Association of Social Support During Adolescence with Depression, Anxiety, and Suicidal Ideation in Young Adults

• In Event: Poster Session 03
  In Poster Session: PS 03 Topic - Social Relationships

Abstract

Importance: Mental health problems are common during the transitioning from adolescence to young adulthood (Bruffaerts et al., 2019). While perceived social support and mental health problems have been shown to be concurrently associated (Gariepy et al., 2016), longitudinal studies are lacking to help document the directionality of this association, especially in emerging adulthood.
Objective: To test whether social support in emerging adulthood protects against later depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation/attempt after adjusting for a range of confounders including prior mental health problems and family characteristics.
Method: This population-based cohort study included 1174 participants from the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development (http://www.iamiwillbe.stat.gouv.qc.ca). Participants underwent assessment yearly or bi-yearly (5 months to 20 years). Data were collected from March 16th, 1998, through June 1st, 2018. Self-reported perceived social support was measured at age 19 years. Scores were converted to z-scores to ease interpretation. Mental health problems, including depressive and anxiety symptoms (z-scores), as well as suicidal ideation and attempts were measured at age 20 years. Depressive and anxiety symptoms were categorized using validated cut-offs to determine clinical significance.
Results: The study consisted of 1174 participants (biological sex; 680= females, 494=males). Emerging adults with higher levels of perceived social support at age 19 years reported fewer mental health problems, one year later, even after adjusting for a range of mental health problems in adolescence at 15 and 17 years (e.g., depressive and anxiety symptoms, suicidal ideation and attempts) and family characteristics (e.g., family functioning). Higher perceived social support was associated with fewer depressive (β=-0.23, p=<.001 and odds ratio [OR] 0.53, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.42-0.66 for severe depression) and anxiety symptoms (β=-0.10, p<.001 and OR 0.78, CI 0.62-0.98 for severe anxiety). Higher perceived social support was associated with a lower risk for suicide-related outcomes (OR 0.59, CI 0.50-0.70 for suicidal ideation and OR 0.60, CI 0.46-0.79 for suicide attempts).
Conclusions and relevance: Emerging adults who perceived higher levels of social support experienced fewer mental health problems, one year later. These findings suggest that perceived social support can protect against mental health problems during the transition into adulthood, even for those who experienced mental health problems in adolescence. Leveraging social support in prevention and treatment options can protect against mental health symptoms during this transitioning period.

Authors

• Sara Scardera, McGill University
  Presenting Author

• Léa Perret, McGill University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Isabelle Ouellet-Morin, Université de Montréal
  Non-Presenting Author

• Geneviève Gariépy, Université de Montréal
  Non-Presenting Author

• Robert-Paul Juster, Université de Montréal
  Non-Presenting Author

• Michel Boivin, Universite Laval
  Non-Presenting Author

• Gustavo Turecki, McGill University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Richard E. Tremblay, University of Montreal
  Non-Presenting Author

• Sylvana M Côté, Université de Montréal (UdeM)
  Non-Presenting Author

• Marie-Claude Geoffroy, McGill University
  Non-Presenting Author