Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 31, 2025

Author Spotlight: Understanding Adolescent Social Adversity Effects on Neurodevelopment in Mice
Published on: March 15, 2024
Depression Socialization in Early Adolescent Friendships: The Role of Baseline Depressive Symptoms and Autonomous
Esther L Bernasco1, Jolien van der Graaff2, Stefanie A Nelemans2
1Department of Youth and Family, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands. e.l.bernasco@uu.nl.
Abstract:
There is mixed evidence for depression socialization, a process by which friends affect each other's level of depressive symptoms. The current study examined whether adolescents' baseline depressive symptoms and three dimensions of autonomous functioning (autonomy, peer resistance, and friend adaptation) make adolescents more or less sensitive to depression socialization, and how these dimensions of autonomous functioning were connected. In this preregistered, two-wave longitudinal study, participants completed questionnaires on depressive symptoms, autonomy, and peer resistance and participated in a task to assess friend adaptation. Participants were 416 Dutch adolescents (Mage = 11.60, 52.8% girls) across 230 close friend dyads. In contrast to expectations, results showed no significant depression socialization nor significant moderation. Furthermore, autonomy and peer resistance were related but distinct constructs, and not related to friend adaptation. These findings suggest that there is no depression socialization in early adolescence, regardless of level of autonomous functioning.
Related Concept Videos
Erikson's Theory on Socioemotional Development during Adolescence
Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification
Cognitive Development During Adolescence
Depressive Disorders: Etiology
Biological Factors in Depression
Biological predispositions significantly influence the risk of developing depressive disorders. Genetic studies highlight the role of variations in the serotonin transporter...
Socioemotional Development during Infancy
Primary Temperament Types
Influence of Parents and Peers on Identity
Parental Influence on Identity Development
Parents serve as primary guides and managers in an adolescent's life, offering support instrumental in decision-making and personal growth....

