Abstract
This study examined two potential developmental pathways through which the temperament risk factor of negative emotionality
(NE) leads to prospective increases in depressive symptoms through the mediating role of stressors and anxious symptoms in
a sample of early to middle adolescents (N = 350, 6th–10th graders). The primary hypothesized model was that baseline NE leads to increased stressors, which results
in increases in anxious arousal, which culminates with elevated depressive symptoms. An alternate model hypothesized that
baseline NE leads to increased anxious arousal, which results in increases in stressors, and this culminates in elevated depressive
symptoms. Youth completed self-report measures of NE, stressors, anxious arousal, and depressive symptoms at four time-points.
Path analysis supported the primary model and showed that the mediating influence of stressors and anxious arousal explained
78% of the association between NE and prospective elevations in depressive symptoms. The alternate model was not supported.
Neither gender nor age were moderators.
(NE) leads to prospective increases in depressive symptoms through the mediating role of stressors and anxious symptoms in
a sample of early to middle adolescents (N = 350, 6th–10th graders). The primary hypothesized model was that baseline NE leads to increased stressors, which results
in increases in anxious arousal, which culminates with elevated depressive symptoms. An alternate model hypothesized that
baseline NE leads to increased anxious arousal, which results in increases in stressors, and this culminates in elevated depressive
symptoms. Youth completed self-report measures of NE, stressors, anxious arousal, and depressive symptoms at four time-points.
Path analysis supported the primary model and showed that the mediating influence of stressors and anxious arousal explained
78% of the association between NE and prospective elevations in depressive symptoms. The alternate model was not supported.
Neither gender nor age were moderators.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-12
- DOI 10.1007/s10802-010-9482-2
- Authors
- Andrea L. Barrocas, Department of Psychology, University of Denver, 2155 South Race Street, Denver, CO 80208, USA
- Benjamin L. Hankin, Department of Psychology, University of Denver, 2155 South Race Street, Denver, CO 80208, USA
- Journal Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology
- Online ISSN 1573-2835
- Print ISSN 0091-0627