Dynamic, interactive change in autobiographical memory, cognition, and depression in young adults: A longitudinal cohort study

Depression is characterised by biases in memory and everyday cognition, however, there is limited understanding of how the interplay between different cognitive processes predicts the development of depressive symptoms. Here, we evaluated the dynamic interactions between autobiographical memory retrieval, problem solving, cognitive reappraisal, social support, and self-beliefs over a twelve-month period, to determine how direct and indirect relationships between core cognitive processes predict change in depression symptoms for young adults. Our longitudinal cohort study of 793 community-based young adults used latent change score models to show that negative and positive self-beliefs predicted change in depression symptoms, and depression symptoms predicted change in negative self-beliefs. In linear regression analyses, autobiographical memory retrieval predicted problem solving and reappraisal skills 6-months later, although no indirect relationships were observed between memory and cognition in predicting later depression symptoms. Results emphasise the need for further theoretical consideration and the use of advanced methodologies to account for the dynamic interplay between memory and cognition in predicting depression in young adults. Understanding these changes is not only of theoretical importance, but may inform the development of preventative interventions.