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Journal of Pediatric Psychology, Vol. 27, No. 6, 2002, pp. 509-517
© 2002 Society of Pediatric Psychology

The Role of Self-Assessed Health in the Relationship Between Gender and Depressive Symptoms Among Adolescents

Paula G. Williams, PhD1, Craig R. Colder, PhD2, Maryse H. Richards, PhD3 and Cori A. Scalzo, PhD3

1 Washington State University, 2 State University of New York at Buffalo, 3 Loyola University Chicago

All correspondence should be sent to Paula G. Williams, Department of Psychology, P.O. Box 644820, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164-4820. E-mail: pwillms{at}wsu.edu.

Objective: To examine the concurrent and longitudinal relations between gender, self-assessed health (SAH), and depressive symptoms among adolescents.

Method: Two measures of SAH (physical symptom reports and global health ratings) and a measure of depression were completed on two occasions over two years by 232 adolescent boys and girls.

Results: Physical symptom reports were related to depressive symptoms both concurrently and longitudinally. Longitudinal path analysis revealed a significant path from gender to physical symptom reports (Wave 1) to depressive symptoms (Wave 2). Although global health ratings were related to depressive symptoms concurrently, the prospective relation was not significant in the cross-lagged path model.

Conclusions: These findings suggest that the development of poorer SAH, particularly the perception of physical symptoms, may place adolescent girls at risk for subsequent depressive symptoms. Potential mechanisms for the SAH-depression relationship are discussed.

Key words: adolescence; gender; physical symptoms; self-assessed health; depression.


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