Adolescence is a time of tremendous physical and psychological growth, during which young people are developing their identity and sense of self. Although most adolescents will experience some degree of emotional upheaval in response to the stresses of this developmental phase, as many as one quarter of all adolescents will experience more serious emotional symptoms consistent with a depressive illness. Such symptoms are twice as common in girls. A person’s ability to regulate their emotions and cope during periods of stress are closely related but distinct constructs and have both been identified as key indicators of vulnerability to depressive symtoms. I want to better understand the relationship between these two constructs so that the factors associated with depressive symptoms can be identified. Other risk factors for the development of depression will be considered including recent stressful life events and parental warmth. A person’s ability to cope will be measured in a novel objective way and it is hoped that this innovative approach will ellucidate and disentangle its relationship with emotion regulation. These investigations will tell us whether or not it is a good idea for interventions for depression in adolescence to target emotion regulation and coping ability in different ways. This study will help fill the explanatory gap in our ability to predict who will become depressed, when and why and by doing so, will help alleviate the suffering associated with depression and to better promote health and wellbeing amongst adolescents.
