Background Severe adverse life events, such as traumatic experiences, are well-known stressors implicated in (youth) major depression (MD). However, to date, far less is known about the role of more common psychosocial stressors in the context of MD, which are part of everyday life during youth. In addition, it is not well-understood whether and how distinct stressors interact with protective factors in youths diagnosed with MD. Thus, the present study aimed at examining several specific psychosocial stressors implicated in a first-episode juvenile MD and addressed the question whether protective factors might moderate the relationship between stressors and a diagnosis of MD. Methods One-hundred male and female youths with MD and 101 typically developing (TD) controls (10-18 years) were included. A large number of qualitatively different psychosocial stressors occurring in various areas of life were assessed via self-report. Moreover, we also investigated sociodemographic and pre- and postnatal stressors, as well as the presence of familial affective disorders via parental-report. Social support and a positive family climate were conceptualized as protective factors and were assessed via self-report. Results Results showed that the proportion of youths experiencing specific psychosocial stressors was higher in the MD than in the TD group. In particular, the proportion of youths indicating changes at home or at school, experiences of violence, delinquent behavior, as well as the proportion of youths who were exposed to sociodemographic stressors was higher in the MD than in the TD group. Moreover, the percentage of youths with a family history of an affective disorder, or whose mothers experienced psychological burdens during/after pregnancy was elevated in the MD group. Youths with MD experienced less social support and a less positive family climate than their TD peers. These factors, however, did not buffer the influence of specific stressors on MD. Conclusion We could show that next to more severe adverse life events, more common psychosocial stressors are linked to youth MD. Importantly, by identifying distinct stressors in youth MD, our results can increase treatment and prevention efforts aiming to improve the outcomes in youths affected by MD or in at-risk individuals.

中文翻译：

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青少年重度抑郁症的心理社会压力源和保护因素：来自病例对照研究的证据。

背景 严重的不良生活事件，例如创伤经历，是众所周知的与（青年）重度抑郁症（MD）有关的压力源。然而，迄今为止，人们对更常见的社会心理压力源在MD背景下的作用知之甚少，这些压力源是青少年日常生活的一部分。此外，对于被诊断患有MD的青少年来说，不同的压力源是否以及如何与保护因素相互作用尚不清楚。因此，本研究旨在检查与首发青少年MD有关的几种特定社会心理压力源，并解决保护性因素是否可能调节压力源与MD诊断之间关系的问题。方法 纳入 100 名患有 MD 的男女青少年和 101 名典型发育 (TD) 对照者（10-18 岁）。通过自我报告评估了生活各个领域发生的大量不同性质的社会心理压力源。此外，我们还通过父母报告调查了社会人口统计学和产前和产后压力源，以及家庭情感障碍的存在情况。社会支持和积极的家庭氛围被视为保护因素，并通过自我报告进行评估。结果 结果显示，MD 组中经历特定心理社会压力的青少年比例高于 TD 组。特别是，MD 组中表现出家庭或学校变化、暴力经历、犯罪行为以及暴露于社会人口压力源的青少年比例高于 TD 组。此外，在 MD 组中，有情感障碍家族史或母亲在怀孕期间/怀孕后经历过心理负担的青少年比例也有所升高。与 TD 同龄人相比，患有 MD 的青少年所经历的社会支持较少，家庭气氛也较差。然而，这些因素并不能缓冲特定压力源对MD的影响。结论 我们可以证明，除了更严重的不良生活事件之外，更常见的社会心理压力源也与青少年 MD 相关。重要的是，通过识别青年MD的不同压力源，我们的结果可以增加治疗和预防工作，旨在改善受MD影响的青少年或高危人群的结果。