Maternal depression and trajectories of youth depression during adolescence: moderation by youth responses to interpersonal stress

This study examined the independent and interactive contributions of maternal depression and youth responses to interpersonal stress with peers to trajectories of youth depression in adolescence. Youth (n = 167, M age = 12.41, SD = 1.19) and their maternal caregivers participated in a four-year longitudinal study. Mothers and youth were administered diagnostic interviews assessing depression and youth provided reports of their responses to peer stress. Results revealed that adaptive responses to stress (high effortful engagement and low involuntary disengagement) buffered the effect of maternal depression on initial levels and trajectories of youth depression, with gender differences emerging. Maternal depression and maladaptive responses to stress (high effortful disengagement and involuntary engagement) contributed additive risks such that youth displayed the highest levels of depression when they were exposed to maternal depression and showed maladaptive responses. This research provides novel evidence of the contribution of maternal depression to trajectories of adolescent depression and indicates that responses to stress contribute to individual differences in depression among offspring of depressed mothers. The results of this study suggest that responses to stress are a potential target for applied efforts to promote resilience in youth.

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

2015

Author dc:creator

• Monti, Jennifer Diana

Contributors dc:contributor

• Rudolph, Karen
• Berenbaum, Howard
• McElwain, Nancy
• Pomerantz, Eva
• Telzer, Eva

• maternal depression
• adolescent depression
• responses to stress

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2015 Jennifer Monti

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/78649

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F78649