Gender-specific temporal dynamics of depressive symptoms and emotional resilience in adolescents: a cross-lagged network and simulation-based intervention study

BACKGROUND: Adolescent depression involves dynamic interactions between depressive symptoms and emotional resilience, with potential gender differences. METHODS: A total of 818 adolescents completed the CDI-S and AERQ at two time points. Cross-lagged panel networks were estimated separately for males and females, and node centrality was assessed using in- and out-expected influence indices. Simulation-based interventions identified nodes with the greatest impact on overall symptom activation. RESULTS: In males, sadness showed the largest autoregressive effect, self-deprecation showed the highest out-expected influence, and feeling upset when misunderstood showed the highest in-expected influence. In females, feeling unloved showed the largest autoregressive effect, sadness showed the highest out-expected influence, and feeling upset after criticism the highest in-expected influence. Simulation results indicated that enhancing positive emotion generation alleviated symptoms, whereas sleep- and interpersonal-related dysregulation increased network activation. CONCLUSIONS: Emotional resilience-depression dynamics differed by gender, with males showing cognitive-evaluative propagation and females emotion-driven interpersonal sensitivity. Targeted, gender-sensitive interventions focused on positive emotion generation and interpersonal recovery may help reduce depressive symptoms in adolescents.