Showing papers by "Quanxi Shao published in 1996"

Menarche and the onset of depression and anxiety in Victoria, Australia

Abstract: STUDY OBJECTIVE: Psychiatric disorder often begins at adolescence. This study aimed to examine the associations between puberty and social circumstances and the adolescent rise in depression and anxiety. DESIGN: A two stage cluster sampling procedure was used to identify a representative group of Australian secondary school students in years 7 (age 12-13 years), 9 (14-15 years), and 11 (16-17 years) of 45 Victorian schools. The computerised clinical interview schedule (CIS) was used to evaluate psychiatric morbidity. MAIN RESULTS: A total of 2525 subjects completed the survey - an overall participation rate of 83%. Levels of depression and anxiety increased with the secondary school years and girls had significantly higher rates at each school year level. For boys, the clearest independent associations with depression and anxiety were rising school year level and high parental educational achievement. For girls menarchal status emerged as the strongest predictor. Associations with age and school year level, evident on univariate analysis, did not persist when the recency of menarche was taken into account. After addition of measures of perceived social stress to a multivariate model, a significant association between depression/anxiety and parental divorce disappeared but the association with menarche persisted. CONCLUSIONS: Menarche marks a transition in the risk of depression and anxiety in girls. The pattern of findings is consistent with a biological mediation of this association.

Menarche andtheonset ofdepression and anxiety inVictoria, Australia

Abstract: Studyobjective - Psychiatric disorder oftenbeginsatadolescence. Thisstudy aimedtoexamine theassociations between puberty andsocial circumstances andthe adolescent riseindepression andanxiety. Design- A twostagecluster sampling procedure was usedtoidentify a representative groupofAustralian secondary schoolstudents inyears7 (age12-13 years), 9(14-15 years), and11(16-17 years) of45Victorian schools. Thecomputerised clinical interview schedule (CIS) wasused toevaluate psychiatric morbidity. Mainresults - A total of2525subjects completed thesurvey- an overall participation rateof83%.Levels ofdepression andanxiety increased withthesecondary schoolyearsandgirls hadsignificantly higherratesateachschoolyearlevel. Forboys,theclearest independent associations withdepression andanxiety wererising school yearlevel andhighparentaleducational achievement. Forgirls menarchal status emerged asthestrongest predictor. Associations withage and schoolyearlevel, evident on univariate analysis, didnotpersist whentherecency ofmenarchewastakenintoaccount. After addition ofmeasuresofperceived social stress toamultivariate model, asignificant association betweendepressionianxiety andparental divorce disappeared butthe association withmenarchepersisted. Conclusions - Menarchemarksa transition intheriskofdepression andanxiety ingirls. Thepattern offindings isconsistent withabiological mediation ofthis association.