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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology

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01-09-2005 | Original Investigation

Childhood adversities, adult risk factors and depressiveness

A population study

Authors: Katariina Korkeila, MD, PhD, Jyrki Korkeila, MD, PhD, Jussi Vahtera, MD, PhD, Mika Kivimäki, PhD, Sirkka-Liisa Kivelä, MD, PhD, Lauri Sillanmäki, Markku Koskenvuo, MD, PhD

Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology | Issue 9/2005

Abstract

Objective

Childhood adversities have been associated with adulthood depressiveness, but the contribution of adult risk factors is seldom described. We examined whether adult risk factors lie on the pathway from childhood adversity to adult depressiveness (pathway hypothesis) or whether the association depends on life events (vulnerability hypothesis).

Method

Among 21,101 randomly sampled working-aged respondents [the Health and Social Support in Finland (HeSSup) Study], the hypotheses were tested with logistic regression analysis models studying the associations between Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)-assessed depressiveness and self-reported childhood adversities alone and in combination with recent adverse events.

Results

Childhood adversities were consistently associated with depressiveness (women, age-adjusted odds ratio 3.1, 95% confidence intervals 2.6–3.7; men, 2.6, 2.1–3.3), although the risks were decreased by more than 30% after adjustments for adult risk factors such as living alone, education, alcohol consumption, social support and negative affectivity. Childhood adversities combined with recent life events were associated with depressiveness in an additive manner. Women with childhood adversities and recent person-independent events especially had increased vulnerability for depressiveness.

Conclusions

The childhood adversity–depressiveness associations were partly mediated by adult risk factors, supporting a pathway from childhood adversities to depressiveness through adult risk factors. Increased vulnerability for depressiveness was found among respondents with childhood adversities in combination with recent death/illness events. The findings emphasize the importance of early risk factors when identifying persons at risk of depression.

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Title: Childhood adversities, adult risk factors and depressiveness
A population study
Authors: Katariina Korkeila, MD, PhD
Jyrki Korkeila, MD, PhD
Jussi Vahtera, MD, PhD
Mika Kivimäki, PhD
Sirkka-Liisa Kivelä, MD, PhD
Lauri Sillanmäki
Markku Koskenvuo, MD, PhD
Publication date: 01-09-2005
Publisher: Steinkopff-Verlag
Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology / Issue 9/2005
Print ISSN: 0933-7954
Electronic ISSN: 1433-9285
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-005-0969-x

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Childhood adversities, adult risk factors and depressiveness

A population study

Abstract

Objective

Method

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Objective

Method

Results

Conclusions

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