How Observed Personality Traits in (Mildly) Depressed Adolescents Relate to Nonverbal Responses of Peers

Abstract

Depression in adolescence is related to negative social responses. Previous studies indicate that negative responses precede, co-occur and follow depressive episodes, indicating that more stable characteristics of depressed(to-be) adolescents may trigger such responses. This study examines whether personality traits, as observed in behavior, mediate or moderate responses of peers towards (mildly) depressed adolescents. Nonverbal responses of peers were observed during two short semi-structured interactions, one with a (mildly) depressed partner and one with a nondepressed partner, matched for age and gender. Personality traits of partners were observed. Results show that peers responded more negatively towards (mildly) depressed partners. Personality traits moderated the link between depression and peer responses. In general, but particularly for (mildly) depressed girls, neuroticism strengthened the link between depression and negative peer responses, while expressivity diminished the link between depression and negative peer responses. For boys, small and counterintuitive moderation effects were found which merit further research.