title: Longitudinal pattern of early maturation on morning cortisol and depressive symptoms: Sex-specific effects.
abstract: There is still insufficient understanding of the underlying processes that contribute to internalizing problems of early maturing adolescents. The purpose of this study is to examine the longitudinal pattern of early maturation and its effects on morning cortisol and depressive symptoms among a general population of adolescent cohort aged 8-11 years old at baseline (boys=424, girls=288). Results suggest newly-onset early maturation boys have 3-times more likely to have depressive symptoms at 1-year follow-up (adjusted odds ratio=3.197, 95% confidence interval=1.595-6.405); while in girls, stable early maturation individuals are more than 4 times as likely to have depressive symptoms (adjusted odds ratio=4.566, 95% confidence interval=1.882-11.077). Morning cortisol has moderating effects in the association of depressive symptoms with newly-onset early maturation in boys and stable early maturation in girls. These findings possibly explain current inconsistent results regarding association between earlier maturation and risk of depression in adolescents. Further longitudinal studies are needed to explore HPG-HPA interactions in adolescence, which may be critical to understanding the heightened susceptibility of mental health problems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Maternal, Child & Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health &Aristogenics Hefei, Anhui Province, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Maternal, Child & Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health &Aristogenics Hefei, Anhui Province, China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Maternal & Health Care Hospital in Ma'anshan, Ma'anshan, Anhui Province, China.
authors.forename: Shuang-Qin
authors.initials: SQ
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: Department of Maternal, Child & Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health &Aristogenics Hefei, Anhui Province, China.
authors.forename: Jing-Jing
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Department of Maternal, Child & Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health &Aristogenics Hefei, Anhui Province, China.
authors.forename: Geng
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Maternal, Child & Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health &Aristogenics Hefei, Anhui Province, China.
authors.forename: Jiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Maternal, Child & Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health &Aristogenics Hefei, Anhui Province, China. Electronic address: fbtao@ahmu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Fang-Biao
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Tao
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D041923:Adolescent Development / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000378:metabolism; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000378:metabolism; D012463:Saliva; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: Depressive symptoms; Puberty; Salivary cortisol