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Faculty of Graduate Studies

Kevin Styba-Nelson

  • B.A. (MacEwan University, 2024)
Notice of the Final Oral Examination for the Degree of Master of Science

Topic

Adolescent Daily Dynamics of Worry and Sadness: Within-Person Fluctuations of Generalized Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms

Department of Psychology

Date & location

  • Tuesday, August 4, 2026
  • 10:00 A.M.
  • Cornett Building, Room A228

Examining Committee

Supervisory Committee

  • Dr. Megan Ames, Department of Psychology, University of Victoria (Supervisor)
  • Dr. Brianna Turner, Department of Psychology, UVic (Member)

External Examiner

  • Dr. Jon Woodend, Department of Educational Psychology and Leadership Studies, UVic

Chair of Oral Examination

  • Dr. Sandra Gibbons, School of Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education, UVic

Abstract

Background. Anxiety and depression are two common and increasingly prevalent mental health concerns among Canadian youth. While many studies have investigated how these two interact with each other in this age group, most of these studies have looked at longer-term trajectories over months or years. There is a lack of research on anxious and depressive symptoms co fluctuating and predicting change in each other within individual days. The present study sought to investigate the within-person covariance, auto-regressive, and cross-lagged associations of generalized anxiety and depressive symptoms measured twice daily for one week. It also aimed to evaluate moderating effects of age, SES, and intolerance of uncertainty on these associations.

Method. A total of 171 participant taking part in the SSHRC-funded intensive longitudinal Adolescents’ Daily Lives project completed baseline assessments, followed by 14 daily diary surveys that were given roughly 12 hours a part over the course of seven days. Data was analysed using dynamic structural equation modelling to estimate the within-person associations of generalized anxiety and depressive symptoms within- and across-timepoints.

Results. Within-timepoint covariances between generalized anxiety and depressive symptoms were strong. Across-timepoints, within-person changes in either symptom cluster predicted changes in anxious symptoms 12 hours later, but neither predicted depressive symptoms.

Conclusion and Implications. Findings suggest that generalized anxiety and depressive symptoms strongly covary, and the presence of one cluster is a good indicator of the other. Across time, depressive symptoms were unstable in adolescence across 12-hour intervals. Generalized anxiety symptoms were found to be relatively more stable, indicating comparative consistency across 12-hour timeframes. Changes in either symptom cluster leading to changes in anxious symptoms may also suggest shared persistence of repetitive negative thinking.

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