Interactive Effects of Social Support and Self-Complexity on Depressive Symptoms in Adolescent Girls
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Date
2020
Authors
Govender, Theemeshni
Govender, Theemeshni
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
The prevalence of depressive episodes has been steadily increasing over the past few years, with adolescent girls being twice as likely to report depressive symptoms or present a clinical diagnosis of depression in comparison to adolescent boys. This study uses data from an ongoing longitudinal project, TAG (Transitions in Adolescent Girls) to examine the effects of social support (i.e. friends versus family) and self-complexity on depressive symptoms in a sample of adolescent girls (N = 174) aged 10 to 13. We believe that a larger decrease in family support (and to a lesser extent friend support) and a large change in self-complexity between waves 1 and 2 will predict a greater increase in depressive symptoms, while controlling for depressive symptoms at wave 1. There will also be a significant interaction, such that decreasing social support (both friends and family) and a large change in self-complexity will predict increased risk for depressive symptoms. However, we predict that there will be a larger effect size when looking at the interaction with family support in comparison to friend support. Exploratory analyses will be used to examine whether positive and negative self-complexity have differential effects on depressive symptoms and the effect ethnicity/race as well as socioeconomic status may have on these interactions. Looking at the intersection of these combined frameworks can provide a better understanding of risk and protective factors for specifically adolescent girls in relation to the development of depressive symptoms and contribute to better serving them.
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Keywords
adolescence, depressive symptoms, social support, self-complexity