Prediction of Depression Symptoms by Personality Traits in Children

During the past decade, many studies examined about development of children's personality, based on the five-factor model of personality. This study is aimed to find relationship between personality traits and depression symptoms in children. In this study, 268 students (142 boys and 126 girls) primary school with their teachers based on cluster sampling, were selected and answered to Children Depression Inventory. To assess of Children's Personality, the Questionnaire of big five children's version (BFQ-C) completed by their teachers. Results indicated that depression symptoms in children except openness to experience, related with four other personality traits including neuroticism (positively), extraversion, agreeableness and conscientiousness (negatively). Results the Step by step model of regression revealed that only two traits of neuroticism and extraversion about 26 percent of variance in depression symptoms could predict in children. Personality traits could predict the depression symptoms in children. Results based on theory of personality traits were discussed.