Depression as a Longitudinal Modulator of Physical–Verbal Aggression in Early Adolescence: Trajectories and Sex Comparisons

Abstract

Background: Depression during early adolescence has been associated with increased aggressive behaviour; however, longitudinal evidence focused on this developmental stage remains limited, and findings regarding sex differences are inconsistent. In addition, few studies have examined physical and verbal aggression jointly across early adolescence. This study aims to examine the longitudinal association between depression and physical–verbal aggression during early adolescence and to analyse whether sex moderatesthe developmental trajectories and severity of aggression.

Methods: A three wave longitudinal study was conducted with 251 adolescents (66.5% girls), aged 10–14 years, recruited from secondary schools in Madrid, Spain. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Children’s Depression Inventory-Short version (CDI-S), and physical– verbal aggression was measured with the Physical and Verbal Aggression Questionnaire (PVAQ). Repeated-measures analysis of variance (RM-ANOVA) was used to analyse changes in aggression across three approximately annual assessments (mean ages: 10.8, 11.8, and 12.8 years), with sex and depression status included as between subject factors.

Results: Adolescents with depression consistently showed higher levels of physical–verbal aggression across all three assessment waves compared with those without depression. Aggressive behaviour followed a quadratic trajectory, increasing between ages 10.8 and 11.8 and decreasing at age 12.8, although elevated levels persisted in the presence of depression. Boys and girls exhibited similar developmental patterns; however, boys showed greater severity and persistence of aggression. The association between depression and physical–verbal aggression was independent of normative sex differences and emerged as early as 10.8 years of age, highlighting early adolescence as a key period for preventive screening and intervention. 

Conclusions: Adolescents with depression show a high and persistent physical–verbal aggression during early adolescence, with sex differences emerging primarily in severity rather than in the form of developmental trajectories. These findings underscore early adolescence as a key period for identifying adolescents at increased risk and highlight the value of longitudinal assessment for informing preventive and clinically relevant interventions targeting the co occurrence of depressive mood states and aggressive behaviour.