The role of self-assessed health in the relationship between gender and depressive symptoms among adolescents

Objective: To examine the concurrent and longitudinal relations between gender, self-assessed health (SAH), and depressive symptoms among adolescents. Method: Two measures of SAH (physical symptom reports and global health ratings) and a measure of depression were completed on two occasions over two years by 232 adolescent boys and girls. Results: Physical symptom reports were related to depressive symptoms both concurrently and longitudinally. Longitudinal path analysis revealed a significant path from gender to physical symptom reports (Wave 1) to depressive symptoms (Wave 2). Although global health ratings were related to depressive symptoms concurrently, the prospective relation was not significant in the cross-lagged path model. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the development of poorer SAH, particularly the perception of physical symptoms, may place adolescent girls at risk for subsequent depressive symptoms. Potential mechanisms for the SAH-depression relationship are discussed.