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Author Spotlight: Understanding Adolescent Social Adversity Effects on Neurodevelopment in Mice
Published on: March 15, 2024
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Longitudinal associations between adolescent adversity, brain development and behavioural and emotional problems
Ayla Pollmann1, Divyangana Rakesh2, Delia Fuhrmann1
1Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, United Kingdom.
Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience
|November 22, 2025
Summary
Adolescent adversity, like family conflict and unsafe neighborhoods, impacts mental health and brain development. Early intervention is crucial for adolescent well-being and neurodevelopment.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- Adolescent adversity can lead to long-term mental health issues.
- Neurodevelopmental changes may mediate the effects of adversity on mental health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the longitudinal relationships between adverse experiences, brain development, and behavioral/emotional problems in adolescents.
- To examine how family conflict and neighborhood perception influence adolescent mental health and white matter microstructure over time.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a random intercept cross-lagged panel model with data from the ABCD study (N ≈ 12,000).
- Analyzed associations between family conflict, neighborhood perception, behavioral/emotional problems, and white matter microstructure from ages 10-14.
Main Results:
- Family conflict showed a bidirectional association with behavioral and emotional problems.
- Low neighborhood safety was linked to reduced white matter microstructure and increased behavioral/emotional problems.
- Behavioral and emotional problems were positively associated with neighborhood perception among adolescents with more friends.
Conclusions:
- Socio-environmental adversity significantly impacts adolescent brain development and mental health.
- Findings highlight the interconnectedness of environmental factors, neurodevelopment, and psychological well-being in adolescence.
- Emphasizes the need for interventions addressing environmental stressors to support adolescent mental health.
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