Risk indicators for depressive symptoms in early adolescence: Test of a mediational model

This study examined the validity of a model for the prediction of depressiv e symptoms in early adolescence. Difficult temperament, low academic self-e fficacy, peer rejection, impaired family climate, early adversities and par ental depressive symptoms were used as risk indicators. Cross-sectional dat a of female and male adolescents from all parts of Germany (N = 495; 10 to 13 years old) were used for the examination. The postulated model could be confirmed. Additional exploratory analyses conducted separately for both ge nders revealed one gender difference: For female adolescents, difficult tem perament was the best predictor of peer rejection, whereas for males the be st predictor was impaired family climate. Conclusions regarding the develop ment of depressive symptoms in early adolescence have been drawn.