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Updated: Jun 12, 2025

A Modified Trier Social Stress Test for Vulnerable Mexican American Adolescents
Published on: July 10, 2017
Relationship Between Family and Friend Support and Psychological Distress in Adolescents
Margaret M Fitzpatrick1, Avery M Anderson2, Christopher Browning3
1Margaret M. Fitzpatrick, PhD Candidate, The Ohio State University College of Nursing, Columbus, Ohio.
Objective:
This study examines the associations between family and friend support and depressive and anxiety symptoms among adolescents, considering potential sex differences.
Methods:
Secondary data from a longitudinal cohort study of 1,348 adolescents ages 11-17 were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression, controlling for relevant factors. Interaction terms between sex and support were created to examine moderation by sex.
Results:
Youth who reported higher family support reported lower depressive symptoms (b = -0.53, p < .001) and lower anxiety symptoms (b = -0.39, p < .001). Similarly, youth's higher reported friend support was associated with lower depressive symptoms (b = -0.52, p < .001) and lower anxiety symptoms (b = -0.44, p < .001). Effects were not modified by sex.
Conclusion:
Understanding modifiable factors such as supportive systems is important to mitigate mental health disorders. Further investigation of protective factors for promoting adolescent mental health is needed.
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