Heterogeneity in Youth Depressive Symptom Trajectories: Social Stratification and Implications for Young Adult Physical Health

Abstract Purpose The first objective of this study was to investigate young adult physical health implications of adolescent depressive symptom trajectories. The second objective was to investigate the social stratification of adolescent depressive symptom trajectories. Methods Data came from the Na...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of adolescent health 2009-10, Vol.45 (4), p.335-343
Main Authors: Wickrama, K.A.S., Ph.D, Wickrama, Thulitha, Ph.D, Lott, Ryan, M.S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adolescent depression
Adolescents
Adult and adolescent clinical studies
Biological and medical sciences
Child
Depression
Depression - physiopathology
Female
Health Status
Humans
Interviews as Topic
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Medical sciences
Mood disorders
Pediatrics
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Social Class
Social stratification
Socioeconomic factors
United States
Young Adult
Young adult physical health
Young people
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Summary:Abstract Purpose The first objective of this study was to investigate young adult physical health implications of adolescent depressive symptom trajectories. The second objective was to investigate the social stratification of adolescent depressive symptom trajectories. Methods Data came from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. The analysis included the identification of depressive symptom trajectory groups. These four groups were then compared in terms of socioeconomic characteristics and change in physical health problems, from adolescence to young adulthood. Results Youth in the chronically high, increasing, and decreasing depressive symptoms groups showed significantly higher increases in physical health problems and poorer socioeconomic characteristics than did the consistently low group. Conclusions The associations of adolescent depressive symptom trajectory groups with changes in physical health provide evidence for the etiological processes through which depression influences physical health. Differing socioeconomic characteristics of depressive symptom trajectory groups suggest social stratification of trajectories.
ISSN:1054-139X
1879-1972
DOI:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2009.04.018