RESUMO
Objective@#Longitudinal data were used in this study to examine the predictive effects of psychological stress in early puberty on subsequent anxiety and depression symptoms.@*Methods@#Objects from a puberty cohort of 998 children from 4 primary schools in Chongqing were included. Psychological stress was measured during their early puberty, and anxiety and depression were followed up after 4 years. Multiple linear regression was used to analyze the influence of psychological stress on anxiety and depression level in their middle puberty.@*Results@#The average score of psychological stress during early puberty was (34.79±24.78), and scores of anxiety and depression were (11.20±10.89) and (12.06±6.69), respectively, with detection rates of 14.03% and 15.63%. Girls had higher anxiety and depression scores than boys(F=51.58,5.48，P<0.05). The depression scores of children with different parents’ educational levelsand perceived parental relationship were different(F=6.74, 7.38, 10.49, P<0.05). The results of multiple linear regression showed that girls(β=4.38), higher psychological stress(β=0.13), older age (β=0.89) were risk factors for higher anxiety level. Children with higher psychological stress(β=0.05), older age(β=0.57), perceived worse parents’ relationship(β=1.19), lower maternal education (β=-1.00) had higher depression scores(P<0.05).@*Conclusion@#The psychological stress level, and age during early puberty had a positive predictive effect on anxiety and depression after 4 years. Simultaneously, girls were more prone to anxiety, and poor parental relationship and low maternal literacy were risk factors for children’s depression.