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The Association of Depression Symptoms and Depression Diagnosis with Socioeconomic Attainment from Childhood to Young Adulthood
Thesis

The Association of Depression Symptoms and Depression Diagnosis with Socioeconomic Attainment from Childhood to Young Adulthood

Bronwyn Augusta Valentine
Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
2026
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MA Thesis (Post-Defense Final Vers) [BAV]DownloadView
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Abstract

Social psychology
Past research has investigated the longitudinal association between depression and socioeconomic attainment, but has yielded mixed results. The present study theorizes that there has been a lack of consideration of depression symptoms versus depression diagnosis. Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health; 1994-95, 2001-02, 2008-09) and employing logistic and OLS regression, the association of depression symptoms and diagnosis with employment status and occupation is investigated. Descriptive and multivariable results show that adolescent depression diagnosis, but not adolescent depression symptoms, was directly significantly associated with employment status in young adulthood. Results also show that among employed individuals, neither adolescent depression symptoms nor diagnosis were directly significantly associated with occupational status in young adulthood. Occupational status was related to young adult depression symptoms, but not young adult depression diagnosis. Indirect effects for adolescent depression symptoms with employment status and adolescent depression diagnosis with occupational status via education were also found. Future research should test interactions between symptoms and diagnosis, causal and mediating mechanisms, and empirically test how mental health stigma relates to these processes.

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