A competency-based model of depression in children: self-perceived competence as a mediator of the relations of parenting and negative life events to depressive symptoms

Abstract

A model in which self-perceived competence mediates the relations of parenting and negative life events to depressive symptoms was tested in a sample of 755 elementary and middle school students. Developmental trends in the model were also tested. Children completed measures of parenting, negative life events, self-perceived competence and depressive symptoms. Parents also completed measures of parenting, life events, and children’s depressive symptoms. Consistent with a competency-based model of depression, strong support was found for the relation of self-perceived competence to later depressive symptoms. Support also emerged for the reciprocal relation with depressive symptoms predicting later self-perceived competence. Parenting and negative life events were found not to predict self-perceived competence or depressive symptoms. Implications and future directions are discussed.