The Interaction Between Pubertal Timing and Peer Popularity for Boys and Girls: An Integration of Biological and Interpersonal Perspectives on Adolescent Depression.
The transition to adolescence marks a time of sharply increased vulnerability to the development of depression, particularly among girls. Past research has examined isolated risk factors from individual theoretical models (e.g., biological, interpersonal, and cognitive) of depression, but few have examined integrative models. This study investigated the conjoint effects of early pubertal timing and popularity in the longitudinal prediction of depressive symptoms. A total of 319 girls and 294 boys (ages 11-14) provided information on their pubertal status, depressive symptoms, and the social status (i.e., popularity) of their peers. Adolescents completed a second measure of depressive symptoms 11 months after the initial time point. Findings supported an integrated biological-interpersonal model in explaining the development of depressive symptoms during adolescence. Early pubertal development was associated with increase in depressive symptoms only when accompanied by low levels of popularity. High levels of popularity buffered the association between early pubertal development and later depressive symptoms. Unexpectedly, these results were significant both for girls and boys. Results are discussed in terms of dynamic systems theories.
Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, Post box 9102, 6500 HC, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. H.Teunissen@pwo.ru.nl.
Hanneke A
HA
Teunissen
Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Caroline B
CB
Adelman
Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Mitchell J
MJ
Prinstein
Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, Post box 9102, 6500 HC, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Renske
R
Spijkerman
Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, Post box 9102, 6500 HC, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Evelien A P
EA
Poelen
Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, Post box 9102, 6500 HC, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Rutger C M E
RC
Engels
Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, Post box 9102, 6500 HC, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Ron H J
RH
Scholte
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010379:Peer Group; D012929:Psychological Distance; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D011627:Puberty / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012931:Social Environment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires