Faculty Publications

Perceptions Of Family Relationship Factors And Depressive Symptoms In Adolescents: What Roles Do Parents And Gender Play?

Document Type

Article

Keywords

Adolescents, Depressive symptoms, Family relationships, Gender

Journal/Book/Conference Title

Journal of Child and Family Studies

Volume

17

Issue

1

First Page

127

Last Page

139

Abstract

The association of adolescents' perceptions of family relationships and adolescent depressive symptoms was investigated using a sample of 2,918 youth participating in the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997. Boys showed fewer depressive symptoms than girls, as hypothesized. In general, adolescents' perceptions of family relationships were negatively related to depressive symptoms. Mother support of father predicted depressive symptoms for girls only, whereas father support of mother predicted depressive symptoms for boys only. These findings contradict previous research that suggested family functioning is more related to outcomes of adolescent girls than boys. Suggestions for future research and implications for marital and family therapists are discussed. © 2007 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.

Department

Department of Design, Textiles, Gerontology, and Family Studies

Original Publication Date

2-1-2008

DOI of published version

10.1007/s10826-007-9143-4

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