Social environment and brain structure in adolescent mental health: A cross-sectional structural equation modelling study using IMAGEN data.

ABSTRACT: Adolescent mental health is impacted by a myriad of factors, including the developing brain, socioeconomic conditions and changing social relationships. Studies to date have neglected investigating those factors simultaneously, despite evidence of their interacting effects and distinct profiles for males and females. The current study addressed that gap by applying structural equation modelling to IMAGEN data from adolescents aged 14 years (n = 1950). A multi-group model split by sex was tested with the variables of socioeconomic stress, family support, peer problems, and brain structure as predictors, and emotional symptoms as the main outcome. Findings indicated that, for both sexes, peer problems were positively associated with emotional symptoms, and socioeconomic stress was negatively

SUBMITTER: Stepanous J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9815590 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature