Rawana Jennine S, Morgan Ashley S
Department of Psychology, York University, 4700 Keele St., BSB 131, Toronto, ON, M3J 1P3, Canada,
J Youth Adolesc. 2014 Apr;43(4):597-611. doi: 10.1007/s10964-013-9995-4. Epub 2013 Aug 24.
Although depression is a common issue among youth, it is unclear how important developmental factors, such as body mass index (BMI), self-esteem, and eating-and weight-related disturbances relate to the development of depression across adolescence and into young adulthood. Gender differences in these relationships and the specific nature of these relationships among adolescent boys and young men require further study. Using multilevel growth curve modeling, this study examined the effects of BMI, self-esteem, and eating- and weight-related disturbances (i.e., body dissatisfaction and weight management effort) and their interactive effects with gender on the developmental trajectory of depressive symptoms using the Canadian-based National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (N = 4,359 ages 12-21, 48.7 % female). On average, depressive symptoms decreased slightly at ages 12 through 14, began to increase from ages 14 through 17, and then began to decrease through age 21. Adolescent girls were at increased risk for depressive symptoms throughout adolescence and young adulthood compared to boys. This effect was compounded by low levels of self-esteem across adolescence and young adulthood. Engaging in weight management effort was associated with lower initial levels of depressive symptoms in early adolescence. The study's findings contribute to basic etiologic research regarding the trajectory of depressive symptoms in adolescence and young adulthood suggesting that mid-adolescents may be most vulnerable to depression compared to other adolescent age groups. The findings also underscore the importance of fostering positive self-esteem among adolescent girls and young women to prevent depression and exploring the protective effect of specific weight management strategies in future research.
尽管抑郁症是青少年中的常见问题，但目前尚不清楚诸如体重指数（BMI）、自尊以及饮食和体重相关障碍等发育因素在整个青春期直至成年早期与抑郁症的发展有多大关联。这些关系中的性别差异以及青少年男孩和青年男性之间这些关系的具体性质需要进一步研究。本研究采用多层次生长曲线模型，利用基于加拿大的全国儿童和青少年纵向调查（N = 4359，年龄在12至21岁之间，48.7%为女性），考察了BMI、自尊以及饮食和体重相关障碍（即身体不满和体重管理努力）及其与性别的交互作用对抑郁症状发展轨迹的影响。平均而言，抑郁症状在12岁至14岁时略有下降，从14岁至17岁开始上升，然后在21岁之前开始下降。与男孩相比，青春期女孩在整个青春期和成年早期出现抑郁症状的风险更高。整个青春期和成年早期自尊水平较低加剧了这种影响。在青春期早期进行体重管理努力与抑郁症状的较低初始水平相关。该研究结果有助于关于青春期和成年早期抑郁症状轨迹的基础病因学研究，表明与其他青少年年龄组相比，青春期中期可能最易患抑郁症。研究结果还强调了在青春期女孩和青年女性中培养积极自尊以预防抑郁症的重要性，并在未来研究中探索特定体重管理策略的保护作用。
