Abitante G, Haraden DA, Pine A, Cole D, Garber J. Trajectories of positive and negative affect across adolescence: Maternal history of depression and adolescent sex as predictors.
J Affect Disord 2022;
315:96-104. [PMID:
35878831 PMCID:
PMC9447402 DOI:
10.1016/j.jad.2022.07.038]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Trajectories of affect vary across development, with normative increases in positive affect occurring during childhood and declines in positive affect appearing across adolescence. Little is known, however, about predictors of the trajectories of affect across adolescence. The present study examined associations between changes in adolescent affect across adolescence and maternal history of depression and child sex.
METHODS
Participants were 240 adolescents and their mothers; 185 mothers had a history of depression (i.e., high risk) and 55 mothers did not (i.e., low risk). Youth were assessed annually from 6th grade (meanage = 11.86 years, SD = 0.57, 54.2 % female, 82 % White) through 12th grade. Latent growth models tested the relation of maternal depression history and adolescent sex with trajectories of adolescent affect.
RESULTS
High-risk adolescents exhibited lower levels of PA as compared to low-risk youth (coefficient = -3.51, p = .008, 95 % CI [-6.11, -0.91]). Girls experienced earlier increases in negative affect (NA) as compared to boys, with more positive linear (coefficient = 2.07, p = .002, 95 % CI [0.774, 3.368]) and quadratic (coefficient = -0.29, p = .025, 95 % CI [-0.55, -0.04]) slopes.
LIMITATIONS
Use of self-report measures and limited generalizability.
CONCLUSION
Maternal depression significantly predicted decreases in offspring PA and distinct trajectories of NA in girls and boys. Interventions aimed at reducing risk in adolescent offspring of depressed parents may benefit from targeting PA and supporting girls in early adolescence.
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