Trajectories between childhood internalising behaviour problems and adolescent depressive symptoms [ 2001 - 2001 ]

Research Grant

Researchers: Prof John Toumbourou (Principal investigator) ,  Prof Ann Sanson

Brief description Depressive symptoms are known to escalate sharply through the adolescent years. Adolescents who experience an episode of depression are very likely to experience further mental illness as adults. Efforts to prevent depressive illness may be advanced by research delineating the factors and processes implicated in the early emergence of depressive symptoms. To advance such an understanding this project will analyse data collected, in part, through NHMRC support to Australian Temperament Project (ATP) researchers. The ATP data will be used to examine factors associated with the development and progression of depressive symptoms from childhood to adolescence. The ATP data set includes detailed longitudinal data collected from multiple sources (parents, teachers and youth) concerning child and adolescent temperament, behavioural problems, mother-child relations, health, depressive symptoms, school achievement, school adjustment, social skills, peer relationships, parenting practices, stressful life events, and sociodemographic factors. Of an original sample of 2443 enrolled in the cohort in 1983 (aged 4-8 months) a subsample of 1,350 adolescents should complete the data collection due in 2000 (age 17-18). Through the analysis of ATP data proposed in this application, models will be developed to explain the risk and resiliency processes in childhood and early adolescence influencing the development and course of adolescent depression, for different subgroups of adolescents. To achieve this objective, analyses will: 1. identify groups who have differing trajectories from childhood internalising behaviour problems to adolescent depressive symptoms; 2. compare groups to identify factors that contribute to the progression from internalising behaviour problems to depressive symptoms, while also identifying factors which appear to impede such progression and; 3. compare groups to identify factors associated with transient versus persistent depressive symptoms in adolescence.

Funding Amount $AUD 55,000.00

Funding Scheme NHMRC Project Grants

Notes Standard Project Grant