Recall bias during adolescence: Gender differences and associations with depressive symptoms

There is a sharp increase in depression females mid-adolescence, but we do not understand why. Cognitive theories suggest that people with have negative biases recalling self-referential information. We tested whether recall were more girls early and mid-adolescence associated depressive symptoms. 315 young 263 mid-adolescents (11-12 13-15 years) completed surprise test, assessing of social evaluation about the self (self-referential) or another person (other-referential). The short Mood Feelings Questionnaire measured effects condition (self-referential/other-referential), valence (positive/negative), gender, age group on correct (hits) associations was no evidence for gender differences positive recall. Self-referential hits negatively symptoms (adjusted coefficient=-0.38, 95% CI=-0.69–0.08, p=0.01). positively coefficient=0.45, CI=0.15-0.75, p=0.003), this association stronger interaction p=0.04). reliability validity task are unknown. cannot provide causal effect cross-sectional study. Adolescents who recalled fewer words had severe Females did demonstrate biases, between females. Negative may be risk factor good candidate longitudinal studies.