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Comparing Transdiagnostic Risk Factors: Predicting Emergence of Significant Depressive, Anxiety, and Substance Abuse Symptoms Among Juvenile Delinquents

NCJ Number
309150
Journal
Child Psychiatry and Human Development Volume: Online Dated: May 2024
Date Published
May 2024
Annotation

This paper reports on a research project comparing multiple well-established transdiagnostic risk factors as predictors of symptoms  for depression, anxiety, and substance abuse behaviors among juvenile delinquents.

Abstract

In a 7-year, 11-wave study of low-SES adolescents (N = 856, age = 15.98), the authors compared multiple well-established transdiagnostic risk factors as predictors of first incidence of significant depressive, anxiety, and substance abuse symptoms across the transition from adolescence to adulthood. Risk factors included negative emotionality, emotion regulation ability, social support, gender, history of trauma, parental histories of substance abuse, parental mental health, and socioeconomic status. Machine learning models revealed that negative emotionality was the most important predictor of both depression and anxiety, and emotion regulation ability was the most important predictor of future significant substance abuse. These findings highlight the critical role that dysregulated emotion may play in the development of some of the most prevalent forms of mental illness. (Published Abstract Provided)

Date Published: May 1, 2024