Early puberty may increase the risk of depression in both girls and boys

A new study from the Department of Public Health at the Faculty of Health Sciences, Aarhus University, shows that children and young people who entered puberty earlier than most of their peers had an increased risk of both developing depressive symptoms and receiving a depression diagnosis. The researchers followed almost 16,000 Danish children and young people over a number of years through puberty.

“We can see a clear association between earlier puberty and a higher risk of depression. The association is strongest in girls, but it also applies to boys,” says PhD student Thea Emily Benson, who conducted the study together with Professor Cecilia Ramlau-Hansen.

In girls, the risk was particularly elevated when breast development occurred earlier than in most of their peers, or when menstruation began earlier.

“We see that girls who reached these milestones earlier than most others had a greater risk of later receiving a depression diagnosis,” explains Thea Emily Benson.

The study also shows an increased risk among boys. This is particularly seen in boys who developed pubic hair or had their first ejaculation earlier than their peers. In addition, the results suggest that boys whose voice broke earlier more often experienced depressive symptoms.

However, more research is still needed into the mechanisms behind the association between earlier puberty and depression, says Cecilia Ramlau-Hansen. Among other things, the researchers behind the study would like to investigate which biological and social mechanisms interact, and whether the increased risk of depression continues into adulthood or whether the mental health challenges are primarily linked to adolescence.

Nevertheless, the researchers hope that the study will raise greater awareness of children and young people’s wellbeing during the years when puberty begins.

“Hopefully, the results can make a difference for families by making us more aware that children who enter puberty early may be more vulnerable to mental health challenges. In the long term, we hope this knowledge can help prevent poor wellbeing among children and young people,” says Thea Emily Benson.

 

• Study type:: Longitudinal cohort study.
• Collaborators: Professor Katrine Strandberg-Larsen, Department of Public Health, Section of Epidemiology, University of Copenhagen; Mikko Myrskylä, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock; and Assistant Professor Anne Gaml-Sørensen, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University.
• Funding: The Lundbeck Foundation, the European Research Council and the Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aarhus University.
• Read more in the scientific paper

Contact:

PhD student Thea Emily Benson
Aarhus University, Department of Public Health
Mail: [email protected]

Professor Cecilia Ramlau-Hansen
Aarhus University, Department of Public Health
Phone: +45 26 29 57 15
Mail: [email protected]