scholarly journals Father absence and trajectories of offspring mental health across adolescence and young adulthood: findings from a UK-birth cohort

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iryna Culpin ◽  
Hein Heuvelman ◽  
Dheeraj Rai ◽  
Rebecca M Pearson ◽  
Carol Joinson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Early Childhood ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Young Adulthood ◽  
Middle Childhood ◽  
Early Adulthood ◽  
Father Absence ◽  
Biological Father ◽  
Adolescence And Young Adulthood ◽  
Present Group

Background: High prevalence of parental separation and resulting biological father absence raises important questions regarding its impact on offspring mental health across the life course. However, few studies have examined prospective associations between biological father absence in childhood and risk of offspring depression and depressive symptoms trajectories across adolescence and young adulthood. We specifically examined whether these relationships vary by sex and the timing of exposure to father absence (early or middle childhood). Methods: This study is based on up to 8,409 children from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). Participants provided self-reports of depression (Clinical Interview Schedule-Revised) at age 24 years and depressive symptoms (Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire) between the ages of 10 and 24 years. Biological father absence in childhood was assessed through maternal questionnaires at regular intervals from birth to 10 years. We used logistic regression to examine the association between biological father absence and depression/depressive symptoms at age 24. We estimated the association between biological father absence and trajectories of depressive symptoms using multilevel growth-curve modelling. Results: Early but not middle childhood father absence was strongly associated with increased odds of offspring depression and greater depressive symptoms at age 24 years. Early childhood father absence was associated with higher trajectories of depressive symptoms during adolescence and early adulthood compared with father presence. Differences in the level of depressive symptoms between middle childhood father absent and father present groups narrowed into early adulthood. Girls whose father was absent in early childhood, compared with present, manifested higher levels of depressive symptoms throughout adolescence, but this difference narrowed by early adulthood. In contrast, boys who experienced father absence in early childhood had similar trajectories of depressive symptoms compared to the father present group but experienced a steep increase in early adulthood. Girls whose fathers were absent in middle childhood manifested higher trajectories across middle adolescence into young adulthood compared to the father present group. Conclusions: We found evidence that father absence in childhood is persistently associated with offspring depression in adolescence and early adulthood and that this relationship varies by sex and timing of father's departure. Further research is needed to examine whether this relationship is causal and to identify mechanisms that could inform preventative interventions to reduce the risk of depression in children who experience father absence.

Father absence and depressive symptoms in adolescence: findings from a UK cohort

2013 ◽  
Vol 43 (12) ◽  
pp. 2615-2626 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Culpin ◽  
J. Heron ◽  
R. Araya ◽  
R. Melotti ◽  
C. Joinson
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Middle Childhood ◽  
Depressive Symptomatology ◽  
Father Absence ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Biological Father ◽  
Adolescent Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Parents And Children ◽  
The Uk

BackgroundPrevious studies suggest a link between parental separation or divorce and risk of depression in adolescence. There are, however, few studies that have prospectively examined the effects of timing of biological father absence on risk for depressive symptoms in adolescence while controlling for a range of confounding factors.MethodWe examine the association between father absence occurring in early (the first 5 years) and middle childhood (5–10 years) and adolescent depressive symptoms in a sample comprising 5631 children from the UK-based Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). Self-reported depressive symptoms at 14 years were assessed using the Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (SMFQ). Father absence was assessed from maternal questionnaires completed at regular intervals from the birth of the study child up to 10 years.ResultsThere was evidence for an association between father absence in early childhood and increased odds of depressive symptoms at 14 years. This association was stronger in girls than in boys and remained after adjusting for a range of socio-economic, maternal and familial confounders assessed prior to the father's departure. Conversely, there was no evidence for an association between father absence in middle childhood and depressive symptoms at 14 years.ConclusionsFather absence in early childhood increases risk for adolescent depressive symptoms, particularly in girls. Future research should be aimed at identifying possible biological and psychosocial mechanisms linking father absence to depressive symptomatology to enable the development of family-based early prevention and intervention programmes targeting young children at risk.

scholarly journals Chronic Physical Health Conditions, Mental Health, and Sources of Support in a Longitudinal Australian Child Population Cohort

2019 ◽  
Vol 44 (9) ◽  
pp. 1083-1096
Author(s):  
Kristin R Laurens ◽  
Melissa J Green ◽  
Kimberlie Dean ◽  
Stacy Tzoumakis ◽  
Felicity Harris ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Type 1 Diabetes ◽  
Early Childhood ◽  
Middle Childhood ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Hospital Records ◽  
Care Plans ◽  
Sources Of Support ◽  
Increases In Risk

Abstract Objective This study examined associations between chronic physical health conditions (identified from hospital records) that are subject to school health care plans, and children’s emotional, behavioral, and social functioning during early (∼5 years of age) and middle childhood (∼11 years). Methods Participants were 21,304 Australian children from a representative longitudinal population cohort derived by multi-agency record linkage. Hospital presentations (admitted patients and emergency department) identified children with asthma (n = 1,573), allergies and anaphylaxis (n = 738), type 1 diabetes (n = 59), epilepsy (n = 87), and any of these conditions (n = 2,275), relative to 19,029 children without these presentations. Logistic regression analyses determined associations between these exposures and (i) emotional, behavioral, social, and overall vulnerabilities reported by teachers (early childhood) and children (middle childhood), and (ii) self-reported lack of sources of support (middle childhood). Results Prevalence of any condition in hospital records was 7.5% by early childhood, and 10.7% by middle childhood. Relative to peers without these presentations, small increases in risk of overall problems, and selected emotional, behavioral, and social problems, were apparent for children with any condition, and asthma specifically, in early and middle childhood. Large and pervasive effects were apparent for epilepsy, limited small effects in middle childhood only for allergies and anaphylaxis, and no increases in risk associated with type 1 diabetes examined in middle childhood. No condition was associated with increased risk of lacking supports. Conclusions Children with hospital records of chronic conditions, particularly epilepsy and asthma, might benefit from school-based care plans that integrate their physical and mental health support needs.

Arrests of Adolescent Clients of a Public Mental Health System During Adolescence and Young Adulthood

2007 ◽  
Vol 58 (11) ◽  
pp. 1454-1460 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maryann Davis ◽  
Steven M. Banks ◽  
William H. Fisher ◽  
Bernice Gershenson ◽  
Albert J. Grudzinskas
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health System ◽  
Young Adulthood ◽  
Mental Health System ◽  
Public Mental Health ◽  
Public Mental Health System ◽  
Adolescence And Young Adulthood

scholarly journals Changes in genetic and environmental influences on depressive symptoms across adolescence and young adulthood

2006 ◽  
Vol 189 (5) ◽  
pp. 422-427 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Y. F. Lau ◽  
Thalia C. Eley
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Young Adulthood ◽  
Genetic Factors ◽  
Environmental Influences ◽  
Sibling Pairs ◽  
Time Points ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Adolescence And Young Adulthood ◽  
Genetic And Environmental Factors ◽  
Time Point

BackgroundDepression rises markedly in adolescence, a time when increased and new genetic influences have been reported.AimsTo examine ‘new’ and ‘stable’ genetic and environmental factors on depressive symptoms in adolescence and young adulthood.MethodA questionnaire survey investigated a sample of twin and sibling pairs at three time points over an approximately 3-year period. Over 1800 twin and sibling pairs reported depressive symptoms at the three time points. Data were analysed using multivariate genetic models.ResultsDepressive symptoms at all time points were moderately heritable with substantial non-shared environmental contributions. Wave I genetic factors accounted for continuity of symptoms at waves 2 and 3. ‘New’ genetic effects at wave 2 also influenced wave 3 symptoms. New non-shared environmental influences emerged at each time point.ConclusionsNew genetic and environmental influences may explain age-related increases in depression across development.

scholarly journals The role of identity commitments in depressive symptoms and stressful life events in adolescence and young adulthood.

2018 ◽  
Vol 54 (5) ◽  
pp. 950-962 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lotte van Doeselaar ◽  
Theo A. Klimstra ◽  
Jaap J. A. Denissen ◽  
Susan Branje ◽  
Wim Meeus
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Life Events ◽  
Young Adulthood ◽  
Stressful Life Events ◽  
Stressful Life ◽  
Adolescence And Young Adulthood

scholarly journals Socioeconomic deprivation in early life and symptoms of depression and anxiety in young adulthood: mediating role of hippocampal connectivity

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Pavla Čermaková ◽  
Lenka Andrýsková ◽  
Milan Brázdil ◽  
Klára Marečková
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Young Adulthood ◽  
Trait Anxiety ◽  
Early Life ◽  
Socioeconomic Deprivation ◽  
Middle Temporal Gyrus ◽  
Resting State Functional Connectivity ◽  
Global Connectivity ◽  
The Right

Abstract Background Experience of early-life socioeconomic deprivation (ELSD) may increase the risk of mental disorders in young adulthood. This association may be mediated by structural and functional alterations of the hippocampus. Methods We conducted a prospective cohort study on 122 participants of the European Longitudinal Study of Pregnancy and Childhood. Information about ELSD was collected via questionnaire from mothers during the first 18 months of participants’ lives. At age 23–24, participants underwent examination by structural magnetic resonance imaging, resting-state functional connectivity and assessment of depressive symptoms (Mood and Feelings Questionnaire) and anxiety (Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory). The association of ELSD with brain outcomes in young adulthood was assessed with correlations, linear regression (adjusting for sex, socioeconomic position and mother's mental health) and moderated mediation analysis. Results Higher ELSD was associated with greater depressive symptoms (B = 0.22; p = 0.001), trait anxiety (B = 0.07; p = 0.02) and lower global connectivity of the right hippocampus (B = −0.01; p = 0.02). These associations persisted when adjusted for covariates. In women, lower global connectivity of the right hippocampus was associated with stronger trait anxiety (B = −4.14; p = 0.01). Global connectivity of the right hippocampus as well as connectivity between the right hippocampus and the left middle temporal gyrus mediated the association between ELSD and trait anxiety in women. Higher ELSD correlated with a lower volume of the right hippocampus in men, but the volume of the right hippocampus was not related to mental health. Conclusions Early preventive strategies targeted at children from socioeconomically deprived families may yield long-lasting benefits for the mental health of the population.

scholarly journals Depression and self-harm from adolescence to young adulthood in sexual minorities compared with heterosexuals in the UK: a population-based cohort study

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Irish ◽  
F Solmi ◽  
B Mars ◽  
M King ◽  
G Lewis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Young Adulthood ◽  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Sexual Minorities ◽  
Multilevel Models ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Minority Adolescents ◽  
Self Harm

Abstract Background There are few population-based cohort studies of the emergence, development, and persistence of mental health problems in sexual minorities compared with heterosexuals. We compared trajectories of depressive symptoms in sexual-minority adolescents and heterosexual adolescents from when they were aged 10 to 21 years, and examined self-harm at ages 16 and 21 years. Methods The study included 4828 adolescents born between April 1, 1991, and Dec 31, 1992, from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children birth cohort (Bristol, UK) who reported their sexual orientation when aged 16 years. Depressive symptoms were assessed with the short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire at seven timepoints between ages 10 and 21 years. A self-harm questionnaire was completed at ages 16 and 21 years. Analyses were linear multilevel models with growth curves (depressive symptoms), logistic multilevel models (self-harm in the previous year at ages 16 and 21 years), and multinomial regression (lifetime self-harm with and without suicidal intent at age 21 years). Findings At age 10, depressive symptoms were higher in sexual minorities than in heterosexuals and increased with age to a larger extent. Depressive symptoms increased at each timepoint by 0·31 points in hetereosexuals, and by 0·49 points in sexual minorities. Sexual-minority adolescents were more likely than heterosexual adolescents to report self-harm in the previous year at ages 16 and 21 years, with no evidence that this estimate decreased with age. At aged 21, sexual minorities were more likely to report lifetime self-harm (ie, on at least one previous occasion) with suicidal intent than heterosexuals. Interpretation Mental health disparities between heterosexuals and sexual minorities are present early in adolescence and increase throughout the school years, persisting to young adulthood. Prevention of these mental health problems and early intervention must be a priority.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document