Social Network Status and Depression Among Adolescents: An Examination of Social Network Influences and Depressive Symptoms in a Chinese Sample

Abstract

Examination of social networks may provide some insight into the role of peers in the vulnerability of some adolescents to depression. Social network data was incorporated into multilevel models of depressive symptoms from a large sample of Chinese adolescents. Being nominated as a friend was more important than being nominated as most liked. Network centrality was associated with depression. The risk of depression for those who were marginal members of classroom social networks was substantial. These findings suggest that a social network perspective could help to increase the effectiveness of programs aimed at preventing adolescent depression.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This work was supported by Transdisciplinary Tobacco Use Research Center funding (grant number 1 P50 CA84735-01) from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), and National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). The authors would also like to acknowledge the hard work of the Chengdu Municipal CDC. This study was approved by the Institutional Review Boards of the University of Southern California and the Chengdu Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Finally, the authors would like to express thanks to the municipal government, Health Bureau, and Education Committee in Chengdu, China, for their support.