Burden of Environmental Adversity Associated With Psychopathology, Maturation, and Brain Behavior Parameters in Youths [JAMANetwork.com]

KEY POINTS

Question  What is the association of an adverse environment, including low socioeconomic status and traumatic stressful events, with psychopathology, neurocognition, and brain parameters in puberty among children and young adults?

Findings  In this community-based cohort study of 9498 participants, low socioeconomic status was associated with reduced neurocognitive performance, and experiencing a higher number of traumatic stressful events was associated with greater psychopathology. Both factors were associated with multiple brain structural and functional parameters as well as earlier maturation.

Meaning  Low socioeconomic status and the experience of traumatic stressful events are environmental aspects that appear to have common and unique associations with the brain and behavior, and both are associated with accelerated maturation.