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Dynamic temporal relations between anxious and depressive symptoms across adolescence

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 July 2013

Chrystyna D. Kouros ,
Susanna Quasem  and
Judy Garber
Chrystyna D. Kouros*
Affiliation:
Vanderbilt University
Susanna Quasem
Affiliation:
Vanderbilt University
Judy Garber
Affiliation:
Vanderbilt University
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Chrystyna D. Kouros, Department of Psychology, Southern Methodist University, P.O. Box 750442, Dallas, TX 75275; E-mail: [email protected].
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Abstract

Symptoms of anxiety and depression are prevalent among adolescents and associated with impairment in multiple domains of functioning. Moreover, anxiety and depression frequently co-occur, with estimated comorbidity rates as high as 75%. Whereas previous research has shown that anxiety symptoms predict increased depressive symptoms over time, the relation between depressive symptoms and later anxiety symptoms has been inconsistent. The present study examined dynamic relations between anxiety and depressive symptoms across adolescence and explored whether these longitudinal relations were moderated by maternal history of anxiety, family relationship quality, or children's attributional style. Participants included 240 children (M age = 11.86 years; 53.9% female) and their mothers, who were assessed annually for 6 years. Children reported on their depressive symptoms and mothers reported on their child's anxiety symptoms. Dynamic latent change score models indicated that anxiety symptoms predicted subsequent elevations in depressive symptoms over time. Depressive symptoms predicted subsequent elevations in anxiety symptoms among children who had mothers with a history of anxiety, reported low family relationship quality, or had high levels of negative attributions. Thus, whereas anxiety symptoms were a robust predictor of later depressive symptoms during adolescence, contextual and individual factors may be important to consider when examining relations between depressive symptoms and subsequent change in anxiety symptoms.

Type
Regular Articles
Information
Development and Psychopathology , Volume 25 , Issue 3 , August 2013 , pp. 683 - 697
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

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