Are sex differences in adolescent depression and anxiety driven by adrenarchal hormones? A causal mediation analysis from a prospective cohort study

Abstract

Background Incident depression and anxiety rise from early adolescence, when sex differences around these disorders first emerge. We aimed to examine the effects of adrenarchal hormones on depression and anxiety symptoms during early adolescence, and to assess whether sex differences in these outcomes are mediated by these hormones. Methods Data were from the Child to Adult Transition Study, a population-based cohort from Melbourne, Australia that has annually tracked 667 females and 572 males who were recruited in Grade 3. Salivary DHEA, DHEAS, and testosterone were measured at baseline (age 9 years). Depression and anxiety symptoms at wave 5 (age 13 years) were self-reported. Interventiona..