Characterising mental wellbeing and associations with subcortical grey matter volume at short intervals in early adolescence

Amanda Boyes; Jacob M. Levenstein; Larisa T. McLoughlin; Christina Driver; Dashiell D. Sacks; Kassie Bromley; Taliah Prince; Justine M. Gatt; Jim Lagopoulos; Daniel F. Hermens

doi:10.1016/j.dcn.2024.101498

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Characterising mental wellbeing and associations with subcortical grey matter volume at short intervals in early adolescence

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Characterising mental wellbeing and associations with subcortical grey matter volume at short intervals in early adolescence

Amanda Boyes, Jacob M. Levenstein, Larisa T. McLoughlin, Christina Driver, Dashiell D. Sacks, Kassie Bromley, Taliah Prince, Justine M. Gatt, Jim Lagopoulos and Daniel F. Hermens

Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Vol.72, pp.1-11

2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dcn.2024.101498

PMCID: PMC11788732

PMID: 39842183

Appears in Thompson Institute Research Collection

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Abstract

accumbens

caudate

eudaimonic wellbeing

grey matter volume

hedonic wellbeing

youth mental health

UniSC Diversity Area - Life Stages

Thompson Institute Special Collection

Neuroimaging

Longitudinal Adolescent Brain Study

This temporally rich, longitudinal study of early adolescents (N=88, 277 datasets, 12-13 years) investigated the relationship between bilateral subcortical grey matter volume (GMV) in the hippocampus, amygdala, accumbens-area, caudate, putamen and pallidum with self-reported mental wellbeing at four timepoints, across 12 months. Generalised Estimating Equations (GEE) revealed (1) higher ‘total wellbeing’ was associated with smaller left caudate and larger left accumbens-area; (2) higher eudaimonic wellbeing was associated with smaller left caudate and larger right caudate; and (3) higher hedonic wellbeing was associated with larger left accumbens-area. Further analyses and plots highlighted different associations between GMV and wellbeing for adolescents who consistently experienced ‘moderate-to-flourishing’ wellbeing (n=63, 201 datasets), compared with those who experienced ‘languishing’ wellbeing at any timepoint (n=25, 76 datasets). These findings demonstrate several associations between subcortical GMV and measures of wellbeing, at short intervals in early adolescence. Taken together, sub-types of wellbeing appear uniquely associated with specific subcortical regions; and there may be a distinct neurobiological and wellbeing profile for adolescents who experience poorer wellbeing over the course of their first year(s) of secondary school. This study implicates the bilateral caudate and left accumbens-area as important targets for future research into the mental wellbeing of adolescents.

Details

Title: Characterising mental wellbeing and associations with subcortical grey matter volume at short intervals in early adolescence
Authors: Amanda Boyes (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Thompson Institute
Jacob M. Levenstein - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Thompson Institute
Larisa T. McLoughlin - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Thompson Institute
Christina Driver - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Thompson Institute
Dashiell D. Sacks - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Thompson Institute
Kassie Bromley - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Thompson Institute
Taliah Prince - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Thompson Institute
Justine M. Gatt - UNSW Sydney
Jim Lagopoulos - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Thompson Institute
Daniel F. Hermens - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Thompson Institute
Publication details: Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Vol.72, pp.1-11
Publisher: Elsevier Ltd
Date published: 2025
DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2024.101498
ISSN: 1878-9307
PMID: 39842183; PMC11788732
Organisation Unit: Graduate Research School; Thompson Institute
Language: English
Record Identifier: 991091101702621
Output Type: Journal article

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