Parental support buffers the association of depressive symptoms with cortisol and C-reactive protein during adolescence.
Social experiences can affect the relationship between depression and physical health. The current study examined how social support from parents and friends may moderate the association of depressive symptoms with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity and C-reactive protein among adolescents (N=316, Mage=16.40, SD=.74; 57% female) from diverse ethnic backgrounds (23.1% Asian, 29.1% European, 41.8% Latino, and 6.0% other backgrounds). Results indicated that parent support, but not friend support, moderated the link between depressive symptoms and both total daily cortisol output (a measure HPA activity) and C-reactive protein (a marker of inflammation). These patterns did not differ by ethnicity. Overall, the study highlights the continued, and perhaps accumulated, importance of parents during adolescence despite increasing needs for autonomy from and exploration outside of the family unit.
['Guan|Shu-Sha Angie|SA|', 'Bower|Julienne E|JE|', 'Almeida|David M|DM|', 'Cole|Steven W|SW|', 'Dahl|Ronald E|RE|', 'Irwin|Michael R|MR|', 'Seeman|Teresa E|TE|', 'McDade|Thomas|T|', 'Fuligni|Andrew J|AJ|']
D000293:Adolescent D002097:C-Reactive Protein D003863:Depression D005260:Female D006801:Humans D006854:Hydrocortisone D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System D007249:Inflammation D008297:Male D016487:Parenting D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System D012944:Social Support
Depressive symptoms Cortisol Social support Inflammation