Age, Period, and Cohort Trends in Mood Disorder Indicators and Suicide-Related Outcomes in a Nationally Representative Dataset, 2005–2017
Date
2019
Journal Title
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Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of abnormal psychology
Abstract
Drawing from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH; N 611,880), a nationally
representative survey of U.S. adolescents and adults, we assess age, period, and cohort trends in mood
disorders and suicide-related outcomes since the mid-2000s. Rates of major depressive episode in the last
year increased 52% 2005–2017 (from 8.7% to 13.2%) among adolescents aged 12 to 17 and 63%
2009 –2017 (from 8.1% to 13.2%) among young adults 18 –25. Serious psychological distress in the last
month and suicide-related outcomes (suicidal ideation, plans, attempts, and deaths by suicide) in the last
year also increased among young adults 18 –25 from 2008 –2017 (with a 71% increase in serious
psychological distress), with less consistent and weaker increases among adults ages 26 and over.
Hierarchical linear modeling analyses separating the effects of age, period, and birth cohort suggest the
trends among adults are primarily due to cohort, with a steady rise in mood disorder and suicide-related
outcomes between cohorts born from the early 1980s (Millennials) to the late 1990s (iGen). Cultural
trends contributing to an increase in mood disorders and suicidal thoughts and behaviors since the
mid-2000s, including the rise of electronic communication and digital media and declines in sleep
duration, may have had a larger impact on younger people, creating a cohort effect.
Description
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Article
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Keywords
mood disorders, depression, suicide, birth cohort
Citation
Twenge, J. M., Cooper, A. B., Joiner, T. E., Duffy, M. E., & Binau, S. G. (2019). Age, period, and cohort trends in mood disorder indicators and suicide-related outcomes in a nationally representative dataset, 2005-2017. Journal of abnormal psychology.