title: Parental support buffers the association of depressive symptoms with cortisol and C-reactive protein during adolescence.
abstract: Social experiences can affect the relationship between depression and physical health. The current study examined how social support from parents and friends may moderate the association of depressive symptoms with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity and C-reactive protein among adolescents (N=316, Mage=16.40, SD=.74; 57% female) from diverse ethnic backgrounds (23.1% Asian, 29.1% European, 41.8% Latino, and 6.0% other backgrounds). Results indicated that parent support, but not friend support, moderated the link between depressive symptoms and both total daily cortisol output (a measure HPA activity) and C-reactive protein (a marker of inflammation). These patterns did not differ by ethnicity. Overall, the study highlights the continued, and perhaps accumulated, importance of parents during adolescence despite increasing needs for autonomy from and exploration outside of the family unit.
authors.affiliation: California State University, Northridge, United States. Electronic address: angie.guan@csun.edu.
authors.forename: Shu-Sha Angie
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.affiliation: University of California, Los Angeles, United States.
authors.forename: Julienne E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Bower
authors.affiliation: Pennsylvania State University, United States.
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.affiliation: University of California, Los Angeles, United States.
authors.forename: Steven W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Cole
authors.affiliation: University of California, Berkeley, United States.
authors.forename: Ronald E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Dahl
authors.affiliation: Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology, Semel Institute for Neuroscience, University of California, Los Angeles, United States.
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Irwin
authors.affiliation: University of California, Los Angeles, United States.
authors.forename: Teresa E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Seeman
authors.affiliation: Northwestern University, United States.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: McDade
authors.affiliation: Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology, Semel Institute for Neuroscience, University of California, Los Angeles, United States.
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Fuligni
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000503:physiopathology; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000503:physiopathology; D012944:Social Support
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: Cortisol; Depressive symptoms; Inflammation; Social support