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TRAILS

2022

Physical health: Multiple health risk behaviors and mental health from a life course perspective: The Dutch TRAILS study

Authors: Wijbenga L, de Winter AF, Almansa J, Vollebergh WAM, Korevaar EL, Hofstra J, Reijneveld SA

Highlights

  • A life-course study based on a large cohort of 2,229 adolescents
  • Adolescents with similar MHRB patterns can reach adulthood with different levels of changes in mental health problems
  • Mental health problems at age 11 were a predictor of mental health at age 23, with MHRBs explaining only a small part
  • A continuity of obesity-related MHRBs throughout adolescence was associated with changes in mental health.

Physical health: Trajectories of stressful life events and long-term changes in mental health outcomes, moderated by family functioning? The TRAILS study

Authors: Wijbenga L, Reijneveld SA, Almansa J, Korevaar EL, Hofstra J, de Winter AF

Purpose. We assessed the association between trajectories of stressful life events (SLEs) throughout adolescence and changes in mental health from childhood to young adulthood. Further, we assessed whether family functioning moderated this association. Methods. Data of the first six waves of the TRAILS study (2001-2016; n = 2229) were used, a cohort followed from approximately age 11 to 23. We measured SLEs (death of a family member or other beloved one, delinquency, moving, victim of violence, parental divorce, and sexual harassment) at ages 14, 16 and 19. Family functioning was measured at all six time points using the Family Assessment Device (FAD), and mental health was measured through the Youth/Adult Self-Report at ages 11 and 23. Latent class growth analyses (LCGA) were used to examine longitudinal trajectories and associations. Results. We identified three SLE trajectories (low, middle, high) throughout adolescence, and found no significant associations between these trajectories and changes in mental health from childhood to young adulthood. Family functioning and SLE trajectories were significantly associated, however, the association of SLE trajectories and changes in mental health was not modified by family functioning. Mental health problems at age 11 increased the likelihood of high SLE trajectories during adolescence, and of experiencing negative family functioning. Conclusion. Experiencing SLEs throughout adolescence does not have a direct impact on changes in mental health from childhood to young adulthood, but early adolescence mental health problems increase the likelihood of experiencing SLEs.