Timing of menarche and depressive symptoms in adolescent girls from a UK cohort

ABSTRACTPrevious research on the relationship between children’s externalising and depressive symptoms, experience of school, and later academic attainment is inconclusive. The present study uses data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (n=6,409) to investigate bidirectional associations between school experience (enjoyment and connectedness) and externalising and depressive symptoms at age 10-11 and 13-14. We also investigate the relationship between school experience and academic attainment at 16 and test whether school experience mediates associations of externalising and depressive symptoms with later attainment. A cross-lagged structural equation model was employed. Externalising and depressive symptoms at 10-11 were negatively associated with school connectedness at 13-14 (externalizing: standardised β=−0.13, CI: −0.17, −0.08; depressive: β=−0.06, CI: −0.11, 0.01), and with school enjoyment at 13-14 (externalising: β=−0.08, CI: −0.13, −0.03; depressive β=−0.04, −0.08, 0.03). School enjoyment at 13-14 was positively associated with attainment at 16 (β=0.10, CI: 0.04, 0.15), and partially mediated associations between externalising and depressive symptoms at 10-11 and attainment at 16 (externalising: proportion mediated; 4.7%, CI: 0.7, 10.1, depressive: proportion mediated 2.2%, I: −1.5, 5.9). School enjoyment is a potentially modifiable risk factor that may affect educational attainment of adolescents with depressive and externalising symptoms.

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Examining the longitudinal nature of depressive symptoms in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC)

Wellcome Open Research ◽

10.12688/wellcomeopenres.15395.1 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 4 ◽

pp. 126

Author(s):

Alex S. F. Kwong

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Longitudinal Study ◽

Adolescent Depression ◽

Later Life ◽

Depressive Mood ◽

Outcome Data ◽

Late Childhood ◽

Early Life Exposure ◽

Parents And Children ◽

Avon Longitudinal Study

Depression during adolescence is associated with a number of negative outcomes in later life. Research has examined the longitudinal nature of adolescent depression in order to identify patterns of depressive mood, the early antecedents and later consequences. However, rich longitudinal data is needed to better address these questions. The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) is an intergenerational birth cohort with nine repeated assessments of depressive symptoms throughout late childhood, adolescence and young adulthood. Depressive symptoms are measured using the Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (SMFQ). Many studies have used ALSPAC to examine the longitudinal nature of depressive symptoms in combination with the wealth of early life exposure and later outcome data. This data note provides a summary of the SMFQ data, where the data are stored in ALSPAC, the characteristics and distribution of the SMFQ, and highlights some considerations for researchers wanting to use the SMFQ data in ALSPAC.

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Examining the longitudinal nature of depressive symptoms in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC)

Wellcome Open Research ◽

10.12688/wellcomeopenres.15395.2 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 4 ◽

pp. 126

Author(s):

Alex S. F. Kwong

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Longitudinal Study ◽

Adolescent Depression ◽

Later Life ◽

Depressive Mood ◽

Outcome Data ◽

Late Childhood ◽

Early Life Exposure ◽

Parents And Children ◽

Avon Longitudinal Study

Depression during adolescence is associated with a number of negative outcomes in later life. Research has examined the longitudinal nature of adolescent depression in order to identify patterns of depressive mood, the early antecedents and later consequences. However, rich longitudinal data is needed to better address these questions. The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) is an intergenerational birth cohort with nine repeated assessments of depressive symptoms throughout late childhood, adolescence and young adulthood. Depressive symptoms are measured using the Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (SMFQ). Many studies have used ALSPAC to examine the longitudinal nature of depressive symptoms in combination with the wealth of early life exposure and later outcome data. This data note provides a summary of the SMFQ data, where the data are stored in ALSPAC, the characteristics and distribution of the SMFQ, and highlights some considerations for researchers wanting to use the SMFQ data in ALSPAC.

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Early menarche is associated with an increased risk for depressive symptoms in adolescent girls in a UK cohort

Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health ◽

10.1136/jech.2009.096701q ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 63 (Suppl 2) ◽

pp. 17-17 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

C. Joinson ◽

J. Heron ◽

R. Araya ◽

G. Lewis

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Adolescent Girls ◽

Early Menarche ◽

Increased Risk

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Exploring causal pathways linking cerebral small vessel diseases burden to poststroke depressive symptoms with structural equation model analysis

Journal of Affective Disorders ◽

10.1016/j.jad.2019.04.092 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 253 ◽

pp. 218-223

Author(s):

Yan Liang ◽

Yang-Kun Chen ◽

Yong-Lin Liu ◽

Vincent C.T. Mok ◽

Gabor S. Ungvari ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Structural Equation Model ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Model Analysis ◽

Equation Model ◽

Small Vessel ◽

Causal Pathways ◽

Cerebral Small Vessel Diseases

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Cigarette smoking and depression: tests of causal linkages using a longitudinal birth cohort

The British Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1192/bjp.bp.109.065912 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 196 (6) ◽

pp. 440-446 ◽

Cited By ~ 230

Author(s):

Joseph M. Boden ◽

David M. Fergusson ◽

L. John Horwood

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Cigarette Smoking ◽

Birth Cohort ◽

Nicotine Dependence ◽

Structural Equation Modelling ◽

Fixed Effects ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Early Adulthood ◽

Equation Modelling ◽

Increased Risk

BackgroundResearch on the comorbidity between cigarette smoking and major depression has not elucidated the pathways by which smoking is associated with depression.AimsTo examine the causal relationships between smoking and depression via fixed-effects regression and structural equation modelling.MethodData were gathered on nicotine-dependence symptoms and depressive symptoms in early adulthood using a birth cohort of over 1000 individuals.ResultsAdjustment for confounding factors revealed persistent significant (P<0.05) associations between nicotine-dependence symptoms and depressive symptoms. Structural equation modelling suggested that the best-fitting causal model was one in which nicotine dependence led to increased risk of depression. The findings suggest that the comorbidity between smoking and depression arises from two routes; the first involving common or correlated risk factors and the second a direct path in which smoking increases the risk of depression.ConclusionsThis evidence is consistent with the conclusion that there is a cause and effect relationship between smoking and depression in which cigarette smoking increases the risk of symptoms of depression.

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Developmental variables in relation to depressive symptoms in adolescent girls

Development and Psychopathology ◽

10.1017/s0954579400004533 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 5 (3) ◽

pp. 485-496 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Jill Rierdan ◽

Elissa Koff

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Adolescent Girls ◽

Adolescent Depression ◽

Ego Development ◽

Short Form ◽

Sixth Grade ◽

Sentence Completion ◽

Early Maturing ◽

Completion Test ◽

Relationship Of

AbstractThis study investigated the relationship of menarcheal timing and ego development to level of depressive symptoms in early adolescent girls. Girls who were postmenarcheal at the beginning of the sixth grade were classified as very early maturers; their premenarcheal peers were regarded as on time. Girls were further classified with the Loevinger Sentence Completion Test as relatively low or high in ego development. Depressive symptoms were assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory, short form. Results indicated a significant interaction of menarcheal timing and ego development: Very early maturing was associated with moderate levels of depressive symptoms for girls who were relatively low in ego development; very early maturing girls who were relatively advanced in ego development had the same minimal level of depressive symptoms as on time girls at either relatively low or advanced levels of ego development. The results support a proposed integration of psychoanalytic and empirically based biopsychosocial approaches to adolescent depression.

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The association between maternal postnatal depressive symptoms and offspring sleep problems in adolescence

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291716002427 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 47 (3) ◽

pp. 451-459 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

A. K. Taylor ◽

E. Netsi ◽

H. O'Mahen ◽

A. Stein ◽

J. Evans ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sleep Problems ◽

Health Impact ◽

Antenatal Depression ◽

Adolescent Offspring ◽

Postnatal Depressive Symptoms ◽

Parents And Children ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Confounding Variables ◽

Sleep Screening ◽

Avon Longitudinal Study

BackgroundSleep problems are associated with increased risk of physical and mental illness. Identifying risk factors is an important method of reducing public health impact. We examined the association between maternal postnatal depression (PND) and offspring adolescent sleep problems.MethodThe sample was derived from Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) participants. A sample with complete data across all variables was used, with four outcome variables. A sensitivity analysis imputing for missing data was conducted (n = 9633).ResultsPND was associated with increased risk of sleep problems in offspring at ages 16 and 18 years. The most robust effects were sleep problems at 18 years [adjusted odds ratio (OR) for a 1 s.d. increase in PND, 1.26, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.15–1.39, p < 0.001] and waking more often (adjusted OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.05–1.25, p = 0.003). This remained after controlling for confounding variables including antenatal depression and early sleep problems in infancy.ConclusionsPND is associated with adolescent offspring sleep problems. Maternal interventions should consider the child's increased risk. Early sleep screening and interventions could be introduced within this group.

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Curiosity killed the cat: no evidence of an association between cat ownership and psychotic symptoms at ages 13 and 18 years in a UK general population cohort

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291717000125 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 47 (9) ◽

pp. 1659-1667 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

F. Solmi ◽

J. F. Hayes ◽

G. Lewis ◽

J. B. Kirkbride

Keyword(s):

Psychotic Symptoms ◽

Early Age ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Dog Ownership ◽

Parents And Children ◽

Increased Risk ◽

General Population Cohort ◽

Avon Longitudinal Study ◽

Multivariable Adjustment ◽

In Pregnancy

BackgroundCongenital or early life infection with Toxoplasma gondii has been implicated in schizophrenia aetiology. Childhood cat ownership has been hypothesized as an intermediary marker of T. gondii infection and, by proxy, as a risk factor for later psychosis. Evidence supporting this hypothesis is, however, limited.MethodWe used birth cohort data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) to investigate whether cat ownership in pregnancy and childhood (ages 4 and 10 years) was associated with psychotic experiences (PEs) in early (age 13, N = 6705) and late (age 18, N = 4676) adolescence, rated from semi-structured interviews. We used logistic regression to examine associations between cat ownership and PEs, adjusting for several sociodemographic and socioeconomic factors, household characteristics and dog ownership. Missing data were handled via multiple imputation.ResultsCat ownership during pregnancy was not associated with PEs at age 13 years [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.15, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.97–1.35] or 18 years (OR 1.08, 95% CI 0.86–1.35). Initial univariable evidence that cat ownership at ages 4 and 10 years was associated with PEs at age 13 years did not persist after multivariable adjustment (4 years: OR 1.18, 95% CI 0.94–1.48; 10 years: OR 1.12, 95% CI 0.92–1.36). There was no evidence that childhood cat ownership was associated with PEs at age 18 years.ConclusionsWhile pregnant women should continue to avoid handling soiled cat litter, given possible T. gondii exposure, our study strongly indicates that cat ownership in pregnancy or early childhood does not confer an increased risk of later adolescent PEs.

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