Pubertal timing and tempo and depression risk in adolescent boys and girls: A Danish population-based cohort study

To investigate associations between pubertal timing and tempo and depressive symptoms and clinically diagnosed depression in adolescent boys and girls.

Data were obtained from the Danish National Birth Cohort (n = 15,818). Pubertal development was self-reported half-yearly from ages 11-18. Depressive symptoms at age 18 were assessed using the Major Depression Inventory, and clinically diagnosed depression was identified in the Danish National Patient Register. Pubertal timing and tempo were estimated using non-linear mixed-effects growth models. Associations with depressive symptoms were analysed using multinomial logistic regression, and associations with clinically diagnosed depression using binomial logistic regression.

In girls, earlier and faster breast development were associated with higher risks of depressive symptoms (RRR = 1.11 (95% CI: 1.00-1.23) and 1.69 (95% CI: 1.08-2.64)), and earlier breast development and menarche were associated with clinically diagnosed depression (RR = 1.27 (95% CI: 1.00-1.60) and 1.36 (95% CI: 1.03-1.79)). In boys, earlier pubic hair development and voice break were associated with depressive symptoms (RRR = 1.32 (95% CI: 1.07-1.63) and 1.35 (95% CI: 1.11-1.63)), while earlier pubic hair development and first ejaculation were associated with clinically diagnosed depression (RR = 1.66 (95% CI: 1.10-2.50) and 1.51 (95% CI: 1.16-1.98)).

Earlier pubertal timing was associated with depressive symptoms and clinically diagnosed depression in both boys and girls, while faster breast development was associated with depressive symptoms in girls. Overall, pubertal timing was more strongly associated with adolescent depression than pubertal tempo.