Pathways from problems in adolescent family relationships to midlife mental health via early adulthood disadvantages – a 26-year longitudinal study

Abstract

Poor childhood family conditions have a long-term effect on adult mental health, but the mechanisms behind this association are unclear. Our aim was to study the pathways from problematic family relationships in adolescence to midlife psychological distress via disadvantages in early adulthood. Participants of a Finnish cohort study at the age of 16 years old in 1983 were followed up at ages 22, 32 and 42 years old (N = 1334). Problems in family relationships were measured with poor relationship with mother and father, lack of parental support in adolescent’s individuation process and poor home atmosphere, and mental health was assessed using Kessler’s Psychological Distress Scale (K10). We analyzed the indirect effects of adolescent family relations on mental health at age 42 years old via various disadvantages (somatic and psychological symptoms, relationship/marital status, low education/unemployment and heavy drinking) at ages 22 and 32 years old. Problematic adolescent family relationships were associated with midlife psychological distress in women (0.19; 95% CI 0.11, 0.26) and men (0.13; 95% CI 0.04, 0.21). However, after adjustment for adolescent psychological symptoms, the association was only significant for women (0.12; 95% CI 0.04, 0.20). Poor family relationships were associated with various disadvantages in early adulthood. The association from poor family relationships (16 years old) to psychological distress (42 years old) was in part mediated via psychological symptoms in women (0.03; 95% CI 0.01, 0.04) and men (0.02; 95% CI 0.00, 0.04) and in women also via heavy drinking in early adulthood (0.02; 95% CI 0.00, 0.03). Adolescent family relationships have a role in determining adult mental health. Targeted support addressing psychological well-being and hazardous drinking for adolescents with problematic family relationships might prevent disadvantages in early adulthood, and further prevent poor midlife mental health.

Poor Family Relationships in Adolescence and the Risk of Premature Death: Findings from the Stockholm Birth Cohort Study

“…To the best of our knowledge, however, the link between poor family relations and premature death has not been shown in earlier research. Yet, our findings are in line with previous studies showing that poor family relations were associated with adult somatic and mental health problems [6,7,8,9,10]. Such health problems are, in turn, related to an increased risk of mortality.…”

“…Similarly, in their analyses of two British cohorts, Morgan et al [7] found that poor parent-child relationships predicted mental health problems in adulthood. Using data from a Finnish cohort study, Berg et al [8] showed that problems in adolescent family relationships were associated with psychological distress in mid-adulthood. Poor family relationships may however also affect somatic health in adulthood.…”

What Predicts Stable Mental Health in the 18–29 Age Group Compared to Older Age Groups? Results from the Stockholm Public Health Cohort 2002–2014

“…A mediating factor for this association was family connectedness and support [42]. In contrast, poor family relationships in adolescence predicted mental ill-health later in life [43]. Social support together with internal resources were also positively correlated with mental health in a cross-sectional study among university students, while perceived stress showed a negative association with mental health [44].…”

Psychological Well Being Youth Inventory for Domestic Violance Victims : Rasch Model Analysis

“…Family is the smallest social miniature in a community which comprises of adults, adolescents and children with each responsible of the well-being of the other (Kurniawan, 2015;Tutwiler, 2017). Its problems are quite worrisome to the community (Afdal, 2015;Berg, Kiviruusu, Karvonen, Rahkonen, & Huurre, 2017;Tseng & Hsu, 2018). The most rife phenomenon is the discovery of cases of violence (Herzberger, 2019;Roberson & Wallace, 2016), carried out against wives (women) and their children (Anjani, 2016;Borneo, 2016;Merung, 2016;Rasool, 2016;Utama Hs, 2017).…”