Abstract
Depression during adolescence is associated with a number of negative outcomes in later life. Research has examined the longitudinal nature of adolescent depression in order to identify patterns of depressive mood, the early antecedents and later consequences. However, rich longitudinal data is needed to better address these questions. The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) is an intergenerational birth cohort with nine repeated assessments of depressive symptoms throughout late childhood, adolescence and young adulthood. Depressive symptoms are measured using the Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (SMFQ). Many studies have used ALSPAC to examine the longitudinal nature of depressive symptoms in combination with the wealth of early life exposure and later outcome data. This data note provides a summary of the SMFQ data, where the data are stored in ALSPAC, the characteristics and distribution of the SMFQ, and highlights some considerations for researchers wanting to use the SMFQ data in ALSPAC.
Highlights
Depression during adolescence is associated with a number of negative outcomes in later life such as poorer mental health[1], impaired educational attainment[2] and reduced social functioning[3]
Several recent studies have suggested that examining depression within individuals over time may be helpful method for 1) uncovering the nature of adolescent depression and how it changes over time, 2) identifying risk factors associated with greater adolescent depression, and 3) examining how greater depression during and across adolescence is associated with later outcomes[7]
Many studies have used to examine the Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (SMFQ) in Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) for exploring the nature of depression across adolescence[6], risk factors for greater depression[13,14,15,16], and how depression during this period can be associated with later outcomes[2,17]
Summary
Depression during adolescence is associated with a number of negative outcomes in later life such as poorer mental health[1], impaired educational attainment[2] and reduced social functioning[3]. ALSPAC is one of the few cohorts that has repeated assessments of the Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (SMFQ)[9], reported by the child themselves throughout childhood, adolescence and young adulthood. Many studies have used to examine the SMFQ in ALSPAC for exploring the nature of depression across adolescence[6], risk factors for greater depression[13,14,15,16], and how depression during this period can be associated with later outcomes[2,17]. The aim of this data note is to provide the reader with a comprehensive overview of the SMFQ in ALSPAC. This data note focuses on the location of these data within ALSPAC, the sample sizes, validity and correlations between SMFQ assessments and the distribution of the SMFQ data
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