Although researchers have explored the link between depression and executive functioning (EF), the influence of early-life environmental and relational instability on this association has not been comprehensively assessed in adolescents. This cross-sectional study examined whether unpredictability of home environment in childhood moderated the relationship between depression and EF in adolescents. Participants were 138 adolescents aged 13 to 17 years (72% female; 47.8% White; 47.1% Hispanic). Diagnostic status (major depression versus healthy control) and depression severity were assessed using psycho-diagnostic interviews and self-reports from parents and adolescents. Participants also completed the Questionnaire of Unpredictability in Childhood (QUIC). EF was assessed using self-report (Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function, Second Edition; BRIEF2) and a battery of performance-based measures. Results showed that QUIC scores moderated the relationship between depression and BRIEF2 scores, such that high unpredictability was associated with poorer EF for adolescents exhibiting low depression severity. Participants with the highest levels of depression exhibited the poorest EF ratings, regardless of childhood unpredictability. Unpredictability was moderately associated with performance-based measures, but did not interact with depressive symptoms to predict complex performance-based EF. Recommendations include assessing for unpredictable childhood environment and acknowledging this risk factor for poor EF in youth with sub-threshold depression. Treatment implications are discussed with respect to family systems/parenting interventions, as mildly depressed adolescents growing up in unstable homes may be vulnerable to EF difficulties. Further, this study adds to the EF measurement literature by examining associations between self-report and performance-based EF instruments in a diverse sample of adolescents.

尽管研究人员已经探索了抑郁症与执行功能（EF）之间的联系，但早期生活环境和关系不稳定对这种联系的影响尚未在青少年中得到全面评估。这项横断面研究探讨了童年时期家庭环境的不可预测性是否会调节青少年抑郁与 EF 之间的关系。参与者为 138 名 13 至 17 岁的青少年（72% 为女性；47.8% 为白人；47.1% 为西班牙裔）。通过心理诊断访谈以及父母和青少年的自我报告来评估诊断状态（重度抑郁症与健康对照组）和抑郁症严重程度。参与者还完成了童年不可预测性调查问卷（QUIC）。EF 使用自我报告（执行功能行为评级清单，第二版；BRIEF2）和一系列基于绩效的衡量标准进行评估。结果显示，QUIC 分数调节了抑郁症和 Brief2 分数之间的关系，因此对于表现出低抑郁严重程度的青少年来说，高不可预测性与较差的 EF 相关。无论童年时期的不可预测性如何，抑郁程度最高的参与者表现出最差的 EF 评级。不可预测性与基于表现的测量有一定的相关性，但与抑郁症状不存在相互作用，无法预测复杂的基于表现的 EF。建议包括评估不可预测的童年环境，并承认这一导致患有阈下抑郁症的青少年 EF 较差的风险因素。讨论了家庭系统/育儿干预方面的治疗影响，因为在不稳定家庭中长大的轻度抑郁青少年可能容易遭受 EF 困难。此外，本研究通过检查不同青少年样本中自我报告和基于表现的 EF 工具之间的关联，补充了 EF 测量文献。