Accumulation and sensitive period effects for childhood abuse and financial hardship on depressive symptoms in late adolescence

Background:Childhood adversity is a potent and modifiable risk factor for depression.Few studies have investigated how the developmental timing of adversity exposure shapes depression risk 1 .We investigated whether there were sensitive periods, or age stages when two types of adversity (caregiver abuse, financial hardship) had stronger associations with depressive symptoms in late adolescence. Methods:Data came from a prospective, longitudinal birth cohort of children in Avon, England (Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children).Caregivers reported their children's adversity exposure at least seven times between 0-18 years of age.Child participants self-reported depressive symptoms (Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire) at 18.5 years old.We used a structured life course modeling approach (SLCMA) to characterize how sensitive period and accumulation hypotheses explained variation in depressive symptoms.