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Adolescent depression, adult mental health and psychosocial outcomes at 30 and 35 years

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 January 2016

G. F. H. McLeod ,
L. J. Horwood  and
D. M. Fergusson
G. F. H. McLeod
Affiliation:
Christchurch Health and Development Study, Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago Christchurch, Christchurch, New Zealand
L. J. Horwood*
Affiliation:
Christchurch Health and Development Study, Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago Christchurch, Christchurch, New Zealand
D. M. Fergusson
Affiliation:
Christchurch Health and Development Study, Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago Christchurch, Christchurch, New Zealand
*
*Address for correspondence: Research Associate Professor L. J. Horwood, Christchurch Health and Development Study, Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, PO Box 4345, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand. (Email: [email protected])
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Abstract

Background

There is limited information on long-term outcomes of adolescent depression. This study examines the associations between severity of depression in adolescence and a broad array of adult functional outcomes.

Method

Data were gathered as part of the Christchurch Health and Development Study, a 35-year longitudinal study of a birth cohort of 1265 children born in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1977. Severity of depression at age 14–16 years was classified into three levels according to DSM symptom criteria for major depression (no depression/sub-threshold symptoms/major depression). This classification was related to adult functional outcomes assessed at ages 30 and 35 years using a generalized estimating equation modeling approach. Outcome measures spanned domains of mental disorder, education/economic circumstances, family circumstances and partner relationships.

Results

There were modest but statistically significant bivariate associations between adolescent depression severity and most outcomes. After covariate adjustment there remained weak but significant (p < 0.05) associations with rates of major depression, anxiety disorder, illicit substance abuse/dependence, any mental health problem and intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization. Estimates of attributable risk for these outcomes ranged from 3.8% to 7.8%. For two outcomes there were significant (p < 0.006) gender interactions such that depression severity was significantly related to increased rates of unplanned pregnancy and IPV victimization for females but not for males.

Conclusions

The findings reinforce the importance of the individual/family context in which adolescent depression occurs. When contextual factors and probable maturational effects are taken into account the direct effects of adolescent depression on functioning in mature adulthood appear to be very modest.

Keywords

Adolescenceadultdepressionlongitudinal studymental healthpsychosocial
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 46 , Issue 7 , May 2016 , pp. 1401 - 1412
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2016 

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