Cohort study, 2012
Do depression increases in early adolescence predict menstrual cycle mood problems later?
Girls whose depression increased in early adolescence showed menstrual cycle mood changes in adulthood, suggesting hormonal factors link early teen depression to later cycle symptoms. The study was small.
What they did
A follow-up study of 47 women measured depression from ages 12 to 21. Researchers tracked menstrual-cycle-related mood symptoms in early adulthood and tested whether early-adolescent depression changes predicted these mood patterns.
What they found
Early-adolescent increases in depressive symptoms were associated with menstrual cycle mood changes in early adulthood. Late-adolescent depression changes only predicted depression at ages 20-21. Most participants (91%) were European Canadian.
What it means for you
The results suggest a hormonal link between teenage depression and later menstrual cycle mood problems. However, this was a very small study (47 women) in one country with limited ethnic diversity, so results may not apply broadly.
47
Women followed
12-21 years
Age range
91%
European Canadian
About the study
- Original title
- Developmental associations between adolescent change in depressive symptoms and menstrual-cycle-phase-specific negative affect during early adulthood
- Authors
- Kiesner J, Poulin F
- Journal
- Journal of youth and adolescence
- Year
- 2012
- Study design
- Cohort study
- Participants
- 47
- What was tested
- None (observational study)
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1007/s10964-011-9722-y
Topics
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