Transactional associations among adolescents' depressive symptoms and self- and friend-reported friendship experiences

Despite theoretical propositions regarding the transactional interplay between depressive symptoms and friendship experiences (e.g., Coyne, 1976), few studies have tested interpersonal theories of depression in adolescence. The current study used cross-lagged panel models to test longitudina, reciprocal associations of adolescents' depressive symptoms with self- and friend-reported positive friendship quality, conflict, and detachment over 3 time points spanning 6 months in a community sample (N = 186; 69.9% female; 87.6% White; Mage = 15.68 years). Gender and age differences were also considered. Results support theories positing both friendship- and symptom-driven change for associations between depressive symptoms and positive quality, whereas detachment predicted a cycle of increased depressive symptoms and later increased detachment. Moreover, only adolescents' (not friends') perceptions of friendship were linked with adolescents' depressive symptoms. Implications for future research on interpersonal theories of depression and for intervention efforts to reduce depressive symptoms and support adolescents' relationships are discussed.