Childhood abuse and adolescent depression: Moderating roles of social support and friendship quality

In this study I examined the links between childhood abuse and adolescent depression, and the preventive value of social support and friendship quality. Participants were 470 adolescents from two middle schools in China, who completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, the Social Support Rating Scale, the Friendship Quality Questionnaire, and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. The findings suggested that childhood abuse significantly and positively predicted adolescent depression, and that social support and friendship quality were protective factors. Specifically, higher degrees of social support and friendship quality can lessen the link between childhood abuse and depression. The results provide a reference for effectively improving the mental health of adolescents with a history of childhood abuse.