and depressive symptoms in early adulthood. Family functioning variables (IPC and parenting), rumination, and depressive symptoms were assessed in a sample of college students (N = 131). Results suggested that threat aspects of IPC were significantly associated with rumination, and this association remained statistically significant when controlling for current depressive symptoms and parenting variables. Results also provided evidence for indirect effects of threat aspects of IPC on depressive symptoms through rumination. This is the first study to examine the associations among IPC, rumination, and depression, and results suggest that rumination may be a mechanism by which perceptions of IPC during childhood increase risk for depression in adulthood.