Temperament and the Development of Peer Difficulties and Depressive Symptoms from Late Childhood to Adolescence

Using data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), we found that avoidant-shy children had the most depressive symptoms in late childhood, but over time, introverted children developed the most symptoms. Furthermore, more peer difficulties intensified the effect of childhood introversion on greater increases in depressive symptoms.