Dataset Information

Earthquake exposure during adolescence and later-life depressive symptoms: A national cross-sectional survey

ABSTRACT:

Background

This study aimed to examine the association between exposure to the 1976 Great Tangshan Earthquake (GTE) in adolescence and later-life depressive symptoms and to investigate the potential mechanisms underlying this association.

Methods

Data were from the 2015 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). The 10-item short form of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale (CESD-10) was chosen to measure depressive symptoms. We used the difference-in-difference (DID) method, binary logistic regression models, and multilevel logistic regression models to explore the association of earthquake exposure during adolescence with later-life depressive symptoms. Additionally, multilevel mediation analysis with structural equation modeling (MMSEM) was conducted to investigate potential mechanisms.

Results

We identified that adolescent exposure to earthquakes was related to a lower risk of depressive symptoms in later life (OR = 0.90, P = 0.019; OR = 0.48, P = 0.031; OR = 0.47, P = 0.034, respectively). However, this significant association was observed only in females (OR = 0.83, P = 0.028; OR = 0.46, P = 0.053; OR = 0.42, P = 0.037, respectively). Moreover, social activity participation played a mediating role in the association between exposure to earthquakes in adolescence and later-life depressive symptoms.

Conclusions

We observed a lower risk of depressive symptoms in later life in survivors of earthquake exposure during adolescence. Further, we found the mediating role of social participation in the association between earthquake exposure in adolescence and later-life depressive symptoms, which gives support for the posttraumatic growth (PTG) theory. Our findings imply that, in order to lower the risk of depression in later life following exposure to a natural disaster in adolescence, it is necessary to take into account the buffering effect of social participation. Highlights • Earthquake exposure in adolescence was related to lower later-life depression.• However, this significant association was found only in females, not in males.• Social participation mediates earthquake exposure's linkage with later depression.• The mediating role of social participation supports posttraumatic growth theory.

SUBMITTER: Liu Y

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10448222 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:ImportanceDepressive symptoms have increased among US adolescents since 2010. It remains unclear as to what extent this increase will persist into young adulthood, potentially turning the youth mental health crisis into a young adult mental health crisis.ObjectiveTo test the association between birth cohort and adolescent depressive symptoms at ages 18, 19 to 20, and 21 to 22 years and changes in these symptoms by cohort.Design, setting, and participantsThis panel cohort study analyzed data from the Monitoring the Future longitudinal survey from 1990 to 2019, including birth cohorts from 1972 to 2001. Survey respondents were recruited from US high schools in 12th grade and were approximately aged 18 years (at baseline) through age 21 to 22 years (during mail and web follow-up). Data analysis was conducted from April to October 2023.ExposureDepressive symptoms score (>12 vs ≤12, with >12 representing top-decile scores) on a scale examining affective items (eg, "Life often seems meaningless").Main outcomes and measuresHigh (vs lower) depressive symptoms at ages 19 to 20 years and 21 to 22 years.ResultsThe 36 552 respondents included 18 597 females (50.5%), and most reported having a parent who graduated from college (44.8%). Among females, 19.1% (95% CI, 16.7%-21.4%) of the most recent birth cohort (born: 1997-2001) had high depressive symptoms at age 18 years, higher than any previous birth cohort. While prevalence declined by age 21 to 22 years, it remained higher than previous cohorts at that age. Among males, 13.4% (95% CI, 11.2%-15.6%) of the most recent birth cohort had high depressive symptoms at age 18 years, and prevalence increased through young adulthood. Males with high baseline depressive symptoms had 10.24 (95% CI, 7.01-14.97) times the odds of symptoms at age 19 to 20 years and 6.20 (95% CI, 3.93-9.78) times the odds of symptoms at age 21 to 22 years. Females with high baseline depressive symptoms had 9.16 (95% CI, 6.57-12.76) times the odds of symptoms at age 19 to 20 years and 7.28 (95% CI, 4.92-10.78) times the odds of symptoms at age 21 to 22 years. The magnitude of the associations did not vary over time. Population attributable fractions indicated that the total proportion of young adult symptoms associated with depressive symptoms at age 18 years among females has increased; in the most recent birth cohort, 55.25% (95% CI, 38.11%-65.13%) of depressive symptoms at age 21 to 22 years were associated with symptoms at age 18 years.Conclusions and relevanceThis panel cohort study found that increases in depressive symptoms in adolescence persisted into young adulthood, suggesting the need for primary prevention and mental health resources during the adolescent years.