OBJECTIVES: The current study tested opposing predictions stemming from the failure and acting out theories of depression-delinquency covariation. METHOD: Participants included a nationwide longitudinal sample of adolescents (N = 3,604) ages 12 to 17. Competing models were tested with cohort-sequential latent growth curve modeling to determine whether depressive symptoms at age 12 (baseline) predicted concurrent and age-related changes in delinquent behavior, whether the opposite pattern was apparent (delinquency predicting depression), and whether initial levels of depression predict changes in delinquency significantly better than vice versa. RESULTS: Early depressive symptoms predicted age-related changes in delinquent behavior significantly better than early delinquency predicted changes in depressive symptoms. In addition, the impact of gender on age-related changes in delinquent symptoms was mediated by gender differences in depressive symptom changes, indicating that depressive symptoms are a particularly salient risk factor for delinquent behavior in girls. CONCLUSION: Early depressive symptoms represent a significant risk factor for later delinquent behavior--especially for girls--and appear to be a better predictor of later delinquency than early delinquency is of later depression. These findings provide support for the acting out theory and contradict failure theory predictions.
OBJECTIVES: The current study tested opposing predictions stemming from the failure and acting out theories of depression-delinquency covariation. METHOD:Participants included a nationwide longitudinal sample of adolescents (N = 3,604) ages 12 to 17. Competing models were tested with cohort-sequential latent growth curve modeling to determine whether depressive symptoms at age 12 (baseline) predicted concurrent and age-related changes in delinquent behavior, whether the opposite pattern was apparent (delinquency predicting depression), and whether initial levels of depression predict changes in delinquency significantly better than vice versa. RESULTS: Early depressive symptoms predicted age-related changes in delinquent behavior significantly better than early delinquency predicted changes in depressive symptoms. In addition, the impact of gender on age-related changes in delinquent symptoms was mediated by gender differences in depressive symptom changes, indicating that depressive symptoms are a particularly salient risk factor for delinquent behavior in girls. CONCLUSION: Early depressive symptoms represent a significant risk factor for later delinquent behavior--especially for girls--and appear to be a better predictor of later delinquency than early delinquency is of later depression. These findings provide support for the acting out theory and contradict failure theory predictions.
Authors: P Cohen; J Cohen; S Kasen; C N Velez; C Hartmark; J Johnson; M Rojas; J Brook; E L Streuning Journal: J Child Psychol Psychiatry Date: 1993-09 Impact factor: 8.982
Authors: David A Cole; Jane M Tram; Joan M Martin; Kit B Hoffman; Mark D Ruiz; Farrah M Jacquez; Tracy L Maschman Journal: J Abnorm Psychol Date: 2002-02
Authors: Alyssa A Rheingold; Heidi Zinzow; Alesia Hawkins; Benjamin E Saunders; Dean G Kilpatrick Journal: J Child Psychol Psychiatry Date: 2011-12-23 Impact factor: 8.982
Authors: Zachary W Adams; Michael R McCart; Kristyn Zajac; Carla Kmett Danielson; Genelle K Sawyer; Benjamin E Saunders; Dean G Kilpatrick Journal: J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol Date: 2012-12-13