High depressive symptoms during adolescence increases the effect of stressful life events on depression in a population-based sample of young adults

The formation of a stable identity, consisting of a strong set of commitments, is a key developmental task in adolescence and young adulthood. Not resolving this task and lacking strong identity commitments is related to difficulties like depressive symptoms and stressful life events. However, the exact role of identity commitments in these negative experiences has remained unclear. In two longitudinal studies in the Netherlands spanning eight and six years, respectively, we examined the associations between career and interpersonal commitments, depressive symptoms, and the number of experienced stressful life events over time. Study 1 included 683 adolescents (11 to 15 years at T1) and 268 adolescents and young adults (16 to 20 years at T1). Study 2 included 960 adolescents (12 to 17 years at T1) and 944 young adults (18 to 24 years at T1). Both studies indicated that stronger identity commitments predicted relative decreases in negative experiences. In Study 2, stronger interpersonal commitments predicted relative decreases in depressive symptoms. In both studies, stronger career commitments predicted a relative decrease in stressful life events. Furthermore, only career commitments weakened after negative experiences. Interpersonal commitments did not weaken after negative experiences, possibly because of the importance of interpersonal relationships during difficult times. Moreover, identity commitments did not buffer the effect of stressful life events on depressive symptoms in either study. These findings underscore the importance of identity commitments in adolescence and young adulthood, but provide crucial nuances regarding their role in different life domains.

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The pathoplasticity of dysphoric episodes: differential impact of stressful life events on the pattern of depressive symptom inter-correlations

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s003329171100211x ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 42 (5) ◽

pp. 957-965 ◽

Cited By ~ 79

Author(s):

A. O. J. Cramer ◽

D. Borsboom ◽

S. H. Aggen ◽

K. S. Kendler

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Life Events ◽

Stressful Life Events ◽

Population Based ◽

Stressful Life ◽

Philosophical Approach ◽

Common Cause ◽

Know How ◽

The Common ◽

Conceptual Shift

BackgroundPrevious research has shown that stressful life events (SLEs) influence the pattern of individual depressive symptoms. However, we do not know how these differences arise. Two theories about the nature of psychiatric disorders have different predictions about the source of these differences: (1) SLEs influence depressive symptoms and correlations between them indirectly, via an underlying acute liability to develop a dysphoric episode (DE; common cause hypothesis); and (2) SLEs influence depressive symptoms and correlations between them directly (network hypothesis). The present study investigates the predictions of these two theories.MethodWe divided a population-based sample of 2096 Caucasian twins (49.9% female) who reported at least two aggregated depressive symptoms in the last year into four groups, based on the SLE they reported causing their symptoms. For these groups, we calculated tetrachoric correlations between the 14 disaggregated depressive symptoms and, subsequently, tested whether the resulting correlation patterns were significantly different and if those differences could be explained by underlying differences in a single acute liability to develop a DE.ResultsThe four SLE groups had markedly different correlation patterns between the depressive symptoms. These differences were significant and could not be explained by underlying differences in the acute liability to develop a DE.ConclusionsOur results are not compatible with the common cause perspective but are consistent with the predictions of the network hypothesis. We elaborate on the implications of a conceptual shift to the network perspective for our diagnostic and philosophical approach to the concept of what constitutes a psychiatric disorder.

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6.155 SOCIAL CONNECTEDNESS, STRESSFUL LIFE EVENTS, AND SELF-HARM AMONG YOUNG ADULTS

Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.jaac.2016.09.470 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 55 (10) ◽

pp. S253

Author(s):

Natalia Macrynikola ◽

Regina Miranda ◽

Ariella Soffer

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Life Events ◽

Social Connectedness ◽

Stressful Life Events ◽

Stressful Life ◽

Self Harm

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Stressful life events are not associated with the development of dementia

International Psychogeriatrics ◽

10.1017/s1041610213001804 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 26 (1) ◽

pp. 147-154 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Anna Sundström ◽

Michael Rönnlund ◽

Rolf Adolfsson ◽

Lars-Göran Nilsson

Keyword(s):

Life Events ◽

Stressful Life Events ◽

Negative Life Events ◽

Emotional Adjustment ◽

Population Based ◽

Stressful Life ◽

Emotional Impact ◽

Population Based Study ◽

Positive Life Events

ABSTRACTBackground:The impact of stressful life events as a risk factor of dementia diseases is inconclusive. We sought to determine whether stressful negative life events are associated with incidental dementia in a population-based study with long-term follow-up. We also tested the hypothesis that the occurrence of positive life events could mitigate or overcome the possible adverse effects of negative life events on dementia conversion.Methods:The study involved 2,462 dementia-free participants aged 55 years and older. Information on life events was ascertained at baseline from a comprehensive Life Event Inventory, which included 56 questions about specific life events. For each life event, the emotional impact (both positive and negative) and emotional adjustment were asked for.Results:During follow-up, 423 participants developed dementia; of these, 240 developed Alzheimer's disease (AD). Cox regression analysis showed no association between the total number of negative life events and the incidence of dementia when adjusted solely for age and gender (hazard ratio = 0.97, 95% CI = 0.92–1.02), or with multiple adjustments for a range of covariates (hazard ratio = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.91–1.01). Similarly, neither emotional impact nor emotional adjustment to these life events was associated with incident dementia. A separate analysis of AD did not alter the results.Conclusions:The result of this population-based study finds no association between negative or positive life events and dementia. Accordingly, our results reject the hypothesis that stressful life events trigger the onset of dementia diseases.

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