title: Social inequalities in adolescent depression: the role of parental social support and optimism.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Interpersonal theory suggests relationships between socio-economic status (SES) and adolescent psychopathology mediated by negative parenting. This study examines the role of perceived parental social support and optimism in understanding adolescents' depression and self-rated health among a sample of Hungarian youth.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a self-administered questionnaire, data (N = 881) were collected from high-school students (14-20 years old) in Szeged, Hungary (a regional centre in the southeastern region, near to the Serbian border, with a population of 170,000 inhabitants). To analyse the overall structure of the relationship between objective/subjective SES, parental support, optimism and health outcomes (depression, self-perceived health), structural equation modelling (SEM) was employed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Findings suggest the following: (1) SES variables generate social inequalities in adolescent depression through parental social support, particularly maternal support; and (2) parents provide youths with different levels of social support that in turn may strengthen or weaken optimism during the socialization process.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In addressing depression prevention and treatment, we may want to take into account socio-economic differences in social networks and levels of optimism, which may influence youths' psychosocial adjustment and development of psychopathology.
authors.affiliation: University of Szeged, Department of Behavioural Sciences, University of Szeged, Hungary. pikobettina@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Bettina F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Piko
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Luszczynska
authors.forename: Kevin M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Fitzpatrick
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011599:Psychopathology; D012649:Self Concept; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012923:Social Class; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult