Psychosocial and health consequences of adolescent depression in Black and White young adult women

Health Psychol. 2005 Nov;24(6):586-93. doi: 10.1037/0278-6133.24.6.586.

Abstract

Depression in adolescent girls may result in negative consequences in young adulthood. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) was administered to 1,727 Black and White girls ages 16 to 18 years who participated in the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's Growth and Health Study. Three years later, women in the depressed groups were more likely to be current smokers, had attained a lower level of education, and reported lower self-worth relative to the nondepressed group. Body dissatisfaction, eating concerns, and loneliness were greater in the depressed groups. Relative to Black women, White women who were moderately depressed during adolescence reported more health care services utilization in young adulthood. Prevention efforts for depressed adolescents should be broadly focused to improve young adult outcomes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Black People / psychology*
  • Black People / statistics & numerical data*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Demography
  • Depression / epidemiology*
  • Depression / psychology*
  • Feeding and Eating Disorders / diagnosis
  • Feeding and Eating Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Feeding and Eating Disorders / etiology*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Health Status*
  • Humans
  • Psychology
  • Self Concept
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Social Adjustment
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • White People / psychology*
  • White People / statistics & numerical data*