Psychological Distress in Adolescence and Life Course Trajectories in Early Adulthood. A Longitudinal Study in the UK

Danilo Bolano, University of Florence
Maria Sironi, University College London
Chiara Serra, Bocconi University

Mental health in adolescence (MH) has been shown to influence the timing and quantum of future life events. However, no studies have comprehensively examined how adolescent mental health is linked to the timing and number of multiple life events in their transition to adulthood. Following almost 17,000 boys and girls from birth to adulthood, we explored to what extent psychological distress measured at age 16 is associated with the timing and quantum of key life events in the transition to adulthood by age 30. Specifically, we considered: the likelihood and timing of union formation, the likelihood of separation, the number of unions ever had, the likelihood and timing of having at least one child, the number of children ever had, and three socioeconomic outcomes: the level of education, the likelihood and the duration of unemployment. We found strong associations between MH in adolescence and family and work life course in early adulthood for both men and women. Compared to those who did not experience psychological distress, we found evidence of anticipated union formation and parenthood for women, a reduced likelihood of parenthood for men, and an increased risk of unemployment for women.

Keywords: Families, Unions and Households, Children, Adolescents, and Youth, Health and Morbidity

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