The effects of childhood maltreatment and social support on the trajectories of depressive symptoms from adolescence to young adulthood

Background: Depression is one of the most common mental health concerns among adolescents and young adults. Childhood maltreatment is a particularly potent risk factor for the subsequent development of depressive symptoms. Meanwhile, social support has been identified as a robust protective factor against depressive symptoms. However, limited research has investigated the effects of childhood maltreatment and social support on the trajectories of depressive symptoms from adolescence to young adulthood. Objective: The present study aimed to explore trajectories of depressive symptoms from adolescence to young adulthood as well as identify childhood maltreatment as a potential risk factor and social support as a protective factor to depressive symptoms over time. Methods: We conducted growth curve modeling using public-use data from Add Health. Main variables (childhood maltreatment, social support, depressive symptoms from Wave I to Wave IV) and control variables (e.g., gender, race, poverty) were included in the analysis. Results: Depressive symptoms demonstrated a quadratic pattern, with a decline from adolescence to emerging adulthood, and a slight increase in young adulthood. Childhood maltreatment was only significantly associated with the initial level of depressive symptoms but not the trajectories of depressive symptoms. Social support was not only associated with the initial level of depressive symptoms, but also the changes of depressive symptoms over time. Conclusion: The present study provides an avenue towards untangling potential factors contributing to the heterogeneity of depressive symptoms. Identifying risk and protective factors with varying trajectories of depressive symptoms will potentially improve related treatments and interventions.