Childhood adversity takes a toll on lifelong health. However, investigations of unpredictability as a form of adversity are lacking. Environmental unpredictability across multiple developmental periods and ecological levels was examined using a multiethnic, longitudinal birth cohort (1998–2000) oversampled for unmarried parents. Data were from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study (N = 4898 youth at birth; 52% male; 48% Black, 27% Hispanic, 21% White) to examine unpredictability at ages 1, 3, 5, and 9 with later adolescent outcomes. An unpredictability index was associated with age 15 outcomes (N = 3595) including depressive symptoms (β = 0.11), anxiety symptoms (β = 0.08), delinquency (β = 0.13), impulsivity (β = 0.09), heavier weight categories (β = 0.09), and internalizing (β = 0.14), externalizing (β = 0.23), and attention problems (β = 0.16). Findings support unpredictability as a unique form of adversity.

中文翻译：

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童年环境的不可预测性和青少年心理健康和行为问题

童年的逆境会对终生的健康造成损害。然而，缺乏对不可预测性作为逆境的一种形式的调查。使用对未婚父母进行过度抽样的多种族纵向出生队列 （1998-2000） 检查了多个发展时期和生态水平的环境不可预测性。数据来自家庭和儿童福祉的未来研究 （N = 4898 名出生青年;52% 男性;48% 黑人，27% 西班牙裔，21% 白人），以检查 1、3、5 和 9 岁时的不可预测性以及后来的青少年结果。不可预测性指数与 15 岁结局 （N = 3595） 相关，包括抑郁症状 （β = 0.11）、焦虑症状 （β = 0.08）、犯罪 （β = 0.13）、冲动 （β = 0.09）、较重的体重类别 （β = 0.09） 和内化 （β = 0.14）、外化 （β = 0.23） 和注意力问题 （β = 0.16）。研究结果支持不可预测性是逆境的一种独特形式。