Age, gender, race, socioeconomic status, and birth cohort differences on the children's depression inventory: a meta-analysis

Racial/ethnic differences in internalizing and externalizing symptoms in adolescents

The prevalence of most adult psychiatric disorders varies across racial/ethnic groups and has important implications for prevention and intervention efforts. Research on racial/ethnic differences in the prevalence of internalizing and externalizing symptoms and disorders in adolescents has been less consistent or generally lacking. The current study examined the prevalence of these symptom groups in a large sample of sixth, seventh, and eighth graders in which the three major racial/ethnic groups in the U.S. (White, Black, and Hispanic/Latino) were well-represented. Hispanic females reported experiencing higher levels of depression, anxiety, and reputational aggression than other groups. Black males reported the highest levels of overtly aggressive behavior and also reported higher levels of physiologic anxiety and disordered eating than males from other racial/ethnic groups. Hispanic females also exhibited higher levels of comorbidity than other racial/ethnic groups.

Relations between daily activities and adolescent mood: the role of autonomy

This study explored the combined influences of daily activities and autonomy in activity engagement on adolescent daily positive and negative moods. Ecological momentary assessments (EMA) were used to obtain information about 8th- and 10th-grade students' (N = 517) mood, activities, and situation throughout the day. Participants responded to random prompts on the EMA device and, when prompted, rated mood adjectives and reported on their current activity and perceived autonomy in activity engagement. Mixed-effects regression models examined changes in mood across specific activity categories. Positive mood significantly improved when engaging in numerous activities; negative mood improved during social activities as well as "party" and "hanging out" events but was fairly consistent across other activities. Stronger mood-activity relations were found after controlling for autonomy in activity engagement.

Longitudinal Patterns of Daily Affect and Global Mood During Adolescence

This study examined grade and sex patterns in real-time measures of daily mood using Ecological Momentary Assessments via palmtop computers among 8th (N = 296) and 10th graders (N = 266) for 1 year using a three-wave longitudinal design. Participants responded to five to seven random prompts/day for 7 consecutive days; when prompted, participants rated eight mood adjectives assessing positive affect (PA) and negative affect (NA). Global depressed mood was also assessed via self-report questionnaire at every wave. Mixed-effects regression analyses indicated that PA modestly but significantly declined across Grade 8 to 11, but NA was relatively stable over time. Sex by time interactions showed that boys experienced greater declines in daily mood over time than did girls. In contrast, global depressed mood did not change over time, and girls reported higher depressed mood than boys. Findings suggest that normative mood declines in adolescence may be driven by deteriorations in PA, rather than increases in NA.

Prospective associations of co-rumination with friendship and emotional adjustment: considering the socioemotional trade-offs of co-rumination

Co-ruminating, or excessively discussing problems, with friends is proposed to have adjustment tradeoffs. Co-rumination is hypothesized to contribute both to positive friendship adjustment and to problematic emotional adjustment. Previous single-assessment research was consistent with this hypothesis, but whether co-rumination is an antecedent of adjustment changes was unknown. A 6-month longitudinal study with middle childhood to midadolescent youths examined whether co-rumination is simultaneously a risk factor (for depression and anxiety) and a protective factor (for friendship problems). For girls, a reciprocal relationship was found in which co-rumination predicted increased depressive and anxiety symptoms and increased positive friendship quality over time, which, in turn, contributed to greater co-rumination. For boys, having depressive and anxiety symptoms and high-quality friendships also predicted increased co-rumination. However, for boys, co-rumination predicted only increasing positive friendship quality and not increasing depression and anxiety. An implication of this research is that some girls at risk for developing internalizing problems may go undetected because they have seemingly supportive friendships.

Developmental trajectories of depressive symptoms from early childhood to late adolescence: gender differences and adult outcome

BACKGROUND

Limited information is available on gender differences and young-adult poor outcome in children and adolescents following distinct developmental trajectories of depressive symptoms.

METHODS

Parent information on depressive symptoms of 4- to 18-year-olds from an ongoing Dutch community-based longitudinal multiple-cohort study (N = 2,076) was used to estimate trajectories from semi-parametric mixture models. The identified trajectories were used to predict depressive problems, general mental health problems, referral to mental health care, and educational attainment in young adulthood.

RESULTS

In both genders six distinct developmental trajectories were identified. Gender differences existed not only in level, but also in shape and timing of onset of depressive problems. Only in girls was a chronic trajectory of early childhood-onset depression identified. In both boys and girls a group with increasing levels of depressive symptoms was identified that reached a high level around adolescence, although boys showed an earlier onset. Two decreasing trajectories were found in boys, one reaching normative levels of depressive symptoms around late childhood and one around mid-adolescence, while none was found for girls. Individuals who followed elevated trajectories during their whole childhood or starting at adolescence had significantly more depressive and other mental health problems in young adulthood compared to those who followed normative trajectories. Boys in these elevated trajectories showed lower educational attainment, while girls were more likely to have been referred to mental health care.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows the value of estimating growth-mixture models separately for boys and girls. Girls with early childhood or adolescence-onset depressive problems and boys with depressive problems during childhood or starting in adolescence are especially at risk for poor outcome as young adults and should be considered candidates for intervention.

Sex differences in adolescent depression: stress exposure and reactivity models

Stress exposure and reactivity models were examined as explanations for why girls exhibit greater levels of depressive symptoms than boys. In a multiwave, longitudinal design, adolescents' depressive symptoms, alcohol usage, and occurrence of stressors were assessed at baseline, 6, and 12 months later (N=538; 54.5% female; ages 13-18, average 14.9). Daily stressors were coded into developmentally salient domains using a modified contextual-threat approach. Girls reported more depressive symptoms and stressors in certain contexts (e.g., interpersonal) than boys. Sex differences in depression were partially explained by girls reporting more stressors, especially peer events. The longitudinal direction of effects between depression and stressors varied depending on the stressor domain. Girls reacted more strongly to stressors in the form of depression.

Is there a relationship between depression and crying? A review

OBJECTIVE

To conduct a systematic examination of the relationship between depression and crying by reviewing all relevant theory and empirical data including the performance of crying items in measures of depression.

METHOD

Review of the extant literature on depression and crying using PubMed, PsychInfo and Google Scholar databases.

RESULTS

Scores on crying items of depression inventories correlate moderately with overall depression severity. Otherwise, there is surprisingly little evidence for the widespread claim that depression leads to more frequent and/or easier crying. There is also little empirical support for the competing claim that severely depressed individuals lose their capacity to cry.

CONCLUSION

Current claims about the relationship between depression and crying lack a robust empirical foundation. Assessment instruments and diagnostic systems for mood disorders are inconsistent in how they handle crying as a symptom. Further work to investigate the causes and the context of crying in depressed patients is needed.

The prevention of depressive symptoms in low-income, minority children: Two-year follow-up

We present 2-year follow-up data on the efficacy of the Penn Resiliency Program (PRP), a school-based depression prevention program, with low-income, racial/ethnic minority children. This program taught cognitive and social problem-solving skills to 168 Latino and African American middle school children who were at-risk for developing depressive symptoms by virtue of their low-income status. We had previously reported beneficial effects of the PRP up to 6 months after the conclusion of the program for the Latino children, but no clear effect for the African American children. In this paper, we extend the analyses to 24 months after the conclusion of the PRP. We continue to find some beneficial effects for the Latino children and no differentially beneficial effect for the African American children. Implications of findings and future research directions are discussed.

[Effects of pharmaco- and psychotherapeutic interventions in depression among children and adolescents]

Contrary to earlier assumptions, the current consensus is that depression constitutes an important issue in the mental health of children and adolescents. Thus, effective therapy options for depressive children and adolescents are needed. Randomized, controlled intervention studies are reviewed: 24 studies on pharmacological interventions, 11 studies on psychological interventions, and two on combination therapy. For approximately half of the intervention methods (pharmacotherapy: 3/8; psychotherapy: 2/5) no randomized, controlled studies carried out. Furthermore, only some SSRI (fluoxetin, citalopram and sertralin) yielded positive results with regard to depressive symptoms. Beyond these results, fluoxetin is the sole pharmacological treatment during which suicidality does not increase as compared to results for a placebo control group (Hammad et al., 2006; Whittington et al., 2004). Earlier studies of CBT, IPT, and family therapy reported predominantly positive effects. Nevertheless, initial results for combination therapies (SSRI & CBT) indicate an advantage of this therapy approach over mono-therapies. Empirical data are described, followed by a discussion of the strengths and limitations of the earlier studies.

Family relational factors in pediatric depression and asthma: pathways of effect

OBJECTIVE

This study tested a multilevel biobehavioral family model proposing that negative family emotional climate contributes to child depressive symptoms, which in turn contribute to asthma disease severity. Parent-child relational insecurity is proposed as a mediator.

METHOD

Children with asthma (N = 112; ages 7-18; 55% male) reported relational security, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. Parent(s) reported demographics, asthma history and symptoms, and family emotional expression. Asthma diagnosis was confirmed by medical history provided by parent and child together, clinical evaluation, pulmonary function tests, and methacholine challenge, with disease severity categorized by National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute guidelines. Medication adherence was measured prospectively.

RESULTS

Path analysis indicated a good fit of data to the hypothesized model (chi2 = 0.072, p =.97, normal fit index = 0.998, root mean square error of approximation = 0.000). Negative family emotional climate predicted child depressive symptoms (beta =.21, p < .04), which predicted asthma disease severity (beta =.35, p < .001), with relational insecurity a partial mediator (beta = -.23, p < .05, beta =.46, p < .001, respectively). Depression was associated with disease severity even after controlling for adherence (r p = 0.38, p < .05).

CONCLUSION

Findings are consistent with the proposed family model, suggesting the clinical importance of assessing and intervening in these specific family relational processes when treating children with depression and asthma.

Is there an epidemic of child or adolescent depression?

BACKGROUND

Both the professional and the general media have recently published concerns about an 'epidemic' of child and adolescent depression. Reasons for this concern include (1) increases in antidepressant prescriptions, (2) retrospective recall by successive birth cohorts of adults, (3) rising adolescent suicide rates until 1990, and (4) evidence of an increase in emotional problems across three cohorts of British adolescents.

METHODS

Epidemiologic studies of children born between 1965 and 1996 were reviewed and a meta-analysis conducted of all studies that used structured diagnostic interviews to make formal diagnoses of depression on representative population samples of participants up to age 18. The effect of year of birth on prevalence was estimated, controlling for age, sex, sample size, taxonomy (e.g., DSM vs. ICD), measurement instrument, and time-frame of the interview (current, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months).

RESULTS

Twenty-six studies were identified, generating close to 60,000 observations on children born between 1965 and 1996 who had received at least one structured psychiatric interview capable of making a formal diagnosis of depression. Rates of depression showed no effect of year of birth. There was little effect of taxonomy, measurement instrument, or time-frame of interview. The overall prevalence estimates were: under 13, 2.8% (standard error (SE) .5%); 13-18 5.6% (SE .3%); 13-18 girls: 5.9% (SE .3%); 13-18 boys: 4.6% (SE .3%).

CONCLUSIONS

When concurrent assessment rather than retrospective recall is used, there is no evidence for an increased prevalence of child or adolescent depression over the past 30 years. Public perception of an 'epidemic' may arise from heightened awareness of a disorder that was long under-diagnosed by clinicians.

Dysfunctional attitudes, self-esteem, and hassles: cognitive vulnerability to depression in children of affectively ill parents

The current study tested the diathesis-stress component of Beck's [(1967). Depression: Clinical, experimental, and theoretical aspects. New York: Harper & Row, (1983). Cognitive therapy of depression: New perspectives. In P.J. Clayton, J.E. Barnett (Eds.), Treatment of depression: Old controversies and new approaches (pp. 265-290). New York: Raven Press] cognitive theory of depression in a sample of children between the ages of 6 and 14. We also examined whether high self-esteem buffers cognitively vulnerable youth against experiencing increases in depressive symptoms following increases in hassles. To provide a effective test of hypotheses, an at-risk sample (children of parents with a history of major depressive episodes) and a multi-wave longitudinal design were used. At Time 1, children (n=140) completed measures assessing dysfunctional attitudes, self-esteem, and depressive symptoms. Every 6 weeks for the next year, children completed measures assessing depressive symptoms and hassles. Hierarchical linear modeling analyses indicated that children possessing high levels of dysfunctional attitudes and low levels of self-esteem reported greater elevations in depressive symptoms following elevations in hassles than other children.

Latino adolescents' mental health: exploring the interrelations among discrimination, ethnic identity, cultural orientation, self-esteem, and depressive symptoms

Guided by a risk and resilience framework, the current study used cross-sectional data to examine the degree to which Latino adolescents' (N=274; M age=16.3; 47.1% female) self-esteem, ethnic identity, and cultural orientations mediated or moderated the relation between perceived discrimination and depressive symptoms. Utilizing a multiple group comparison approach, path analyses indicated that higher levels of ethnic identity exploration and resolution significantly predicted higher levels of self-esteem for both boys and girls. Furthermore, self-esteem partially mediated the relation between perceived discrimination and adolescents' depressive symptoms. Additional analyses revealed that boys' cultural orientations moderated the relation between perceived discrimination and both self-esteem and depressive symptoms. Taken together, findings indicated that various aspects of the self (i.e. self-esteem, ethnic identity, cultural orientations) can protect and/or enhance the risks associated with discrimination.

Puberty and depression

Unipolar depression only becomes more common in girls than boys after the age of 13, as a result of an increased incidence of depressive episodes in girls at that time. This article reviews evidence that links multiple dimensions of maturation in the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis with this phenomenon. Effects of developmental status and timing have been implicated, but few studies have deployed either the measurement strategies or the statistical power needed to provide a satisfactory answer to the question regarding which components of puberty are most responsible.

Association of depressive symptoms and disease activity in children with asthma: methodological and clinical implications

OBJECTIVE

This study was designed to assess the prevalence of depressive symptoms in children with asthma and the association between depression and asthma activity.

METHOD

Children ages 7 to 17 (n = 129) were recruited from a hospital emergency department after presenting for asthma symptoms. The majority of subjects were from disadvantaged, inner city families. Subjects' asthma disease activity was assessed using the revised National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute guidelines, and subjects' emotional status was assessed by a combination of self-, parent-, and clinician-reported measures. Parental emotional status was assessed by self-report.

RESULTS

Depressive symptoms within the clinical range were reported in 26% of subjects and 43% of mothers, although symptom severity varied across scales. Self-reported depressive symptoms were more strongly correlated with asthma activity (r = 0.25) than clinician-reported (r = 0.14) or parent-reported symptoms (r = 0.12/0.18). Depressive symptoms in parents were correlated with child's depression scores but not with their asthma activity.

CONCLUSIONS

Depressive symptoms were common and associated with asthma activity in this inner city population of asthmatic children. Self-reported depressive symptoms were more strongly associated with child's asthma activity than either parental depression or parental/clinician ratings of the child's depression.

Longitudinal trajectories of self-system processes and depressive symptoms among maltreated and nonmaltreated children

This study used latent growth modeling to investigate longitudinal relationships between self-system processes and depressive symptoms among maltreated (n = 142) and nonmaltreated children (n = 109) aged 6-11 years. On average, self-esteem and self-agency increased and depressive symptoms decreased over time. Multivariate growth modeling indicated that, regardless of gender, physical abuse was negatively related to initial levels of self-esteem, and physical abuse and physical neglect were positively associated with initial levels of depressive symptoms. Emotional maltreatment was predictive of changes in self-esteem and changes in depressive symptoms. Initial levels of self-esteem were negatively associated with initial levels of depressive symptoms. The findings contribute to enhancing our understanding of the developmental processes whereby early maltreatment experiences are linked to later maladjustment.

A social-interactional model of the development of depressive symptoms in adolescence

This study used longitudinal, multimethod data to examine specific patterns of behavioral interaction with parents and peers that were hypothesized to predict increasing levels of depressive symptoms in early adolescence. Adolescents' struggles in establishing autonomy and relatedness in interactions with mothers, and a withdrawn, angry, or dependent pattern of behavior with a best friend, were assessed with observational and peer-report methods in a community sample of 143 adolescents, who were also assessed for levels of depressive symptoms at age 13 and with whom the authors followed up 1 year later. Study hypotheses were confirmed, with dysfunctional interaction patterns with parents and peers combining additively to account for substantial change variance in depressive symptoms over time. Results are interpreted as highlighting specific behavioral patterns that may be promising to address via psychosocial interventions targeting adolescent depression.

Evaluation of universal, indicated, and combined cognitive-behavioral approaches to the prevention of depression among adolescents

A cluster, stratified randomized design was used to evaluate the impact of universal, indicated, and combined universal plus indicated cognitive- behavioral approaches to the prevention of depression among 13- to 15-year-olds initially reporting elevated symptoms of depression. None of the intervention approaches differed significantly from a no-intervention condition or from each other on changes in depressive symptoms, anxiety, externalizing problems, coping skills, and social adjustment. All high-symptom students, irrespective of condition, showed a significant decline in depressive symptoms and improvement in emotional well-being over time although they still demonstrated elevated levels of psychopathology compared with the general population of peers at 12-month follow-up. There were also no significant intervention effects for the universal intervention in comparison with no intervention for the total sample of students in those conditions.

Weight concerns, body image, depression and anxiety in Swedish adolescents

OBJECTIVES

To assess weight problems and correlates in respect of body image, depression, anxiety and demographic background factors.

METHOD

405 Swedish adolescents were assessed in respect of Body Mass Index (BMI), biographical data, the Body Esteem Scale for Adolescents and Adults (BESAA), the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children (MASC) and the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI).

RESULTS

Boys were in the positive and girls in the negative direction from ideal BMI for age and gender. Girls and boys differed in respect of CDI, MASC and of BESAA where girls generally were shifted in the "pathological" direction.

DISCUSSION

The adolescents' own positive attitude to slimness, negative mood (girls), and anxiety symptoms that reflect social fears (boys) and physical aspects of anxiety (girls and boys) were important correlates of lower BMI than ideal. Adolescent cultural norms need to be addressed in preventive work. However, in girls' separation anxiety might be a protective factor against underweight. In girls, overweight seems to be associated with negative self-esteem.

Predictors of attributional style change in children

A number of studies have supported the hypothesis that negative attributional styles may confer vulnerability to the development of depression. The goal of this study was to explore factors that may contribute to the development of negative attributional styles in children. As hypothesized, elevated levels of depressive symptoms and hopelessness at the initial assessment predicted negative changes in children's attributional styles over the 6-month follow-up period. In addition, elevated levels of verbal victimization occurring between the 2 assessments, as well as that occurring in the 6 months preceding the initial assessment, prospectively predicted negative changes in children's attributional styles over the follow-up. Further, initial depressive symptoms and verbal victimization during the follow-up continued to significantly predict attributional style change even when the overlap among the predictors was statistically controlled. Contrary to the hypotheses, however, neither parent-reported levels of overall negative life events nor parents' attributions for their children's events predicted changes in children's attributional styles.

Case study: longitudinal treatment of adolescents with depression and inflammatory bowel disease

OBJECTIVE

To assess longitudinal maintenance of improvements in depression, anxiety, global functioning, and physical health perception in 11 adolescents at 6 and 12 months following completion of manual-based cognitive-behavioral therapy.

METHOD

Standardized instruments assessed follow-up changes in depression, anxiety, physical health, and global psychological functioning.

RESULTS

At both assessments, 10 adolescents did not meet criteria for mood disorders. Improvements in depression, anxiety, global functioning, and physical health perceptions at completion of the cognitive-behavioral therapy were maintained during the 12-month period. Additional cognitive-behavioral therapy sessions (mean = 4.36; SD = 4.37) and psychopharmacology (n = 5) were required during the follow-up period.

CONCLUSIONS

CBT with maintenance sessions and medication offers promise to adolescents facing comorbid depressive and physical disorders.

Relations with parents and with peers, temperament, and trajectories of depressed mood during early adolescence

The present study examined (a) whether groups of children can be empirically identified with distinct longitudinal profiles of depressed mood from late childhood through early adolescence, (b) to what extent these different longitudinal depression profiles are predicted by problematic relations with parents, same-sex peers, and other-sex peers, and (c) what role individuals' temperamental characteristics play in this context. Based on a sample of 414 early adolescents (197 girls), four groups were identified with distinct longitudinal profiles of depressed mood between ages 11 and 14: One group with consistently low levels of depressed mood, another with consistently moderate levels of depressed mood, a third group whose depressed mood increased sharply from late childhood through early adolescence, and a fourth group who already showed clinical-range levels of depressed mood during late childhood and whose depressive feelings increased even slightly more thereafter. Subsequent analyses revealed that rejection by same-sex peers was related to the odds of following an increasing trajectory of depressed mood, but only for girls with a highly reactive temperament. A problematic relationship with parents increased the odds of an elevated trajectory of depressed mood regardless of individual temperament. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.

Depression Prevention for Early Adolescent Girls: A Pilot Study of All Girls Versus Co-Ed Groups

Given the dramatic increase in depression that occurs during early adolescence in girls, interventions must address the needs of girls. The authors examined whether a depression prevention program, the Penn Resiliency Program, was more effective for girls in all-girls groups than in co-ed groups. Within co-ed groups, the authors also tested whether there were greater effects for boys than for girls. Participants were 208 11- to 14-year-olds. Girls were randomly assigned to all-girls groups, co-ed groups, or control. Boys were assigned to co-ed groups or control. Students completed questionnaires on depressive symptoms, hopelessness, and explanatory style before and after the intervention. Girls groups were better than co-ed groups in reducing girls'hopelessness and for session attendance rates but were similar to co-ed groups in reducing depressive symptoms. Co-ed groups decreased depressive symptoms, but this did not differ by gender. Findings support prevention programs and suggest additional benefits of girls groups.

Adolescent depression: description, causes, and interventions

Depression is one of the most prevalent of the psychiatric disorders and is common among individuals with epilepsy. Depression often begins in adolescence. The present review focuses on adolescent depression. In particular, this review first summarizes the definition, description, and classification of adolescent depression. Next, potential causes of adolescent depression are reviewed from a vulnerability-stress perspective. This part of the review focuses on the role of stressors and how stressors interact with genetic, biological, cognitive, personality, and interpersonal vulnerabilities to predict adolescent depression. Last, clinical aspects of adolescent depression are reviewed, including treatment and prevention of depression and the relation to epileptic disorders in adolescence. In sum, a substantial percentage of youth with epilepsy and seizures exhibit depression, and many are not diagnosed or treated in a timely manner. The present review shows that there are valid, empirically based assessments, treatments, and preventions for depression in adolescence that hold promise for reducing the significant burden associated with depression.

Suicidal ideation among urban nine and ten year olds

Little is known about rates and correlates of suicidal ideation among nonclinical samples of preadolescents from low-income urban backgrounds. Using the Children's Depression Inventory, we measured suicidal ideation in 131 preadolescent urban children (49% female, 90% African American/Caribbean) participating in an ongoing prospective longitudinal study of prenatal cocaine exposure and children's outcome. Suicidal ideation was reported by 14.5% of the children in this sample at 9 to 10 years of age. Children's reports of depressive symptoms, exposure to violence, and distress symptoms in response to witnessing violence were associated with suicidal ideation, but prenatal cocaine exposure, parent-rated child behavior, and caregivers' psychological distress symptoms were not. Suicidal ideation may be more prevalent among preadolescents from urban, low-income backgrounds than clinicians suspect, particularly among children exposed to violence.

A review of sex differences in peer relationship processes: potential trade-offs for the emotional and behavioral development of girls and boys

Theory and research on sex differences in adjustment focus largely on parental, societal, and biological influences. However, it also is important to consider how peers contribute to girls' and boys' development. This article provides a critical review of sex differences in several peer relationship processes, including behavioral and social-cognitive styles, stress and coping, and relationship provisions. The authors present a speculative peer-socialization model based on this review in which the implications of these sex differences for girls' and boys' emotional and behavioral development are considered. Central to this model is the idea that sex-linked relationship processes have costs and benefits for girls' and boys' adjustment. Finally, the authors present recent research testing certain model components and propose approaches for testing understudied aspects of the model.

The gender similarities hypothesis

The differences model, which argues that males and females are vastly different psychologically, dominates the popular media. Here, the author advances a very different view, the gender similarities hypothesis, which holds that males and females are similar on most, but not all, psychological variables. Results from a review of 46 meta-analyses support the gender similarities hypothesis. Gender differences can vary substantially in magnitude at different ages and depend on the context in which measurement occurs. Overinflated claims of gender differences carry substantial costs in areas such as the workplace and relationships.

A review of sex differences in peer relationship processes: potential trade-offs for the emotional and behavioral development of girls and boys

Theory and research on sex differences in adjustment focus largely on parental, societal, and biological influences. However, it also is important to consider how peers contribute to girls' and boys' development. This article provides a critical review of sex differences in several peer relationship processes, including behavioral and social-cognitive styles, stress and coping, and relationship provisions. The authors present a speculative peer-socialization model based on this review in which the implications of these sex differences for girls' and boys' emotional and behavioral development are considered. Central to this model is the idea that sex-linked relationship processes have costs and benefits for girls' and boys' adjustment. Finally, the authors present recent research testing certain model components and propose approaches for testing understudied aspects of the model.

The Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) as measure of depression in Swedish adolescents. A normative study

Self-rating scales are an economical and practical aid in the diagnostic work-up. However, normative data from the general population are needed to interpret scores. Four hundred and five adolescents selected to be fairly representative of the general population (both ethnical Swedes and born abroad) filled in a questionnaire containing the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI), the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children (MASC) and background data (including socio-economic status (SES). The CDI was reliable in terms of internal consistency (0.86) with a mean inter-item correlation of 0.18 and item-total score correlations ranging from 0.26 to 0.57. The CDI sub-scales (Negative Mood, Ineffectiveness, Anhedonia and Negative Self-esteem had good internal consistency values slightly above 0.60, except for sub-scale Interpersonal Problems with poor internal consistency (0.36). The 90th and 95th percentiles respectively were defined by scores 15 and 18 and above for boys and by scores 20 and 23 and above for girls. Common correlates of high scores were female gender, broken family but not SES, nor ethnicity. Also, some estimates of the convergent validity of the CDI were found in a Pearson correlation of 0.40 with the MASC total score and in the capacity of the CDI (predictive validity); OR = 1.1 in predicting suicidal ideation. The CDI has some, but as of yet not sufficient indications of being a valid and reliable measure of depression in adolescence and scores can be used to indicate, though not prove the absence or presence of, depression.

Changes in psychological distress in Australia over an 8-year period: evidence for worsening in young men

OBJECTIVE

To assess whether psychological distress has changed in the Australian population.

METHOD

Data were obtained from national household surveys of 1964 Australian adults in 1995 and 3507 in 2003-2004. Psychological distress was measured using the 4-NS, which asks about symptoms of depression, anxiety, irritability and nervousness in the past month. The data were analysed by gender and by age group, from 20-24 years to 70-74 years.

RESULTS

Psychological distress was found to have increased in men aged 20-29 years. This change was observed even when the same cohorts were compared. No change was found in women or in other male age groups.

CONCLUSIONS

These data show the need for routine population monitoring of mental health to determine subgroups requiring priority action.

The prevention of depressive symptoms in children and adolescents: A meta-analytic review

Research on the prevention of depressive symptoms in children and adolescents was reviewed and synthesized with meta-analysis. When all 30 studies were included, selective prevention programs were found to be more effective than universal programs immediately following intervention. Both selective and indicated prevention programs were more effective than universal programs at follow-up, even when the 2 studies with college students were excluded. Effect sizes for selective and indicated prevention programs tended to be small to moderate, both immediately postintervention and at an average follow-up of 6 months. Most effective interventions are more accurately described as treatment rather than prevention. Suggestions for future research include testing potential moderators (e.g., age, gender, anxiety, parental depression) and mechanisms, designing programs that are developmentally appropriate and gender and culturally sensitive, including longer follow-ups, and using multiple measures and methods to assess both symptoms and diagnoses.

Gender differences in temperament: A meta-analysis

The authors used meta-analytical techniques to estimate the magnitude of gender differences in mean level and variability of 35 dimensions and 3 factors of temperament in children ages 3 months to 13 years. Effortful control showed a large difference favoring girls and the dimensions within that factor (e.g., inhibitory control: d = -.41, perceptual sensitivity: d = -0.38) showed moderate gender differences favoring girls, consistent with boys' greater incidence of externalizing disorders. Surgency showed a difference favoring boys, as did some of the dimensions within that factor (e.g., activity: d = 0.33, high-intensity pleasure: d = 0.30), consistent with boys' greater involvement in active rough-and-tumble play. Negative affectivity showed negligible gender differences.

Longitudinal associations between sibling relationship quality, parental differential treatment, and children's adjustment

This study examined associations between changes in sibling relationships and changes in parental differential treatment and corresponding changes in children's adjustment. One hundred thirty-three families were assessed at 3 time points. Parents rated children's externalizing problems, and children reported on sibling relationship quality, parental differential treatment, and depressive symptoms. On average, older siblings were 10, 12, and 16 years old, and younger siblings were 8, 10, and 14 years old at Waves 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Results from hierarchical linear modeling indicated that as sibling relationships improved over time, children's depressive symptoms decreased over time. In addition, as children were less favored over their siblings over time, children's externalizing problems increased over time. Findings highlight the developmental interplay between the sibling context and children's adjustment.

Gender differences in adolescent depression: do symptoms differ for boys and girls?

BACKGROUND

Limited prior research suggests that depressed women are more likely to experience certain symptoms of depression than are depressed men. The purpose of this study was to examine whether such gender differences in depressive symptoms are present during adolescence.

METHODS

The Childhood Version of the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia and the Beck Depression Inventory were administered to adolescents presenting for evaluation at an outpatient clinic (n=383; ages 11.9 to 20.0).

RESULTS

Depressed girls and boys had similar symptom prevalence and severity ratings for most depressive symptoms. However, depressed girls had more guilt, body image dissatisfaction, self-blame, self-disappointment, feelings of failure, concentration problems, difficulty working, sadness/depressed mood, sleep problems, fatigue, and health worries than depressed boys on some comparisons. In contrast, depressed boys had higher clinician ratings of anhedonia, depressed morning mood, and morning fatigue.

LIMITATIONS

Longitudinal research is needed to test whether such relatively gender-specific symptoms play different roles in the onset, maintenance, or remittance of depression for boys and girls.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings indicate that, in general, the experience of depression is highly similar for adolescent girls and boys. However, some gender differences previously found among depressed adults appear to be present by adolescence, possibly suggesting somewhat distinct etiologies for depression among males and females.

Childhood temperament and family environment as predictors of internalizing and externalizing trajectories from ages 5 to 17

Childhood temperament and family environment have been shown to predict internalizing and externalizing behavior; however, less is known about how temperament and family environment interact to predict changes in problem behavior. We conducted latent growth curve modeling on a sample assessed at ages 5, 7, 10, 14, and 17 (N = 337). Externalizing behavior decreased over time for both sexes, and internalizing behavior increased over time for girls only. Two childhood variables (fear/shyness and maternal depression) predicted boys' and girls' age-17 internalizing behavior, harsh discipline uniquely predicted boys' age-17 internalizing behavior, and maternal depression and lower family income uniquely predicted increases in girls' internalizing behavior. For externalizing behavior, an array of temperament, family environment, and Temperament x Family Environment variables predicted age-17 behavior for both sexes. Sex differences were present in the prediction of externalizing slopes, with maternal depression predicting increases in boys' externalizing behavior only when impulsivity was low, and harsh discipline predicting increases in girls' externalizing behavior only when impulsivity was high or when fear/shyness was low.

The Children's Depression Inventory and classification of major depressive disorder: validity and reliability of the Danish version

The study examines the validity and reliability of the Danish version of the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) in a child psychiatric population. Participants were 149 child psychiatric patients aged 8-13 and their parents. After diagnostic interview with the Kiddie-Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia, the children completed the CDI. A subgroup of 44 children repeated the CDI after 2 weeks. The psychometric properties of the Danish CDI were similar to those reported for the English version. CDI is moderately correlated with other measures for depressive disorder, but the instrument is not sufficiently reliable or valid to be used as a single diagnostic or screening measure in a child psychiatric population.

Prenatal marijuana exposure: effect on child depressive symptoms at ten years of age

Studies of the consequences of prenatal marijuana use have reported effects predominantly on the behavioral and cognitive development of the children. Research on other aspects of child neurobehavioral development, such as psychiatric symptomatology, has been limited. This study examines the relations between prenatal marijuana exposure (PME) and child depressive symptoms at 10 years of age. Data are from the 10-year follow-up of 633 mother-child dyads who participated in the Maternal Health Practices and Child Development Project. Maternal prenatal and current substance use, measures of the home environment, demographic status, and psychosocial characteristics were ascertained at prenatal months four and seven, at delivery, and at age 10. At age 10, the children also completed the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) [M. Kovacs. The Children's Depression Inventory, Multi-Health Systems, Inc., North Tonawanda, NY, (1992).], a self-report measure of current depressive symptoms. Multivariate regressions were used to test trimester-specific effects of marijuana and their associations with the CDI total score, while controlling for significant prenatal predictors and significant current covariates of childhood depression. PME in the first and third trimesters predicted significantly increased levels of depressive symptoms. This finding remained significant after controlling for all identified covariates from both the prenatal period and the current phase at age 10. These findings reflect an association with the level of depressive symptoms rather than a diagnosis of a major depressive disorder. Other significant correlates of depressive symptoms in the children included maternal education, maternal tobacco use (prenatal or current), and the child's composite IQ score. These findings are consistent with recent reports that identify specific areas of the brain and specific brain functions that are associated with PME.

Eating disorder and depressive symptoms in urban high school girls from different ethnic backgrounds

This study examined ethnic group differences in the rates of eating disorder symptoms (EDS) and depressive disorder symptoms (DDS) with respect to ethnic identity, relative body weight, and abnormal eating behaviors among adolescent girls. A district-wide sample of high school girls (N = 1445) from different ethnic backgrounds was surveyed. EDS were assessed with the Eating Attitudes Test-26, abnormal eating behaviors with the Eating Behaviors Survey, and DDS with the Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire. Two dimensions of ethnic identity, ethnic identity achievement and other group orientation, were assessed with Multi-Group Ethnic Identity Measure. Hispanic and non-Hispanic white girls had the highest and African-American (AA) and Caribbean girls the lowest rates of EDS. Asian girls reported the highest and AA girls the lowest rates of DDS. Early dieting was associated with EDS and DDS in Caribbean, non-Hispanic white, and mixed background girls. Relative body weight was related to EDS in all ethnic groups except in non-Hispanic white and mixed background girls. The authors did not find an effect of ethnic identity achievement on psychopathology, but there was an effect of other group orientation on both EDS and DDS. Clinicians should inquire about EDS and DDS in girls of all ethnic groups. Prevention efforts to delay unsupervised dieting may protect adolescent girls from the development of EDS and DDS.

The Longitudinal Structure of the Children's Depression Inventory: Testing a Latent Trait-State Model

In a 6-wave longitudinal study, children (Grades 4-6, n = 648), adolescents (Grades 7-9, n = 1,489), and their parents completed child-adolescent or parent versions of the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI; M. Kovacs, 1981). Using structural equation modeling, the authors conducted latent trait-state analyses to distinguish between a stable trait dimension of depression (in which individual differences are stable over time) and an autoregressive dimension (in which individual differences are less stable over time). Children's CDIs reflected the autoregressive dimension more than a stable trait dimension, whereas parents' CDIs reflected a stable trait dimension more than an autoregressive dimension. Reports from adolescents and their parents reflected a stable trait dimension more than an autoregressive dimension of depressive symptoms. Results suggest that the longitudinal structure of the CDI varies considerably depending on the age of the target and the type of informant.

Psychometric characteristics of the Beck Depression Inventory-II with college students of diverse ethnicity

Introduction To evaluate the psychometric characteristics of the Beck Depression Inventory - Second Edition (BDI-II) with an ethnically diverse sample of college students. Methods The BDI-II was completed by a group of 502 college students (54% women) with an ethnic distribution of African-American (n=49, 10%), Asian-American (n=33, 7%), Hispanic (n=113, 22%), Native-American (n=10, 2%), and White (n=297, 59%). Psychometric characteristics of the inventory with the ethnically diverse group were compared to the results published in the test manual for nonclinical samples composed predominantly of European and White participants. Results Using confirmatory factor analyses, a three-factor model that identified negative attitude, performance difficulty, and somatic dimensions, provides a better fit of the data than does the two-factor model. Similar psychometric characteristics were found between the ethnically diverse student sample and the standardization sample. Based on multivariate analysis of variance, White students had higher scores on the item of agitation compared to Asian-American students and on the items of worthlessness and irritability compared to Hispanic students. Conclusion The results of the psychometric analyses suggest that the BDI-II is suitable as a screening instrument for depression in college populations of diverse ethnicity.

Adolescent-parent attachment: Bonds that support healthy development

Adolescence is characterized by significant neurological, cognitive and sociopsychological development. With the advance of adolescence, the amount of time spent with parents typically drops while time spent with peers increases considerably. Nonetheless, parents continue to play a key role in influencing their adolescent's development. Adolescent-parent attachment has profound effects on cognitive, social and emotional functioning. Secure attachment is associated with less engagement in high risk behaviours, fewer mental health problems, and enhanced social skills and coping strategies. The present article provides a brief synopsis of the changes that occur during adolescence and describes what attachment is, why it continues to be important and how it is transformed during adolescence. It summarizes major findings on the impact of attachment on adolescent adjustment and discusses strategies for supporting healthy adolescent-parent attachment.

Emotion-related abilities and depressive symptoms in Latina mothers and their children

This study examined the abilities of 40 Latina mothers and their 6- to 11-year-old children (20 girls, 20 boys) to recognize and produce emotion expressions and how these abilities differed as a function of maternal depressive symptoms. The results indicated that depressively symptomatic mothers were less accurate at recognizing basic emotions (e.g., happy, sad, etc.) and some mixed emotions (e.g., scared/ok combinations) than nonsymptomatic mothers, but there were no group differences for emotion production. In contrast, children of symptomatic mothers posed fewer recognizable sad expressions than their peers. Error pattern analyses also revealed that children of symptomatic mothers were more likely to mistakenly recognize happiness and to avoid posing sadness (across all basic emotions). Children's ability to pose emotions was related to their mothers' emotion production, and this was not moderated by maternal depressive symptoms. The discussion focuses on the possible interpersonal consequences of these biases and deficits in the emotion-related abilities of symptomatic mothers and their children and on the need to conduct research on the familial and cultural processes that might underlie these findings.

Sleepless in Chicago: tracking the effects of adolescent sleep loss during the middle school years

The influence of the sleep patterns of 2,259 students, aged 11 to 14 years, on trajectories of depressive symptoms, self-esteem, and grades was longitudinally examined using latent growth cross-domain models. Consistent with previous research, sleep decreased over time. Students who obtained less sleep in sixth grade exhibited lower initial self-esteem and grades and higher initial levels of depressive symptoms. Similarly, students who obtained less sleep over time reported heightened levels of depressive symptoms and decreased self-esteem. Sex of the student played a strong role as a predictor of hours of sleep, self-esteem, and grades. This study underscores the role of sleep in predicting adolescents' psychosocial outcomes and highlights the importance of using idiographic methodologies in the study of developmental processes.