Association between trajectories of the neighborhood social exposome and mental health in late adolescence: A FinnTwin12 cohort study

Zhiyang Wang; Gabin Drouard; Alyce M Whipp; Marja Heinonen-Guzejev; Gabriele Bolte; Jaakko Kaprio

doi:10.1016/j.jad.2024.04.096

Association between trajectories of the neighborhood social exposome and mental health in late adolescence: A FinnTwin12 cohort study

J Affect Disord. 2024 Apr 30:358:70-78. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.04.096. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Zhiyang Wang¹, Gabin Drouard¹, Alyce M Whipp¹, Marja Heinonen-Guzejev², Gabriele Bolte³, Jaakko Kaprio⁴

Affiliations

¹ Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
² Department of Public Health, Clinicum, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
³ Department of Social Epidemiology, Institute of Public Health and Nursing Research, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany.
⁴ Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Department of Public Health, Clinicum, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. Electronic address: jaakko.kaprio@helsinki.fi.

PMID: 38697223
DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.04.096

Abstract

Background: Adolescent mental health problems impose a significant burden. Exploring evolving social environments could enhance comprehension of their impact on mental health. We aimed to depict the trajectories of the neighborhood social exposome from middle to late adolescence and assess the intricate relationship between them and late adolescent mental health.

Methods: Participants (n = 3965) from the FinnTwin12 cohort with completed questionnaires at age 17 were used. Nine mental health measures were assessed. The social exposome comprised 28 neighborhood social indicators. Trajectories of these indicators from ages 12 to 17 were summarized via latent growth curve modeling into growth factors, including baseline intercept. Mixture effects of all growth factors were assessed through quantile-based g-computation. Repeated generalized linear regressions identified significant growth factors. Sex stratification was performed.

Results: The linear-quadratic model was the most optimal trajectory model. No mixture effect was detected. Regression models showed some growth factors saliently linked to the p-factor, internalizing problems, anxiety, hyperactivity, and aggression. The majority of them were baseline intercepts. Quadratic growth factors about mother tongues correlated with anxiety among sex-combined participants and males. The linear growth factor in the proportion of households of couples without children was associated with internalizing problems in females.

Limitations: We were limited to including only neighborhood-level social exposures, and the multilevel contextual exposome situation interfered with our assessment.

Conclusions: Trajectories of the social neighborhood exposome modestly influenced late adolescent mental health. Tackling root causes of social inequalities through targeted programs for living conditions could improve adolescent mental health.

Keywords: Adolescence; Exposome; Mental health; Social inequality; Trajectory.