EpiBio Seminar Series | Josette Rosine Aniwuvi Gbeto, PhD

"Adolescent Mental Health and Peer Support"

Presented by Dr. Josette Rosine Aniwuvi Gbeto a Postdoctoral Associate, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University as a part of the EpiBio Seminar Series 2025/26.

Attend in person: PHFM 3015
Attend online: please request the Zoom link at epibio@uwo.ca 

Abstract: This research investigates how adolescent depression affects the mobilization of emotional support from peers and how the composition of friendship networks shapes future mental health and educational attainment. Using longitudinal U.S. survey data, I distinguish between risky friends and protective friends, defined as non-depressed, academically engaged, and non–substance-using. I find that a one-point increase in the depression score increases the likelihood of discussing problems with up to five friends, with stronger effects for girls. In the short term, each additional protective friend reduces depression by 0.36 points (5% of the mean), rising to 0.48 points (7% of the mean) when problems are actively discussed. In the long term, protective friendships remain linked to lower depression and substantially higher college completion, with the effect on graduation nearly tripling when support comes exclusively from protective friends. These findings highlight the importance of friend quality as a buffer against depression and a driver of human capital accumulation.