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Developmental Pathways From Childhood Neurodevelopmental Traits to Early Adolescent Psychiatric Dimensions: The Role of Environmental and Lifestyle Factors

delete2026-04-01
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PRE
AI
C
Caserini, Chiara
R
Rakesh, Divyangana
L
Lu, Shiqi
R
Rachael Bedford
L
Lewis, Cathryn M.
M
Malanchini, Margherita
M
Michelini, Giorgia *
DOI:10.1016/j.jaacop.2025.11.011delete
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Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
Objective: Transdiagnostic dimensional approaches have advanced our understanding of psychiatric comorbidity and developmental continuity, but have rarely been applied to investigate links between neurodevelopmental (eg, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism) and other psychiatric conditions. Building on recent research delineating a transdiagnostic neurodevelopmental spectrum, we examined longitudinal associations between this spectrum in late childhood and other psychiatric dimensions in early adolescence, and the role of environmental and lifestyle factors as potential mediators of these associations. Method: In 11,875 children from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive DevelopmentSM (ABCD) Study, we extracted neurodevelopmental, externalizing, internalizing, detachment, and somatoform dimensions at ages 10, 11, and 12 years through confirmatory factor analysis of Child Behavior Checklist items. Using linear mixed models, we tested prospective associations between the neurodevelopmental spectrum at age 10 years and other psychiatric dimensions at ages 11 and 12 years. Mediation models examined whether environmental (eg, family conflict, school involvement) and lifestyle (eg, sleep problems, screen use) factors at age 11 mediated these associations. Results: Strong longitudinal associations emerged between the neurodevelopmental spectrum and all other psychiatric dimensions (beta = 0.417-0.641, p < .001). Sleep problems were the most consistent mediator, accounting for 12% to 29% of these associations. Most results remained significant after multiple testing corrections and adjusting for covariates, mediators, and psychiatric dimensions at baseline. Conclusion: Our transdiagnostic dimensional approach revealed that neurodevelopmental traits prospectively predict elevations in major psychiatric symptom dimensions during the transition to adolescence. Sleep problems emerged as a key lifestyle factor underlying these associations and a promising target for transdiagnostic prevention programs to improve mental health outcomes in this population. Plain language summary: There has been limited research using transdiagnostic dimensional approaches to understand the link between neurodevelopmental (eg, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism) and other psychiatric dimensions. Using data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive DevelopmentSM (ABCD) study, this study examining 11,875 children's Child Behavior Checklist items shows that children with high neurodevelopmental traits show increased risk for a wide range of other psychiatric symptoms at ages 11 to 12 years. By examining environmental and lifestyle factors underlying these associations, this study found that poor sleep plays a key role in driving this risk. These findings inform future intervention and prevention strategies to improve mental health outcomes in youth with neurodevelopmental traits.
Keywords:
transdiagnostic
neurodevelopmental
mental health
mediators

Journal

J
JAACAP OPEN
IF:
0
Papers:
69
Citations:
0

Organization

Q
Queen Mary University London
Scholars:
2.0W
Papers: 1.5W
Citations: 326
U
university of london
Scholars:
21.3W
Papers: 19.6W
Citations: 302
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