Pubertal timing and depressive symptoms in late adolescence: The moderating role of individual, peer, and parental factors
Authors: Amélie Benoit, Eric Lacourse, and Michel Claes
Overview
Abstract (English)
This longitudinal study examined personal-accentuation and contextual-amplification models of pubertal timing. In these models, individual and contextual risk factors during childhood and adolescence can magnify the effects of early or late puberty on depression symptoms that occur years later. The moderating role of prepubertal individual factors (emotional problems in late childhood) and interpersonal factors (deviant peer affiliation, early dating, perceived peer popularity, and perceived parental rejection during adolescence) were tested. A representative sample of 1,431 Canadian adolescents between 10-11 and 16-17 years of age was followed biannually. In line with the personal-accentuation model, early puberty has been shown to be a predictor for depression in both girls and boys who presented emotional problems in childhood. This effect was also noted for late maturing boys. Consistent with the contextual-amplification model, early puberty predicted later depression in youth who perceived greater parental rejection. Interpersonal experiences such as early dating in girls and deviant peer affiliation in boys predicted depression in early maturers as well. For girls, early dating was also found to be amplified by childhood emotional problems. In line with biopsychosocial models, results indicate that the effect of pubertal timing on depressive symptoms must be conceptualized through complex interactions between characteristics of adolescents’ interpersonal relationships and prepubertal vulnerabilities.
Abstract (French)
Please note that abstracts only appear in the language of the publication and might not have a translation.
Details
Type | Journal article |
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Author | Amélie Benoit, Eric Lacourse, and Michel Claes |
Publication Year | 2013 |
Title | Pubertal timing and depressive symptoms in late adolescence: The moderating role of individual, peer, and parental factors |
Volume | 25 |
Journal Name | Development and Psychopathology |
Number | 2 |
Pages | 455-471 |
Publication Language | English |
- Amélie Benoit
- Amélie Benoit, Eric Lacourse, and Michel Claes
- Pubertal timing and depressive symptoms in late adolescence: The moderating role of individual, peer, and parental factors
- Development and Psychopathology
- 25
- 2013
- 2
- 455-471