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Stressful life events during adolescence and risk for externalizing and internalizing psychopathology: a meta-analysis

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Abstract

The main objective of the present research was to analyze the relations between stressful life events and the externalizing and internalizing spectra of psychopathology using meta-analytical procedures. After removing the duplicates, a total of 373 papers were found in a literature search using several bibliographic databases, such as the PsycINFO, Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science. Twenty-seven studies were selected for the meta-analytical analysis after applying different inclusion and exclusion criteria in different phases. The statistical procedure was performed using a random/mixed-effects model based on the correlations found in the studies. Significant positive correlations were found in cross-sectional and longitudinal studies. A transactional effect was then found in the present study. Stressful life events could be a cause, but also a consequence, of psychopathological spectra. The level of controllability of the life events did not affect the results. Special attention should be given to the usage of stressful life events in gene–environment interaction and correlation studies, and also for clinical purposes.

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Acknowledgements

Thanks to the Comissionat per a Universitats i Recerca del DIUE, Generalitat de Catalunya (2014SGR1636); the Centre for Biomedical Research in the Mental Health Network (CIBERSAM) Intramural Project (SAM15PI12); the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitivity (ES-EUEpiBrain project, Grant SAF2015-71526-REDT); the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitivity, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PI15/00097)—Ayuda cofinanciada por el Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER). “Una manera de hacer Europa”. Thanks to the Secretaria d’Universitats i Recerca del Departament d’Empresa i Coneixement de la Generalitat de Catalunya (expedient 2017FI-B00258).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education, Psychology, and Social Work, University of Lleida, Avda. de l’Estudi General, 4, 25221, Lleida, Spain

    Jaume March-Llanes & Jorge Moya-Higueras

  2. Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology, and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Biomedicine Institute of the University of Barcelona (IBUB), Barcelona, Spain

    Laia Marqués-Feixa & Lourdes Fañanás

  3. Department of Basic and Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Jaume I University, Avda. de Vicent Sos Baynat, s/n, 12701, Castelló De La Plana, Spain

    Laura Mezquita

  4. Instituto De Salud Carlos III, Centro De Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain

    Lourdes Fañanás & Jorge Moya-Higueras

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  1. Jaume March-Llanes
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March-Llanes, J., Marqués-Feixa, L., Mezquita, L. et al. Stressful life events during adolescence and risk for externalizing and internalizing psychopathology: a meta-analysis. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 26, 1409–1422 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-017-0996-9

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