Ryan M Hill1, William Mellick2, Jeff R Temple3, Carla Sharp4. 1. University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA. Electronic address: Ryan.M.Hill@uth.tmc.edu. 2. University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA. 3. University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA. 4. University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA; University of the Free State, South Africa.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The present study sought to identify trajectories of depressive symptoms in adolescence and emerging adulthood using a school-based sample of adolescents assessed over a five-year period. The study also examined whether bully and cyberbully victimization and perpetration significantly predicted depressive symptom trajectories. METHOD: Data from a sample of 1042 high school students were examined. The sample had a mean age of 15.09 years (SD=.79), was 56.0% female, and was racially diverse: 31.4% Hispanic, 29.4% White, and 27.9% African American. Data were examined using growth mixture modeling. RESULTS: Four depressive symptoms trajectories were identified, including those with a mild trajectory of depressive symptoms, an increasing trajectory of depressive symptoms, an elevated trajectory of depressive symptoms, and a decreasing trajectory of depressive symptoms. Results indicated that bully victimization and cyberbully victimization differentially predicted depressive symptoms trajectories across adolescence, though bully and cyberbully perpetration did not. LIMITATIONS: Limitations include reliance on self-reports of bully perpetration and a limited consideration of external factors that may impact the course of depression. CONCLUSIONS: These findings may inform school personnel in identifying students' likely trajectory of depressive symptoms and determining where depression prevention and treatment services may be needed.
BACKGROUND: The present study sought to identify trajectories of depressive symptoms in adolescence and emerging adulthood using a school-based sample of adolescents assessed over a five-year period. The study also examined whether bully and cyberbully victimization and perpetration significantly predicted depressive symptom trajectories. METHOD: Data from a sample of 1042 high school students were examined. The sample had a mean age of 15.09 years (SD=.79), was 56.0% female, and was racially diverse: 31.4% Hispanic, 29.4% White, and 27.9% African American. Data were examined using growth mixture modeling. RESULTS: Four depressive symptoms trajectories were identified, including those with a mild trajectory of depressive symptoms, an increasing trajectory of depressive symptoms, an elevated trajectory of depressive symptoms, and a decreasing trajectory of depressive symptoms. Results indicated that bully victimization and cyberbully victimization differentially predicted depressive symptoms trajectories across adolescence, though bully and cyberbully perpetration did not. LIMITATIONS: Limitations include reliance on self-reports of bully perpetration and a limited consideration of external factors that may impact the course of depression. CONCLUSIONS: These findings may inform school personnel in identifying students' likely trajectory of depressive symptoms and determining where depression prevention and treatment services may be needed.
Authors: Ilya Yaroslavsky; Jeremy W Pettit; Peter M Lewinsohn; John R Seeley; Robert E Roberts Journal: J Affect Disord Date: 2012-09-08 Impact factor: 4.839