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Do mental health problems in childhood predict chronic physical conditions among males in early adulthood? Evidence from a community-based prospective study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 May 2008

R. D. Goodwin ,
A. Sourander ,
C. S. Duarte ,
S. Niemelä ,
P. Multimäki ,
G. Nikolakaros ,
H. Helenius ,
J. Piha ,
K. Kumpulainen  and
I. Moilanen
...Show all authors
R. D. Goodwin*
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
A. Sourander
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Turku University, Finland RBUP, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Tromsö University, Norway Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, USA
C. S. Duarte
Affiliation:
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, USA
S. Niemelä
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Turku University, Finland
P. Multimäki
Affiliation:
Department of Adolescent Psychiatry, Turku University Hospital, Finland
G. Nikolakaros
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health, Turku University, Finland
H. Helenius
Affiliation:
Department of Biostatistics, Turku University, Finland
J. Piha
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Turku University, Finland
K. Kumpulainen
Affiliation:
Department of Child Psychiatry, Kuopio University, Kuopio, Finland
I. Moilanen
Affiliation:
Department of Child Psychiatry, Oulu University, Oulu, Finland
T. Tamminen
Affiliation:
Department of Child Psychiatry, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
F. Almqvist
Affiliation:
Department of Child Psychiatry, Helsinki University, Helsinki, Finland
*
*Address for correspondence: Dr R. D. Goodwin, Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA. (Email: rdg66@columbia.edu)
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Abstract

Background

Previous studies have documented associations between mental and physical health problems in cross-sectional studies, yet little is known about these relationships over time or the specificity of these associations. The aim of the current study was to examine the relationship between mental health problems in childhood at age 8 years and physical disorders in adulthood at ages 18–23 years.

Method

Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to examine the relationship between childhood mental health problems, reported by child, parent and teacher, and physical disorders diagnosed by a physician in early adulthood.

Results

Significant linkages emerged between childhood mental health problems and obesity, atopic eczema, epilepsy and asthma in early adulthood. Specifically, conduct problems in childhood were associated with a significantly increased likelihood of obesity and atopic eczema; emotional problems were associated with an increased likelihood of epilepsy and asthma; and depression symptoms at age 8 were associated with an increased risk of asthma in early adulthood.

Conclusions

Our findings provide the first evidence of an association between mental health problems during childhood and increased risk of specific physical health problems, mainly asthma and obesity, during early adulthood, in a representative sample of males over time. These data suggest that behavioral and emotional problems in childhood may signal vulnerability to chronic physical health problems during early adulthood.

Keywords

Asthmaconduct disorderdepressionepidemiologyobesity
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 39 , Issue 2 , February 2009 , pp. 301 - 311
Copyright
Copyright © 2008 Cambridge University Press

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