The association between adaptability and the symptoms of depression and anxiety in early adolescents: a network analysis in a longitudinal design.

Abstract

Background: The co-occurrence of depression and anxiety is relatively more common among adolescents. Emerging evidence suggests that adaptability might affect this phenomenon. Network analysis can provide insight into the dynamics between symptoms of mental disorders. Therefore, we used network analysis 1) to explore symptom networks and 2) to investigate the association between adaptability and symptoms based on a longitudinal design.

Methods: 833 Chinese adolescents (449 males and 384 female) were recruited, with adaptability, depressive and anxiety symptoms measured at T1, 426 of them were followed up one year later at T2. Symptom networks were constructed for all participants and for the two groups based on their adaptability scores at T1. Furthermore, mediation analysis was performed to examine the relationship between adaptability and bridge symptoms at both timepoints.

Results: Irritable and Guilty showed the highest expected value at T1 (p < 0.05). The high adaptability group's symptom network (HGN) was less connected than the low adaptability group's symptom network (LGN) (p < 0.001). Furthermore, Irritable (T1) and adaptability (T2) were sequential mediators (p < 0.001) between adaptability (T1) and Irritable (T2).

Conclusions: These findings suggest that adaptability might affect the network dynamics, underscoring its importance to the occurrence of depression and anxiety among adolescents. Irritable and Guilty being the bridge symptoms may indicate the interventions to target in adolescents with comorbid depression and anxiety.