In females, rising levels of depressive symptoms from early to late adolescence were strongly associated with increases in both normative and harmful alcohol use at 18 years. Females with higher levels of depressive symptoms at age 13 were also more likely to engage in harmful alcohol use. This finding leads to speculation about the potential mechanisms linking depressive symptoms to later alcohol use. Previous work has shown that earlier and steeper increases in depressive symptoms are found in females who experience earlier puberty than their peers [37]. Early maturing females may have increased opportunities to engage in alcohol consumption due to their tendency to socialise with females and males who are older [38]. The tendency for early maturing females to engage in romantic relationships at a younger age than their peers (often before they are emotionally ready) could make them particularly vulnerable to depression [39]. Depressive symptoms during adolescence could lead to young people ‘self-medicating’ as a way of coping with these symptoms and increasing risk for developing problematic alcohol use.
