Developmental synchrony: The relation between chronotype and pubertal timing with depression in youth

Adolescence is a period of transition during which there is a shift in sleep preferences (chronotype) as well as pubertal development. Previous research suggests that an evening oriented chronotype is related to elevated symptoms of depression. Chronotype shifts to a greater eveningness preference during puberty, highlighting this developmental window as impactful for depressive symptoms. Individual differences in the timing of pubertal development have been identified as a risk for psychopathology. There is a dearth of research investigating the individual differences in the timing of chronotypal development or the synchronous relation between chronotype and pubertal development as they confer risk for depression. The current study examined chronotypal and pubertal development as well as the synchrony between the two (developmental synchronicity) in relation to symptoms of depression in youth. Community youth participated in three assessment time points: T1, T2 (6-months post-T1), and T3 (12-months post-T1) as part of a larger study. Participants completed self-report measures of chronotype, pubertal status and depression. Timing and synchrony variables were operationalized using standardized residuals. Regression analyses showed that chronotypal timing was related to increased symptoms of depression at T2, suggesting that youth experiencing more of a morning preference compared to same-aged peers were at increased risk. Developmental synchronicity predicted increases in depressive symptoms at T2 and T3. Youth who were more pubertally advanced compared to their chronotypal development were at elevated risk for depression. Additionally, results suggest that the relation between timing and developmental synchronicity with depression is especially impactful for girls. These findings suggest that chronotypal timing and the synchronous relation between chronotype and pubertal development are impactful upon symptoms of depression.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2022

Author dc:creator

• Haraden, Dustin A.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Hankin, Benjamin L
• Cohen, Joseph R
• Mendle, Jane
• Mullin, Benjamin
• Rudolph, Karen D

• chronotype
• puberty
• depression
• youth
• timing

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2022 Dustin Haraden

Language dc:language

en, eng

Handle dc:identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/116213

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F116213