Risk factors and protective factors for depression in early maturing females

<p>The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of early onset of menstruation and biological father absence on depression in females. Participants (n=46) were asked to complete a demographic questionnaire and a series of psychometric assessments. It was hypothesized that females who reached puberty earlier than their peers as well as females growing up in a one-parent household, with the biological father absent, would experience more depressive symptoms than females who reached puberty later than their peers or were being raised in two-parent households. Statistical analyses revealed early maturing females reported higher levels of depressive symptoms than on-time and late maturing females. Early-maturing females who were raised in one-parent households demonstrated higher levels of depressive symptoms than early-maturing females who were raised in two-parent households. Early maturing females in one-parent households also reported lower levels of perceived cohesiveness between family members. Implications for developing early intervention techniques for females at risk for developing Major Depressive Disorder are discussed.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

M.A. in Mental Health Counseling and Applied Psychology

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Year dc:date.available

2009

Author dc:creator

• Lirio, Lauren

Contributors dc:contributor

• Kerwin, Mary Louise E.

• Menstrual cycle--Psychological aspects; Precocious puberty
• Psychology

Repository record dc:identifier

https://rdw.rowan.edu/etd/639

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:rdw.rowan.edu:etd-1638