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dc.contributor.authorSawyer, Michael G
dc.contributor.authorPfeiffer, Sara
dc.contributor.authorSpence, Susan H
dc.date.accessioned2017-05-03T15:27:51Z
dc.date.available2017-05-03T15:27:51Z
dc.date.issued2009
dc.date.modified2010-06-29T06:45:11Z
dc.identifier.issn0165-0327
dc.identifier.doi10.1016/j.jad.2008.12.013
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10072/30470
dc.description.abstractBackground: To investigate prospectively over one year, the extent to which greater exposure to negative life events, greater use of more negative coping strategies, and less use of positive coping strategies and an optimistic thinking style, predicts the onset of depressive symptoms among adolescents. Methods: A prospective longitudinal study of 5,634 adolescents (Mean Age=13.1, SD=0.5) enrolled in Year 8 at secondary school. Standard questionnaires were used to assess depressive symptoms and the predictor variables. Results: Over a one-year period, there was an independent and statistically significant relationship between transition to a CES-D score above the recommended cut-off score and i) greater exposure to negative life events and use of negative coping strategies, and ii) less use of positive coping strategies and an optimistic thinking style. Among males who experienced a higher number of negative life events, the impact on depressive symptoms was greater among those who made more use of negative coping strategies. Limitations: Self-report questionnaires completed by adolescents were employed to evaluate all the variables in the study. Only two assessment points were available. Ten percent of adolescents did not complete the follow-up assessment. Conclusions: Particularly among females, early adolescence is marked by increased susceptibility to depressive symptoms. Helping young adolescents to adopt more positive coping strategies and optimistic thinking styles may reduce their risk for the onset of depressive symptoms. This may be particularly important for young males who experience high levels of adverse life events and utilise negative coping strategies.
dc.description.peerreviewedYes
dc.description.publicationstatusYes
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherElsevier
dc.publisher.placeNetherlands
dc.relation.ispartofstudentpublicationN
dc.relation.ispartofpagefrom48
dc.relation.ispartofpageto54
dc.relation.ispartofissue1-2
dc.relation.ispartofjournalJournal of Affective Disorders
dc.relation.ispartofvolume117
dc.rights.retentionY
dc.subject.fieldofresearchBiomedical and clinical sciences
dc.subject.fieldofresearchPsychology
dc.subject.fieldofresearchcode32
dc.subject.fieldofresearchcode52
dc.titleLife events, coping and depressive symptoms among young adolescents: A one-year prospective study
dc.typeJournal article
dc.type.descriptionC1 - Articles
dc.type.codeC - Journal Articles
gro.date.issued2009
gro.hasfulltextNo Full Text
gro.griffith.authorSpence, Susan H H.


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