Yukiei Nakai1, Takeshi Inoue2, Chong Chen1, Hiroyuki Toda3, Atsuhito Toyomaki1, Yasuya Nakato1, Shin Nakagawa1, Yuji Kitaichi1, Rie Kameyama1, Yumi Wakatsuki1, Kan Kitagawa1, Hajime Tanabe4, Ichiro Kusumi1. 1. Department of Psychiatry, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, North 15, West 7, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-8638, Japan. 2. Department of Psychiatry, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, North 15, West 7, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-8638, Japan; Department of Psychiatry, Tokyo Medical University, 6-7-1, Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0023, Japan. Electronic address: tinoue@tokyo-med.ac.jp. 3. Department of Psychiatry, National Defense Medical College, Namiki 3-2, Tokorozawa, Saitama 359-8513, Japan. 4. Department of Clinical Human Sciences, Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Shizuoka University, 836 Ohya Suruga-ku, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: We recently demonstrated in the structural equation modeling that four of five affective temperaments, as measured by the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego auto-questionnaire version (TEMPS-A), are strong mediators between childhood abuse and depressive symptoms in the nonclinical general adult population. In this study, we hypothesized that affective temperaments, childhood abuse, and adult life events have moderator effects that interact with one another on depressive symptoms. The hierarchical multiple regression analysis was used to analyze this interaction model. METHODS: The 286 participants from the nonclinical general adult population were studied using the following self-administered questionnaire surveys: the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Life Experiences Survey (LES), TEMPS-A, and Child Abuse and Trauma Scale (CATS). The data were analyzed using hierarchical multiple regressions with interactions. RESULTS: Depressive temperament enhanced and hyperthymic temperament inhibited the depressogenic effects of childhood abuse, while irritable temperament enhanced and hyperthymic temperament inhibited the depressogenic effects of adult negative (stressful) life events. Adult positive life events had an inhibitory moderator effect on depressive symptoms that was increased by cyclothymic and anxious temperaments. Neglect, punishment, and total childhood abuse enhanced the effects of negative life events on depressive symptoms. LIMITATIONS: As the subjects of this study were nonclinical, the findings should not be generalized to patients with mood disorders. In this cross-sectional study, there may be interdependence between the measured variables. CONCLUSIONS: This study, using the hierarchical multiple regression analysis with interaction, demonstrated the positive and negative interactions between any two of affective temperaments, childhood abuse, and adult life events, and the influence on depressive symptoms in the nonclinical general adult population. Important moderator roles for affective temperaments, childhood abuse, and adult life events on depressive symptoms were suggested.
BACKGROUND: We recently demonstrated in the structural equation modeling that four of five affective temperaments, as measured by the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego auto-questionnaire version (TEMPS-A), are strong mediators between childhood abuse and depressive symptoms in the nonclinical general adult population. In this study, we hypothesized that affective temperaments, childhood abuse, and adult life events have moderator effects that interact with one another on depressive symptoms. The hierarchical multiple regression analysis was used to analyze this interaction model. METHODS: The 286 participants from the nonclinical general adult population were studied using the following self-administered questionnaire surveys: the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Life Experiences Survey (LES), TEMPS-A, and Child Abuse and Trauma Scale (CATS). The data were analyzed using hierarchical multiple regressions with interactions. RESULTS:Depressive temperament enhanced and hyperthymic temperament inhibited the depressogenic effects of childhood abuse, while irritable temperament enhanced and hyperthymic temperament inhibited the depressogenic effects of adult negative (stressful) life events. Adult positive life events had an inhibitory moderator effect on depressive symptoms that was increased by cyclothymic and anxious temperaments. Neglect, punishment, and total childhood abuse enhanced the effects of negative life events on depressive symptoms. LIMITATIONS: As the subjects of this study were nonclinical, the findings should not be generalized to patients with mood disorders. In this cross-sectional study, there may be interdependence between the measured variables. CONCLUSIONS: This study, using the hierarchical multiple regression analysis with interaction, demonstrated the positive and negative interactions between any two of affective temperaments, childhood abuse, and adult life events, and the influence on depressive symptoms in the nonclinical general adult population. Important moderator roles for affective temperaments, childhood abuse, and adult life events on depressive symptoms were suggested.