The role of pubertal development in emerging depression risk in middle childhood

Although parental depression, stressful life events, cognitive vulnerability, and temperament have been strongly implicated in the etiology of adult and adolescent depression, their association with depressive symptoms in childhood is mixed. We hypothesized that pubertal development would moderate associations of known risks for depression such that more advanced pubertal development would strengthen associations between risks and child depressive symptoms. Partial support was found for this hypothesis: greater pubertal features strengthened associations between maternal depression and stressful life events with child depressive symptoms. Results highlight the idea that puberty may confer risk for depression by heightening negative effects of other psychological or social risks.