Longitudinal Transitions between Internalizing and Externalizing Symptoms and Associations with Substance Use among US Young Adults, 2016–2023

BACKGROUND: Internalizing and externalizing symptoms are key mental health indicators that frequently co-occur in young populations. This study examined transition probabilities between none/low-symptom, exclusive internalizing (e.g., depression, anxiety), exclusive externalizing (e.g., aggression, impulsivity), and co-occurring states in young adulthood and assessed associations with substance use. METHODS: Using four waves (Wave 4-7) of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study (2016-2023), this prospective cohort study applied Markov multistate transition modeling to estimate transition probabilities across 4 mental health states based on self-reported past 12-month symptoms. We then examined how current (daily, non-daily) nicotine use, past 30-day binge drinking, cannabis use, prescription drug misuse, and sociodemographic characteristics were associated with transitions between mental health states among baseline young adults (18-24 years). RESULTS: In the sample (N=5,575), the baseline prevalences of none/low symptom, exclusive internalizing, exclusive externalizing, and co-occurring states were 62.5%, 12.1%, 10.4%, and 13.9%, respectively. Sizable transition probabilities from internalizing or externalizing symptoms to co-occurring symptoms were observed in both short-term (21.6% and 19.7% at Wave 2) and long-term (14.7% and 14.4% at Wave 4) analyses. Co-occurring states demonstrated greater stability (43.9% short-term; 16.4% long-term) than internalizing or externalizing symptom states. Nicotine use was associated with transitions from none/low to internalizing symptoms; binge drinking and prescription drug misuse with transitions to externalizing symptoms; and cannabis use with transitions to both internalizing and externalizing symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Transitions to co-occurring symptoms are frequent in young adulthood, and may be associated with patterns of substance use.