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Biomedical subjects

D M Fergusson

Publications and source records attributed to D M Fergusson.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Relationship between dissociation, childhood sexual abuse, childhood physical abuse, and mental illness in a general population sample.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between childhood sexual abuse, childhood physical abuse, current psychiatric illness, and measures of dissociation in an adult population. METHOD: The authors used a randomly selected sample of 1,028 individuals. Each subject completed a semistructured face-to-face interview that included measures of childhood sexual abuse, childhood physical abuse, DSM-III-R psychiatric diagnoses, and selected items from the Dissociative Experiences Scale. RESULTS: Many individuals experienced occasional dissociative symptoms, and 6.3% of the population suffered from three or more frequently occurring dissociative symptoms. Among these individuals, the rate of childhood sexual abuse was two and one-half times as high, the rate of physical abuse was five times as high, and the rate of current psychiatric disorder was four times as high as the respective rates for the other subjects. Logistic regression modeling showed that physical abuse and current psychiatric illness were directly related to a high rate of dissociative symptoms but sexual abuse was not. The influence of sexual abuse was due to its associations with current psychiatric illness and with childhood physical abuse. Childhood physical abuse was not directly related to current psychiatric illness. Its association appeared to be mediated by its link to childhood sexual abuse. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms that a small proportion (approximately 6%) of the general population suffer from high levels of dissociative symptoms. It calls into question the hypothesized direct relationship between childhood sexual abuse and adult dissociative symptoms.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Breastfeeding and later cognitive and academic outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: This study examines the associations between duration of breastfeeding and childhood cognitive ability and academic achievement over the period from 8 to 18 years using data collected during the course of an 18-year longitudinal study of a birth cohort of >1000 New Zealand children. METHOD: During the period from birth to age 1 year, information was collected on maternal breastfeeding practices. Over the period from 8 to 18 years, sample members were assessed on a range of measures of cognitive and academic outcomes including measures of child intelligence quotient; teacher ratings of school performance; standardized tests of reading comprehension, mathematics, and scholastic ability; pass rates in school leaving examinations; and leaving school without qualifications. RESULTS: Increasing duration of breastfeeding was associated with consistent and statistically significant increases in 1) intelligence quotient assessed at ages 8 and 9 years; 2) reading comprehension, mathematical ability, and scholastic ability assessed during the period from 10 to 13 years; 3) teacher ratings of reading and mathematics assessed at 8 and 12 years; and 4) higher levels of attainment in school leaving examinations. Children who were breastfed for >/=8 months had mean test scores that were between 0. 35 and 0.59 SD units higher than children who were bottle-fed. Mothers who elected to breastfeed tended to be older; better educated; from upper socioeconomic status families; were in a two-parent family; did not smoke during pregnancy; and experienced above average income and living standards. Additionally, rates of breastfeeding increased with increasing birth weight, and first-born children were more likely to be breastfed. Regression adjustment for maternal and other factors associated with breastfeeding reduced the associations between breastfeeding and cognitive or educational outcomes. Nonetheless, in 10 of the 12 models, fitted duration of breastfeeding remained a significant predictor of later cognitive or educational outcomes. After adjustment for confounding factors, children who were breastfed for >/=8 months had mean test scores that were between 0.11 and 0.30 SD units higher than those not breastfed. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that breastfeeding is associated with small but detectable increases in child cognitive ability and educational achievement. These effects are 1) pervasive, being reflected in a range of measures including standardized tests, teacher ratings, and academic outcomes in high school; and 2) relatively long-lived, extending throughout childhood into young adulthood.

Breast Feeding↗
PubMed1998

The origins of the correlations between tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis use during adolescence.

Methods of structural equation modelling were used to analyse the correlations between reports of tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis use in a birth cohort of New Zealand children studied to the age of 16. This analysis produced three major conclusions: (a) the correlations between tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis use could be explained by a factor representing the individual's vulnerability to substance use; (b) predictors of vulnerability to substance use were the extent to which the individual affiliated with delinquent or substance using peers, novelty seeking, and parental illicit drug use; (c) in the region of 54% of the correlations between substance use behaviours could be predicted from observed risk factors and 46% was attributable to non-observed sources of vulnerability.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Early conduct problems and later life opportunities.

Associations between the extent of conduct problems at age 8 years and later life opportunity outcomes at age 18 years were examined in a birth cohort of New Zealand children studied prospectively to age 18 years. Conduct problems at age 8 were assessed using a combination of parent and teacher reports of conduct disordered and oppositional behaviours. Two measures of life opportunities were assessed at age 18: (a) whether the young person had left school by age 18 without educational qualifications; (b) whether the young person had experienced a period of unemployment of 3 months or longer following school leaving. The analysis suggested the following conclusions: (1) There were clear and significant (p < .0001) tendencies for increasing levels of conduct problems at age 8 to be associated with increasing risks of leaving school without qualifications and of unemployment by age 18. (2) A substantial component of these associations was explained by a series of confounding social, family, and individual factors (notably child intelligence, early attentional problems, and family sociodemographic disadvantage) that were associated with both early conduct problems and later life opportunities. (3) Further analysis suggested that linkages between early conduct problems and later educational underattainment and unemployment (after adjustment for confounders) were mediated by a series of adolescent behavioural processes including patterns of peer affiliations, substance use, truancy, and problems with school authority.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Physical punishment/maltreatment during childhood and adjustment in young adulthood.

OBJECTIVE: To study the relationships between retrospective reports of physical punishment/maltreatment and rates of adjustment difficulties at age 18 in a birth cohort of New Zealand subjects. METHOD: Data were gathered over the course of an 18 year longitudinal study of a birth cohort of 1,265 New Zealand born children. At age 18 retrospective reports of exposure to physical punishment/maltreatment were obtained. At this time the cohort was also assessed on measures of psychosocial adjustment juvenile offending, substance abuse behaviors, and psychiatric disorder. RESULTS: Young people reporting exposure to harsh or abusive treatment during childhood had elevated rates of juvenile offending, substance abuse, and mental health problems. However, subsequent analysis using logistic regression methods showed that much of the elevated risk shown by this group was explained by social and contextual factors that were associated with patterns of childhood punishment/maltreatment. Nonetheless, even after control for confounding factors those reporting harsh or abusive childhood experiences were at increased risks of violent offending, suicide attempts, being a victim of violence, and alcohol abuse. CONCLUSION: This study leads to three major conclusions: (1) Those exposed to harsh or abusive treatment during childhood are an at-risk population for juvenile offending, substance abuse, and mental health problems; (2) Much of this elevated risk arises from the social context within which harsh or abusive treatment occurs; (3) Nonetheless, exposure to abuse appears to increase risks of involvement in violent behavior and alcohol abuse.

Adjustment Disorders↗
PubMed1997

Childhood sexual abuse, adolescent sexual behaviors and sexual revictimization.

OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to examine the extent to which exposure to childhood sexual abuse (CSA) was associated with increased rates of sexual risk taking behaviors and sexual revictimization during adolescence. METHOD: A birth cohort of 520 New Zealand born young women was studied at regular intervals from birth to the age of 18. At age 18 retrospective reports of CSA were obtained from sample members. Over the course of the 18 year study information was gathered on: (a) childhood, family, and related circumstances; and (b) the young women's history of sexual experiences from 14 to 18 years. RESULTS: Young women reporting CSA, and particularly severe CSA involving intercourse, had significantly higher rates of early onset consensual sexual activity, teenage pregnancy, multiple sexual partners, unprotected intercourse, sexually transmitted disease, and sexual assault after the age of 16. Logistic regression analyses suggested that the associations between CSA and sexual outcomes in adolescence arose by two routes. First, exposure to CSA was associated with a series of childhood and family factors including social disadvantage, family instability, impaired parent child relationships, and parental adjustment difficulties that were also associated with increased sexual vulnerability in adolescence. Second, there appeared to be a causal chain relationship between CSA and sexual experiences in which CSA was associated with early onset sexual activity which, in turn, led to heightened risks of other adverse outcomes in adolescence. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study suggest that those exposed to CSA have greater sexual vulnerability during adolescence. This appears to arise because: (a) the childhood and family factors that are associated with CSA are also associated with increased sexual risks during adolescence; and (b) exposure to CSA may encourage early onset sexual activity which places those exposed to CSA at greater sexual risk over the period of adolescence.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Factors protecting against the development of adjustment difficulties in young adults exposed to childhood sexual abuse.

OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to identify the factors which discriminated young people exposed to childhood sexual abuse (CSA) who developed psychiatric disorder or adjustment difficulties in young adulthood from those young people exposed to CSA who did not develop psychiatric disorder or adjustment difficulties by age 18. METHOD: Data were gathered on a birth cohort of 1,025 New Zealand children studied from birth to the age of 18 on (a) exposure to CSA; (b) patterns of psychiatric disorder and adjustment difficulties at age 18 years; (c) factors that may have influenced responses to CSA including characteristics of the abuse, parental bonding, parental characteristics, and adolescent peer affiliations. RESULTS: Just over 10% of the cohort reported CSA. Those reporting CSA were at increased risks of a range of difficulties at age 18 (depression, anxiety, conduct disorder, alcohol abuse/dependence, other substance abuse/dependence, post sexual abuse trauma, attempted suicide). However, not all of those exposed to CSA developed difficulties and approximately a quarter of those exposed to CSA did not meet criteria for any adjustment difficulty. Further analysis suggested that the extent of adjustment difficulties in those exposed to CSA was influenced by two additional factors: (a) the extent of affiliations with delinquent or substance using peers in adolescence; and (b) the extent of paternal care or support in childhood. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study suggest that while young people exposed to CSA are at increased risks of psychiatric disorder and adjustment difficulties in young adulthood, not all individuals exposed to CSA will develop adjustment difficulties. Important factors protecting against the development of adjustment difficulties in young people experiencing CSA appear to be the nature and quality of peer and family relationships.

Adjustment Disorders↗
PubMed1997

The effects of unemployment on psychiatric illness during young adulthood.

BACKGROUND: The aims of this study were to examine the associations between exposure to unemployment following school leaving and rates of psychiatric disorder using data gathered on a birth cohort of New Zealand young people studied up to the age of 18. METHODS: At age 18 cohort members were assessed on: (a) duration of exposure to unemployment from age 16; (b) DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for major depression, anxiety disorders, conduct disorder, nicotine dependence, other substance abuse/dependence and attempted suicide. This information was integrated into longitudinal data gathered on the social circumstances, family background and adjustment of the cohort up to the age of 18. RESULTS: Increasing exposure to unemployment was associated with increasing risks of psychiatric disorder in adolescence. Those exposed to 6 months or more unemployment had rates of disorder that were 1.5 to 5.4 times higher than those not exposed to unemployment. However, most of the elevated risk of disorder among those unemployed was explained by family and personal factors that were present prior to school leaving age. Nonetheless, even after control for these factors those exposed to unemployment had significantly higher rates of anxiety disorder and substance use disorders. CONCLUSIONS: To a large extent the relationships between unemployment and psychiatric disorder seen in this cohort were explained by social, family and personal factors that were present before school leaving age. Nonetheless, young people exposed to unemployment had higher rates of substance use and anxiety disorder.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Perinatal factors and atopic disease in childhood.

BACKGROUND: Recent work has suggested possible linkages between perinatal factors and notably, head circumference and risks of subsequent atopic illness. OBJECTIVE: To examine the linkages between perinatal factors and risks of atopic conditions in a birth cohort of New Zealand children studied to the age of 16. METHODS: Measures of atopic illness including asthma, eczema, and other allergies were assessed prospectively during the course of a 16 year longitudinal study of a birth cohort of 1265 New Zealand children. In the initial stage of this research, measures of perinatal variables including birthweight, gestational age, head circumference and length at birth were obtained from hospital record data. RESULTS: Children with head circumference at birth of 37 cm or greater had (unadjusted) odds of asthma that were 1.8 (P < 0.01) to 3.0 (P < 0.0001) times higher than the odds for children of lesser head circumference. However, risks of asthma were not related to other perinatal measures including birthweight, gestational age or length or ratios of these measures. There were no consistent associations between perinatal measures and other measures of childhood atopy including eczema, allergic rhinitis and other allergies. The associations between head circumference and asthma risks persisted when due allowance was made for potentially confounding social and perinatal factors. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that large head circumference at birth may be associated with increased risks for the development of asthma. Possible explanations for the linkages between head circumference and asthma risks are considered.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Early dentine lead levels and educational outcomes at 18 years.

The associations between early dentine lead levels measured at the age of 6-8 years and educational outcomes measured at 18 years were examined in a birth cohort of 1265 New Zealand children. Analyses showed significant (p < .005) dose/response relationships between early dentine lead levels and later outcomes: at age 18 children with early elevated lead levels had poorer reading abilities, had more often left school early, had more often left school without qualifications, and had lower levels of success in school examinations. These associations persisted after statistical control for a range of social and familial confounding factors. A number of potential threats to the validity of the findings are examined, including sample selection bias, statistical undercontrol of covariates, and errors of measurement. It is concluded that the findings are consistent with the view that early mildly elevated lead levels have modest but detectable effects on individual achievement, with these effects extending to late adolescence.

Achievement↗
PubMed1997

Early reading difficulties and later conduct problems.

The relationships between early reading difficulties and later conduct problems were examined in a birth cohort of New Zealand children studied from the point of school entry to the age of 16. Children with early reading difficulties had increased rates of conduct problems up to the age of 16 years. These associations depended on context, being more evident for boys and tending to reduce with increasing age. However, the associations between early reading difficulties and later conduct problems were explained by the fact that children with early reading difficulties tended to be characterised by a number of disadvantageous features (and notably early-onset conduct problems) that were present before the onset of reading difficulties. When the associations between reading difficulties and conduct problems were adjusted for confounding factors there were no statistically significant associations between reading difficulties and conduct problems. These results were found to hold for various age and gender subgroups of the sample, for measures of reading difficulties defined in different ways, and for a wide range of outcome variables. It is concluded that, when due allowance is made for potentially confounding factors (and notably early conduct problems) and for factors correlated with these problems, it is unlikely that reading difficulties in early childhood are related to later conduct problems.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Attentional difficulties in middle childhood and psychosocial outcomes in young adulthood.

The associations between (dimensionally scored) measures of attentional difficulties at age 8 and psychosocial outcomes at age 18 were examined in a birth cohort of New Zealand children. Increasing attentional difficulties during middle childhood were associated with increased risks of academic failure or difficulties, juvenile offending, and substance use behaviours in young adulthood. However, those with early attentional difficulties were a high-risk group characterised by social disadvantages, early conduct difficulties, lower IQ, and related characteristics. Statistical adjustments showed: (a) that attentional difficulties were related to later academic success even when due allowance was made for potentially confounding factors; and (b) early attentional difficulties were unrelated to later juvenile offending or substance use behaviours after adjustment for confounding. In all cases there was evidence of consistent dose/response relationships between the extent of early attentional difficulties and later academic outcomes, suggesting that these associations were not confined to those with extreme symptoms.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Early onset cannabis use and psychosocial adjustment in young adults.

The relationships between early onset (prior to 16 years) cannabis use and later psychosocial adjustment was examined in a birth cohort of New Zealand children studied to age 18 years. Early onset users had significantly higher rates of later substance use, juvenile offending, mental health problems, unemployment and school dropout. The linkages between early onset cannabis use and later outcomes were largely explained by two routes that linked cannabis use to later adjustment. First, those electing to use cannabis were a high risk population characterized by social disadvantage, childhood adversity, early onset behavioural difficulties and adverse peer affiliations. Secondly, early onset cannabis use was associated with subsequent affiliations with delinquent and substance using peers, moving away from home and dropping out of education with these factors in turn, being associated with increased psychosocial risk. The implications of these results are examined.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1996

Comorbidity between depressive disorders and nicotine dependence in a cohort of 16-year-olds.

BACKGROUND: There has been growing interest in the associations between cigarette smoking and symptoms of depression. This study documents the comorbidity between depression and nicotine dependence in a birth cohort of 16-year-olds and examines the extent to which comorbidity between depression and nicotine dependence could be explained by risk factors associated with both outcomes. METHODS: Data were gathered during the course of a 16-year longitudinal study of a birth cohort of 947 New Zealand children for (1) depressive disorders and nicotine dependence at age 16 years; and (2) prospectively measured risk factors including family social position, family history of criminality, parental smoking, life events, parental attachment, conduct problems, self-esteem, and affiliations with delinquent peers. RESULTS: There was evidence of moderate to strong comorbidity between depression and nicotine dependence at age 16 years; teenagers with a depressive disorder had odds of nicotine dependence that were 4.6 times those of teenagers without depressive disorder. Analyses using logistic regression and log-linear modeling methods revealed that a substantial component of the comorbidity between depression and nicotine dependence was explained by common or correlated risk factors associated with both outcomes. After adjustment for common or correlated risk factors, the adjusted odds ratio between depression and nicotine dependence was 2.3. CONCLUSIONS: Comorbidities between depression and nicotine dependence seem to be well established by the age of 16 years. Much of this comorbidity can be explained by common or correlated risk factors associated with depression or nicotine dependence.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

The role of adolescent peer affiliations in the continuity between childhood behavioral adjustment and juvenile offending.

This research reports on a structural equation model analysis of the relationships between childhood behavioral adjustment, adolescent peer affiliations, and adolescent offending using data gathered during the course of a 16-year longitudinal study of a birth cohort of New Zealand children. The model developed contained parameters that estimated (a) the continuities between early behavior and later offending, (b) the associations between early behavior and adolescent peer affiliations, and (c) the potentially reciprocal relationship between adolescent peer affiliations and adolescent offending behaviors. This analysis suggested that, when due allowance was made for reporting error, there was evidence of relatively strong continuity (r = .50) between early behavior and later offending. The model estimates suggested that these continuities arose from both direct continuities in behavior over time and from the effects of adolescent peer affiliations in reinforcing and sustaining earlier behavioral tendencies. The implications of the analysis for the understanding of the role of adolescent peer affiliations in behavioral continuities and discontinuities are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

The short-term consequences of early onset cannabis use.

The associations between early onset (prior to 15 years of age) cannabis use and rates of mental health or adjustment problems during the period from 15 to 16 years of age were studied in a New Zealand birth cohort. Early onset cannabis users were at increased risks of later substance use behaviors, conduct/oppositional disorders, juvenile offending, severe truancy, school dropout, anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation. Early cannabis users had odds of these outcomes ranging from 2.7 to 30.8 times higher than the odds for those who did not use cannabis prior to age 15. Most of the elevated risks of early onset users were explained by the fact that they were a high-risk groups of adolescents characterized by family disadvantages, early adjustment problems, and high affiliations with substance-using or delinquent peers. Nonetheless, even after adjustment for a wide range of confounding factors, early onset users had increased risks of later cannabis use. It is concluded that while most of the elevated risks of early onset users were explained by social, family, and individual characteristics of this group, early onset users were at increased risks of later cannabis use.

Adolescent↗