Each increase of a single standard deviation in baseline depressive symptomatology was associated with a 3% increase in the odds of exposure to either mild, moderate, or severe degrees of partner violence.
Depressive symptoms have been associated with a range of risky behaviors in adolescence, and depressed teens may be more likely than their nondepressed peers to associate with risky peer groups, and to select intimate partners from these groups, the researchers noted. However, the question of whether depressive symptoms independently predict intimate partner violence or simply predict risk for partner violence remains uncertain.