Effects of childhood adversity trajectories on mental health outcomes in late adolescence: The buffering role of parenting practices in Taiwan

Effects of social-ecological risk factors and resilience on the relationship between metabolic metrics and mental health among young adults

The correlation between metabolic metrics and mental health remains underexplored, with few in-depth studies examining whether this association exists among college students and whether it might be moderated by socio-ecological risk factors (SERFs) and mediated by resilience. A follow-up study design investigated the association between baseline metabolic metrics, SERFs and resilience and mental health. A multivariable linear regression model using the PROCESS method established the relationship of SERFs, resilience and metabolic metrics with mental health. Participants were 794 adolescents (mean age: 18.64 [±0.90] years). In multivariable linear regression, the high-level SERFs (β = 0.124), resilience (β = -0.042), LCI (β = 0.072), and RFM (β = 0.145) were associated with higher depression symptoms, while CVH (β = 0.602), TyG (β = 0.295), TyG-BMI (β = 0.004), and RC (β = -0.041) were not. An association was also observed between SERFs, resilience, RFM and anxiety. Resilience mediated the relationship between metabolic metrics and depression and anxiety, and SERFs moderated this relationship, demonstrating the relationship between resilience, metabolic metrics, SERFs and mental health. By revealing the potential sociological mechanism underlying the relationship between metabolic metrics and adolescents' mental health, this study provides a theoretical basis for further exploration of the biological foundations of mental health.

From adverse childhood experiences to harsh parenting: Psychological symptoms as a mediator

BACKGROUND

Research evidence has demonstrated a direct link between ACEs and harsh parenting. However, the mechanisms linking paternal ACEs to harsh parenting have remained largely unexplored among Asian populations.

OBJECTIVE

In the current study, we examined the relationships between parental ACEs and harsh parenting and explored the potential mediating effect of psychological symptoms on the relationship between parental ACEs and harsh parenting.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

A total of 6195 Taiwanese parents of children aged 6 to 12 were recruited from 58 primary schools in the Taiwanese cities of Taipei and New Taipei.

METHOD

Using probability-proportional-to-size sampling and a self-report survey, we collected data relating to parental ACEs, psychological symptoms, and child-rearing behaviors. A hierarchical regression analysis was completed to examine the effects of parental ACEs and psychological symptoms on harsh parenting. In addition, we tested the potential mediating effects of psychological symptoms on the relationship between parental ACEs and harsh parenting by employing a simple mediation model (PROCESS) with a bootstrapping procedure.

RESULTS

We found that both parental ACEs and psychological symptoms were significant predictors for mothers' and fathers' adoption of harsh parenting behaviors. Moreover, after adjusting for covariates, we discovered the unique finding that psychological symptoms mediated the relationship between parental ACEs and harsh parenting among Taiwanese parents.

CONCLUSIONS

The study revealed a direct link between parental ACEs and harsh parenting, with psychological symptoms serving as a mediator. Our findings suggest that trauma-recovery programs should promote regular screening and interventions for parents with ACEs.

Mental health and its determinants among adolescents living in families with separated or divorced parents in an urban area of Vietnam

BACKGROUND

We assessed the prevalence of stress, anxiety, and depression among adolescents living in families with separated or divorced parents in Hue City, Vietnam and identified factors associated with these conditions.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study enrolled 309 adolescents, aged 12 to 17 years, living in families with separated or divorced parents in Hue City, Vietnam. The depression anxiety stress scale-21 (DASS-21) was used to measure stress, anxiety, and depression. Predictors of overall and individual mental health problems were identified using ordered and binary logistic regression, respectively.

RESULTS

The DASS-21 scale revealed a 49.2% prevalence of stress, while anxiety and depression had s prevalence rates of 61.5%. Among participants, 42.4% experienced all 3 mental health issues. Several factors were identified as significant predictors of mental health problems, including poor to average economic status (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.00; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.21-3.31; p=0.007); being in high school (aOR, 5.02; 95% CI, 2.93-8.60; p<0.001); maternal occupation of teacher, healthcare professional, or official (aOR, 2.39; 95% CI, 1.13-5.03; p=0.022); longer duration of family separation or divorce (aOR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.05-1.45; p=0.009); living with one's mother (aOR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.03-2.76; p=0.04); alcohol consumption (aOR, 1.70; 95% CI, 0.99-2.92; p=0.050); and being bullied (aOR, 5.33; 95% CI, 1.10-25.69; p=0.037). Most of these factors were associated with stress, anxiety, and depression. Additionally, smoking was associated with stress.

CONCLUSION

Adolescents with separated or divorced parents were at increased risk of stress, anxiety, and depression. The findings of this study provide important implications for prevention programs.

Role of body mass index in the relationship between adverse childhood experiences, resilience, and mental health: a multivariate analysis

OBJECTIVES

Depression among adolescents is a global concern. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been correlated with negative physical and mental health such as obesity and depression; however, increasing evidence has suggested that their correlation might be moderated by BMI and resilience. In this study, we aim to explore (1) whether resilience moderate the risk of mental health by ACEs; (2) whether BMI is a moderator of this relationship.

STUDY DESIGN

Adolescents were obtained from 4 grade college students by a multi-stage convenience sampling method in the period of May to Jun, 2022.

METHODS

We use the Connor-Davidson Resilience scale, Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 Item (DASS-21) questionnaires to measure the ACEs, BMI, resilience and mental health. The primary exposure was ACEs and the primary outcome was mental health; while resilience and BMI were moderators. Multivariable linear regression model was used to establish the relationship of ACEs, resilience and BMI against mental health status. Moderate analysis was employed by PROCESS method to explore the relationship between these variables.

RESULTS

A total of 3600 individuals were initially enrolled, after excluding 22 with invalid questionnaires, 3578 adolescents were finally included. The mean age was (20.53 ± 1.65) years old. After adjusted for covariates, multivariable linear regression suggest that the high level ACEs (, β =0.58, , 95%CI:0.54,0.62, P < 0.01), resilience (, β=-0.27, 95%CI: , 95%CI: -0.28,-0.26, P < 0.01) were associated with higher depression symptoms, and BMI (, β =0.073, 95%CI: 0.002-0.15, P < 0.05) was associated with higher depression symptoms. There is also the interaction between resilience, ACEs and mental health (depression, anxiety and stress symptoms). In the relationship between ACEs and mental health, resilience and BMI played a moderator role.

CONCLUSIONS

The moderate analysis also provided further evidence of a link between resilience, ACEs, BMI and mental health. The findings shed new light on potential mechanisms between ACEs and mental health, including the effects of the co-interaction of resilience and BMI, adding to previous literature. ACEs may be a profound variable to measure adolescents' psychosocial environment to influence mental health, and resilience moderate this effect and is also moderated by BMI.

Patterns and trajectories of children's maltreatment experiences in Taiwan: Latent transition analysis of a nationally representative longitudinal study

BACKGROUND

Little is known about the patterns of child maltreatment change over time and vary according to gender and child protective services (CPS) experience in Taiwan.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the latent status and the trajectories of child maltreatment and to identify effects that gender and CPS have on these statuses and trajectories in Taiwan.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

A national proportionately stratified sample of 6233 4th-grade students were recruited from 314 elementary schools in Taiwan, and followed up at 6th and 8th graders. A total of 1908 students completed valid data at all three time points was analyzed.

METHODS

Latent class analysis and latent transition analysis were used to identify the number of latent variables and the patterns of child maltreatment. Multiple-group model was used to test with gender difference.

RESULTS

Four latent maltreatment statuses were identified: high all maltreatment, high psychological maltreatment, high neglect, and no/low maltreatment. A reduction in maltreatment severity occurred over time was found. The percentage of students in the "high all maltreatment" and "high neglect" groups decreased whereas those in the "high psychological maltreatment" and "no/low maltreatment" groups increased. Differences in the transition probabilities of latent maltreatment status by gender was revealed. The percentage of CPS recipients in the "high all maltreatment" decreased over time.

CONCLUSIONS

This study highlighted the dynamic nature of child maltreatment and described the timing, continuity, and change that characterizes children's exposure to maltreatment in Taiwan. Policies and interventions geared toward early detection, mitigation, and prevention of child maltreatment are needed.

Dissecting early life stress-induced adolescent depression through epigenomic approach

Early life stress (ELS), such as abuse and neglect during childhood, can lead to psychiatric disorders in later life. Previous studies have suggested that ELS can cause profound changes in gene expression through epigenetic mechanisms, which can lead to psychiatric disorders in adulthood; however, studies on epigenetic modifications associated with ELS and psychiatric disorders in adolescents are limited. Moreover, how these epigenetic modifications can lead to psychiatric disorders in adolescents is not fully understood. Commonly, DNA methylation, histone modification, and the regulation of noncoding RNAs have been attributed to the reprogramming of epigenetic profiling associated with ELS. Although only a few studies have attempted to examine epigenetic modifications in adolescents with ELS, existing evidence suggests that there are commonalities and differences in epigenetic profiling between adolescents and adults. In addition, epigenetic modifications are sex-dependent and are influenced by the type of ELS. In this review, we have critically evaluated the current evidence on epigenetic modifications in adolescents with ELS, particularly DNA methylation and the expression of microRNAs in both preclinical models and humans. We have also clarified the impact of ELS on psychiatric disorders in adolescents to predict the development of neuropsychiatric disorders and to prevent and recover these disorders through personalized medicine.

RPS6KA5 methylation predict response to 6-week treatment for adolescent MDD patients

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to investigate the effect of differentially methylated genes and chronic childhood stress on the development of depressive symptoms in Chinese adolescents, as well as to test whether methylation at baseline can be used as a predictor of remission at follow-up after six weeks of treatment.

METHODS

After recruiting 87 MDD patients and 53 healthy controls, we compared demographic and baseline clinical characteristics. The Childhood Chronic Stress Questionnaire was used to assess stress caused by early-life events. MDD patients underwent six weeks of treatment, and response to treatment was assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory-II. In addition, four MDD patients and five controls were randomly chosen for genome-wide methylation analysis.

RESULTS

The gene RPS6KA5 showed significant methylation differences between the two groups. Severity of chronic childhood stress was significantly associated with increased risk of depression in adolescents, but not with treatment response. Baseline RPS6KA5 methylation can predict remission after six weeks of treatment. We did not observe any interaction between RPS6KA5 methylation and chronic childhood stress.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that RPS6KA5 methylation can be used as a predictor of response to treatment in adolescent MDD patients. Here we offer new evidence for the role of epigenetics in early response to treatment of depression.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ChiCTR, ChiCTR2000033402, 31/05/2020, http://www.chictr.org.cn/index.aspx.

Childhood adversities and mental health problems: A systematic review

The number of mental health problems in children and adolescents has been increasing. One of the causes of mental health problems is trauma in the family, such as childhood adversities. The aim of this study was to review the relationship between childhood adversities and mental health problems. The method in this study was a systematic review using three databases: CINAHL, PubMed, and SCOPUS. The results of the review were reported according to the PRISMA guidelines. The keywords used in this study were mental health or mental illness or mental disorder or psychiatric illness AND adolescents or teenagers or teenagers or youth AND parental divorce or parental separation OR parental death or parental loss or parentally bereaved. The inclusion criteria for the articles were English language and published from 2017 to 2021. This study recorded 477 articles, screened according to the topic, and then the final articles were 35. The results of the systematic review showed evidence that childhood adversities were related to mental health problems according to the ICD-10 diagnosis, ADHD and personality disorders, depression, post-traumatic, smoking behavior, and alcohol abuse, and distress. Interventions for children with childhood adversities were needed to prevent mental health disorders.