Jump to main content
US EPA
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Search
Search
Main menu
Environmental Topics
Laws & Regulations
About EPA
Health & Environmental Research Online (HERO)
Contact Us
Print
Feedback
Export to File
Search:
This record has one attached file:
Add More Files
Attach File(s):
Display Name for File*:
Save
Citation
Tags
HERO ID
2855308
Reference Type
Journal Article
Title
Stressful life events and depressive problems in early adolescent boys and girls: the influence of parental depression, temperament and family environment
Author(s)
Bouma, EM; Ormel, J; Verhulst, FC; Oldehinkel, AJ
Year
2008
Is Peer Reviewed?
1
Journal
Journal of Affective Disorders
ISSN:
0165-0327
EISSN:
1573-2517
Volume
105
Issue
1-3
Page Numbers
185-193
Language
English
PMID
17574686
DOI
10.1016/j.jad.2007.05.007
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Stressful life events increase the probability of depressive problems in early adolescence. Several genetic and environmental risk factors may change individual sensitivity to the depressogenic effect of these events. We examined modification by parental depression and gender, and mediation of the former by temperament and family environment.
METHODS:
Data were collected as part of a longitudinal cohort study of (pre)adolescents (n = 2127). During the first assessment wave at approximately age 11, we assessed parental depression, family functioning, perceived parenting behaviours, and temperamental frustration and fearfulness. At the second wave, about two and a half years later, stressful life events between the first and second assessment were assessed. Depressive problems were measured at both waves.
RESULTS:
Adolescents with parents who had a (lifetime) depressive episode were more sensitive to the depressogenic effect of stressful events than adolescents without depressed parents. Furthermore, girls are more sensitive to these effects than boys. The modifying effect of parental depression was not mediated by temperament, family functioning and perceived parenting.
LIMITATIONS:
Life events were assessed without consideration of contextual information. Depressive problems were measured by questionnaires that did not directly represent DSM-IV criteria. The measure of parental depression was unspecific regarding severity and timing of depressive episodes.
CONCLUSION:
The results suggest that gender and parental depression are associated with increased sensitivity to depression after experiencing stressful life events during adolescence.
Home
Learn about HERO
Using HERO
Search HERO
Projects in HERO
Risk Assessment
Transparency & Integrity