Common stressful life events and difficulties are associated with mental health symptoms and substance use in young adolescents

Abstract

BackgroundStressful life events are associated with mood disorders in adults in clinical settings. Less described in the literature is the association between common life stressors and a wide range of psychopathology in young adolescents. This study uses a large non-clinical sample of young adolescents to describe the associations among worry or stress about common life events/difficulties, mental health and substance use.MethodsData on lifetime stress or worry about common life events/difficulties (i.e., romantic breakups, family disruption, interpersonal difficulties, and personal stress (health, weight, school work)), symptoms of depression, conduct disorder symptoms, and substance use were collected from 1025 grade 7 students (mean age 12.9 years; 45% male). The association between each source of stress and each mental health and substance use indicator was modeled in separate logistic regression analyses.ResultsThe proportion of adolescents reporting worry or stress ranged from 7% for new family to 53% for schoolwork. Romantic breakup stress was statistically significantly associated with all the mental health and substance use indicators except illicit drug use. Family disruption was statistically significantly associated with depression symptoms, marijuana use, and cigarette use. Interpersonal difficulties stress was statistically significantly associated with depression symptoms. All sources of personal stress were statistically significantly related to depression symptoms. In addition, health-related stress was inversely related to binge drinking.ConclusionYoung adolescents may benefit from learning positive coping skills to manage worry or stress about common stressors and in particular, worry or stress related to romantic breakups. Appropriate management of mental health symptoms and substance use related to common stressful life events and difficulties may help reduce emerging psychopathology.

Coping Strategies and Associations With Depression Among 12- to 15-Year-Old Norwegian Adolescents Involved in Bullying

“…Being bullied by peers is reported to be related to low levels of psychological well-being and social adjustment, and high levels of psychological distress, depressive symptoms and adverse physical health symptoms (Rigby, 2003;Low et al, 2012;Undheim and Sund, 2010). Negative psychological consequences of bullying appear to persist into adulthood (Copeland, Wolke, Angold and Costello, 2013).…”

Comparing Substance Use And Violence Among Adolescents Recruited From an Urban Emergency Department: Does Parenting Status Matter?

“…While adolescent substance use has been well-studied [32][33][34], the impact of adolescent substance use on the children of adolescent parents is less well established in the literature and future research is needed to determine the effects of adolescent parent tobacco, alcohol and marijuana use on the adolescent's child. Our cross-sectional findings may reflect increasing and decreasing trajectories in substance use across development based on the age, gender, and race [35], sexual orientation [36], sexual involvement [37], and due to the life stresses, potentially such as of having young children [38,39], found among adolescents. Future longitudinal studies of these young parents in the ED would better characterize these relationships.…”

Childhood adversity and metabolic outcomes in adults with mood disorders

“…In addition, the effect of family disruption may decrease family attachment, reduce self-regulation, and lead to risky health behaviours (Low et al, 2012). The adoption of these unhealthy behaviours associated with childhood adversity, including alcoholism, drug abuse, smoking, and physical inactivity (Felitti et al, 1998), can increase risks for metabolic disturbances and becoming overweight.…”