Family poverty over the early life course and recurrent adolescent and young adult anxiety and depression: a longitudinal study.
OBJECTIVE
We determined whether exposure to family poverty over a child's early life course predicts adolescent and young adult anxiety and depression.


METHODS
We used a birth cohort study of a sample of women in Brisbane, Australia, who were recruited in early pregnancy and whose children were followed up on at ages 14 and 21 years. Some 2609 mothers and adolescents provided usable data at the 14- and 21-year follow-ups.


RESULTS
After adjustment for poverty at other phases, poverty at the 14-year follow-up was the strongest predictor of adolescent and young adult anxiety and depression. The more frequently the child was exposed to poverty, the greater was the risk of that individual being anxious and depressed at both the 14- and 21-year follow-ups.


CONCLUSIONS
Family poverty predicts higher rates of adolescent and young adult anxiety and depression. Increased frequency of child exposure to poverty is a consistent predictor of adolescent and young adult anxiety and depression. Repeated experiences of poverty over a child's early life course are associated with increased levels of poor mental health.
Najman
Jake M
JM
School of Population Health, University of Queensland, and Mater Centre for Service Research in Mental Health, Mater Hospital, Herston Road, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia. j.najman@sph.uq.edu.au
Hayatbakhsh
Mohammad R
MR
Clavarino
Alexandra
A
Bor
William
W
O'Callaghan
Michael J
MJ
Williams
Gail M
GM
D000293:Adolescent; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011203:Poverty; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011793:Queensland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult