Developmental pathways of depressive symptoms via parenting, self-evaluation and peer relationships in young people from 3 to 17 years old: evidence from ALSPAC.

Publisher: Springer International Country of Publication: Germany NLM ID: 8804358 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1433-9285 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 09337954 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol Subsets: MEDLINE

Original Publication: [Berlin] : Springer International, [c1988-

Depression* ; Diagnostic Self Evaluation*; Adolescent ; Humans ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Longitudinal Studies ; Parenting ; Peer Group

Purpose: Self-evaluation and interpersonal factors are theoretically and empirically linked to depression in young people. An improved understanding of the multifactorial developmental pathways that explain how these factors predict depression could inform intervention strategies.
Methods: Using structural equation modeling, this study explored whether self-evaluation and interpersonal factors were associated with adolescent depressive symptoms in a population-based sample (n = 11,921; Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, ALSPAC), across four development stages: early and late childhood plus early and middle adolescence from 3 to 17 years old.
Results: Early good parenting practices predicted self-esteem, fewer peer difficulties, good friendships and fewer depressive symptoms in late childhood development outcomes. Higher self-esteem and less negative self-concept mediated the effect of early good parenting practice on reduced depressive symptoms in middle adolescence. The hypothesized erosion pathway from depressive symptoms in late childhood via higher levels of negative self-concept in early adolescence to depressive symptoms in middle adolescence was also confirmed. Additionally, peer difficulties played a mediation role in developing depressive symptoms. Contrary to the hypothesis, poor friendships predicted fewer depressive symptoms. The analysis supported a developmental pathway in which good parenting practices in early childhood led to fewer peer difficulties in late childhood and to less negative self-concept in early adolescence, which in turn predicted fewer depressive symptoms in middle adolescence.
Conclusion: The social-developmental origin of youth depressive symptoms was supported via the effect of peer relationships in late childhood on self-evaluation in early adolescence.
(© 2023. The Author(s).)

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G9815508 United Kingdom MRC_ Medical Research Council; MC_PC_15018 United Kingdom MRC_ Medical Research Council; MC_PC_19009 United Kingdom MRC_ Medical Research Council

Keywords: Depressive symptoms; Developmental pathway; Parenting; Peer relationships; Self-evaluation

Date Created: 20230128 Date Completed: 20230607 Latest Revision: 20231115

20231115

PMC10241697

10.1007/s00127-022-02416-6

36708401