Experiencing Parental Divorce During Emerging Adulthood and Depressive Symptom Trajectories for Males and Females

Although associations between parental divorce before children reach age 18 and increased risk of depression are well documented, less is known about when parental divorce occurs when children are emerging adults. Our study examined how change in parental marital status during emerging adulthood (EA) was associated with depressive symptom trajectories from adolescence through EA. Data were drawn from 2600 emerging adults, ages 18–25, who participated in the Children of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979. Findings from multi-group latent growth curve models suggested that depressive symptomology was higher at ages 18/19 and 20/21 when parental divorce occurred at 18/19 compared to those whose parents remained married. Additionally, we found no evidence of differences in the association between parental divorce and depressive symptoms between males and females. Given numerous negative consequences of depression, providing support to emerging adults who are experiencing their parents’ divorce is recommended, such as preventative interventions within colleges and non-college communities.