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Association between pubertal development and depressive symptoms in girls from a UK cohort

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 April 2012

C. Joinson ,
J. Heron ,
R. Araya ,
T. Paus ,
T. Croudace ,
C. Rubin ,
M. Marcus  and
G. Lewis
C. Joinson*
Affiliation:
School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, UK
J. Heron
Affiliation:
School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, UK
R. Araya
Affiliation:
School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, UK
T. Paus
Affiliation:
Rotman Research Institute, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, UK Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
T. Croudace
Affiliation:
Developmental and Lifecourse Research Group, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK
C. Rubin
Affiliation:
National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
M. Marcus
Affiliation:
National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
G. Lewis
Affiliation:
School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, UK
*
*Address for correspondence: C. Joinson, Ph.D., School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Clifton, Bristol BS8 2BN, UK. (Email: [email protected])
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Abstract

Background

It is unclear whether pubertal status or timing of puberty explains the increase in depressive symptoms in girls during adolescence.

Method

This is a longitudinal study based on 2506 girls from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). Self-reported depressive symptoms at 10.5, 13 and 14 years were assessed using the Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (SMFQ). Pubertal status (Tanner breast and pubic hair stage) and timing of menarche were derived from questionnaires administered from age 8 to 14 years. We used multivariable regression models to examine the relative contributions of pubertal status and timing in accounting for increases in level of depressive symptoms at 14 years.

Results

With increasing age, the association between breast development and depressive symptoms strengthened. Pubertal status (breast stage), rather than timing of menarche, was independently associated with depressive symptoms at 14 years. There was strong evidence for a linear relationship between breast stage and depressive symptoms at 14 years [increase in 0.17 s.d. (range 0.10–0.24) of depressive symptoms for advancement of each breast stage].

Conclusions

Depressive symptoms in mid-adolescence were more strongly influenced by breast stage than timing of menarche. This could imply that the female rise in depression during adolescence is due to increasing estrogen levels, and might explain why the gender difference in rates of depression emerges at this stage. Future research should be aimed at identifying the mechanism of action of pubertal change, including direct effects of pubertal hormones and indirect effects mediated by psychosocial factors.

Keywords

AdolescenceALSPACdepressionpubertal statustiming of puberty
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 42 , Issue 12 , December 2012 , pp. 2579 - 2589
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012

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