Depression Symptom Trajectories Following Child Maltreatment: A Systematic Review of Longitudinal Studies from Adolescence to Young Adulthood

Trauma Violence Abuse. 2025 Sep 27:15248380251361050. doi: 10.1177/15248380251361050. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Previous reviews suggest that child maltreatment results in worse depression symptoms during adolescence and young adulthood. However, less is known about how depression symptoms evolve throughout this critical period. This systematic review evaluates changes in depression following child maltreatment and identifies factors influencing this relationship from adolescence to young adulthood. A search of APA PsycINFO, CINAHL, Embase, and Medline until January 13, 2023, found 87 studies from 31,495 records. Studies were included if they examined child maltreatment’s effect on depression symptoms for individuals aged 0 to 24, assessed child maltreatment or abuse, and neglect subtypes, measured depression diagnosis or symptoms at a subsequent time point, and used quantitative longitudinal or cohort designs. Of the studies meeting criteria, only 13 examined depression symptom changes, with mixed results found. Most studies identified severe and worsening depression symptom trends, as shown in both linear and nonlinear depression symptom studies. Other studies examined distinct patterns of depression symptom severity within a single sample (e.g., high vs. low symptom trends) and observed some improvements over time, suggesting the influence of protective factors. However, across all studies, depression symptoms remained relatively worse than in individuals without child maltreatment histories. One-third of studies explored factors influencing depression symptom change, primarily focusing on intrapersonal and interpersonal factors, though findings were inconsistent. A smaller subset investigated environmental factors, demonstrating that school-related aspects consistently impacted the relationship. Findings highlight the importance of early detection and timely intervention through continuous screening to improve depression outcomes for adolescents with child maltreatment histories.

PMID:41014097 | DOI:10.1177/15248380251361050