Adolescent girls' neural response to reward mediates the relation between childhood financial disadvantage and depression.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Children who experience socioeconomic disadvantage are at heightened risk for developing depression; however, little is known about neurobiological mechanisms underlying this association. Low socioeconomic status (SES) during childhood may confer risk for depression through its stress-related effects on the neural circuitry associated with processing monetary rewards.

Methods

In a prospective study, we examined the relationships among the number of years of household receipt of public assistance from age 5-16 years, neural activation during monetary reward anticipation and receipt at age 16, and depression symptoms at age 16 in 123 girls.

Results

Number of years of household receipt of public assistance was positively associated with heightened response in

SUBMITTER: Romens SE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4593710 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature