ABSTRACT
The aim of this paper was to investigate whether psychosocial functioning in adulthood (e.g., friends support, cohabitation, community connectedness and work satisfaction) could be predicted by mental health, subjective well-being, social relations and behavior problems in adolescence, and whether gender was a moderator in these associations. Data were obtained from a major population-based Norwegian study, the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT), in which 517 men and 819 women completed an extensive self-report questionnaires at baseline (mean age 14.4 years) and at follow-up (mean age 26.9 years). Community connectedness as well as work satisfaction were predicted by subjective well-being. Cohabitation was predicted by male gender and frequency of meeting friends in adolescence, and friends support was predicted by frequency of meeting friends. Gender had a minor effect as a moderator. Frequency of meeting friends and subjective well-being seemed to be the strongest adolescent predictors of psychosocial functioning in young adulthood. These findings may have implications both for prevention and intervention in adolescence, as well as for future research.
Subject(s)
Mental Health , Personal Satisfaction , Self Concept , Social Adjustment , Social Support , Adolescent , Adult , Anxiety/psychology , Depression/psychology , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Health Surveys , Humans , Male , Self Report , Sex Factors , Socioeconomic Factors , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To explore longitudinally gender differences in the associations between psychosocial functioning, subjective well-being and self-esteem among adolescents with and without symptoms of anxiety and depression. METHODS: Data were obtained from a major population-based Norwegian study, the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study, in which 1,092 boys and 1,262 girls (86% of all invited) completed an extensive self-report questionnaire at baseline (mean age 14.4 years) and at follow-up (mean age 18.4 years). RESULTS: Gender was a moderator variable in the associations between symptoms of anxiety and depression and impairment, meaning that boys' functioning was impaired to a larger extent than girls' functioning. A statistically significant interaction effect between gender and symptoms of anxiety and depression was found at follow-up in terms of subjective well-being (p < 0.05), self-esteem (p < 0.05), academic problems (p < 0.01), behaviour problems (p < 0.01) and frequency of meeting friends (p < 0.001). Onset of symptoms between baseline and follow-up was associated with less frequent meetings with friends among boys, but not among girls. After remission of symptoms, boys still had more behaviour and academic problems, less frequently met friends and reported lower subjective well-being and self-esteem than boys who had no symptoms at both time points. No similar differences were found among the girls. CONCLUSION: Previous and ongoing symptoms of anxiety and depression had more negative consequences for boys than for girls. These findings may contribute to improved assessment and intervention methods tailored differently for each gender.
Subject(s)
Anxiety Disorders/epidemiology , Child Behavior Disorders/epidemiology , Depression/epidemiology , Depressive Disorder/epidemiology , Adaptation, Psychological , Adolescent , Anxiety Disorders/diagnosis , Anxiety Disorders/psychology , Child Behavior Disorders/diagnosis , Child Behavior Disorders/psychology , Depression/diagnosis , Depression/psychology , Depressive Disorder/diagnosis , Depressive Disorder/psychology , Female , Health Surveys , Humans , Longitudinal Studies , Male , Norway , Personality Tests/statistics & numerical data , Quality of Life/psychology , Self Concept , Sex Characteristics , Sex Factors , Social Adjustment , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Gender differences in the prevalence of symptoms of anxiety and depression during adolescence are well documented. However, little attention has been given to differences in subjective well-being, self-esteem and psychosocial functioning between boys and girls with symptoms of anxiety and depression. The aim of this study was to investigate gender differences in the associations between such symptoms and subjective well-being, self-esteem, school functioning and social relations in adolescents. Data were taken from a major population-based Norwegian study, the Nord-Trøndelag Health study (HUNT), in which 8984 (91% of all invited) adolescents, aged 13-19 years, completed an extensive self-report questionnaire. Although prevalence rates of symptoms of anxiety and depression were higher in girls than in boys, a significant interaction between gender and symptoms of anxiety and depression was found in respect of each of the following outcome variables: subjective well-being, self-esteem, academic problems, frequency of meeting friends and the feeling of not having enough friends. These interactions indicate that the associations between symptoms of anxiety and depression and lower subjective well-being and self-esteem, more academic problems in school and lower social functioning were stronger for boys than for girls. Our findings may contribute to an earlier assessment and more efficient treatment of male adolescent anxiety and depression.
Subject(s)
Adaptation, Psychological , Anxiety Disorders/psychology , Depressive Disorder/psychology , Quality of Life/psychology , Self Concept , Achievement , Adolescent , Anxiety Disorders/diagnosis , Anxiety Disorders/epidemiology , Checklist , Child Behavior Disorders/diagnosis , Child Behavior Disorders/epidemiology , Child Behavior Disorders/psychology , Comorbidity , Cross-Sectional Studies , Depressive Disorder/diagnosis , Depressive Disorder/epidemiology , Female , Health Surveys , Humans , Male , Norway , Personality Tests/statistics & numerical data , Psychometrics/statistics & numerical data , Sex Factors , Social AdjustmentABSTRACT
Theories of socialization propose that children's ability to handle conflicts is learned at home through mechanisms of participation and observation-participating in parent-child conflict and observing the conflicts between parents. We assessed modes of conflict resolution in the parent-child, marriage, and peer-group contexts among 141 Israeli and Palestinian families and their 1st-born toddler. We observed the ecology of parent-child conflict during home visits, the couple's discussion of marital conflicts, and children's conflicts with peers as well as aggressive behavior at child care. Israeli families used more open-ended tactics, including negotiation and disregard, and conflict was often resolved by compromise, whereas Palestinian families tended to consent or object. During marital discussions, Israeli couples showed more emotional empathy, whereas Palestinians displayed more instrumental solutions. Modes of conflict resolution across contexts were interrelated in culture-specific ways. Child aggression was predicted by higher marital hostility, more coparental undermining behavior, and ineffective discipline in both cultures. Greater family compromise and marital empathy predicted lower aggression among Israeli toddlers, whereas more resolution by consent predicted lower aggression among Palestinians. Considering the cultural basis of conflict resolution within close relationships may expand understanding on the roots of aggression.
