The predictors and pathways of depression in an early Australian adolescent sample

At the sub-clinical level, depressive symptomatology has been identified as affecting between 15-40% of youth and is comorbid with dysfunctions in social, emotional, behavioural and academic spheres (Compas, Ey, & Grant, 1993). This thesis initially conducted exploratory analyses investigating gender and year level differences in depression and other associated variables and then explored the predictors and pathways of adolescent depression using an early Australian adolescent sample. A number of potential factors were considered including stress, coping (approach & avoidant) and rumination, the interpersonal factors of aggression and loneliness and the intrapersonal factors of anxiety and self-esteem. Although the potential role of each of these variables has been examined in previous research, to date no research has examined the impact of this particular combination of variables on depression over time with an early Australian adolescent sample.