Investigating the associations among perceived social support, neuroticism, extraversion, and depressive symptoms in early adolescence

Advisors: Christine K. Malecki.Committee members: Michelle Demaray; Julia Ogg; Kelly Summers; David Walker; Kevin Wu.Includes bibliographical references.Includes illustrations.Depression is a disorder that affects many adolescents. It can affect individuals from many different walks of life and can be devastating. While there are many factors that put an individual at risk, there are also factors that may serve to protect individuals. Two important factors that are related to depression are personality and perceived social support. It has been hypothesized that high levels of neuroticism and low levels of positive emotionality (a facet of extraversion) are underlying factors in depression. Furthermore, high levels of perceived social support from parents and classmates have been shown to decrease the risk of depression in adolescents. The present study sought to investigate the role of neuroticism and extraversion in the experience of depressive symptoms in adolescents. More specifically, the present study investigated whether extraversion moderates the relationship between neuroticism and depressive symptoms. It also sought to test whether perceived social support from parents and classmates served as mediators in the relationship between personality and depressive symptoms. Findings from the current study indicate that extraversion moderates the relationship between neuroticism and depressive symptoms. Additionally, perceived social support from parents or classmates did not serve as mediators in the relationship between personality and depressive symptoms. Implications of the findings from the current study are discussed.Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy