Paternal and maternal psychological distress and adolescent health risk behaviors: The role of sensitive periods.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Adolescent health risk behaviors are linked to poor physical and mental health outcomes. While past research shows that maternal psychological distress predicts those behaviors, we know less about the role of paternal psychological distress and the role of sensitive periods.

Methods

Using 11,128 data from families (50.5% female children) from the UK's Millennium Cohort Study, we examined the role of timing of exposure to paternal and maternal psychological distress in engagement in health risk behaviors (smoking, alcohol use, binge drinking, and sexual activity) at age 14. Paternal and maternal psychological distress, measured with the Kessler-6 scale, were assessed at child ages 3, 7, and 11. We performed path analysis, adjusting for key covariates, modeling ma

SUBMITTER: Sifaki M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11618725 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature