Learning About Girls Emotions Study
Preadolescent precursors to depression in girls, NIH/NIMH, R01 MH66167 Although rates of depression are twice as high in women compared to men the reasons for this elevated risk in women is unclear.  Further, risk for depression within women rapidly escalates during adolescence. In the Learning About Girls' Emotions Study we aim to identify factors that may be evident earlier in development (i.e., preadolescence) that may lead to depression during the transition to adolescence and early adulthood in girls.  This study examines how individual difference factors that are not traditionally consider liabilities may actually be related to risk for depression (e.g., empathy, conscientiousness).
Principle Investigator: Kate Keenan Co-Investigators: Alison Hipwell Magda Stouthamer-Loeber Project Coordinator: Gloria Konwick Research Staff: Dara Babinski, Angela Heneberg, Amanda Hinze, Kristen Kasza, Ted Pollari, Michal Rischall, and Maria Wrozek
Publications Keenan, K., Hipwell, A.E., Duax, J., Stouthamer-Loeber, M, & Loeber, R. (2004).  Phenomenology of depression in young girls. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 43, 1098-1106. Keenan, K. & Hipwell, A.E. (2005). Preadolescent clues to understanding depression in girls.  Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 8, 89-105.