This study will test a biophysical model of factors hypothesized to contribute to the gender difference in the prevalence of adolescent depression. Attempts to understand depression and the reasons for its increased prevalence for females typically focuses on one of the three major types of variables: cognitive, socio-cultural, or biological. Lack of more comprehensive perspectives integrating these factors obstructs our understanding of this important disorder. The model tested in this project integrates interpersonal, socio-cultural, cognitive and biological variables to explain gender differences in depressive symptoms in late adolescence. Variables include: interpersonal variables of observed behavioral coping during a conflict negotiation task; cognitive variables of negative attributions and perceptions regarding interpersonal relations; socio-cultural variables of personality dimensions commonly assumed as indicators of gender roles and gender socialization; and biological variables of temperament and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis functioning. Two hundred older adolescents, age 18 to 20 years, will participate in the study along with their romantic partner (total N = 400). The study has a short-term longitudinal design, enabling examination of the relevance of the variables to existing symptomatology and diagnoses as well as to trajectories of change in symptoms and diagnoses over a 6-month period. At time 1, couples will complete a variety of self-report measures and interact together in a videotaped conflict negotiation task. Psychophysiological reactions to the interpersonal behavioral coping used in the negotiation task will also be obtained. Psychological symptoms and clinical diagnoses will be assessed at both time 1 and time 2.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01MH060228-01A1
Application #
6128814
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-RPHB-1 (01))
Program Officer
Dolan-Sewell, Regina
Project Start
2000-06-20
Project End
2003-05-31
Budget Start
2000-06-20
Budget End
2001-05-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2000
Total Cost
$210,492
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
153223151
City
Amherst
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
01003
Pietromonaco, Paula R; DeBuse, Casey J; Powers, Sally I (2013) Does Attachment Get Under the Skin? Adult Romantic Attachment and Cortisol Responses to Stress. Curr Dir Psychol Sci 22:63-68
Laurent, Heidemarie K; Powers, Sally I; Granger, Douglas A (2013) Refining the multisystem view of the stress response: coordination among cortisol, alpha-amylase, and subjective stress in response to relationship conflict. Physiol Behav 119:52-60
Laurent, Heidemarie K; Powers, Sally I; Laws, Holly et al. (2013) HPA regulation and dating couples' behaviors during conflict: gender-specific associations and cross-partner interactions. Physiol Behav 118:218-26
Gunlicks-Stoessel, Meredith L; Powers, Sally I (2009) ROMANTIC PARTNERS' COPING STRATEGIES AND PATTERNS OF CORTISOL REACTIVITY AND RECOVERY IN RESPONSE TO RELATIONSHIP CONFLICT. J Soc Clin Psychol 28:630-649
Smith, Anne Emilie; Powers, Sally I (2009) Off-time Pubertal Timing Predicts Physiological Reactivity to Post-puberty Interpersonal Stress. J Res Adolesc 19:441-458
Laurent, Heidemarie; Powers, Sally (2007) Emotion regulation in emerging adult couples: temperament, attachment, and HPA response to conflict. Biol Psychol 76:61-71
Powers, Sally I; Pietromonaco, Paula R; Gunlicks, Meredith et al. (2006) Dating couples' attachment styles and patterns of cortisol reactivity and recovery in response to a relationship conflict. J Pers Soc Psychol 90:613-28