Date of Award

8-2008

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Abstract

This study examined sex and age differences in vulnerability factors associated with adolescent depression in a sample of boys and girls. Sex and age comparisons in the means and associations with depressive symptoms, self-esteem, social support, attachment, and expressiveness were examined among 510 adolescents (263 boys; 247 girls; Mage= 13.68; SD= 1.769). Additionally, this study was to identify prominent vulnerability factors for depression in adolescence from a group of known vulnerability factors with depression.

Findings indicate that all of the vulnerability variables included were associated with depression; and these vulnerability factors associated with depression in adolescent boys and girls are similar; as self-esteem, social support, and attachment emerged as important vulnerability factors for both boys and girls. Self-esteem emerged as the strongest vulnerability factor of depressive symptoms in both sexes. Family-social support and attachment were the other factors contributing to depression scores. In addition, a sex-specific vulnerability factor emerged within attachment; Angry Distress contributed to depressive symptoms in girls and Availability contributed to depressive symptoms in boys. Therefore, these variables discussed provide targets for those developing psychological identifications, interventions, and prevention programs for adolescents at risk for developing depression. This finding holds important implications for attachment theory and depression research, as well as clinical interventions and practice procedures for clinical professionals working with adolescents and their families.

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