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Cited by 8Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional DevelopmentResilience and Mental HealthChild Abuse and Trauma

Cumulative risk and adolescent emotional distress: A longitudinal moderated mediation analysis focusing on perceived stress and social support

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Deniz, Emre, Humphrey, Neil, Demkowicz, Ola, Lereya, Suzet Tanya, Deighton, Jessica·2025·Development and Psychopathology
DOI 10.1017/s0954579424001275
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Abstract

This study provides insights into the roles played by perceived stress and social support in the relationship between cumulative risk exposure (CRE) and adolescent emotional distress. Preregistered longitudinal moderated mediation analyses were used to test hypotheses relating to the association between CRE and later emotional distress; the mediating role of perceived stress in the relationship between CRE and later emotional distress; and, the moderating effects of peer and adult-level family support on the relationship between CRE and later perceived stress, among N = 19,159 adolescents over three annual waves (at ages 11/12, 12/13, 13/14). Analyses revealed that CRE significantly predicted later adolescent emotional distress. This relationship was partially mediated by perceived stress. Both peer and adult-level family support significantly moderated the impact of CRE on later perceived stress (i.e., adolescents reporting higher levels of support perceived significantly lower levels of stress resulting from CRE compared to those reporting lower levels of support). These findings provide critical empirical evidence of the roles played by perceived stress and social support in the relationship between CRE and adolescent emotional distress, with consequent implications for intervention.

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  • Exposure to multiple social adversities in childhood, such as maltreatment, bullying, neglect and community violence, is associated with more severe negative consequences than exposure to a single risk factor.

    “Meanwhile, a robust body of research on cumulative risk exposure indicates that exposure to multiple social adversities in childhood, such as maltreatment, bullying, neglect and community violence, are associated with more severe negative consequences than exposure to a single risk factor (Deniz et al., 2025;Evans et al., 2013;Fisher et al., 2015;Hardi et al., 2025).”

    From Investigating the interplay of loneliness and social isolation across adolescence: Findings from a nationally representative longitudinal study (2026) · cites this paper as Deniz et al., 2025

    The Discussion reports that cumulative risk predicted later emotional distress beyond individual risk factors, supporting the claim’s central comparison. But the Measures section includes individual characteristics alongside social exposures; it measures bullying, while abuse or neglect are only potential reasons for a social-services referral, and community violence is not measured directly. The paper therefore does not establish the comparison for the specific set of childhood social adversities listed. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Deniz, E., Humphrey, N., Demkowicz, O., Lereya, S. T., & Deighton, J.
Affiliations
  • University of York (GB)
  • University of Manchester (GB)
  • Anna Freud Centre (GB)
Corresponding author
Deniz, Emre
ORCID
Venue
Development and Psychopathology
Publisher
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Published
2024-09-19
Volume
37
Issue
4
Pages
1695-1706
ISSN
  • 0954-5794 (ISSN-L)
  • 1469-2198
DOI
10.1017/s0954579424001275
OpenAlex
W4402648659
Cited by
8
References
10
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2024: 2
FWCI
4.01
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Development and Psychopathology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research Explorer (The University of Manchester) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • OSF Preprints (OSF Preprints) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • OSF Preprints (OSF Preprints) (submittedVersion)
Funders
National Lottery Community Fund
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Resilience and Mental Health
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
Keywords
perceived stress, social support, peer support, family support, moderated mediation, adolescent mental health
MeSH terms
Psychological Distress, Mediation Analysis, Adolescent, Child, Family, Female, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Peer Group, Risk Factors, Social Support, Stress, Psychological

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