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The relationships between negative life events, perceived support in the school environment and depressive symptoms among Norwegian senior high school students: a prospective study

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Abstract

The present study prospectively explored the main and interactive effect of negative life events and social support from teachers and classroom peers on depressive symptoms in a sample of 198 (111 females, 87 males) students in a Norwegian senior high school. In the longitudinal multivariate analyses, self-reported depressive symptom levels at time-point two (T2) were predicted by initial levels of depressive symptomatology, teacher support, and gender. Support from classroom peers at time-point one (T1) was not associated with symptoms of depression at (T2). Multivariate cross-sectional analysis also detected a significant positive association between negative life events and depressive symptoms. Finally, results suggest that perceived teacher support may buffer against negative life events leading to symptoms of depression.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Stavanger, 4036, Stavanger, Norway

    Terje A. Murberg & Edvin Bru

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  1. Terje A. Murberg
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  2. Edvin Bru
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Correspondence to Terje A. Murberg.

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Murberg, T.A., Bru, E. The relationships between negative life events, perceived support in the school environment and depressive symptoms among Norwegian senior high school students: a prospective study. Soc Psychol Educ 12, 361–370 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11218-008-9083-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11218-008-9083-x

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