Trajectories of child cognitive and socioemotional development and associations with adolescent health in the UK Millennium Cohort study

Objective

To identify and describe distinct trajectories of cognitive and socioemotional development during childhood and to examine their relationships with adolescent health.

Study design

We used group-based, multi-trajectory modeling applied to longitudinal data on 11,564 children up to age 14 from the UK Millennium Cohort study to identify trajectories of cognitive and socioemotional development measured using validated instruments. We assessed associations between the derived trajectories and baseline socio-economic, parental, and school factors using multinomial regression. Logistic regression was used to assess associations between trajectory groups and adolescent health at age 14 and 17.

Results

Four child development trajectories were identified: ‘no problems’ (76.5%); ‘late socio-emotional problems’ (10.1%); ‘early cognitive and socio-emotional problems’ (8.6%); and ‘persistent cognitive and socio-emotional problems’ (4.8%). Those in the problem trajectories were more socioeconomically disadvantaged. Compared with the ‘no problem’ trajectory, the ‘late socio-emotional problems’ trajectory had increased odds of overweight and mental ill-health at age 14 of 1.50 (95% CI 1.24-1.81) and 2.51 (2.03-3.10) respectively. For the ‘persistent problems’ group the odds ratio for overweight was 1.41 (1.04-1.91), and for mental ill-health, 3.01 (2.10-3.30). For both groups the associations persisted to age 17.

Conclusion

In a representative UK cohort, groups of distinct trajectories of cognitive and socioemotional development were identified. Adverse development, if unresolved, can have a negative impact on weight and mental health in adolescence. Socioemotional development was the main driver of the impact on adolescent health and this requires emphasis in child health policy.