Emotional Problems During Youth as Predictors of Stature During Early Adulthood: Results From a Prospective Epidemiologic Study

Abstract

Adults with emotional disorders exhibit abnormalities in growth hormone secretion. If these abnormalities were to occur during childhood, they could affect growth. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between youth emotional disorders and stature in early adulthood. Using data from a prospective epidemiologic study of youth psychopathologic status, we used linear regression to examine the prospective relationship between anxiety disorders (separation anxiety and over-anxious disorders) or major depressive disorder in youth and stature in early adulthood. Anxiety disorders during childhood prospectively predicted relatively short stature in early adulthood among females, accounting for more than 5% of the variance in adult height. However, these associations were not found among males. There may be an association between abnormalities in growth and emotional problems in youth. Further research should examine biological measures related to growth among youth with emotional disorders.