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Earlier age at menarche as a transdiagnostic mechanism linking childhood trauma with multiple forms of psychopathology in adolescent girls

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 April 2019

Natalie L. Colich Open the ORCID record for Natalie L. Colich [Opens in a new window] ,
Jonathan M. Platt ,
Katherine M. Keyes ,
Jennifer A. Sumner ,
Nicholas B. Allen  and
Katie A. McLaughlin
Natalie L. Colich*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
Jonathan M. Platt
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
Katherine M. Keyes
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
Jennifer A. Sumner
Affiliation:
Center for Behavioral Cardiovascular Health, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
Nicholas B. Allen
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA
Katie A. McLaughlin
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
*
Author for correspondence: Natalie L. Colich, E-mail: ncolich@uw.edu
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Abstract

Background

Although early life adversity (ELA) increases risk for psychopathology, mechanisms linking ELA with the onset of psychopathology remain poorly understood. Conceptual models have argued that ELA accelerates development. It is unknown whether all forms of ELA are associated with accelerated development or whether early maturation is a potential mechanism linking ELA with psychopathology. We examine whether two distinct dimensions of ELA – threat and deprivation – have differential associations with pubertal timing in girls, and evaluate whether accelerated pubertal timing is a mechanism linking ELA with the onset of adolescent psychopathology.

Methods

Data were drawn from a large, nationally representative sample of 4937 adolescent girls. Multiple forms of ELA characterized by threat and deprivation were assessed along with age at menarche (AAM) and the onset of DSM-IV fear, distress, externalizing, and eating disorders.

Results

Greater exposure to threat was associated with earlier AAM (B = −0.1, p = 0.001). Each 1-year increase in AAM was associated with reduced odds of fear, distress, and externalizing disorders post-menarche (ORs = 0.74–0.85). Earlier AAM significantly mediated the association between exposure to threat and post-menarche onset of distress (proportion mediated = 6.2%), fear (proportion mediated = 16.3%), and externalizing disorders (proportion mediated = 2.9%).

Conclusions

Accelerated pubertal development in girls may be one transdiagnostic pathway through which threat-related experiences confer risk for the adolescent onset of mental disorders. Early pubertal maturation is a marker that could be used in both medical and mental health settings to identify trauma-exposed youth that are at risk for developing a mental disorder during adolescence in order to better target early interventions.

Keywords

Adolescencechildhood adversitydevelopmental psychopathologyearly-life stresspuberty
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 50 , Issue 7 , May 2020 , pp. 1090 - 1098
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2019

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Footnotes

*

Authors contributed equally to this manuscript.

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