Developmental disorder traits and social capital in association with depression/quality of life in elementary and middle school students.

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K14043
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 09060:Special needs education-related
• Research Institution: Teikyo Heisei University (2022); Hirosaki University (2020-2021)
• Principal Investigator: MORI Hiroyuki 帝京平成大学, 健康メディカル学部, 助教 (60848307)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 自閉スペクトラム症 / ADHD / ソーシャル・キャピタル / 抑うつ / メンタルヘルス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This project examined whether social capital (SC) is a protective factor against depression in a general population sample of children and adolescents, and whether SC is also a protective factor for depression in students with developmental disorder traits, as well. Results of multiple regression analyses indicated that SC was negatively associated with depression both cross-sectionally and longitudinally, suggesting that SC is a protective factor for depression. We also found that SC mediates the association between developmental disorder traits and depression, suggesting that SC is also a protective factor for depression in students with developmental disorder traits.

Free Research Field

臨床心理学, 特別支援教育

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本課題において、ソーシャル・キャピタル（Social Capital: SC）が発達障害特性と抑うつの関連に対して媒介効果があることを明らかにしたことは、高い発達障害特性のある児童生徒のメンタルヘルスの悪化を防ぐ可能性があることを示唆している。本研究成果は、仲間関係に困難を抱えやすい発達障害特性の高い児童生徒にとって、必ずしも他者との交流を伴うものとは限らない信頼感や安全感を得られるような環境を整えていくことがメンタルヘルスの悪化を防ぐことにつながるという点で、社会的意義が大きいといえる。