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Can friends protect genetically vulnerable children from depression?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 April 2013

Mara Brendgen ,
Frank Vitaro ,
William M. Bukowski ,
Ginette Dionne ,
Richard E. Tremblay  and
Michel Boivin
Mara Brendgen*
Affiliation:
University of Quebec at Montreal Ste-Justine Hospital Research Center
Frank Vitaro
Affiliation:
Ste-Justine Hospital Research Center University of Montreal
William M. Bukowski
Affiliation:
Concordia University
Ginette Dionne
Affiliation:
Laval University
Richard E. Tremblay
Affiliation:
Ste-Justine Hospital Research Center University of Montreal INSERM U669 University College Dublin
Michel Boivin
Affiliation:
Ste-Justine Hospital Research Center Laval University
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Mara Brendgen, Department of Psychology, University of Quebec at Montreal, C.P. 8888 succursale Centre-ville, Montreal, QC H3C 3P8, Canada; E-mail: [email protected].
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Abstract

The study examined whether reciprocal friendship quantity or quality can mitigate genetic vulnerability for depression symptoms in children. The sample comprised 168 monozygotic twin pairs and 126 same-sex dizygotic twin pairs assessed in Grade 4 (mean age = 10.04 years). Friendship participation was measured via reciprocal nominations of close friendships within the classroom. Friendship quality was measured through self-reports. Depression symptoms were measured through teacher and peer reports. Genetic vulnerability for depression symptoms was unrelated to friendship participation or the number of reciprocal friends, but it was negatively related to positive friendship quality. In line with gene–environment interaction, genetic risk effects on depression symptoms were mitigated in girls who had at least one close reciprocal friend. In boys, only moderate main effects of genetic vulnerability and friendship participation were found but no interaction between them. However, among boys with at least one reciprocal friend, a greater number of friends was related to fewer depression symptoms whereas no cumulative effect of friendship was found for girls. Finally, positive friendship quality was related to fewer depression symptoms in girls and boys even when controlling for genetic risk. The findings emphasize the importance of teaching social interactional skills that promote high-quality friendship relations to help prevent the development of depression symptoms in children.

Type
Regular Articles
Information
Development and Psychopathology , Volume 25 , Issue 2 , May 2013 , pp. 277 - 289
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013

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