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(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Do anxiety and depression lead to social problems in youth or do the social problems themselves lead to anxiety and depression?
A new study from the University of Vermont and the University of Minnesota suggests the latter is more likely the case. And social problems -- such as difficulties forming relationships and being accepted by friends -- are especially likely during the transition from adolescence into young adulthood.
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Researchers followed 205 boys and girls, ages eight to 12 years, over 20 years into young adulthood. The study created measures of internalizing problems -- anxiety, depressed mood, and being withdrawn. It also measured social competence -- how well you function in relation to other people, especially how you get along with others and form close relationships.
Results show young people who had more internalizing problems at the start of the study were more likely to have those problems in adolescence and young adulthood. Those who started out as socially competent stayed that way as they grew up.
The study also found children who were less socially competent in childhood were more likely to have anxiety or depression in adolescence. And those who were less socially competent in adolescence were more likely to have anxiety and depression in young adulthood.
Overall, our research suggests that social competence, such as acceptance by peers and developing healthy relationships, is a key influence in the development of future internalizing problems such as anxiety and depressed mood, especially over the transition years from adolescence into young adulthood, lead author Keith Burt, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology at the University of Vermont, was quoted as saying. These results suggest that although internalizing problems have some stability across time, there is also room for intervention and change. More specifically, youth at risk for internalizing problems might benefit from interventions focused on building healthy relationships with peers.
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SOURCE: Child Development, 2008;79:359-374
This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.
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