Stressful Life Events In Adolescence Research Articles

Family dysfunction, stressful life events, and mental health problems across development in the offspring of parents with an affective disorder.

Offspring of parents with affective disorders (OAD) are at risk of developing a wide range of mental disorders. Deficits in the rearing environment and high levels of stress are well-known risk factors for negative outcomes in OAD. Building on prior research, we aim to examine the longitudinal relationships between family dysfunction, stressful life events, and mental health in OAD and control offspring of parents with no affective disorder. In the present study, we hypothesized that high levels of family dysfunction would be associated with more internalizing and externalizing problems across time in OAD than in controls, and that family dysfunction would mediate the relationship between stressful life events in adolescence and poor mental health in adulthood, particularly in OAD. As part of the TRacking Adolescents' Lives Survey (TRAILS), 2230 participants (51% female, Mage = 11.1 years, SD = 0.6, at baseline) and their parents completed measures across six time points, spanning 15 years. Mental health, family dysfunction, and stressful life events were assessed with the Youth and Adult Self-Report, Family Assessment Device, and an in-house measure, respectively. Multi-group structured equation modeling revealed that family dysfunction was linked to internalizing and externalizing problems in OAD, but not controls, across time. Risk status did not moderate family dysfunction's mediation of the relationship between stressful life events and negative outcomes in adulthood. OAD show high sensitivity to dysfunction in the rearing environment across childhood and adolescence, which supports the use of family based interventions to prevent the development of mental disorders in high-risk youth.

Stressful events among adolescents from public schools in a community in Brazil

Introduction Adolescence can be seen as a fundamental stage of life for the construction of the subject, resulting from childhood experiences and decisive for adulthood. It is common stressors to appear during adolescence, due to the lack of necessary resources to deal with a stressful problem or event. In this way, the evaluation of a stressful situation by the adolescent is important, because from it he will develop coping strategies that will help him to deal with the problem. Stressful life experiences, whether important events or even common annoyances, threaten the adolescent’s well-being, in addition to being linked to mental health and behavior problems, both internalizing ones, such as isolation, somatic complaints and anxiety/depression, as well as externalizing factors such as breaking rules and aggressive behavior. Romantic relationships are related to a major source of stress in the lives of these young people when conflicts, jealousy, aggression and infidelity occur, and have a great impact on the mental health of the individuals involved. Breakups, for example, have been linked to the onset of clinical depression in adolescents.There are three categories of concern for adolescents: (a) related to achievements, such as success in school or opportunity for success in the future; (b) relationships with colleagues or family members; and (c) social problems such as the environment, poverty and unemployment.ObjectivesTo identify and describe stressful life events in adolescents from public schools in a poor community in Brazil.MethodsThe study included 64 adolescents, boys (51.56%) and girls (48.43%), aged between 12 and 16 years old (average 13.76%). The Adolescent Perceived Events Scale (APES) was used, which consists of 90 items that correspond to events that may occur in the adolescent’s daily life.ResultsThe most significant stressors for the adolescents in this study were those dealing with the death of close people, such as a friend (100%), a family member (96.29%) and a relative (94.73%). Also appearing as major stressors were “plans that did not work” (91.89%), use of alcohol or drugs by family members (87.5%), loss of a job by parents (75%), imprisonment of a family member (75%), fights with boyfriend or girlfriend (86.66%), breakup (75%) and concern about their own appearance (76.52%).ConclusionsEvents referring to interpersonal relationships were considered the greatest stressors, with percentages above 80%. The present study contributed to the understanding of adolescents’ perceptions of their life events. In this way, we can understand the relationship between stressors and the coping strategies. Furthermore, it allows the proposition of preventive intervention strategies in the school context.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

High emotion differentiation buffers against internalizing symptoms following exposure to stressful life events in adolescence: An intensive longitudinal study.

Exposure to stressful life events is strongly associated with internalizing psychopathology, and identifying factors that reduce vulnerability to stress-related internalizing problems is critical for development of early interventions. Drawing on research from affective science, we tested whether high emotion differentiation-the ability to specifically identify one's feelings-buffers adolescents from developing internalizing symptoms when exposed to stress. Thirty adolescents completed a laboratory measure of emotion differentiation before an intensive year-long longitudinal study in which exposure to stress and internalizing problems were assessed at both the moment-level (n=4,921 experience sampling assessments) and monthly-level (n=355 monthly assessments). High negative and positive emotion differentiation attenuated moment-level coupling between perceived stress and feelings of depression, and high negative emotion differentiation eliminated monthly-level associations between stressful life events and anxiety symptoms. These results suggest that high emotion differentiation buffers adolescents against anxiety and depression in the face of stress, perhaps by facilitating adaptive emotion regulation.

Dynamic Fluctuations in Brain Function Following Stressful Life Events in Adolescence: A High-Frequency Longitudinal Neuroimaging Study

Dynamic Fluctuations in Brain Function Following Stressful Life Events in Adolescence: A High-Frequency Longitudinal Neuroimaging Study

Self-esteem as a protective factor against adolescent psychopathology in the face of stressful life events

Background: Adolescence is a period of transition, characterized by changing life events. Stressful life events impact the psychological health and quality of life (QoL) of adolescents. It is therefore critical to identify factors that protect adolescents from these stressors to inculcate resilience. The study aimed to explore the nature of life events experienced by adolescents, gender differences in life events, determine their association with psychological health, quality of life, and to investigate the potential protective role of self-esteem. Method: A quantitative, cross-sectional research design was chosen on a sample of 500 higher secondary school students. Life events were measured using the Child and Adolescent Survey of Experiences Scale (CASE). Depression, anxiety, self-esteem, and health related QoL (HRQoL) were assessed using Kutcher’s Adolescent Depression scale, Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders, Rosenberg Self-esteem scale, and KIDSCREEN-10 respectively. Results: Adolescents experienced significantly more positive life events. There were no gender differences in the experience of positive or negative life events. Depressed and anxious adolescents experienced significantly more negative life events. Self-esteem was the most significant factor that impacted adolescent QoL and protected against depression and anxiety when compared to life events in multiple regression analysis. Conclusion: Self-esteem is an important factor that buffers the negative effect of stressful life events in adolescence. It can serve as a target for the prevention of negative health outcomes as well as for optimal adolescent development.

The influence of stressful life events, psychopathy, and their interaction on internalizing and externalizing psychopathology

Exposure to stressful life events increases risk for both internalizing and externalizing psychopathology, but less is known about moderators of the association between stressful life events and psychopathology. The present study examined the influence of stressful life events, psychopathy, and their interaction on internalizing and externalizing psychopathology in 3877 individuals from the community. We hypothesized that (1) exposure to stressful life events would be a transdiagnostic risk factor for psychopathology, (2) primary and secondary psychopathy would be differentially associated with internalizing psychopathology, and (3) primary psychopathy would moderate the association between stressful life events and internalizing psychopathology. Confirming existing findings, our results were consistent with the first and second hypotheses. In contrast to our third hypothesis, primary psychopathy was not associated with stressful life events in childhood, inconsistently associated with stressful life events in adolescence, and did not moderate the association between stressful life events and internalizing psychopathology. Furthermore, stressful life events across development were associated with secondary psychopathy and internalizing and externalizing psychopathology. We also found similar associations between stressful life events, psychopathy, and psychopathology in females and males. Future studies investigating the impact of stressful life events on psychopathology should include psychopathic traits and stress-reactivity.

Recent Stressful Life Events (SLE) and Adolescent Mental Health: Initial Validation of the LEIA, a New Checklist for SLE Assessment According to Their Severity, Interpersonal, and Dependent Nature.

The main aim of the present study was to develop and validate a checklist for adolescents, the Life Events Inventory for Adolescents (LEIA), for screening stressful life events (SLEs) of different nature (major-minor, dependent-independent, and personal-interpersonal). The LEIA was administered together with another SLE checklist (Escala de Acontecimientos Vitales [Life Events Scale], EAV), and with measures of life satisfaction and externalizing and internalizing symptoms. The results showed that the kappa and the percentage agreement reliability indices were adequate. Regarding validity evidences, the correlations found between the LEIA and the EAV ranged from .65 to .69, and between the LEIA and the psychopathological symptoms ranged from .26 to .38. Specifically, major dependent noninterpersonal SLEs were the best predictors of externalizing psychopathology; while major independent noninterpersonal SLEs were the best predictors of internalizing symptoms and low life satisfaction. To conclude, the LEIA could be considered an adequate checklist to screen for SLEs in adolescents.

The role of identity commitments in depressive symptoms and stressful life events in adolescence and young adulthood.

The formation of a stable identity, consisting of a strong set of commitments, is a key developmental task in adolescence and young adulthood. Not resolving this task and lacking strong identity commitments is related to difficulties like depressive symptoms and stressful life events. However, the exact role of identity commitments in these negative experiences has remained unclear. In two longitudinal studies in the Netherlands spanning 8 and 6 years, respectively, we examined the associations between career and interpersonal commitments, depressive symptoms, and the number of experienced stressful life events over time. Study 1 included 683 adolescents (11 to 15 years at T1) and 268 adolescents and young adults (16 to 20 years at T1). Study 2 included 960 adolescents (12 to 17 years at T1) and 944 young adults (18 to 24 years at T1). Both studies indicated that stronger identity commitments predicted relative decreases in negative experiences. In Study 2, stronger interpersonal commitments predicted relative decreases in depressive symptoms. In both studies, stronger career commitments predicted a relative decrease in stressful life events. Furthermore, only career commitments weakened after negative experiences. Interpersonal commitments did not weaken after negative experiences, possibly because of the importance of interpersonal relationships during difficult times. Moreover, identity commitments did not buffer the effect of stressful life events on depressive symptoms in either study. These findings underscore the importance of identity commitments in adolescence and young adulthood, but provide crucial nuances regarding their role in different life domains. (PsycINFO Database Record

Supplemental Material for The Role of Identity Commitments in Depressive Symptoms and Stressful Life Events in Adolescence and Young Adulthood

Supplemental Material for The Role of Identity Commitments in Depressive Symptoms and Stressful Life Events in Adolescence and Young Adulthood

Self-Reported Stressful Life Events During Adolescence and Subsequent Asthma: A Longitudinal Study

Although exposure to stressful life events in adolescence has been associated with poor health as measured by number of physicians' visits and symptom scores, little is known regarding stress in adolescence and either concurrent or subsequent asthma. The objective of this study was to explore whether life events in adolescence are associated with either concurrent or new active asthma. The Tucson Children's Respiratory Study, a prospective population-based birth cohort, surveyed participants at 10 ages between 6 and 29 years regarding respiratory health. Asthma was defined as a physician-diagnosis of asthma withsymptoms during the previous year. At age 16, participants (n= 318) were queried regarding stressful life events using the 67-item Life Events Questionnaire for Adolescents (LEQA). LEQA scores were examined in relation to both concurrent and new active asthma. Estimates were obtained with logistic regression and mixed models. There was no relation between asthma prevalence at age 16 and LEQA scores in the overall sample, although males with high LEQA scores had higher prevalence of asthma compared with males with low scores (relative risk [RR]: 3.03; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.37, 6.69; P= .006). Among adolescents with no asthma through age 16, risk of new asthma was greater for those with high LEQA scores (adjRR: 4.07; 95% CI: 1.33, 12.43; P=.014), after adjustment for potential confounders including smoking. Emotional support from family and friends slightly diminished the relation of stress to new asthma. Stressful life events during adolescence are associated with subsequent new asthma. Additional biological and psychological measures of stress would complement these findings.

The differential relation of childhood maltreatment to stress sensitization in adolescent and young adult depression

Childhood maltreatment has been shown to have a stronger etiological relation to depression onset in adolescence than in adulthood. We propose that a maltreatment history may more strongly sensitize individuals to the depressogenic effects of proximal stressful life events in adolescence compared to adulthood. In an amalgamated sample of 176 unipolar depressed adolescents (age 12–17) and emerging adults (age 18–29), we examined the moderating role of age group on the relation of childhood maltreatment to sensitization to stressors that occurred just prior to episode onset. Among adolescents, but not among adults, those with a maltreatment history reported a lower severity level of life events prior to episode onset than reported by those without such a history. Further, this relation was specific to emotional abuse, and not physical or sexual abuse. We suggest that the pathological mechanisms associated with translating childhood maltreatment to depression may differ across developmental periods.

Glucocorticoid receptor gene (NR3C1) methylation following stressful events between birth and adolescence. The TRAILS study

Stress early in life is a known risk factor for the development of affective disorders later in life. Epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation, may have an important role in mediating that risk. Recent epigenetic research reported on the long-term relationship between traumatic stress in childhood and DNA methylation in adulthood. In this study, we examined the impact of various types of stress (perinatal stress, stressful life events (SLEs) and traumatic youth experiences) on methylation of the glucocorticoid receptor gene (NR3C1) in the blood of a population sample of 468 adolescents (50.4% female, mean age 16.1 years). Second, we determined whether stress at different ages was associated with higher NR3C1 methylation. NR3C1 methylation rates were higher after exposure to SLEs and after exposure to traumatic youth experiences. NR3C1 methylation in adolescence was not higher after exposure to perinatal stress. Experience of SLEs in adolescence was associated with a higher NR3C1 methylation, independently of childhood SLEs. We demonstrate that not only traumatic youth experiences but also (more common) SLEs are associated with higher NR3C1 methylation. In addition, our findings underline the relevance of adolescent stress for epigenetic changes in the NR3C1 gene.

Interaction between serotonin transporter polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) and stressful life events in adolescents' trajectories of anxious/depressed symptoms.

Caspi et al. (2003) found an interaction between the serotonin transporter polymorphism gene (5-HTTLPR) and stressful life events on depression. Subsequent attempts to replicate have been inconsistent. The present research included long allele variants modified by SNP rs25531 and tested the interaction on adolescents' trajectories of anxious/depressed symptoms, with consideration of possible age effects. Adolescents (N = 574), of whom 436 were genotyped, were followed from ages 12 to 17. Analyses demonstrated a G × E interaction in predicting the development of anxious/depressed symptoms. Specifically, adolescents with lower serotonin transcriptional efficiency (TE) genotypes whose mothers reported more stressful events were reported to show more anxious/depressed symptoms and greater increases in the development of symptoms of anxiety and depression than were higher TE adolescents, particularly at ages 16 and 17. Interactions did not differ by gender. Findings demonstrate that stress may affect adolescents' likelihood of experiencing anxious/depressed symptoms when they have a low serotonin TE (A/G-modified 5-HTTLPR) genotype and suggest that the vulnerability may be stronger in late than early adolescence.

5HTT genotype moderates the influence of early institutional deprivation on emotional problems in adolescence: evidence from the English and Romanian Adoptee (ERA) study

A common polymorphism in the serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4, 5HTT) has been repeatedly shown to moderate the influence of childhood adversity and stressful life events on the development of psychopathology. Using data from the English and Romanian Adoptee Study, a prospective-longitudinal study of individuals (n = 125) exposed to severe early institutional deprivation (ID), we tested whether the effect of ID on adolescent emotional problems is moderated by 5HTT genotype and stressful life events in adolescence. Emotional problems were assessed using questionnaire data (age 11), and on the basis of the CAPA diagnostic interview (age 15). Additionally, the number of stressful life events was measured. There was a significant effect for genotype (p = .003) and a gene x environment interaction (p = .008) that was independent of age at testing. Carriers of the s/l and s/s genotype who experienced severe ID showed the highest emotional problem scores, while l/l homozygotes in the severe ID group showed the lowest overall levels. Furthermore, s/s carriers in the severe ID group who experienced a high number of stressful life events between 11 and 15 years had the largest increases in emotional problem scores, while a low number of stressful life events was associated with the largest decrease (4-way interaction: p = .05). The effects of severe early ID on emotional problems in adolescence are moderated by 5HTT genotype, and influenced by stressful life events in adolescence.

A State-Trait Model of Negative Life Event Occurrence in Adolescence: Predictors of Stability in the Occurrence of Stressors

Stressful life events are an important risk factor for psychopathology among children and adolescents. However, variation in life stress may be both stable and time-varying with associated differences in the antecedents. We tested, using latent variable modeling, a state-trait model of stressful life events in adolescence, and predictors of stability in the occurrence of life events, using a high risk sample of children of alcoholic parents and matched controls (n = 422). Variation in the number of stressful life events reported at any time point in adolescence could be separated into both stable and time-varying sources of variance, and stability in the occurrence of life events was predicted by parental alcoholism, parenting support, and adolescent temperament. These findings suggest that parental psychopathology, poor relationship with parents, and temperament contribute to produce stable stress during adolescence.

Stressful life events and asthma in adolescents

Recent studies suggest that psychosocial factors may contribute to asthma. We examined associations of stressful life events with asthma prevalence and morbidity among Chicago adolescents. Self-reported asthma, measures of asthma morbidity, and 15 life events were collected from 2026 seventh to ninth grade students from 34 Chicago Catholic schools as part of the International Study of Allergies and Asthma in Childhood in 1994-95. Life events were reported by 77% of adolescents and overall asthma prevalence was 15.5%. Stressful life events in adolescents were significantly related to both asthma and asthma morbidity. Odds of asthma was 1.44 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.07, 1.95) for those reporting two to three stressful events and 1.92 (95% CI = 1.41, 2.62) for subjects endorsing more than three stressful events. In adolescents with asthma, number of asthma symptoms (odds ratio [OR] for increase in one event = 1.16, 95% CI = 1.07, 1.27), asthma-related school absenteeism (OR = 1.17, 95% CI = 1.04, 1.32), physician visits for asthma (OR = 1.16, 95% CI = 1.04, 1.29), and hospitalization for asthma (OR = 1.20, 95% CI = 1.001, 1.44) were significantly associated with the number of stressful events, independent of home exposure to cigarette smoke and dampness, use of inhaled substances, and sociodemographic factors. While these results are not sufficient to assign causality in the relationship between stress and asthma, they are supported by a number of other studies and by plausible biologic mechanisms. Assessing and addressing the effects of stressful life events may be helpful in managing asthma in inner city adolescents.

The aetiology of depression

This review will start by considering studies of the genetic contribution to the liability to depression, and go on to consider some of the ways in which environmental factors can modify gene expression. This will lead on to the pathways by which the genetic factors also appear to control stressful life events in adolescence and adult life, and then to a consideration of causes that are entirely environmental. We will conclude by considering the causes of the gender differences in the prevalence of depression during adult life.

Stressful Life Events, Health Symptoms, Social Support and Coping in Early Adolescents

Numerous research reports have substantiated the role of stressful life events in relation to the onset of health changes. The relationship tends to hold across different age groups. Theoretically, adolescence has been considered a developmental crisis period of great stress, impoverished coping skills and high vulnerability to biological, social and psychological demands. The research problem addressed by this study was to examine the relationships between stressful life events and health symptom patterns, and the effect of two variables, coping and social support, theoretically considered to mediate the relationship between stress and health symptoms in adolescents. The following five hypotheses were tested in this research: 1. Health symptoms are positively related to stressful life events in adolescents, 2. Health symptoms are negatively related to coping in adolescents, 3. Health symptoms are negatively related to social support in adolescents, 4. When coping is controlled, the relationship between health symptoms and stressful life events will decrease, and 5. When social support is controlled, the relationship between health symptoms and stressful life events will increase. The study subjects consisted of 1090 high school students of the metropolitan city of Seoul. The following sampling procedure was used: 1. Of the 169 high schools in nine school administrative districts in the city, a proportional sample of ten schools was selected. 2. One class from each of the freshman and sophomore was randomly selected and all the students who were in the sampled class were used as the study sample. The study was limited to freshman and sophomore adolescents, aged 15 to 18 (mean = 16.6). Of the 1090 subjects 688 (63%) were boys and 402 (37%) were girls. An Adolescent Inventory of Stressful Life Events, a Health Symptom Questionnaire and an Adolescent Coping Inventory were adapted for this study. The Norbeck Social Support Questionnaire was utilized to collect the data on perceived social support. Five high school teachers in the areas of school health and counselling reviewed the items of each questionnaire for content validity. A pilot study was undertaken to ascertain reliability. Fifty three high school students responded to the questionnaires and gave their opinions on the items. For stressful life events, health symptoms, coping, and social support, the Cronbach's alpha's on the study were .70, .94, .77, and .76, respectively. Research assistants attended all the sampled classes with the school proctor to explain the purpose and procedures of the study to the students. The questionnaires along with a ballpoint pen were distributed to the students who were asked to complete each item.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)