Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2014 Nov;55(11):1279-87.
doi: 10.1111/jcpp.12252. Epub 2014 May 15.

Predictors of the onset of depression in young children: a multi-method, multi-informant longitudinal study from ages 3 to 6

Sara J Bufferd  1 , Lea R Dougherty, Thomas M Olino, Margaret W Dyson, Rebecca S Laptook, Gabrielle A Carlson, Daniel N Klein
Affiliations

Predictors of the onset of depression in young children: a multi-method, multi-informant longitudinal study from ages 3 to 6

Sara J Bufferd et al. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2014 Nov.

Abstract

Background: Despite growing interest in depression in young children, little is known about which variables predict the onset of depression in early childhood. We examined a range of predictors of the onset of depression diagnoses in a multi-method, multi-informant longitudinal study of a large community sample of young children from ages 3 to 6.

Methods: Predictors of the onset of depression at age 6 were drawn from five domains assessed when children were 3 years old: child psychopathology (assessed using a parent diagnostic interview), observed child temperament, teacher ratings of peer functioning, parental psychopathology (assessed using a diagnostic interview), and psychosocial environment (observed parental hostility, parent-reported family stressors, parental education).

Results: A number of variables predicted the onset of depression by age 6, including child history of anxiety disorders, child temperamental low inhibitory control, poor peer functioning, parental history of mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders, early and recent stressful life events, and less parental education.

Conclusions: Predictors of the onset of depression in early childhood tend to be similar to those identified in older youth and adults, and support the feasibility of identifying children in greatest need for early intervention.

Keywords: Early childhood; depression; predictors.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Interaction between temperamental fear/inhibition and early stressors in predicting the onset of any depressive diagnosis at age 6.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Interaction between parental history of mood disorder and early stressors in predicting the onset of any depressive diagnosis at age 6.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Interaction between parental history of anxiety disorder and recent stressors in predicting the onset of any depressive diagnosis at age 6.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. American Psychiatric Association . Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. Fourth edition text revision American Psychiatric Press; Washington, DC: 2000.
    1. Andreasen NC, Endicott J, Spitzer RL, Winokur G. The family history method using diagnostic criteria. Archives of General Psychiatry. 1977;43:1229–1235. - PubMed
    1. Beesdo K, Knappe S, Pine DS. Anxiety and anxiety disorders in children and adolescents: Developmental issues and implications for DSM-V. Psychiatric Clinics of North America. 2009;32:483–524. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Bufferd SJ, Dougherty LR, Carlson GA, Rose SR, Klein DN. Preschool psychopathology: Continuity from age 3 to 6. American Journal of Psychiatry. 2012;169:1157–1164. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Caspi A, Moffitt TE, Newman DL, Silva PA. Behavioral observations at age 3 years predict adult psychiatric disorders. Longitudinal evidence from a birth cohort. Archives of General Psychiatry. 1996;53:1033–1039. - PubMed

Publication types