Peer Victimization and Rejection Sensitivity in Adolescents with Major Depressive Disorder: The Role of Daily Emotional Functioning with Peers

While both peer victimization and rejection sensitivity are associated with a greater risk for depressive symptoms among adolescents (Bond et al., 2001; Marston et al., 2010), not all adolescents who have social difficulties develop depression. This study examined affective experiences with peers as possible moderators of the associations between victimization or rejection sensitivity and depression. Participants were adolescents ages 10-17 years, 29 of whom were currently experiencing a Major Depressive Episode at the time of the study and 31 of whom were age- and gender-matched controls with no lifetime history of Axis I psychopathology. A three-week ecological momentary assessment (EMA) protocol was used to assess daily affective responding in peer contexts. Negative affect, positive affect, and feelings of closeness and connectedness with peers were tested as possible moderators of the associations between victimization or rejection sensitivity and 1) depressive symptoms or 2) Major Depressive Disorder diagnosis. Additionally, group differences in peer victimization, rejection sensitivity, and affective responding in peer contexts were also examined.\ud The study makes several contributions to the field: 1) finding differences in reports of peer victimization and rejection sensitivity for youth with MDD versus healthy controls, 2) finding consistent associations between peer victimization or rejection sensitivity and both \ud depressive symptoms and MDD diagnostic status, 3) finding differences in intensity of negative affect experienced during interactions with peers for youth with MDD versus healthy controls, and 4) identifying unique associations between NA during peer interactions and depression, beyond the effects of rejection sensitivity or peer victimization. Also, exploratory analyses indicated that victimization, rejection sensitivity, and negative affect were also associated with anxiety symptoms across both groups and with anxiety disorder comorbidity among youth with MDD. Results suggest that adverse peer experiences, such as peer victimization, social-cognitive factors (e.g., rejection sensitivity), and negative emotional experiences in peer contexts are important factors in adolescent depression and anxiety and should be targets for further research and intervention.\u