Gender Difference in the Onset of Adolescent Depressive Symptoms: A Cross-Lagged Panel Network Analysis

Depressive symptoms are prevalent in adolescents, especially girls, underscoring the need for early detection and targeted interventions. Identifying initial symptoms and their temporal associations is vital for such interventions. This study used cross-lagged panel network (CLPN) analysis to examine the central depressive symptoms and their interconnections within a national cohort derived from the China Family Panel Study (CFPS). The participants included 2524 adolescents (45.8% girls), with depressive symptoms assessed using the Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D-8) in 2016 (Mage = 12.30) and 2018 (Mage = 14.25). The CLPN model showed that "loneliness" and "not getting going (fatigue)" at T1 were the strongest predictors of subsequent depressive symptoms at T2, after controlling for demographic variables and depressive symptoms at T1. Conversely, depressed mood and anhedonia at T2 were most likely to be influenced by other symptoms at T1. Gender-stratified analyses identified "loneliness" as the initial symptom in girls and "fatigue" for boys. Additionally, girls exhibited stronger reciprocal associations among depressive symptoms than boys. The findings suggest that addressing interpersonal loneliness is crucial for adolescent girls, whereas somatic fatigue should be a focus for adolescent boys, highlighting the need for gender-specific approaches in early intervention strategies. This research provides insights into the distinct gendered networks of depressive symptomatology in adolescents, informing tailored prevention and intervention efforts.