Psychological symptoms and physical health and health behaviours in adolescents: a prospective 2-year study in East London.
OBJECTIVE
To examine whether physical health and health-risk behaviours in young people are risk factors for psychological distress and depressive symptoms over a 2-year period.


METHODS
A 2-year, prospective epidemiological cohort study in East London.


METHODS
A total of 1615 adolescents from the Research with East London Adolescents: Community Health Survey (RELACHS)-a representative cohort of young people aged 11-12 and 13-14 years at baseline, followed-up after 2 years.


METHODS
Psychological distress and depressive symptoms identified by the self-report Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and the Short Moods and Feelings Questionnaire at baseline and follow-up. Data on overweight/obesity, general health, long-standing illness, physical activity, smoking, alcohol use and drug use were collected from questionnaires completed by the adolescents at baseline and follow-up.


RESULTS
At follow-up, 10.1% of males and 12.9% of females reported psychological distress; 20% of males and 33.7% of females reported depressive symptoms. Having tried drugs or engaged in two or more health-risk behaviours (smoking, alcohol use or drug use) at baseline predicted psychological distress and depressive symptoms at follow-up. Smoking on its own, long-standing illness, obesity/overweight and activity levels were not associated with later psychological health. Risk of poor psychological health at follow-up was associated strongly with psychological health at baseline.


CONCLUSIONS
Psychological health at baseline was the strongest predictor of psychological health at follow-up. Engaging in two or more health-risk behaviours moderately increased the risk of poor psychological health, suggesting that prevention strategies targeting co-occuring substance use may reduce burden of disease.
Clark
Charlotte
C
Centre for Psychiatry, Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine, Barts and the London, Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of London, UK. c.clark@qmul.ac.uk
Haines
Mary M
MM
Head
Jenny
J
Klineberg
Emily
E
Arephin
Muna
M
Viner
Russell
R
Taylor
Stephanie J C
SJ
Booy
Robert
R
Bhui
Kam
K
Stansfeld
Stephen A
SA
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015438:Health Behavior; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008131:London; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology*