Change in Depression Symptoms Through Emerging Adulthood

Abstract

Existing research suggests there may be important association between mental health and the employment that emerging adults obtain during the transition into the workforce. Hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) was used to examine the trajectories of emerging adults’ depression symptoms over a 4-year period, as a function of two characteristics of employment: type of work (i.e., full-time or not) and job satisfaction (i.e., highly satisfied with work or not). The sample consisted of 793 young Canadians drawn from the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth. On average, depression symptoms decreased significantly over time. Full-time employment was associated with lower initial levels of depression and a slower decrease in symptoms. Higher job satisfaction also associated with lower initial levels of depression symptoms. These results suggest it is important to consider both these characteristics of employment to more fully understand how employment is connected to depression symptoms over time.