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Peer Victimization and Rejection Sensitivity in Adolescents with Major Depressive Disorder: The Role of Daily Emotional Functioning with Peers

Waller, Jennifer (2015) Peer Victimization and Rejection Sensitivity in Adolescents with Major Depressive Disorder: The Role of Daily Emotional Functioning with Peers. Doctoral Dissertation, University of Pittsburgh. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

While both peer victimization and rejection sensitivity are associated with a greater risk for depressive symptoms among adolescents (Bond et al., 2001; Marston et al., 2010), not all adolescents who have social difficulties develop depression. This study examined affective experiences with peers as possible moderators of the associations between victimization or rejection sensitivity and depression. Participants were adolescents ages 10-17 years, 29 of whom were currently experiencing a Major Depressive Episode at the time of the study and 31 of whom were age- and gender-matched controls with no lifetime history of Axis I psychopathology. A three-week ecological momentary assessment (EMA) protocol was used to assess daily affective responding in peer contexts. Negative affect, positive affect, and feelings of closeness and connectedness with peers were tested as possible moderators of the associations between victimization or rejection sensitivity and 1) depressive symptoms or 2) Major Depressive Disorder diagnosis. Additionally, group differences in peer victimization, rejection sensitivity, and affective responding in peer contexts were also examined.
The study makes several contributions to the field: 1) finding differences in reports of peer victimization and rejection sensitivity for youth with MDD versus healthy controls, 2) finding consistent associations between peer victimization or rejection sensitivity and both
depressive symptoms and MDD diagnostic status, 3) finding differences in intensity of negative affect experienced during interactions with peers for youth with MDD versus healthy controls, and 4) identifying unique associations between NA during peer interactions and depression, beyond the effects of rejection sensitivity or peer victimization. Also, exploratory analyses indicated that victimization, rejection sensitivity, and negative affect were also associated with anxiety symptoms across both groups and with anxiety disorder comorbidity among youth with MDD. Results suggest that adverse peer experiences, such as peer victimization, social-cognitive factors (e.g., rejection sensitivity), and negative emotional experiences in peer contexts are important factors in adolescent depression and anxiety and should be targets for further research and intervention.


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Details

Item Type: University of Pittsburgh ETD
Status: Unpublished
Creators/Authors:
CreatorsEmailPitt UsernameORCID
Waller, Jenniferwallerj@gmail.com0000-0002-7155-4348
ETD Committee:
TitleMemberEmail AddressPitt UsernameORCID
Committee CoChairSilk, Jennifer Sjss4@pitt.eduJSS4
Committee CoChairShaw, Danielcasey@pitt.eduCASEY
Committee MemberBrownell, Celiabrownell@pitt.eduBROWNELL
Committee MemberPogue-Geile, Michaelmfpg@pitt.eduMFPG
Date: 27 September 2015
Date Type: Publication
Defense Date: 26 June 2015
Approval Date: 27 September 2015
Submission Date: 13 July 2015
Access Restriction: No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately.
Number of Pages: 123
Institution: University of Pittsburgh
Schools and Programs: Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences > Psychology
Degree: PhD - Doctor of Philosophy
Thesis Type: Doctoral Dissertation
Refereed: Yes
Uncontrolled Keywords: peer victimization; rejection sensitivity; adolescence; depression; anxiety; affect; ecological momentary assessment
Date Deposited: 28 Sep 2015 02:34
Last Modified: 15 Nov 2016 14:29
URI: http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/25610

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