Social stratification of general psychopathology trajectories and young adult social outcomes: A second-order growth mixture analysis over the early life course

- A second-order structure using domain-specific symptoms (anxiety, depression, and hostility) within a longitudinal context.
- Heterogeneity in the trajectory of general psychopathology.
- A strong association between general psychopathology and both early risk factors and social consequences.
- Unified intervention/prevention programs are needed during adolescence to treat general psychopathology.

BackgroundResearch has documented heterogeneous developmental trajectories of specific symptoms, such as anxiety and depression, in late childhood and adolescence. Few studies, however, have examined the heterogeneity of general psychopathology (GPP) trajectories considering symptoms of anxiety, depression, and hostility in adolescence simultaneously. Identifying antecedents for distinct trajectory groups of GPP, and their respective consequences, may provide insight into the etiological underpinnings of social antecedents of different symptoms and inform the targets and timing of intervention.MethodsEuropean American target adolescents (N=444, 53% female) evaluated three domain specific symptoms (i.e., symptoms of anxiety, depression, and hostility) as well as psychosocial risks and social consequences over 10 years (from 1990 [Wave 2] to 2001 [Wave 13]). First- and second-order growth mixture models (SOGMMs) were used to identify trajectories of GPP and specific symptoms from mid-adolescence through young adulthood, as well as their predictors and consequences.ResultsA three-class model consisting of high and escalating (10.1%), high and decreasing (23.2%), and consistently low (66.7%) GPP emerged as the preferred solution. More predictors and outcomes were associated with membership in both the high and escalating and the high and declining classes of GPP compared to corresponding classes of the specific symptoms trajectories.LimitationsSelf-reported information regarding three symptoms may be a source of bias within the current study.ConclusionOur findings suggest that unified interventions and/or prevention efforts are needed to not only assess specific symptoms, but also to treat GPP in adolescence.