Trajectory analysis of depressive symptoms during the transition from elementary to junior high school

Abstract

This study aimed to examine how depressive symptoms change in youth during the transition from elementary to junior high school. Eighty.eight children in the sixth grade completed assessments at Time 2, 3, and 4 in junior high school. Results indicated that depressive symptoms increased from elementary school to junior high school ages and that the change patterns of depressive symptoms differed by status of risk for depression in the 6th-grade. Low- risk children showed a linear increase pattern in depressive symptoms. However, high.risk children showed a quadratic curve relation with depressive symptoms. Based on these results, trajectory of depressive symptoms during the transition from children to adolescents is discussed.