Adolescent psychological problems, partnership transitions and adult mental health: an investigation of selection effects

Background. Marital status is a strong correlate of psychiatric morbidity i n adulthood, but debate continues on how far this association reflects caus al influences or selection effects based on prior psychological characteris tics. Method. Prospective data from the National Child Development Study were use d to examine effects of adolescent emotional and behavioural problems on tr ansitions into and out of first partnerships, and their implications for ps ychiatric morbidity at age 33. Results. Emotional and behavioural problems in adolescence showed systemati c links with early partnership transitions (age at partnership formation, t ype of first partnership, and risks of first partnership breakdown). More d etailed tests suggested that these effects only accounted for a modest prop ortion of the associations between partnership status and psychiatric morbi dity at age 33. Conclusions. In a non-referred community sample selection effects associate d with adolescent emotional and behavioural problems appear to play only a modest role in links between partnership status and adult mental health.