The effect of timing and tempo of adrenarche on depression and anxiety in adolescence: A prospective cohort analysis

Abstract

BACKGROUND: A considerable proportion of life-time depression and anxiety emerges during childhood and adolescence. Some research has shown that pubertal maturity is associated with depression and anxiety. While most research has focused on gonadarche, the earlier phase of adrenarche remains less explored and understood. We aimed to examine the effects of timing and tempo of adrenarche on incidence and chronicity of depression and anxiety during adolescence. METHODS: Data were from the Child to Adult Transition Study (CATS), a longitudinal population-based cohort from Melbourne, Australia. CATS recruited Grade 3 students in 2012, who were followed up annually across adolescence. Adrenarchal ..