Depression in adolescence:testing a social skills deficit theory

Abstract

C145. DEPRESSION IN ADOLESCENCE:TESTING A SOCIAL SKILLS DEFICIT THEORYVan Beek, Y. Utrecht University, NetherlandsThe Social Skill Deficit Model for depression suggeststhat less optimal social skills lead to negativefeedback of others, which in turn results in negativeself-views and depression. However, the nature of suchdeficits during adolescence is hardly investigated. Thepresent study examines whether mildly depressed adolescentsshow nonverbal behaviours that deviate fromgender specific display rules, and if such nonverbaldifferences also precede and predict depressive symptoms.Data come from a 4-wave observation study with 9month intervals. Participants were selected from a largerschool population (N = 606). First, 64 mildly depressedadolescents (55% girls, age 12-16, CDI > 11) werecompared to 64 age and gender matched nondepressedadolescents, who both had a 5-minute semi-structuredconversation with the same peer (not friend). The differencein response of the peer towards the depressed ornondepressed was also examined. Second, 31 of thenondepressed in wave 1 (55% girls) developed (mild)depression in wave 2-4. Their behaviour at wave 1 wascompared to 31 matched controls that did not developdepression. Thirdly, it was investigated if nonverbal behaviourof 170 nondepressed adolescents from wave 1(48% girls), via peer responses, predicted increases indepressive symptoms in wave 2-4. Mildly depressed girlsshowed less gazing and more discomfort and disinterestthan nondepressed girls. Peers responded with less gazingand more negative expressions towards depressedpartners, in both boys and girls. Gazing differences werealready present prior to the onset of depression, withto-be-depressed girls gazing less, and to-be-depressedboys gazing more, as compared to healthy controls.Peers responded with lower gazing as well. Low gazingpercentages that resulted in low gazing responses inpeers, predicted increases in depressive symptoms, butonly in girls. Findings supported the SSDM hypothesesfor girls, but the picture is less clear for boys.