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Depression symptoms, communication and cooperation skills, and friendship: longitudinal associations in young

Amanda Krygsman1, Tracy Vaillancourt1,2, Harald Janson3

  • 1Counselling Psychology, Faculty of Education, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.

Frontiers in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
|January 16, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Preschool depression symptoms negatively impact social skills like communication and cooperation. Friendships, however, appear to protect against depression in early childhood.

Area of Science:

  • Child Psychology
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Mental Health Research

Background:

  • Depression symptoms in early childhood are associated with interpersonal challenges.
  • Friendships can offer a protective effect against these difficulties.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the relationship between preschool depression symptoms and social skills (communication, cooperation).
  • To investigate the longitudinal association between early depression symptoms, social skills, and friendships into early school years.

Main Methods:

  • A large subsample (n=943) of Norwegian children was studied.
  • Depression symptoms were assessed in preschool age.
  • Social skills and friendships were evaluated in Grades 1 and 2.

Main Results:

  • Preschool depression symptoms predicted lower communication and cooperation skills in Grade 1.
  • Lower Grade 1 communication skills predicted higher Grade 2 depression symptoms.
  • Preschool depression symptoms predicted lower Grade 1 cooperation skills, which predicted lower Grade 2 communication skills.
  • Best friendships showed a negative association with depression symptoms in preschool and Grade 2.

Conclusions:

  • Preschool depression symptoms can negatively influence the development of social skills, potentially creating a maintenance cycle for depression.
  • Early identification and intervention for depression symptoms in young children are crucial for fostering healthy social development and friendships.
Abstract

Keywords:
best friendcommunicationcooperationdepression symptomsearly childhood

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