Poster #16 - Parent-child relationship quality and depressive symptoms across adolescence: A random intercept cross-lagged analysis

• In Event: Poster Session 11

Abstract

The association between parent-child relationships and depressive symptoms during adolescence has long been studied in developmental science (Ebbert et al., 2018; Hankin, 2015; Thapar et al., 2015). However, evidence remains mixed regarding the directionality of these associations and their dynamic course over time (Guimond et al., 2016; Howard et al., 2019; Samek et al., 2016). Prior cross-sectional research has suggested transactional associations between parent-child relationship quality and internalizing symptoms in adolescence (Branje et al., 2010; Fanti et al., 2008; Snyder et al., 2016). Despite this past work, less is known about these theoretically transactional processes longitudinally across adolescence, and whether patterns are similar across boys and girls. Similarly, few studies have sought to improve causal inference through either statistical analysis or study design. The present preregistered study will investigate longitudinal associations between the parent-child relationship and depressive symptoms from early to late adolescence in a sample of 1,255 adolescents and their mothers, who were assessed at three time points in adolescence (approximately ages 11, 14, and 17). In order to strengthen causal inference, we will use a random intercepts cross-lagged panel model. This approach accounts for within-person stability in both mother-child relationship quality and adolescent depressive symptoms, allowing for more accurate estimation of directional paths over time. Mother-child relationship quality was assessed at each time point using adolescent and parent reports on the previously validated Parent Environment Questionnaire (PEQ; Elkins et al., 1997), which assesses five aspects of the mother-child relationship: Conflict, Parent Involvement, Regard for Parent, Regard for Child, and Structure. Adolescent depressive symptoms are assessed at each time point as best-estimate diagnoses using adolescent and mother reports on semi-structured diagnostic interviews. First, we will evaluate measurement invariance of mother-child relationship quality and adolescent depressive symptoms over time for both boys and girls. Next, we will conduct random intercept cross-lagged panel models to examine the between- and within-person prospective associations between mother-child relationship quality and depressive symptoms across adolescence for both boys and girls. We expect (a) adolescent depressive symptoms will predict subsequent depressive symptoms and mother-child relationship quality will predict later mother-child relationship quality, (b) that this association will be stronger for girls than boys, (c) that there will be transactional associations across time, such that mother-child relationship quality will inversely predict subsequent depressive symptoms, which in turn will be predict subsequent mother-child relationship quality, even accounting for within-person stability, and (d) that these associations will be stronger for girls than boys. Findings from this pre-registered study will inform understanding of the dynamic associations between parent-child relationship quality and depression in adolescence with implications for parent and adolescent well-being.

Authors

• Kayla Nelson, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
  Presenting Author

• Matt McGue, University of Minnesota

• William G Iacono, University of Minnesota

• SYLIA WILSON, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities