Multiple prediction of adult psychological health from preadolescent and adolescent behavior.

Reanalyzed the data previously obtained in a longitudinal study on the childhood antecedents of adult mental health of 31 males and 33 females. Several significant relationships were found between adolescent (ages 14-16 yr.) behavior and adult psychological health when the effects of predictive preadolescent (ages 11-13 yr.) behaviors were held constant. For both sexes, all adolescent effects were reversals of significant preadolescent effects. Although more emphatic for females, these reversals indicate a change from a relatively tension- or conflict-free preadolescence to a reactive and stressful adolescence. The social responsiveness of adolescent males was also contributory if carried over from preadolescence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)