Megan E. Ames

Sex and age group differences in the associations between sleep duration and BMI from adolescence to young adulthood

Objective: We examine concurrent and longitudinal associations between sleep duration (SD) and body mass index (BMI) from adolescence to young adulthood, controlling for physical activity and internalising symptoms. Sex and age group differences (early adolescent group ages 12–15 years and late adolescent group ages 16–18 years) are examined. Design: A randomly selected community-based sample of youth (N = 662; 48.3% males) were surveyed biannually from 2003 (T1) to 2014 (T6). Results: We found sex and age group differences for the concurrent and longitudinal associations between SD and BMI. For males, shorter SD at baseline was concurrently related to higher BMI. For females, shorter SD at baseline was associated with longitudinal increases in BMI, for the late adolescent group only. Conclusion: Findings show that the association between SD and BMI, previously shown in childhood, continues to be significant in adolescence and young adulthood. Developmentally appropriate and sex-specific strategies for motivating and supporting healthy sleep habits in adolescence that may help to prevent weight gain into young adulthood are discussed.

Health behavior changes in adolescence and young adulthood: Implications for cardiometabolic risk.

Objective: Adolescence and young adulthood produce developmentally salient and contextual challenges for health behavior choices. The present study examines how changes in physical activity, nutrition, and sleep duration before and after high school graduation influence cardiometabolic risk (CMR) in adulthood (at ages 22–29). Method: Youth (N = 662; Time 1 ages 12–18; 48% male) were followed biannually across 10 years. Piecewise latent growth curve modeling was used to assess how changes in physical activity, nutrition, and sleep duration before and after high school influence CMR in young adulthood, accounting for baseline levels of each health behavior. Sex differences in associations were examined. Results: Higher initial (baseline) levels of physical activity and nutrition predicted lower CMR. Increases in physical activity and nutrition before and after high school also contributed to lower CMR. When examined simultaneously, initial levels of physical activity and sleep duration (for female participants only) and increases in nutrition had independent effects on CMR. Conclusions: Prevention approaches that take into account the salient developmental and contextual differences in adolescence and young adulthood may improve efforts to prevent CMR.

Overweight and isolated The interpersonal problems of youth who are overweight from adolescence into young adulthood

This longitudinal study investigates whether there are particularly salient ages when being overweight is related to problems in interpersonal relationships (i.e., physical, relational, and verbal victimization, lack of friend social support, dating status, and romantic relationship worries). Participants were from a large, six-wave longitudinal study (N = 662, 48% males, M age at T1 = 15.5 years, SD = 1.9 years). We use time-varying effect models to estimate how the associations between weight status and interpersonal problems differ from ages 12 to 28. Gender differences are also investigated. Findings show that youth who are overweight are more likely to experience verbal victimization, feel less supported by their peers, and are less likely to date than youth who are not overweight from mid-adolescence into early young adulthood. Further, females who are overweight are more likely to be physically victimized at ages 15 to 22 than females who are not overweight. The results provide a better understanding of age-related changes in interpersonal problems among youth who are overweight from adolescence into young adulthood.

Marijuana Trajectories in Canadian Youth: Associations with Substance Use and Mental Health

We differentiated marijuana-use trajectories in a large cohort of Canadian youth and compared the use of other substances, mental health symptoms, and behavioural problems for each of the identified trajectories at their baselines in adolescence (ages 12 to 18) and their endpoints (ages 22 to 29). Data came from the Victoria Healthy Youth Survey, a 10-year prospective study of a random community sample of 662 participants in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada (48% male; Mage = 15.5). Canadian youth were followed biennially for six assessments from 2003 to 2013. Five distinct marijuana-use classes were identified using latent-class growth-curve analyses: abstainers (29%), occasional users (27%), decreasers (14%), increasers (20%), and chronic users (11%). Lower use classes typically began use after age 15. Chronic users had more problem behaviours (e.g., attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, oppositional–defiant disorder, and conduct problems) in both adolescence and young adulthood and more depressive symptoms in young adulthood than other classes. Decreasers reported more depressive symptoms in adolescence than chronic users and were less likely to co-use other substances in young adulthood. Increasers were similar to chronic users in young adulthood, but reported more illicit drug use and lower levels of depressive and oppositional–defiant disorder symptoms. Problematic marijuana use occurs in the context of mental health and problem behaviours as well as other substance-use concerns. Prevention and treatment approaches need to include anticipation and treatment of co-occurring problems to stem negative effects of marijuana during the transition from adolescence to young adulthood. Nous avons différencié les trajectoires en matière d’utilisation de cannabis d’une grande cohorte de jeunes Canadiens et comparé l’utilisation d’autres substances, de symptômes de santé mentale et de problèmes de comportement pour chacune des trajectoires identifiées à leurs lignes de base à l‘âge de l’adolescence (entre 12 et 18 ans) et leurs résultats finaux (entre 22 et 29 ans). Les données proviennent de l’Enquête sur les jeunes en santé de Victoria, une étude prospective de 10 ans sur un échantillon de 662 participants sélectionnés au hasard de la collectivité de Victoria, Colombie-Britannique, Canada (48 % d’hommes; âge médian 15,5). Les jeunes Canadiens ont été suivis tous les deux ans au moyen de six évaluations s’échelonnant entre 2003 et 2013. Cinq catégories d’utilisation de cannabis distinctes ont été identifiées à partir d’une analyse de classe latente pour courbe de croissance : abstinents (29 %), utilisateurs occasionnels (27 %), utilisateurs dont la consommation est en baisse (14 %), utilisateurs dont la consommation est en hausse (20 %) et utilisateurs chroniques (11 %). Les catégories d’utilisation moindre ont généralement commencé l’utilisation après l’âge de 15 ans. Les utilisateurs chroniques présentaient davantage de problèmes de comportements (par ex., un trouble de déficit d’attention/hyperactivité, un trouble oppositionnel avec provocation ou un trouble comportemental) tant chez les adolescents que chez les jeunes adultes et davantage de symptômes de dépression chez les jeunes adultes que chez les autres catégories d’âge. Les utilisateurs dont la consommation est en baisse ont signalé plus de symptômes de dépression à l’adolescence que les utilisateurs chroniques et étaient moins susceptibles de co-utiliser d’autres substances au début de l’âge adulte. Les utilisateurs dont la consommation est en hausse ont signalé les mêmes symptômes que les utilisateurs chroniques au début de l’âge adulte, mais ont signalé une utilisation accrue de drogues illicites et des niveaux inférieurs de symptômes de dépression et de troubles oppositionnels avec provocation. L’utilisation problématique de cannabis se produit dans un contexte de santé mentale et de problèmes de comportement ainsi que d’autres préoccupations liées à la consommation de substances. Les approches de prévention et de traitement doivent inclure l’anticipation et la gestion de problèmes survenant en même temps pour contrecarrer les effets négatifs du cannabis lors du passage de l’adolescence au début de l’âge adulte.

Reciprocal Effects of Internalizing and Oppositional Defiance Symptoms on Heavy Drinking and Alcohol-Related Harms in Young Adulthood

There is a need for longitudinal research to understand how psychopathology relates to the onset and maintenance of substance use from adolescence into young adulthood. Hence, we investigate the longitudinal, reciprocal influences of internalizing (anxiety and depression) and externalizing (oppositional defiance) symptoms on heavy episodic drinking (HED; ≥5 drinks per occasion) and alcohol-related harms in a community-based sample of youth aged 12–27 years. Participants were chosen from the Victoria Healthy Youth Survey, followed six times, biennially between 2003 and 2013 (N = 662). Analyses used cross-lagged panel models to examine reciprocal relations over time. Differences across age and sex were also tested. Defiance symptoms predicted increases in HED, which reciprocally predicted increases in defiance symptoms for females. Internalizing symptoms were related to HED within time for females. Alcohol-related harms had reciprocal positive associations with internalizing and defiance symptoms for both males and females. Associations were largely invariant across age groups, suggesting that the presence and strength of associations persisted across development. While psychopathology preceded the onset of HED and harms, the overall findings suggest that these risk processes are mutually reinforcing across development and that youth may become entrenched in an interdependent cycle that significantly increases their risk of comorbid disorders in adulthood.

Associations Between Marijuana Use Trajectories and Educational and Occupational Success in Young Adulthood

Adolescence and young adulthood is a critical stage when the economic foundations for life-long health are established. To date, there is little consensus as to whether marijuana use is associated with poor educational and occupational success in adulthood. We investigated associations between trajectories of marijuana use from ages 15 to 28 and multiple indicators of economic well-being in young adulthood including achievement levels (i.e., educational attainment and occupational prestige), work characteristics (i.e., full vs part-time employment, hours worked, annual income), financial strain (i.e., debt, trouble paying for necessities, delaying medical attention), and perceived workplace stress. Data were from the Victoria Healthy Youth Survey, a 10-year prospective study of a randomly recruited community sample of 662 youth (48% male; Mage = 15.5), followed biennially for six assessments. Models adjusted for baseline age, sex, SES, high school grades, heavy drinking, smoking, and internalizing and oppositional defiant disorder symptoms. Chronic users (our highest risk class) reported lower levels of educational attainment, lower occupational prestige, lower income, greater debt, and more difficulty paying for medical necessities in young adulthood compared to abstainers. Similarly, increasers also reported lower educational attainment, occupational prestige, and income. Decreasers, who had high early use but quit over time, showed resilience in economic well-being, performing similar to abstainers. Groups did not differ on employment status or perceived workplace stress. The findings indicate that early onset and persistent high or increasingly frequent use of marijuana in the transition from adolescent to young adulthood is associated with risks for achieving educational and occupational success, and subsequently health, in young adulthood.

Depressive symptom trajectories and physical health: Persistence of problems from adolescence to young adulthood

BACKGROUND We examine how depressive symptom trajectories are related to adolescent and young adult subjective health, health-promoting, health-risk, and sexual risk behaviors, as well as cardiometabolic risks. METHOD Data came from a community-based sample of youth (N = 662; 52% female) followed biannually, six times across 10 years. Latent class growth analysis identified four depressive symptom trajectories which were compared on adolescent (T1; ages 12-18) and young adult (T6; ages 22-29) health indicators. RESULTS The Low stable trajectory (49%) showed the fewest health risks. The Persistent high trajectory (9%) reported higher physical symptoms, lower physical self-concept, less physical activity and sleep, and higher rates of smoking and sexual risk behaviors than the Low stable trajectory and risks for physical symptoms, physical self-concept, and physical activity worsened in young adulthood. Increasers (21%) showed risks for physical symptoms, physical activity, and sleep in adolescence and problems for physical symptoms and physical self-concept persisted in young adulthood. Decreasers (22%) showed risks for physical symptoms, physical self-concept, physical activity, and sleep in adolescence but these risks resolved into young adulthood. LIMITATIONS Findings may not generalize to ethnic minorities. Sex differences were not examined due to sample size limitations and most variables, except cardiometabolic risks, were self-reported. CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest early treatment of depressive symptoms that includes strategies addressing physical symptoms, physical self-concept, and physical activity may prove beneficial. Screening youth for physical symptoms and declines in health-promoting behaviors may also identify youth at risk of depression onset and progression.

Social Support in Postsecondary Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder

A core diagnostic feature of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is social impairments. Although the number of students with ASD pursuing postsecondary education is growing, few institutions provide programs to help students cope with social aspects of postsecondary education. Here, we describe social support experiences of students with ASD participating in a peer mentorship program. A subset of the students (n = 23) enrolled in their first year of the Autism Mentorship Program (AMP) completed questionnaires assessing their perceived social support during their first year in the program. Development of social skills emerged as a popular goal among students and was a major topic of discussion within one-on-one meetings. Overall, students reported high satisfaction with the program and reported that the AMP helped them achieve their goals. However, students did not report increases in social support or quality of friendships assessed using standardized measures. Our results exemplify some of the challenges of improving social skills through a community-based program.

Age-varying effects of cannabis use frequency and disorder on symptoms of psychosis, depression, and anxiety in adolescents and adults.

Abstract Aims We tested the age‐varying associations of cannabis use (CU) frequency and disorder (CUD) with psychotic, depressive and anxiety symptoms in adolescent and adult samples. Moderating effects of early onset (≤ 15 years) and sex were tested. Design Time‐varying effect models were used to assess the significance of concurrent associations between CU and CUD and symptoms of psychosis, depression and anxiety at each age. Setting and Participants Adolescent data (V‐HYS; n = 662) were collected from a randomly recruited sample of adolescents in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada during a 10‐year period (2003–13). Adult cross‐sectional data (NESARC‐III; n = 36 309) were collected from a representative sample from the United States (2012–13). Measurements Mental health symptoms were assessed using self‐report measures of diagnostic symptoms. CU was based on frequency of past‐year use. Past‐year CUD was based on DSM‐5 criteria. Findings For youth in the V‐HYS, CU was associated with psychotic symptoms following age 22 [b = 0.13, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.002, 0.25], with depressive symptoms from ages 16–19 and following age 25 (b = 0.17, 95% CI = 0.003, 0.34), but not with anxiety symptoms. CUD was associated with psychotic symptoms following age 23 (b = 0.51, 95% CI = 0.01, 1.01), depressive symptoms at ages 19–20 and following age 25 (b = 0.71, 95% CI = 0.001, 1.42) and anxiety symptoms ages 26–27 only. For adults in the NESARC‐III, CU was associated with mental health symptoms at most ages [e.g. psychotic symptoms; age 18 (b = 0.22, 95% CI = 0.10, 0.33) to age 65 (b = 0.36, 95% CI = 0.16, 0.56)]. CUD was associated with all mental health symptoms across most ages [e.g. depressive symptoms; age 18 (b = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.19, 1.73) to age 61 (b = 1.11, 95% CI = 0.01, 2.21)]. Interactions with sex show stronger associations for females than males in young adulthood [e.g. V‐HYS: CUD × sex interaction on psychotic symptoms significant after age 26 (b = 1.12, 95% CI = 0.02, 2.21)]. Findings were not moderated by early‐onset CU. Conclusions Significant associations between cannabis use (CU) frequency and disorder (CUD) and psychotic and depressive symptoms in late adolescence and young adulthood extend across adulthood, and include anxiety.