title: Short-Term Natural Course of Depressive Symptoms and Family-Related Stress in Adolescents After Separation From Father.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine if separation from a father is associated with short-term changes in mental health or substance use in adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Every 3 months, during a 5-year period, we followed 1160 Grade 7 students participating in the Nicotine Dependence in Teens Study who were living with both parents. Participants who reported not living with their father for 6 or more consecutive months during follow-up were categorized as separated from father. Pooled regressions within the framework of generalized estimating equations were used to model the associations between separation from father and indicators of mental health (depressive symptoms, and worry and [or] stress about family relationships or the family situation) and substance use (alcohol use and cigarette smoking) 4 to 6 and 7 to 9 months postseparation, controlling for age, sex, and baseline level of the outcome variable.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with adolescents living with both parents, adolescent offspring separated from their fathers were more likely to report depressive symptoms (β = 0.17, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.33) 4 to 6 months postseparation, as well as worry and (or) stress about their parents separating or divorcing (OR 2.39, 95% CI 1.29 to 4.43), a new family (OR 4.25, 95% CI 2.33 to 7.76), and the family financial situation (OR 2.35, 95% CI 1.53 to 3.60). Separation from father was also marginally significantly related to worry and (or) stress about their relationship with their father (OR 1.53; 95% CI 0.98 to 2.39). At 7 to 9 months postseparation, separation from father continued to be associated with worry and (or) stress about their parents separating or divorcing, a new family, and the family financial situation. Separation from father was no longer associated with worry and (or) stress about their relationship with their father, but it was associated with worry and (or) stress about their relationship with their mother. Separation from father was not related to use of alcohol or cigarettes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adolescent offspring experienced family-related stress and transient depression symptoms in the 4- to 9-month period following separation from their fathers.
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University and McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec.
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gobbi
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec; Clinical Director, McGill Mental Health Service, Services for Students, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec.
authors.forename: Nancy C P
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Low
authors.affiliation: Project Coordinator, Centre de recherche, Centre hospitalier de l'université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec.
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dugas
authors.affiliation: Researcher, Centre de recherche, Centre hospitalier de l'université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec; Assistant Professor, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Montréal, Montreal, Quebec.
authors.forename: Marie-Pierre
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Sylvestre
authors.affiliation: Research Associate, Epidemiology and Biostatistics Unit, Institut national de la recherche scientifique-Institut Armand-Frappier, Université du Québec, Laval, Quebec.
authors.forename: Gisèle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Contreras
authors.affiliation: Researcher, Centre de recherche, Centre hospitalier de l'université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec; Professor, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Montréal, Montreal, Quebec.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: O'Loughlin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005195:Family Relations / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016018:Least-Squares Analysis; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010333:Paternal Deprivation; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D000066608:Underage Drinking / Q000706:statistics & numerical data