Deficits in gender specific nonverbal communication precede the development of depression in adolescence

Abstract: In adolescence nonverbal communication becomes increasingly gender specific. The present study shows that in depressed adolescents nonverbal behavior deviates from these gender specific patterns as compared to matched controls. More importantly, most of these deviances were already present before depressive symptoms increased, supporting the social skills deficit theory for depression. Supporting Summary: There is ample evidence that depression in childhood and adolescence is related to problems in social relationships, as indicated by individuals themselves, their peers, teachers and parents (LaGreca & Harrison, 2005; Witvliet et al., 2010; Zimmer-Gembeck, Hunter & Pronk, 2007; Zwierzynska, Wolke & Lareya, 2013). Furthermore, longitudinal studies indicate that a lack of popularity predicts depression, both in children (Eggum-Wilkens, Valiente, Swanson, & Lemery-Chalfant, 2013; Troop-Gordon & Ranney, 2014) and adolescents (Nolan, Flynn, & Garber, 2003; Sweeting, Young, West & Der, 2006). The Social Skill Deficit Model (SSDM, Coyne, 1976a, 1976b; Libet & Lewinsohn, 1973; Segrin 2000) for depression suggests that such problems arise due to less optimal social skills leading to negative feedback of others, which in turn results in negative self-views and depression. Once depressed, behavior becomes even more deviant, resulting in more negative responses. However, there is a dearth of empirical research concerning the nature of social skills (and deficits) in adolescence. The present study focuses on the possible role of gender specific nonverbal behavior. During this developmental period children increasingly behave according to gender-specific display rules, prescribing that women should behave more other oriented than men (DePaulo, 1992; van Beek, van Dolderen, & Dubas, 2006). Earlier findings already indicated that mildly depressed girls showed less other-oriented behavior than non-depressed girls (van Beek, van Dolderen, & Dubas, 2006). It was also found that peers responded with less positive behaviors to these adolescents. The current study investigates the relation between these behaviors and depression in longitudinal perspective. To this end, a sample of 91 adolescents (55% girls), aged between 12 and 16, was selected from a larger 2.5 year, longitudinal study with four waves. Adolescents that developed a (mild) depression during the course of the study were selected, as well as healthy controls who were matched on age, gender, and initial depression scores. Adolescents participated in videotaped, semi-structured conversations with same sex peers. From these videotaped conversations specific other-oriented nonverbal behaviors (gazing while listening, smiling, backchanneling) were coded as well as more global ratings of affective involvement. It was investigated whether deficits in other-oriented behavior precede depression development, as predicted by the SSDM. Results revealed that to-be-depressed girls gazed less while listening and showed less backchannel behaviors than healthy controls. To-be-depressed boys, however, gazed more while listening than never depressed controls. That is, to-be-depressed girls behaved more ‘boyish’ and to-be-depressed boys more ‘girlish’ than never depressed peers. This was found before as well as during a depressive episode. In addition, during the depressive episode, mildly depressed girls also showed less, and mildly depressed boys more affective involvement than never-depressed controls. The results support the hypothesis of the SSDM that deficits in social skills precede later depression and further increase during a depressive episode. The type of deficit in girls is the opposite of that in boys, suggesting that violations from gender specific display rules are important. More longitudinal research studying the link between deficits in gender specific behavior, peer responses, relationship quality, and depression is recommended.