Poster #54 - Childhood Predictors of Depressive Symptoms at Age 35 in a Low-Income, Urban Sample

• In Event: 2-055 - Poster Session 06
  In Poster Session: PS 06 Section - Developmental Psychopathology

Integrative Statement

INTRODUCTION: Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide (World Health Organization, 2007). Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), low socioemotional skills, juvenile arrest, and socioeconomic stress have been identified as risk factors (Mondi et al., 2017; Wisener et al., 2005). There is a need for research elucidating the pathways to adult depression, particularly among low-income populations. Several studies have explored this topic (e.g., McLaughlin et al., 2007); however, most have utilized small samples and few have continued past early adulthood. The present study aims to address this gap by examining predictors of depression outcomes at age 35 in a large sample that grew up in urban poverty and that has been studied since childhood.

METHOD: Data was drawn from surveys and administrative records collected over a three-decade longitudinal study. The present sample includes 1,040 of 1,539 original participants who completed a follow-up survey at 35 (Table 1). Participants reported if they ever received depression treatment and completed the depression scale of the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI; Derogatis, 1975). A dichotomous variable was created to indicate the presence of any significant depressive symptom on the BSI, based on severity and frequency (Derogatis & Lynn, 2000; Mondi et al., 2017). A dichotomous variable was created to indicate history of depression treatment.

Logistic regression analyses were conducted for the male and female samples, predicting any significant depressive symptom and history of depression treatment. Variables related to demographics, childhood risk and intervention, academic achievement, socio-emotional functioning, parent involvement, school quality and mobility, and criminal justice system involvement were entered in multiple blocks, based on developmental stage (see Table 2 for complete listing).

RESULTS: 9.9% of females and 15.5% of males endorsed one or more significant depression symptoms at age 35. 13.7% of females and 6.8% of males endorsed ever receiving treatment (p<0.01).

Several significant predictors of depression outcomes emerged (Table 2). Among males, those who graduated from high school on-time were less likely to endorse symptoms at 35. Males with higher early childhood ACEs and males with higher perceived competence in middle school were less likely to have received treatment. Males with higher Kindergarten readiness scores and males who were retained in elementary school were more likely to have received treatment.

Females who attended magnet middle schools were less likely to endorse symptoms at 35. No significant predictors of treatment emerged for females.

CONCLUSION: The present study supports differential pathways to adult depression outcomes in a low-income, urban sample. Males were significantly more likely to endorse symptoms at age 35 and significantly less likely to have received treatment than females. Among males, academic achievement and educational attainment emerged as significant protective factors. Among females, engagement in high-quality middle schools was associated with lower adult symptomology. These results support interplay between educational outcomes and longitudinal mental health. They also support the implementation of a continuum of support services across childhood and adulthood for low-income individuals, particularly high-risk males.

Future research will examine prediction patterns for BSI continuous index scores, and adjust for potential sample attrition bias.

Authors

• Christina Mondi, University of Minnesota
  Presenting Author

• Suh-Ruu Ou, University of Minnesota
  Non-Presenting Author

• Arthur J Reynolds, University of Minnesota
  Non-Presenting Author