Adolescent Romantic Relationships and Depressive Symptoms: The Importance of Emotion Regulation and Close Friendships Introduction David E. Szwedo David E. Szwedo, Joanna Chango, Megan M. Schad, Erin M. Miga, Amanda L. Hare, Nell Manning & Joseph P. Allen University of Virginia This study was made possible by funding from by grants from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and the National Institute of Mental Health (9R01 HD A1 & R01-MH58066) awarded to Joseph P. Allen, Principal Investigator. Copies available online at: Discussion Method Romantic relationships are a normative part of adolescence Though they often bear resemblance to adult relationships, unlike adult relationships, they have been linked to depressive symptoms for youth Increased depressive symptoms have been observed for youth with: Simple romantic involvement, a greater number of romantic experiences, lower romantic competence, a preoccupied relational style, lower parental emotional availability, and romantic break-ups The romantic involvement-depression link has been found for both younger and older teens, suggesting the continued importance of considering individual differences for explaining this association To this end, it has been posited that the emotional and social aspects of romantic relationships may be too difficult for some adolescents to manage given their current levels of development: Youth may not be emotionally-mature enough to handle emotional highs and lows of relationships You may not maintain other social relationships that can provide additional support during romantic difficulties 1.Having a romantic partner, being involved in an emotionally-intense romantic relationship, and/or experiencing a break up will predict a relative increase in depressive symptoms. 2. This relative increase in depressive symptoms will be stronger for youth who: (a) have difficulty regulating negative emotions (b) have less self-perceived competence in close friendships Participants (N=184) Gender Race/ethnicity Family income 86 males 107 Caucasian Median = $40,000 - $59, females 53 African American 24 Mixed/Other Measures Depressive Symptoms (Teen Ages: 18, 21) Assessed using the 27-item Childhood Depression Inventory and the 21-item Beck Depression Inventory (α for CDI =.83; α for BDI =.86). Romantic Relationship Status (Teen Age: 18) Adolescents reported the presence or absence of a current romantic relationship of at least 3 months (120 in a relationship; 64 not in a relationship) Romantic Relationship Cessation (Teen Age: 19) Adolescents who reported being in a romantic relationship at age 18 (n = 120) were asked if they were in a romantic relationship at age 19 (60 in a relationship; 60 not in a relationship) Emotional Intensity of Romantic Interaction (Teen Age: 18) Participants discussed a problem that they “could use some support or advice about” with their romantic partner for 6 minutes. Participants’ calls for emotional support (e.g., intensity of emotional distress) and romantic partners’ emotional support given (e.g., drawing out emotions) were coded on a nine-point scale. The scales were summed to reflect the overall emotional intensity of the interaction (ICCs =.82 for both scales; r between scales =.73). Emotional Repair (Teen Age: 16) The 30-item Trait Meta-Mood Scale assesses individual differences in people’s abilities to attend to, discriminate clearly among, and regulate their moods and emotions. The six-item emotional repair scale includes questions such as, “I try to think good thoughts no matter how badly I feel” and “When I become upset I remind myself of all the pleasures in life” (α =.76). Close Friendship Competence (Teen Ages: 18, 19) Assessed using the friendship competence subscale of the Harter Self-Perception Profile for Adolescents. Teens were asked to rate the extent to which statements were sort of true or really true about them. Sample item: “Some people do have a friend that is close enough to share really personal thoughts and feelings with/some people do not have a friend that is close enough to share really personal thoughts and feelings with (αs =.83 and.89 for ages 18 and 19). Results Hypotheses Analyses A series of hierarchical linear regressions were performed using FIML procedures to examine predictions to depressive symptoms: Step 1. Gender and Family income; Step 2. Depressive symptoms at age 18; Step 3. Romantic variable of interest; Step 4. Emotional repair; Step 5. Close friendship competence; Step 6. Interaction between romantic variable and emotional repair; Step 7. Interaction between romantic variable and close friendship competence Significant interaction (p <.05) showing a relative increase in depressive symptoms only for romantically-involved teens with poorer emotion regulation skills Significant interaction (p <.05) showing a relative decrease in depressive symptoms only for youth who have endured a break up and report higher friendship competence Significant interaction (p <.05) showing a relative increase in depressive symptoms only for teens in emotionally-intense romantic interactions with poorer emotion regulation skills From multiple perspectives, these findings point to the conclusion that the link between adolescent romantic involvement and depressive symptoms primarily exists when the intensity and challenges of romantic relationships overwhelm teens’ emotional and social coping capacities Youths’ coping skills may be tested by aspects of romantic involvement, suggesting the importance of helping teens develop a wide repertoire of emotional coping skills prior to romantic involvement It may be particularly important for youth to continue nurturing friendships while in romantic relationships, as such friendships may be important sources of support when romantic relationships end β =.48*** β =.05 Note. *** p ≤.001