Developmental synchrony: The relation between chronotype and pubertal timing with depression in youth

Haraden, Dustin A.

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/116213 Copy

Description

Title

Developmental synchrony: The relation between chronotype and pubertal timing with depression in youth

Author(s)

Haraden, Dustin A.

Issue Date

2022-07-12

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Hankin, Benjamin L

Doctoral Committee Chair(s)

Hankin, Benjamin L

Committee Member(s)

• Cohen, Joseph R
• Mendle, Jane
• Mullin, Benjamin
• Rudolph, Karen D

Department of Study

Psychology

Discipline

Psychology

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Degree Level

Dissertation

Keyword(s)

• chronotype
• puberty
• depression
• youth
• timing

Abstract

Adolescence is a period of transition during which there is a shift in sleep preferences (chronotype) as well as pubertal development. Previous research suggests that an evening oriented chronotype is related to elevated symptoms of depression. Chronotype shifts to a greater eveningness preference during puberty, highlighting this developmental window as impactful for depressive symptoms. Individual differences in the timing of pubertal development have been identified as a risk for psychopathology. There is a dearth of research investigating the individual differences in the timing of chronotypal development or the synchronous relation between chronotype and pubertal development as they confer risk for depression. The current study examined chronotypal and pubertal development as well as the synchrony between the two (developmental synchronicity) in relation to symptoms of depression in youth. Community youth participated in three assessment time points: T1, T2 (6-months post-T1), and T3 (12-months post-T1) as part of a larger study. Participants completed self-report measures of chronotype, pubertal status and depression. Timing and synchrony variables were operationalized using standardized residuals. Regression analyses showed that chronotypal timing was related to increased symptoms of depression at T2, suggesting that youth experiencing more of a morning preference compared to same-aged peers were at increased risk. Developmental synchronicity predicted increases in depressive symptoms at T2 and T3. Youth who were more pubertally advanced compared to their chronotypal development were at elevated risk for depression. Additionally, results suggest that the relation between timing and developmental synchronicity with depression is especially impactful for girls. These findings suggest that chronotypal timing and the synchronous relation between chronotype and pubertal development are impactful upon symptoms of depression.

Graduation Semester

2022-08

Type of Resource

Thesis

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2022 Dustin Haraden

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