Victimization in Early Adolescence, Stress, and Depressive Symptoms Among Aging Sexual Minority Men: Findings from the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study
Year: 2020
Type: article
Abstract: Purpose: We investigated the relation between adversities in early adolescence and risk of a depressive phenotype in adulthood, and whether stress in adulthood modified these associations. Methods: A total of 1138 men who have sex with men (MSM) participated in a Multicenter AIDS Cohort substudy in which they reported on adversities in early adolescence. Poisson regression estimated prevalence ratios (PRs) for associations between adversities and a depressive phenotype in adulthood. Stratified analyses examined the effects of stress in the last year on the depressive phenotype. Results: In adjusted models, men who were verbally insulted; threatened by physical violence; had an object thrown at them; or punched, kicked, or beaten were at higher risk of having a depressive phenotype in adulthood (for ≥1 time per month vs. never, PR = 1.50, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.15–1.96; PR = 1.84, 95% CI = 1.45–2.34; PR = 2.00, 95% CI = 1.51–2.66; or PR = 1.78, 95% CI = 1.35–2.34, respectively.) Being threatened with a weapon approached statistical significance (PR = 1.89, 95% CI = 0.96–3.72). Although higher stress was associated with depression overall, early adolescent victimization was only associated with depression among MSM not reporting high levels of stress in the last year (for ≥1 time per month vs. never, PR = 1.68, 95% CI = 1.09–2.59; PR = 2.11, 95% CI = 1.40–3.17; PR = 2.24, 95% CI = 1.24–4.03; PR = 1.98, 95% CI = 1.22–3.22, respectively). Conclusion: The attenuation of relationships between adversities and depression among men reporting high stress may suggest that adult stress overshadows long-term effects of early adolescent victimization on adult depression. Victimization in early adolescence may increase the risk of sustained depressive symptoms in mid- to later life, reinforcing the need for preventive strategies.
Source: LGBT Health
Language: English
Topic: Child Abuse and Trauma
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
Awards: Center/Coordination, Analysis and Management/MACS, Natural History of AIDS in Homosexual Men, University of Pittsburgh Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS), Institute for Clinical and Translational Research, Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study, Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study - Part B (Baltimore Center), Novel approaches to characterize depressive symptoms and cognitive outcomes, Data Analysis and Coordination Center for the MACS-WIHS Combined Cohort Study
OpenAlex ID: W3011074793