Adolescent Family Factors Promoting Healthy Adult Functioning: A Longitudinal Community Study.

BACKGROUND: Although long-held wisdom and current research suggests that accepting and supportive family relationships may positively influence adult psychosocial functioning, few studies have prospectively investigated these associations. This study examined whether positive family factors during adolescence are associated with healthy adult functioning. METHOD: The 353 participants were part of a single-age cohort whose psychosocial development has been prospectively traced.

Long-term impact of family arguments and physical violence on adult functioning at age 30 years: findings from the simmons longitudinal study.

Objective: To prospectively examine the extent to which an increase in family arguments by age 15 years and the occurrence of family physical violence by age 18 years are related to deficits in key domains of adult functioning at age 30 years.

Method: The 346 participants were part of a single-age cohort from a predominately white working-class community whose psychosocial development has been traced since age 5 years. Family arguments and violence were assessed through self-reports during adolescence.

Change in prevalence of psychiatric disorders from ages 21 to 30 in a community sample.

The authors examined change and demonstrated variation in the prevalence of psychiatric disorders from ages 21 to 30 in a prospective community study (n = 352) using generalized estimating equations and investigated effects of past and recent psychiatric disorder on emerging adult functioning (at age 30). Results revealed significant declines in 12-month prevalence of phobia and substance use disorders from ages 21 to 30 but not in depression or posttraumatic stress disorder. Males were at significantly higher risk for lifetime substance use disorders; females were at higher risk for lifetime depression, phobia, and PTSD.

Major depression in the transition to adulthood: the impact of active and past depression on young adult functioning.

This study examined the association between active and past major depression and deficits in young adult functioning using data from a longitudinal community study (N = 354). Three groups were compared: (1) participants with a 1-year diagnosis of major depression at age 26 (active group); (2) those who experienced major depression during the transition to adulthood, ages 18-25, but did not have active depression at age 26 (past group); and (3) individuals not meeting diagnostic criteria for depression during the transition period. Results highlight serious deficits in psychosocial functioning at age 26 linked to both active and past depression.

Childhood and adolescent predictors of major depression in the transition to adulthood.

Objective: The identification of predictors of major depression in the transition to adulthood has direct application to prevention and intervention efforts designed to forestall depression in this high-risk period. The current study identified childhood and adolescent familial and behavioral-emotional factors predicting depression during this critical developmental stage.

Method: The 354 participants were part of a single-age cohort from a predominately Caucasian working-class community whose psychosocial development has been traced prospectively since age 5.

Child and adolescent predictors for eating disorders in a community population of young adult women.

Objective: This study investigated early predictors for developing eating disorders by young adulthood in a community sample of women participating in a 22-year longitudinal study.

Method: Twenty-one women were identified at age 27 with lifetime full or partial eating disorders. These women were compared with 47 women with no history of eating disorders on predictive factors from three broad domains.

Major depression and drug disorders in adolescence: general and specific impairments in early adulthood.

Objective: To identify adulthood impairments associated with major depression and drug disorders in adolescence, distinguishing between general impairments for both disorders and specific impairments for each disorder.

Method: Within a longitudinal community study (N= 365), the Diagnostic Interview Schedule provided 1-year diagnoses of major depression and drug abuse/dependence at age 18. At age 21, current functioning was assessed.

Comorbidity of substance use and post-traumatic stress disorders in a community sample of adolescents.

A study of 384 18-year-old adolescents living in the community demonstrated a frequent co-occurrence of substance use disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder. Multiple pathways appeared to lead to this comorbidity, which was associated with widespread psychological impairment that might have serious developmental consequences. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

General and specific childhood risk factors for depression and drug disorders by early adulthood.

Objective: To identify childhood risk factors that predict depression and drug disorders by early adulthood, distinguishing between general risk factors for both disorders and specific risk factors for each individual disorder.

Method: Within a longitudinal community study (N = 360), familial and behavioral-emotional characteristics were assessed in early childhood (ages 5, 6, and 9 years). At age 21, the Diagnostic Interview Schedule, version III-revised, provided lifetime diagnoses of major depression and drug abuse/dependence.

Major depression in the transition to adulthood: risks and impairments.

An ongoing longitudinal community study (N = 375) examined childhood risks and later adult impairments associated with 1-year Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (3rd ed., rev.; American Psychiatric Association, 1987) diagnoses of major depression during the transition to adulthood.

Risk factors for depressive symptoms in late adolescence: a longitudinal community study.

In a longitudinal study, following a community sample (N = 386) from age 5, early risk factors for depressive symptomatology at age 18 were examined separately for females and males. For females, predictors included low birthweight and death of a parent; for males, they included emotional dependency and internalizing behavior problems. Depressive symptomatology at age 15 emerged as an important risk factor for both genders.

Early risk factors for serious antisocial behavior at age 21: a longitudinal community study.

Data collected over a period of 18 years were analyzed vis-a-vis risk factors for serious antisocial behavior in 375 young adults living in the community. Early aggression and hostility, acting-out behavior, academic difficulties, and negative family environment were identified as precursors of later deviance, and different patterns were found for males and females.

The long-term sequelae of child and adolescent abuse: a longitudinal community study.

The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between childhood and adolescent physical and sexual abuse before the age of 18 and psychosocial functioning in mid-adolescence (age 15) and early adulthood (age 21) in a representative community sample of young adults. Subjects were 375 participants in an ongoing 17-years longitudinal study. At age 21, nearly 11% reported physical or sexual abuse before age 18.

Traumas and posttraumatic stress disorder in a community population of older adolescents.

Objective: The prevalence of DSM-III-R traumas and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and their impact on psychosocial functioning were examined in a community population of older adolescents.

Methods: Subjects were 384 adolescents participating in an ongoing longitudinal study. When subjects were aged 18 years, the NIMH Diagnostic Interview Schedule, Version IIIR, was used to identify lifetime traumatic events and diagnoses of PTSD, major depression, phobias, and substance dependence.

Ages of onset of psychiatric disorders in a community population of older adolescents.

Objective: Ages of onset of psychiatric disorders, as well as the link between early onset and later psychosocial functioning, were examined in a community population of older adolescents.

Method: Subjects were 386 adolescents who were participants in an ongoing 14-year longitudinal study. At age 18, lifetime diagnoses and ages of onset of major depression, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder, and substance disorders were assessed using the NIMH Diagnostic Interview Schedule, Revised Version.

Psychosocial risks for major depression in late adolescence: a longitudinal community study.

Objective: An ongoing 14-year longitudinal study examined psychosocial antecedents of major depression in late adolescence in a community population.

Method: Subjects were 385 adolescents followed between the ages of 5 and 18 years. Early health, familial, behavior, academic, and environmental risks for major depression were identified using data collected at ages 5, 9, 15, and 18 years.

Prevalence of psychiatric disorders in a community population of older adolescents.

In a community study of 386 Caucasian working-class older adolescents, a sizeable proportion met lifetime criteria for selected DSM-III-R diagnoses. Alcohol abuse/dependence had the highest lifetime prevalence rate (32.4%), followed by phobias (22.

The relationship of early risk and current mediators to depressive symptomatology in adolescence.

In an ongoing 10-year longitudinal study in a lower-middle-class community, 21% of 378 fifteen-year-olds studied through interviews and questionnaires reported high levels of depressive symptoms on the Children's Depression Inventory. Girls were twice as likely to express depressive symptoms as boys. Early risk factors for high levels of depressive symptomatology included serious preschool illness, anxiety expressed at age 9, and death of a parent for girls but not boys.

School aptitude and achievement in children of adolescent mothers.

The effects of adolescent childbearing and parenting on the academic aptitude and achievement of fourth-grade children were examined by comparing children of mothers in three age groups at the birth of the first child: 15-17 years, 18-19 years, and 20-24 years. The data are from a longitudinal study of a community population of schoolchildren. Outcome measures were tests of cognitive skills at preschool screening, parent and teacher ratings of school performance at grade 3, and tests of aptitude and achievement at grade 4.

Behavioral and emotional functioning in children of adolescent mothers.

This study compared children of mothers in three age groups--15-17, 18-19, and 20-24 years--at the birth of their first child. Outcome measures were ratings of psychological functioning obtained at three time periods from multiple sources. Results, controlling for family structure and maternal education, indicate that children of adolescent mothers were generally not different from children of mothers in their early twenties with respect to behavioral and emotional functioning.

Clinical assessments and maternal judgments: concurrent and predictive relationships.

Mothers and clinicians, both of whom play key roles in securing mental health services for children, have been found to differ in their ratings of children's adjustment. While this finding is confirmed by the present study, ratings made by social workers based on a structured interview with mothers prior to their children's kindergarten entry indicate a number of significant relationships with measures of children's school and behavioral adjustment four years later.

Gender differences in learning and adjustment problems in school: results of a longitudinal study.

Results of a community study suggest that boys entering school had more problems with aggression and information processing than did girls. Later differences in learning and adjustment largely reflected the high proportion of boys among children receiving psychological services. Girls who received psychological services were less likely than boys to get special education help.