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An Accelerated Latent Class Growth Curve Analysis of Adolescent Bonds and Trajectories of Depressive Symptoms

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Abstract

Objectives

Relationships during adolescence are relevant predictors of depressive symptoms. This project studied how adolescent bonds and connectedness predict the likelihood of latent class membership on various depressive symptoms trajectories.

Method

From the restricted use National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health dataset (N = 7196), this study examined a nationally representative sample ranging from ages 11–31 (50.5% female, 42.2% non-white), using a latent class growth analysis with an accelerated design. Measures included the CES-D for tracking depressive symptoms longitudinally, “parent-child bond questions” from the Relations with Parents scale, and “school connectedness” questions and “time spent with friends” questions created by Add Health.

Results

Findings show two trajectories of depressive symptoms: one characterized (83%) relatively low, stable depressive symptoms over time, and the other (17%), moderate, fluctuating symptoms. Higher parent-child bond and higher school connectedness were related to a greater likelihood of being on the low-level stable trajectory. Time spent with friends was not significantly related to the likelihood of being on either trajectory.

Conclusions

Clinical implications include the necessity of targeting adolescent bond relationships that could affect the trajectory of depression over time. Specifically, capitalizing on adolescents’ school connectedness and parent-child bond is essential for both short-term and long-term mood health. Implications for research indicate a need for longitudinal data collection to target the level of connectedness adolescents feel with their friends to examine whether the strength of the relationship influences depressive symptoms trajectories where time spent with friends did not.

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Data availability

Requirements and instructions on how to access to the public-use or restricted-use data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health can be found on the following website: https://www.cpc.unc.edu/projects/addhealth/documentation

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Author Contributions

R.A.D.O. initiated the research team and lead the design of the study, assisted with data analyses and interpretation of results, wrote the paper, and edited the final manuscript. K.L.S. collaborated in the design of the study, conducted data analyses and lead interpretation of results, wrote the paper, and edited the final manuscript. N.G.C. collaborated in the design of the study, wrote the paper, and edited the manuscript. N.D.H. collaborated in the design of the study and editing of the manuscript. Rachael A. Dansby Olufowote and Kristy L. Soloski are first co-authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Online Marriage and Family Therapy, School of Health and Human Services, Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX, USA

    Rachael A. Dansby Olufowote

  2. Couple, Marriage, and Family Therapy Program, Community, Family, and Addiction Sciences Department, Texas Tech University, 1301 Akron Ave, Box 41250, Human Sciences Building, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA

    Kristy L. Soloski, Natali Gonzalez-Casteñeda & Nicholas D. Hayes

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  1. Rachael A. Dansby Olufowote
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  2. Kristy L. Soloski
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  3. Natali Gonzalez-Casteñeda
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Correspondence to Kristy L. Soloski.

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Ethical Approval

Texas Tech University provided IRB approval for this study. The authors of this article have a contractual agreement in place to have access to the Add Health restricted-use data, and had no direct interaction with human participants.

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Dansby Olufowote, R.A., Soloski, K.L., Gonzalez-Casteñeda, N. et al. An Accelerated Latent Class Growth Curve Analysis of Adolescent Bonds and Trajectories of Depressive Symptoms. J Child Fam Stud 29, 292–306 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-019-01542-1

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