Father absence and trajectories of offspring mental health across adolescence and young adulthood: Findings from a UK-birth cohort.

ABSTRACT:

Background

High prevalence of parental separation and resulting biological father absence raises important questions regarding its impact on offspring mental health across the life course. We specifically examined whether these relationships vary by sex and the timing of exposure to father absence (early or middle childhood).

Methods

This study is based on up to 8409 children from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). Participants provided self-reports of depression (Clinical Interview Schedule-Revised) at age 24 years and depressive symptoms (Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire) between the ages of 10 and 24 years. Biological father absence in childhood was assessed through maternal questionnaires at regular intervals from birth to 10 years. We est

SUBMITTER: Culpin I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10666570 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature