Social inequalities in adolescent depression: The role of parental social support and optimism

Bettina F Piko, Aleksandra Luszczynska and Kevin M Fitzpatrick

International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 2013, vol. 59, issue 5, 474-481

Abstract: Aims: Interpersonal theory suggests relationships between socio-economic status (SES) and adolescent psychopathology mediated by negative parenting. This study examines the role of perceived parental social support and optimism in understanding adolescents’ depression and self-rated health among a sample of Hungarian youth. Methods: Using a self-administered questionnaire, data ( N = 881) were collected from high-school students (14–20 years old) in Szeged, Hungary (a regional centre in the southeastern region, near to the Serbian border, with a population of 170,000 inhabitants). To analyse the overall structure of the relationship between objective/subjective SES, parental support, optimism and health outcomes (depression, self-perceived health), structural equation modelling (SEM) was employed. Results: Findings suggest the following: (1) SES variables generate social inequalities in adolescent depression through parental social support, particularly maternal support; and (2) parents provide youths with different levels of social support that in turn may strengthen or weaken optimism during the socialization process. Conclusions: In addressing depression prevention and treatment, we may want to take into account socio-economic differences in social networks and levels of optimism, which may influence youths’ psychosocial adjustment and development of psychopathology.

Keywords: Social inequalities; adolescent depression; self-perceived health; social support; optimism (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:59:y:2013:i:5:p:474-481

DOI: 10.1177/0020764012440788

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