EMOTIONAL-PROBLEMS DURING YOUTH AS PREDICTORS OF STATURE DURING EARLYADULTHOOD - RESULTS FROM A PROSPECTIVE EPIDEMIOLOGIC-STUDY

Objective. Adults with emotional disorders exhibit abnormalities in gr owth hormone secretion. if these abnormalities were to occur during ch ildhood, they could affect growth. The purpose of this study was to ex amine the relationship between youth emotional disorders and stature i n early adulthood. Methods. Using data from a prospective epidemiologi c study of youth psychopathologic status, we used linear regression to examine the prospective relationship between anxiety disorders (separ ation anxiety and over-anxious disorders) or major depressive disorder in youth and stature in early adulthood. Results. Anxiety disorders d uring childhood prospectively predicted relatively short stature in ea rly adulthood among females, accounting for more than 5% of the varian ce in adult height. However, these associations were not found among m ales. Conclusions. There may be an association between abnormalities i n growth and emotional problems in youth. Further research should exam ine biological measures related to growth among youth with emotional d isorders.