Brief report: Effect of menarcheal status and family structure on depressive symptoms and emotional/behavioural problems in young adolescent girls

The study investigated the relationship between depressive symptoms and emotional/behavioural problems in adolescent girls ( N = 553 ) aged 12–13 years, menarcheal status and family structure, and considered whether the effect of family structure was the same in the presence or absence of menses. The Childrenʹs Depression Inventory (CDI) and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) were administered to a representative sample of adolescents. Results showed main effects of menarcheal status and family structure on SDQ scores and a significant interaction on CDI scores only. A non-intact family appeared to be a stronger risk factor for depressive symptomatology than for emotional/behavioural problems in menarcheal girls.