Pubertal changes in hormone levels and depression in girls
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Throughout their reproductive years, women suffer from a higher prevalence of depression than men. Before puberty, however, this is not the case. In an earlier study, we found that reaching Tanner Stage III of puberty was associated with increased levels of depression in girls. This paper examines whether the morphological changes associated with puberty (as measured by Tanner stage) or the hormonal changes underlying them are more strongly associated with increased rates of depression in adolescent girls. METHODS: Data from three annual waves of interviews with 9 to 15-year-olds from the Great Smoky Mountains study were analysed. RESULTS: Models including the effects of testosterone and oestradiol eliminated the apparent effect of Tanner stage. The effect of testosterone was non-linear. FSH and LH had no effects on the probability of being depressed. CONCLUSIONS: These findings argue against theories that explain the emergence of the female excess of depression in adulthood in terms of changes in body morphology and their resultant psychosocial effects on social interactions and self-perception. They suggest that causal explanations of the increase in depression in females need to focus on factors associated with changes in androgen and oestrogen levels rather than the morphological changes of puberty.
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It is postulated that rising levels of testosterone and/or oestrogen are themselves related to increased risk for MDD in girls.
“For example, it is postulated that rising For example, it is postulated that rising levels of testosterone and/or oestrogen are levels of testosterone and/or oestrogen are themselves related to increased risk for themselves related to increased risk for MDD in girls (Angold MDD in girls (Angold et al et al, 1999).”
From Recent life events, cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone and the onset of major depression in high-risk adolescents (2000) · cites this paper as Angold et al, 1999
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- Authors
- ANGOLD, A., COSTELLO, E. J., ERKANLI, A., & WORTHMAN, C. M.
- Affiliations
- Emory University (US)
- Venue
- Psychological Medicine
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 1999-09
- Volume
- 29
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 1043-1053
- ISSN
- 0033-2917 (ISSN-L)
- 1469-8978
- OpenAlex
- W2089694176
- Cited by
- 592
- References
- 4
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 31 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 17 · 2020: 16 · 2019: 21 · 2018: 24 · 2017: 19 · 2016: 22 · 2015: 36 · 2014: 29 · 2013: 29 · 2012: 42
- FWCI
- 14.95
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychological Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH048085, MH-48085)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Hypothalamic control of reproductive hormones
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
- Keywords
- puberty, adolescent depression, girls, testosterone, estradiol, androgens, estrogen, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, Tanner stages, body morphology, sex differences in depression, Great Smoky Mountains Study
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adolescent Behavior, Child, Cross-Sectional Studies, Depressive Disorder, Estradiol, Female, Humans, Puberty, Self Concept, Social Behavior, Testosterone
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