Age variation in life events and their relationship with common mental disorders in a national survey population

Life events (LEs) are recognised to be important risk factors for common mental disorders (CMD). Their prominence may vary across age groups but this issue has received little systematic investigation.

Data were analysed from the 2000 UK National Survey of Psychiatric Morbidity comprising 8,580 participants aged 16-74 years. A history of recent life events pertaining to health threats, bereavement, interpersonal problems and redundancy was established for the preceding six months. Participants were also asked about earlier lifetime stressors including sexual abuse and expulsion from school. CMD, depression and generalised anxiety disorder were ascertained through the revised Clinical Interview Schedule.

The strongest associations between LEs and CMD were for recent threats to health, recent interpersonal problems and lifetime stressors. Recent LEs were more strongly associated with depression than anxiety whereas the associations for lifetime stressors were similar in strength. The strength of association between recent LEs and CMD increased steadily up to the 45-54 years age group and then declined. In the 65-74 year age range, CMD was not significantly associated with any recent LE but instead was associated with the following lifetime stressors: bullying, sexual abuse, running away from home, and institutional care in childhood.

Recent life events were most strongly associated with CMD in mid-rather than early or late adult life. In later life, stronger associations were found with lifetime stressors than recent events.