Factors associated with depressive symptoms among 18-year-old boys: a prospective 10-year follow-up study.
BACKGROUND
The aim is to study associative and predictive factors for self-reported depressive symptoms among 18-year-old boys.


METHODS
The participants in this community-based 10-year follow-up study consisted of 2348 boys born during 1981. At baseline, three informant sources were used: parents, teachers, and the children themselves. At follow-up, self-report questionnaires were used to study boys' family factors, life events, adaptive functioning, and substance use. Depressive symptoms at age 18 were established using Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI).


RESULTS
Poor adaptive functioning within family and in education, having fewer than two close friends, somatic health problems, and using illicit drugs were all independently associated with a high level of depressive symptoms in the cross-sectional data at age 18. Self-reported depressive symptoms (Children's Depression Inventory, CDI) at age 8 independently predicted an increased number of depressive symptoms 10 years later.


CONCLUSIONS
Only self-reported questionnaires were used at follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
The high association between depressive symptoms at age 8 and at age 18 gives grounds for paying special attention to children's own intimations of distress already in the early school years. Using self-report screening questionnaires in school health care may help identify children's depressive symptoms.
Haavisto
Antti
A
Child Welfare and School Health Care Clinic, Joint Authority of Health Work in Rauma Region, PO Box 283, 26101 Rauma, Finland. antti.haavisto@raumankttky.fi
Sourander
Andre
A
Multimäki
Petteri
P
Parkkola
Kai
K
Santalahti
Päivi
P
Helenius
Hans
H
Nikolakaros
Georgios
G
Nikalakaros
Georgios
G
Kumpulainen
Kirsti
K
Moilanen
Irma
I
Piha
Jorma
J
Aronen
Eeva
E
Puura
Kaija
K
Linna
Sirkka-Liisa
SL
Almqvist
Fredrik
F
D000293:Adolescent; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D004522:Educational Status; D005195:Family Relations; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012951:Socialization; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology
D013287:Illicit Drugs