| Popis: |
OBJECTIVE: Lower neural response to reward predicts subsequent depression during adolescence. Pubertal development and biological sex each have important effects on reward system development and depression during this period. However, relationships among these variables across the transition from childhood to adolescence are not well characterized. METHOD: Depressive symptoms, pubertal status, and the reward positivity (RewP) event-related potential component, a neural indicator of reward responsivity, were assessed in 609 community-recruited youth at ages 9, 12, and 15. Structural equation modeling was used to examine concurrent and prospective relationships within and between depression and the RewP, as well as the influence of pubertal status and biological sex on these variables across assessments. RESULTS: Stability paths for depression, the RewP, and pubertal status were significant across assessments. Compared to male participants, female youth reported more advanced pubertal status at all assessments, a smaller RewP at age 9 and higher levels of depression at age 15. More advanced pubertal status was associated with a larger RewP at age 15. Most importantly, there were bidirectional prospective effects between the RewP and depression from ages 12 to 15; a lower RewP at age 12 predicted increases in depression at age 15, whereas increased depression at age 12 predicted a lower RewP at age 15. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that there are bidirectional prospective effects between reward responsiveness and depression that emerge between ages 12 and 15. This may be a crucial time for studying bidirectional reward responsiveness-depression associations across time. |
