Adolescent Depressive Symptoms and Subsequent Pregnancy, Pregnancy Completion and Pregnancy Termination in Young Adulthood: Findings from the Victorian Adolescent Health Cohort Study

Abstract

Study Objective To examine relationships between depressive symptoms in adolescence (14-18 years of age) and becoming pregnant, completing a pregnancy (live birth) and terminating a pregnancy in young adulthood (21-24 years of age). Participants and Design Data from 1000 females were drawn from a larger sample of 1943 young Australians participating in a longitudinal study of adolescent health and development, followed across 8 waves from adolescence (waves 1-6) to young adulthood (waves 7 and 8). Setting Victoria, Australia. Main Outcome Measures Pregnancy, pregnancy completion and pregnancy termination between 21-24 years of age. Results We observed a twofold increase in the odds of becoming pregnant in those reporting persisting patterns of depressive symptoms during adolescence (2+ waves); however, after staged adjustment for adolescent antisocial behaviour, drug use and socioeconomic disadvantage, there was no evidence of association. Of particular note, and consistent with previous research, adolescent antisocial and drug use behavior were strongly associated with becoming pregnant and pregnancy termination in young adulthood. Conclusions Adolescent antisocial and drug use behavior, not depressive symptoms, independently predict pregnancy outcomes in young adulthood.