Significance of family life events in middle adolescence: a survey on Finnish community adolescents.
Finnish middle adolescents (n=3242) were assessed for family characters, family life events, depression and frequent drunkenness. Odds ratios for maladjustment outcomes associated with each event were computed and logistic regression models were used to estimate the effect of confounders. In the presence of serious illness or injury of a family member, increasing conflicts between parents and financial difficulties in the family, the probability of depression was twice as high than without the presence of these events. Parental unemployment, parent getting involved with the law and financial difficulties in the family were associated with frequent drunkenness. The associations between life events and depression were fairly similar among boys and girls. Among girls there were several events associated with frequent drunkenness even when family structure and socio-economic status were accounted for, while among boys there were only few. The significance of associations between family life events and depression may vary between the specific events while the associations between family life events and frequent drunkenness may be better explained with cumulative stress. Both males and females react to family stress, but the symptoms presented may differ. In case of family adversities, both internalizing and externalizing outcomes must be screened for.
Fröjd
Sari
S
Tampere School of Public Health, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland. sari.frojd@uta.fi
Kaltiala-Heino
Riittakerttu
R
Pelkonen
Mirjami
M
Von Der Pahlen
Bettina
B
Marttunen
Mauri
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D054541:Family Conflict / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors