A multi-level developmental approach towards understanding adolescent mental health and behaviour: rationale, design and methods of the LIFECOURSE study in Iceland

• Main Authors: Halldorsdottir, Thorhildur, Kristjansson, Alfgeir L., Asgeirsdottir, Bryndis Bjork, Thorisdottir, Ingibjorg E., Sigfusson, Jon, Jonsdottir Tolgyes, Erla Maria, Valdimarsdottir, Heiddis, Allegrante, John P., Sigfusdottir, Inga Dora
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: Columbia University 2020
• Subjects: Teenagers > Mental health; Behavioral assessment of teenager; Research > Methodology; Child development > Research > Methodology; Iceland; Reykjavik University
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.7916/d8-a651-8z73; https://academiccommons.columbia.edu/doi/10.7916/d8-a651-8z73

Purpose: Identifying and understanding modifiable risk and protective factors that can inform early detection and intervention to prevent adolescent emotional problems and harmful behaviours is among the most pressing modern-day public health challenges. This paper describes the rationale, objectives, methods, and anticipated outcomes of the LIFECOURSE study, a multi-level, bio-psychosocial prospective study designed to advance our understanding of factors that shape adolescent mental health and behaviour. Methods: Conducted by the Icelandic Centre for Social Research and Analysis at Reykjavik University, LIFECOURSE is a longitudinal population-based developmental study of Icelandic adolescents born in 2004. The study utilizes a comprehensive multi-informant assessment of individual, societal and biological factors measured across the lifespan. Data assembly and collection were conducted from 2016-2020 and utilize both retrospective and prospective data sources: (a) retrospective registry data assembled from seven national databases, (b) prospectively collected social surveys and (c) biomarker samples. Results: Of the 3914 eligible adolescents, 60.8% (n = 2378) provided informed parental consent and student assent to participate in the study, with approximately half of the participants being female (n = 1175, 49.4%) and the majority being born in the capital area (n = 1455; 61.2%). The coverage of available data from the national databases and participation in the social surveys ranged from 81.7 to 100%. Conclusions: Major gaps remain in our knowledge of how individual, societal and biological factors across the lifespan-from early life to adolescence-interact and shape the risk for emotional problems and harmful behaviours during adolescence. The LIFECOURSE study was designed to address this knowledge gap.