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No ecological effect modification of the association between negative life experiences and later psychopathology in adolescence: A longitudinal community study in adolescents

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 April 2020

Nicole Gunther ,
Marjan Drukker ,
Frans Feron  and
Jim van Os
Nicole Gunther*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, South Limburg Mental Health Research and Teaching Network, EURON, Maastricht University, PO Box 616 (Vijv1), 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
Marjan Drukker
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, South Limburg Mental Health Research and Teaching Network, EURON, Maastricht University, PO Box 616 (Vijv1), 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands Youth Health Care Division, Public Health Service South Limburg, location Maastricht, The Netherlands
Frans Feron
Affiliation:
Youth Health Care Division, Public Health Service South Limburg, location Maastricht, The Netherlands
Jim van Os
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, South Limburg Mental Health Research and Teaching Network, EURON, Maastricht University, PO Box 616 (Vijv1), 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands Division of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London, UK
*
*Corresponding author. Tel.: +31 43 3688659; fax: +31 43 3688689. E-mail address: [email protected] (N. Gunther).
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Abstract

Background

The aim of the study was to examine the potential contribution of exposure to bullying and adverse life events to the development of psychopathology in adolescents, and possible effect modification by neighbourhood social capital.

Methods

Two waves of routine, longitudinal, standard health examinations at local community paediatric health services, pertaining to 749 adolescents living in Maastricht (The Netherlands) who were attending second grade of secondary school (age 13/14 years) and approximately 2 years later going to the fourth grade (age 15/16 years), were analysed. A self-report questionnaire was used, including measures of psychopathology and two measures of negative life experiences, exposure to bullying and adverse life events, that were available for both age groups and subjected to (multilevel) regression analysis.

Results

Exposure to bullying in the past school-year as well as the experience of adverse life events over a 12 month period, at the age of 13/14 years, predicted an increase in psychopathology at follow-up. Exposure to bullying was associated with the development of hyperactivity and emotional problems, while the experience of adverse life events predicted the development of conduct problems. Family-related adverse events had greatest effect sizes. Effects of bullying and adverse life events were not moderated by neighbourhood social capital.

Conclusion

Negative life experiences impact on liability to psychopathology in adolescents independent of the wider social environment.

Keywords

Negative life experiencesAdolescentNeighbourhood EnvironmentPsychopathology
Type
Original article
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 22 , Issue 5 , July 2007 , pp. 296 - 304
Copyright
Copyright © Elsevier Masson SAS 2007

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