scholarly journals Childhood Emotional Neglect and Adolescent Depression: Assessing the Protective Role of Peer Social Support in a Longitudinal Birth Cohort

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma A. Glickman ◽  
Karmel W. Choi ◽  
Alexandre A. Lussier ◽  
Brooke J. Smith ◽  
Erin C. Dunn
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Birth Cohort ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Adolescent Depression ◽  
Late Adolescence ◽  
Protective Role ◽  
Interactive Effects ◽  
Emotional Neglect ◽  
Peer Social Support

Introduction: Childhood adversities have been shown to increase psychopathology risk, including depression. However, the specific impact of childhood emotional neglect on later depression has been understudied. Moreover, few studies have investigated relational protective factors that may offset the risk of depression for children who experienced emotional neglect. Analyzing data (n = 3,265) from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) study, a longitudinal birth cohort of children born to pregnant women residing in Avon, UK from 1990 to 1992, we assessed the prospective relationship between childhood emotional neglect and depressive symptoms in late adolescence, and tested whether peer social support in mid-adolescence moderates this relationship.Methods: Childhood emotional neglect, defined as the absence of parental attention and support, was measured across seven assessments from age 8 to 17.5. Peer social support was measured at age 15. Depressive symptoms were measured at age 18. We analyzed the associations between emotional neglect and depressive symptoms, and between peer support and depressive symptoms, and also tested interactive effects of peer support on the association between emotional neglect and depressive symptoms.Results: Higher levels of emotional neglect were associated with increased depressive symptoms at 18. Conversely, strong peer social support was associated with reduced depressive symptoms, though no significant interaction with emotional neglect was detected.Conclusion: Although childhood emotional neglect is a risk factor for later depression, our results suggest that strong peer social support at age 15 may generally reduce the risk of depressive symptoms by the time children reach late adolescence. Fostering strong peer support in youth may help offset depression risk for all youth, even among those who have experienced emotional neglect.

scholarly journals THE PROTECTIVE ROLE OF SOCIAL SUPPORT ON DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS AMONG AGING SEXUAL MINORITY CANADIANS

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S303-S304
Author(s):  
Arne Stinchcombe ◽  
Nicole G Hammond ◽  
Kimberley Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Sexual Orientation ◽  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Large Population ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Protective Role ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
And Bisexual

Abstract Sexual minority older adults face minority stressors that are associated with higher rates of mental illness. The stress buffering effects of social support within majority populations are well documented. Using a large population-based sample of aging Canadians, we sought to examine the relationship between sexual orientation and depressive symptoms, and determine whether this relationship is moderated by social support and sex. Baseline data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) were used (n = 46147). Participants were between the ages of 45-85 years at time of recruitment (mean age = 62.46, SD = 10.27), and self-reported their sexual orientation as heterosexual or lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB) (2.1%). Social support and depressive symptoms were measured using validated instruments. Four functional social support subscales were derived: tangible, positive social interaction, affectionate, and emotional/informational. Multiple linear regression models adjusted for relevant covariates were conducted. LGB identification was associated with greater depressive symptoms when compared to heterosexual participants (p = 0.032). As evidenced by a significant 3-way interaction (p = 0.030), increasing tangible social support was associated with a corresponding decrease in the risk of depressive symptoms; this relationship was most pronounced for lesbian and bisexual women. A significant 2-way interaction (p = 0.040) revealed that as emotional/informational social support increased, depressive symptoms decreased, with greater disparity between LGB and heterosexual participants at lower levels of social support. The results highlight the importance of social support in promoting mental health, especially among sexual minority older adults.

scholarly journals Hippocampal Volume as an Amplifier of the Effect of Social Context on Adolescent Depression

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 632-649 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberta A. Schriber ◽  
Zainab Anbari ◽  
Richard W. Robins ◽  
Rand D. Conger ◽  
Paul D. Hastings ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factor ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Social Context ◽  
Adolescent Depression ◽  
Protective Factor ◽  
Hippocampal Volume ◽  
Interactive Effects ◽  
Mexican Origin ◽  
Family Connectedness ◽  
Affective Development

Recent models have focused on how brain-based individual differences in social sensitivity shape affective development in adolescence, when rates of depression escalate. Given the importance of the hippocampus in binding contextual and affective elements of experience, as well as its putative role in depression, we examined hippocampal volume as a moderator of the effects of social context on depressive symptoms in a sample of 209 Mexican-origin adolescents. Adolescents with larger versus smaller hippocampal volumes showed heightened sensitivity in their depressive symptoms to a protective factor inside the home (sense of family connectedness) and a risk factor outside the home (community crime exposure). These interactive effects uniquely predicted depressive symptoms and were greater for the left side, suggesting two independent social-contextual contributions to depression that were moderated by left hippocampal volume. Results elucidate complex brain-environment interplay in adolescent depression, offering clues about for whom and how social context plays a role.

The buffering effect of peer support on the links between family rejection and psychosocial adjustment in LGB emerging adults

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 854-871 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis A. Parra ◽  
Timothy S. Bell ◽  
Michael Benibgui ◽  
Jonathan L. Helm ◽  
Paul D. Hastings
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Psychosocial Adjustment ◽  
Family Of Origin ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Peer Group ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Peer Social Support

Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) emerging adults often seek support from their peers if they lack support from their family of origin. We predicted that peer social support would moderate the link between negative family relationships and psychosocial adjustment, such that in the context of family rejection, experiencing more peer support would predict lower levels of anxiety, depression, and internalized homonegativity (IH) and higher self-esteem. Sixty-two (27 females) LGB individuals (ages 17–27, M = 21.34 years, SD = 2.65) reported on their families’ attitudes toward homosexuality, experiences of family victimization, peer social support, anxiety and depression symptoms, IH, and self-esteem. Results showed that peer social support moderated the link between negative family attitudes and anxiety and also moderated the link between family victimization and depression. The moderating effects suggest that having a supportive peer group may protect against mental health problems for LGB emerging adults who lack support from their family of origin.

The Protective Role of Perceived Social Support Against the Manifestation of Depressive Symptoms in Peer Victims

2011 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 393-412 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diane Tanigawa ◽  
Michael J. Furlong ◽  
Erika D. Felix ◽  
Jill D. Sharkey
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Perceived Social Support ◽  
Protective Role

Relational Victimization and Maladjustment Among Hispanic Early Adolescents

2017 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 209-228
Author(s):  
Alejandra Fernandez ◽  
Alexandra Loukas ◽  
Natalie M. Golaszewski ◽  
Milena Batanova ◽  
Keryn E. Pasch
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Conduct Problems ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Hispanic Students ◽  
Early Adolescents ◽  
Parent Support ◽  
Relational Victimization ◽  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
Regression Analyses

Relational victimization can have negative implications for early adolescents; yet, few studies have examined relational victimization among Hispanic early adolescents. This study examined (a) the concurrent associations between relational victimization and depressive symptoms and conduct problems and (b) the moderating roles of three sources of social support (parent, teacher, and peer) in the aforementioned associations. Participants were 189 eleven- to 15-year-old ( M = 12.13, SD = .95) Hispanic students. Results from hierarchical regression analyses indicated that relational victimization was positively associated with both outcomes. Furthermore, parent support buffered the relational victimization–depressive symptoms association, but exacerbated the relational victimization–conduct problems association. Similarly, peer support exacerbated the relational victimization–depressive symptoms association and did not moderate the relational victimization–conduct problems association. Finally, teacher support did not moderate either association. Findings highlight the complexities of examining various sources of social support, which may not necessarily mitigate Hispanic students’ experiences of relational victimization.

scholarly journals The Effect of Peer Support on Individuals with Overweight and Obesity: A Meta-Analysis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanya Chen ◽  
Zekai Li ◽  
Qiaohong Yang ◽  
Shuai Yang ◽  
Chunxia Dou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Waist Circumference ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Health Indicators ◽  
Overweight And Obesity

Background: Scarce data exists about the effect of peer support on individuals with overweight or obesity. This study aimed to conduct a meta-analysis regarding the effect of peer support on weight, BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure, quality of life, social support and depressive symptoms in individuals with overweight and obesity. Methods: PubMed, Embase, and CENTRAL were searched for relevant studies from their inceptions to 1 Mar 2020, and 14 randomized controlled trials (RCTS) were included. Data were pooled with Review Manager 5.3. Results: Significantly small improvement in weight (-0.78 kg) was found in individuals who received peer support than those who received usual care (MD= -0.78 kg, 95% CI-1.33 to -0.22, P=0.02). And peer support appeared to be associated with significant decrease in BMI levels (MD= -0.16 kg/m2, 95% CI -0.32 to -0.01, P=0.04). However, there was no statistically significant improvement in the levels of waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, quality of life, social support and depressive symptoms after peer support. Conclusion: Peer support appears to be associated with decreased weight and BMI levels in individuals with overweight and obesity. However, additional research is warranted due to insufficient evidence for the effects of peer support on the other health indicators.

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