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Changes in the adult consequences of adolescent mental ill-health: findings from the 1958 and 1970 British birth cohorts

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 July 2021

Ellen J. Thompson Open the ORCID record for Ellen J. Thompson [Opens in a new window] ,
Marcus Richards ,
George B. Ploubidis ,
Peter Fonagy  and
Praveetha Patalay Open the ORCID record for Praveetha Patalay [Opens in a new window]
Ellen J. Thompson
Affiliation:
UCL Centre for Longitudinal Studies, Social Research Institute, University College London, London, UK
Marcus Richards
Affiliation:
MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing at UCL, University College London, London, UK
George B. Ploubidis
Affiliation:
UCL Centre for Longitudinal Studies, Social Research Institute, University College London, London, UK
Peter Fonagy
Affiliation:
Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK
Praveetha Patalay*
Affiliation:
UCL Centre for Longitudinal Studies, Social Research Institute, University College London, London, UK MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing at UCL, University College London, London, UK
*
Author for correspondence: Praveetha Patalay, E-mail: p.patalay@ucl.ac.uk
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Abstract

Background

Adolescent mental health difficulties are increasing over time. However, it is not known whether their adulthood health and socio-economic sequelae are changing over time.

Methods

Participants (N = 31 349) are from two prospective national birth cohort studies: 1958 National Child Development Study (n = 16 091) and the 1970 British Cohort Study (n = 15 258). Adolescent mental health was operationalised both as traditional internalising and externalising factors and a hierarchical bi-factor. Associations between adolescent psychopathology and age 42 health and wellbeing (mental health, general health, life satisfaction), social (cohabitation, voting behaviour) and economic (education and employment) outcomes are estimated using linear and logistic multivariable regressions across cohorts, controlling for a wide range of early life potential confounding factors.

Results

The prevalence of adolescent mental health difficulties increased and their associations with midlife health, wellbeing, social and economic outcomes became more severe or remained similar between those born in 1958 and 1970. For instance, a stronger association with adolescent mental health difficulties was found for those born in 1970 for midlife psychological distress [odds ratio (OR) 1970 = 1.82 (1.65–1.99), OR 1958 = 1.60 (1.43–1.79)], cohabitation [OR 1970 = 0.64 (0.59–0.70), OR 1958 = 0.79 (0.72–0.87)], and professional occupations [OR 1970 = 0.75 (0.67–0.84), OR 1958 = 1.05 (0.88–1.24)]. The associations of externalising symptoms with later outcomes were mainly explained by their shared variance with internalising symptoms.

Conclusion

The widening of mental health-based inequalities in midlife outcomes further supports the need to recognise that secular increases in adolescent mental health symptoms is a public health challenge with measurable negative consequences through the life-course. Increased public health efforts to minimise adverse outcomes are needed.

Keywords

Internalisingexternalisinggeneral psychopathologylongitudinaleconomichealthsociallife-course
Type
Original Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 53 , Issue 3 , February 2023 , pp. 1074 - 1083
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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