Abstract
Expressive suppression is regarded as a generally ineffective emotion regulation strategy and appears to be associated with
the development of depressive symptoms among adolescents. However, the mechanisms linking suppression to depressive symptoms
are not well understood. The main aim of this study was to examine two potential mediators of the prospective relationship
from depressive symptoms to expressive suppression among adolescents: parental support and peer victimization. Structural
equation modelling was used to construct a three-wave cross-lagged model (n = 2,051 adolescents, 48.5 % female, at baseline; 1,465 with data at all three time points) with all possible longitudinal
linkages. Depressive symptoms preceded decreases in perceived parental support 1 year later. Decreases in parental support
mediated the relationship between depressive symptoms and increases in expressive suppression over a 2-year period. Multi-group
analyses show that the mediation model tested was significant for girls, but not for boys. No evidence for other mediating
models was found. Although initial suppression preceded increases in depressive symptoms 1 year later, we did not find any
evidence for the reversed link from suppression to depressive symptoms. Clear evidence for a reciprocal relationship between
depressive symptoms and parental support was found. However, only limited and inconsistent support was found for a reciprocal
relationship between depressive symptoms and peer victimization. Finally, although some evidence for a unidirectional relationship
from parental support to increases in suppression was found, no significant prospective relationship was found between peer
victimization and suppression. The implications of our clear results for parental support, and mostly lacking results for
peer victimization, are discussed.
the development of depressive symptoms among adolescents. However, the mechanisms linking suppression to depressive symptoms
are not well understood. The main aim of this study was to examine two potential mediators of the prospective relationship
from depressive symptoms to expressive suppression among adolescents: parental support and peer victimization. Structural
equation modelling was used to construct a three-wave cross-lagged model (n = 2,051 adolescents, 48.5 % female, at baseline; 1,465 with data at all three time points) with all possible longitudinal
linkages. Depressive symptoms preceded decreases in perceived parental support 1 year later. Decreases in parental support
mediated the relationship between depressive symptoms and increases in expressive suppression over a 2-year period. Multi-group
analyses show that the mediation model tested was significant for girls, but not for boys. No evidence for other mediating
models was found. Although initial suppression preceded increases in depressive symptoms 1 year later, we did not find any
evidence for the reversed link from suppression to depressive symptoms. Clear evidence for a reciprocal relationship between
depressive symptoms and parental support was found. However, only limited and inconsistent support was found for a reciprocal
relationship between depressive symptoms and peer victimization. Finally, although some evidence for a unidirectional relationship
from parental support to increases in suppression was found, no significant prospective relationship was found between peer
victimization and suppression. The implications of our clear results for parental support, and mostly lacking results for
peer victimization, are discussed.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Empirical Research
- Pages 1-15
- DOI 10.1007/s10964-012-9782-7
- Authors
- Junilla K. Larsen, Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, P.O. BOX 9140, 6500 HE Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Ad A. Vermulst, Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, P.O. BOX 9140, 6500 HE Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Rob Eisinga, Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, P.O. BOX 9140, 6500 HE Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Tammy English, Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- James J. Gross, Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Elin Hofman, Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, P.O. BOX 9140, 6500 HE Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Ron H. J. Scholte, Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, P.O. BOX 9140, 6500 HE Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Rutger C. M. E. Engels, Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, P.O. BOX 9140, 6500 HE Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Journal Journal of Youth and Adolescence
- Online ISSN 1573-6601
- Print ISSN 0047-2891