Perfectionisme en Depressie onder Jonge Adolescenten: De Rol van Life-Events en Geslacht

Abstract

Aim The high prevalence of depression among adolescents indicates the importance of identifying factors associated with the development of depression. Given the resemblance in maladaptive cognitions that are characteristic of perfectionism and depression, this study examined the relationship between perfectionism and depressive symptoms. Further this research examined the extent to which this relationship is moderated by negative dependent life-events and sex. Method 288 young adolescents (mean age = 13.5 years; 44,9% girls) from the Netherlands completed the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (MPS), the Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI) and the Adolescent Life Events Questionnaire-Revised (ALEQ-R). Results Using regression analyses, the results revealed that perfectionism explained a significant proportion of the variance in depressive symptoms. In addition, both negative dependent life-events and sex were found to interact with perfectionism, predicting depressive symptoms. Conclusion Findings suggest that perfectionistic young adolescents, especially girls, have an increased risk to develop depressive symptoms and that this positive relationship is strengthened in the presence of negative dependent life-events. Implications for the prevention of depression among young adolescents are discussed, followed by limitations and strengths of the current study and suggestions for future research.