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Patterns of Adolescent Depression to Age 20: The Role of Maternal Depression and Youth Interpersonal Dysfunction

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Abstract

Considerable research has focused on youth depression, but further information is needed to characterize different patterns of onset and recurrence during adolescence. Four outcome groups by age 20 were defined (early onset-recurrent, early-onset-desisting, later-onset, never depressed) and compared on three variables predictive of youth depression: gender, maternal depression, and interpersonal functioning. Further, it was hypothesized that the association between maternal depression and youth depression between 15 and 20 is mediated by early-onset depression and interpersonal dysfunction by age 15. Eight hundred sixteen community youth selected for depression risk by history (or absence) of maternal depression were interviewed at age 15, and 699 were included in the 5-year follow-up. Controlling for gender, early onset and interpersonal dysfunction mediated the link between maternal depression and late adolescent major depression. Different patterns for males and females were observed. For males maternal depression’s effect was mediated by early onset but not interpersonal difficulties, while for females maternal depression’s effect was mediated by interpersonal difficulties but not early onset. Maternal depression did not predict first onset of major depression after age 15. The results suggest the need for targeting the impact of maternal depression’s gender-specific effects on early youth outcomes, and also highlight the different patterns of major depression in youth and their likely implications for future course of depression.

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Notes

  1. Within the first onset group some individuals had more than one major depressive episode during the period 15–20 years of age. To clarify the effects of early onset-recurrence vs. later onset-recurrence, a planned comparison between the groups indicated that the early-onset recurrent MDE group had significantly worse social functioning (M = 2.55, SD = 0.35) compared to those with more than one episode in the later onset group (M = 2.25, SD = 0.26), t(693) = 4.44, p < 0.0001. Thus, onset after age 15, even if associated with more than one major depressive episode by age 20, was not associated with earlier interpersonal impairment.

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Acknowledgement

This research was supported by NIMH R01MH52239. We are grateful to the MUSP, M900, and M20 Research Teams, and to the parents and youth in the Mater Cohort for their participation in this study. Particular thanks to project coordinators Robyne LeBrocque, Cheri Dalton Comber, and Sascha Hardwicke. The cooperation of Professor Jake Najman of the University of Queensland and head of the MUSP program is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, 1285 Franz Hall, P.O. Box 951563, Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1563, USA

    Constance Hammen

  2. Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Patricia A. Brennan

  3. University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Danielle Keenan-Miller

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  1. Constance Hammen
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  2. Patricia A. Brennan
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  3. Danielle Keenan-Miller
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Correspondence to Constance Hammen.

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Hammen, C., Brennan, P.A. & Keenan-Miller, D. Patterns of Adolescent Depression to Age 20: The Role of Maternal Depression and Youth Interpersonal Dysfunction. J Abnorm Child Psychol 36, 1189–1198 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-008-9241-9

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