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. 2019 Jul;60(7):813-821.
doi: 10.1111/jcpp.13029. Epub 2019 Apr 15.

Cross-cohort change in adolescent outcomes for children with mental health problems

Ruth Sellers  1   2 , Naomi Warne  2 , Andrew Pickles  3 , Barbara Maughan  4 , Anita Thapar  2 , Stephan Collishaw  2
Affiliations

Cross-cohort change in adolescent outcomes for children with mental health problems

Ruth Sellers et al. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2019 Jul.

Abstract

Background: Child mental health problems are common. Previous studies have examined secular changes in their prevalence but have not assessed whether later outcomes have changed. We therefore aimed to test whether outcomes of child mental health problems have changed over a 40-year period.

Methods: Three cohorts were utilized: The National Child Development Study (NCDS: N = 14,544, aged 7 in 1965), the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC: N = 8,188, aged 7 in 1998), and the Millennium Cohort Study (MCS: N = 13,192, aged 7 in 2008). Mental health problems at age 7 were identified using the parent-reported Rutter-A scale (NCDS) and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (ALSPAC and MCS). Associated outcomes were compared across cohorts: age 11 social functioning, age 16 exam attainment and age 16 mental health.

Results: Child mental health problems were common in each cohort (boys: 7.0%-9.7%; girls: 5.4%-8.4%). Child mental health problems became more strongly associated with social functioning problems (boys: NCDS OR = 1.95 (1.50, 2.53), MCS OR = 3.77 (2.89, 4.92); interaction p < .001; girls: NCDS OR = 1.69 (1.22, 2.33), MCS OR = 3.99 (3.04, 5.25), interaction p < .001), lower academic attainment for boys (NCDS OR = 0.49 (0.31, 0.78), ALSPAC OR = 0.30 (0.22, 0.41), interaction p = .009), and age 16 mental health problems (boys: NCDS d' = 0.55 (0.38, 0.72), ALSPAC d' = 0.95 (0.73, 1.16); interaction p = .004; girls: NCDS d' = 0.50 (0.34, 0.65), ALSPAC d' = 0.99 (0.78, 1.20); interaction p < .001).

Conclusions: Child mental health problems have become more strongly associated with negative social, educational and mental health outcomes in recent generations.

Keywords: Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children; Child mental health; Millennium Cohort Study; National Child Development Study; secular change.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Percentage of boys (A) and girls (B) in each cohort with mental health problems at age 7 years (defined as scoring within the abnormal range, ≥17 of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire). 1965 (National Child Development Study); 1998 (Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children); 2008 (Millennium Cohort Study). Error bars indicate 95% confidence intervals
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