Psychometric Network Analysis of Anhedonia and Reward Responsivity in Adolescents with Subclinical Depression
Keywords:
Anhedonia, Reward Responsivity, Adolescents, Subclinical Depression, Anticipatory Pleasure, Behavioral Activation SystemAbstract
Objective: The present study aimed to model the symptom-level network structure of anhedonia and reward responsivity in Moroccan adolescents with subclinical depression.
Methods and Materials: A cross-sectional quantitative design was employed with a community sample of 468 adolescents aged 14–18 years recruited from public high schools in Rabat, Casablanca, and Fez, Morocco. Participants met criteria for subclinical depressive symptoms based on standardized screening thresholds while not fulfilling diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder. Measures included the Snaith–Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS) to assess anhedonia, the Temporal Experience of Pleasure Scale (TEPS) to capture anticipatory and consummatory pleasure, and the Behavioral Activation System (BAS) Reward Responsiveness subscale. Data were analyzed using Gaussian Graphical Modeling with graphical LASSO regularization and EBIC model selection. Centrality indices (strength, closeness, betweenness) and bridge centrality metrics were computed. Network accuracy and stability were evaluated using nonparametric bootstrapping procedures and correlation stability coefficients.
Findings: Network estimation revealed a stable and densely interconnected structure among reward-related symptoms. Anticipatory pleasure deficits demonstrated the highest strength centrality, indicating their structural prominence within the network. Significant negative partial correlations were observed between anhedonia and both anticipatory and consummatory pleasure, as well as reward responsiveness. Bridge centrality analyses identified reduced anticipatory excitement and diminished emotional reactivity to positive stimuli as key connectors linking anhedonia and reward responsivity clusters. Bootstrapped confidence intervals supported the robustness of edge weights, and the correlation stability coefficient for strength centrality exceeded recommended thresholds, confirming network reliability.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that anticipatory motivational deficits occupy a central and bridging position within the symptom architecture of subclinical adolescent depression.
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