Abstract
Building on interpersonal theories of depression, the current study sought to explore whether early childhood social withdrawal
serves as a risk factor for depressive symptoms and diagnoses in young adulthood. The researchers hypothesized that social
impairment at age 15 would mediate the association between social withdrawal at age 5 and depression by age 20. This mediational
model was tested in a community sample of 702 Australian youth followed from mother’s pregnancy to youth age 20. Structural
equation modeling analyses found support for a model in which childhood social withdrawal predicted adolescent social impairment,
which, in turn, predicted depression in young adulthood. Additionally, gender was found to moderate the relationship between
adolescent social impairment and depression in early adulthood, with females exhibiting a stronger association between social
functioning and depression at the symptom and diagnostic level. This study illuminates one potential pathway from early developing
social difficulties to later depressive symptoms and disorders.
serves as a risk factor for depressive symptoms and diagnoses in young adulthood. The researchers hypothesized that social
impairment at age 15 would mediate the association between social withdrawal at age 5 and depression by age 20. This mediational
model was tested in a community sample of 702 Australian youth followed from mother’s pregnancy to youth age 20. Structural
equation modeling analyses found support for a model in which childhood social withdrawal predicted adolescent social impairment,
which, in turn, predicted depression in young adulthood. Additionally, gender was found to moderate the relationship between
adolescent social impairment and depression in early adulthood, with females exhibiting a stronger association between social
functioning and depression at the symptom and diagnostic level. This study illuminates one potential pathway from early developing
social difficulties to later depressive symptoms and disorders.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-12
- DOI 10.1007/s10802-011-9537-z
- Authors
- Shaina J. Katz, Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Box 951563, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1563, USA
- Christopher C. Conway, Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Box 951563, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1563, USA
- Constance L. Hammen, Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Box 951563, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1563, USA
- Patricia A. Brennan, Department of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Jake M. Najman, School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Australia, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Journal Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology
- Online ISSN 1573-2835
- Print ISSN 0091-0627