Depressive Symptomatology and Trajectories of Risky Health Behavior Across the Transition from Adolescence to Young Adulthood.

Over the past two decades, adolescent depression has increasingly been recognized as a serious public health problem. The estimated prevalence rate ranges from just over eight percent to nearly 19 percent, with females having approximately twice the prevalence rate of males. In addition, a growing body of research suggests that many adolescents will continue to struggle with symptoms of depression as they make the transition from adolescence to young adulthood. While previous research has made important contributions to our understanding of the health risks associated with adolescent depression, these studies faced many serious limitations. This study, based on nationally representative longitudinal data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health), draws on ideas from life course theory and the social stress perspective to extend our knowledge about the long-term consequences of adolescent depression for adult health and well-being. Latent growth curve modeling will ultimately be used (1) to identify the developmental processes by which histories of depressive symptomatology influence trajectories of risky health behavior across the transition from adolescence to young adulthood and (2) to examine how gender, an important determinant of social structural position, is linked to physical health and mortality risk through differential exposure and vulnerability to mental health problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]