Perceived support from adults, interactions with police, and adolescents' depressive symptomology: an examination of sex, race, and social class

Abstract

Several risk factors, including female sex, racial minority status, and family poverty, have been implicated in adolescents' depression. The present study focused on the role of one specific aspect of adolescents' ecological context, interactions with adults, in depressive symptomology. We examined the relationship between perceived support from adult family members and adults at school and depressive symptomology, and the relationship between negative interactions with police and depressive symptomology among adolescents, across sex, race, and social class. Participants included 707 adolescents (349 boys and 358 girls) from an urban high school. Analyses revealed that perceived support from adult family members was negatively associated with depressive symptoms, that negative interactions with police were positively associated with depressive symptoms, and that these relationships varied with respect to sex, race, and social class. The implications of the findings for research and practice with adolescents are discussed.