Depression and delinquency covariation in an accelerated longitudinal sample of adolescents.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

The current study tested opposing predictions stemming from the failure and acting out theories of depression-delinquency covariation.

Method

Participants included a nationwide longitudinal sample of adolescents (N = 3,604) ages 12 to 17. Competing models were tested with cohort-sequential latent growth curve modeling to determine whether depressive symptoms at age 12 (baseline) predicted concurrent and age-related changes in delinquent behavior, whether the opposite pattern was apparent (delinquency predicting depression), and whether initial levels of depression predict changes in delinquency significantly better than vice versa.

Results

Early depressive symptoms predicted age-related changes in delinquent behavior significantly better than early delinque

SUBMITTER: Kofler MJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4490863 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature